Chapter 2669 - 2602: The Plan

On the way back to the rear hall, he reminded the two of them, "Courtier Zhou, my health is good, so please tell the Empress as it is when you see her."

To the Crown Prince he said, "Since I won’t be in the capital, you should comfort the Empress more often. You should try it later."

Crown Prince: ...

The Empress had just finished handling palace affairs and was getting up with the help of the palace maids. Upon hearing that the Emperor was coming, she hurriedly led them to greet him.

The Empress had something to say, but upon seeing the Crown Prince and Zhou Man following behind, she held her tongue and asked with a smile, "Why has His Majesty called Lord Zhou and the Crown Prince over?"

The Emperor took her hand and walked inside, smiling widely, "Zhou Man checked my pulse today and there’s good news to tell the Empress."

The Empress sat down with the Emperor, glanced curiously at Zhou Man, and smiled, "What good news?"

The Emperor cheerfully looked at Zhou Man, signaling, "Courtier Zhou, tell the Empress the good news."

Manbao: !!!

She thought she was just an assistant, a tool. She was supposed to announce that the Emperor was in good health when needed, but she never expected His Majesty to have her take the initiative. This really put her in a difficult position.

Shouldn’t you do this yourself?

Otherwise, the Crown Prince could do it, or maybe gather the officials who haven’t left the palace yet? They’d be more suitable than her, right?

Manbao raised her head and met the Empress’s curious gaze.

She took a deep breath and said to the Empress, "Your Majesty, His Majesty is in very good health."

The Emperor nodded repeatedly.

The Empress was puzzled, "I know. Director Xiao just took His Majesty’s pulse the other day and said there was no problem."

The Emperor gave an encouraging look to Zhou Man. Manbao couldn’t help but glance at the Crown Prince, who lowered his head.

Manbao could only say expressionlessly, "So, all the officials have agreed to His Majesty personally leading troops to Goguryeo."

Empress: !

The Crown Prince looked down at his toes.

The smile on the Empress’s face faded a little, and she slightly tilted her head to look at the Emperor.

The Emperor was looking at her with anticipation.

The Empress smiled slightly and discreetly pinched the flesh on the Emperor’s waist, asking with a smile, "Is what Lord Zhou said true, Your Majesty?"

The Emperor, with tears in his eyes, nodded, using his wide sleeve to cover as he pressed a hand on her waist, saying, "Zitong, no need to worry about me. I, I am in good health, there will be no issues."

Manbao took the opportunity to excuse herself, "Your Majesty, I remembered there are some documents at the Imperial Hospital that haven’t been dealt with, so I will take my leave."

She then left the space for the family of three.

The Crown Prince sighed softly, resignedly staying behind to help the Emperor persuade the Empress.

Manbao breathed a sigh of relief as she exited the rear hall, patting her chest, and then headed to the Imperial Hospital. Bai Shan was waiting for him at the steps of Taiji Hall.

The sun was strong, so he hid under the arch of the bridge. Hearing familiar footsteps, he looked up and saw a red official robe fluttering past.

He hurriedly called out, "Manbao."

Manbao leaned on the railing to look down and met Bai Shan’s gaze. She smiled, "What are you doing here?"

Bai Shan waved at her.

Manbao quickly descended the last few steps and jogged over, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.

Bai Shan pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped her face, asking, "Are you eager to ask Director Xiao if the students of the Imperial Medical Bureau can accompany the army on the eastern expedition?"

Manbao paused for a moment before nodding, "Yes, this is a rare opportunity. Many of the students who study traumatic medicine at the Imperial Medical Bureau are inadequate. Since returning from the Western Regions, I’ve often thought our trained traumatic doctors and other types of doctors could clearly be sent to the army, and military doctors from various places could also come to the capital to study."

However, because the Imperial Medical Bureau was only established a few years ago, maintaining its current size was difficult, let alone expanding.

Therefore, Zhou Man had only mentioned it twice to Director Xiao about military doctors coming to the capital to study, but Director Xiao had only tentatively brought it up once during a minor court meeting, and it eventually went nowhere.

She felt this was an opportunity.

When the ministers agreed to the Emperor personally leading the troops, a flash of light struck her mind. She said, "If His Majesty wants a quick victory, the departure date must be very soon, and I must discuss it with Director Xiao promptly."

Bai Shan understood and nodded, "Okay, go ahead."

Manbao was about to leave but stopped to ask, "Are you going too?"

Bai Shan smiled, reaching out to touch her head, and said softly, "You go and arrange things first, I’ll try my best."

Following the Emperor on his expedition is a big opportunity, a chance to achieve great merit if successful, and not much fault if it fails unless something happens on the Emperor’s journey. Generally, the personal attendants aren’t usually implicated.

There are six attendants in the Central Secretariat. This time, the Emperor is leading an expedition, and he must take at least two.

Bai Shan’s chances are one in three, but due to his relationship with the Emperor and Manbao, it is certainly higher than one in three.

It now depends on who the Emperor selects from the Imperial Hospital to accompany the army.

If it is Manbao, he at least has a one in two chance, if not...

Whether he goes or not doesn’t really matter.

But one in two is still too low.

Bai Shan lowered his eyes in thought and turned to leave the palace. He had to go out and have lunch. He didn’t know if everyone had eaten yet, but he could invite them to a meal at that restaurant outside the palace walls.

Though the food at that restaurant is quite expensive.

Minister Li went too far, relying on his royal background, opening the restaurant right outside the palace gates. This, in itself, isn’t a problem, but running a monopoly and setting exorbitant prices is.

Manbao jogged back to the Imperial Hospital, her face sweating.

Director Xiao and the others were about to have lunch. Seeing her running in like this, he couldn’t help but say, "Lord Zhou, when will you remember the palace rule of ’no running in the palace’?"

Imperial Doctor Lu huffed, "It’s a good thing you’re not pregnant now. If you were, running around like this, what would you do?"

Imperial Doctor Liu pointed to the lunchbox on the table and smiled, "Lord Zhou, where’s your lunchbox?"

While asking the palace attendant to fetch water for washing her hands and face, Manbao said, "I just rushed over, I don’t feel like eating anything for now. Director Xiao, I need to discuss something important with you."

Director Xiao unhurriedly picked up a bite of pickles, then handed the platter to others, saying, "Is it about the quota for those accompanying His Majesty on the expedition?"

The others, who were behind on news, were momentarily stunned, then widened their eyes. Even Imperial Doctor Liu couldn’t help but exclaim, "His Majesty is personally leading an expedition? And the court ministers agreed?"

Director Xiao nodded.

Imperial Doctor Liu and the others frowned, all looking worried.

Manbao nodded repeatedly, asking, "Have you already decided?"

Director Xiao looked up at him and said, "I had, but hearing your question, do you want to go?"

Upon hearing this, Manbao was not pleased, "So you didn’t plan to let me go initially?"

Director Xiao replied with feigned irritation, "Accompanying the army means you will be surrounded by men. What are you, a girl, going to do? I originally considered Imperial Doctor Lu and Imperial Doctor Zheng."

Imperial Doctors Lu and Zheng were caught off guard, as if thunder struck directly on their heads, rendering them speechless for a moment. They looked at their meals, feeling a bit wronged.

Zhou Man felt a bit wronged too, saying, "Director, I have accompanied troops before and have considerable experience in dealing with trauma."