Emperor: ...
He glared at Gu Zhong reproachfully, not really bothered by his excuses for her.
He simply relaxed against the pillow and asked, "Go on, why are you so happy to see ?"
Manbao felt awkward speaking before she had done anything, so she said, "Your Majesty, let examine you first."
Her demure and evasive manner piqued the Emperor’s interest even more.
Manbao took his pulse and asked him so questions, knowing he probably caught a chill upon getting up this morning. Such a minor ailnt was easy to treat—so dicine, a bit of sweating, and aversion to certain foods for a couple of days would do.
Manbao was very thorough, even taking out her needle kit to perform acupuncture on him. Knowing he often worked at his desk and that his neck was probably uncomfortable, she thoughtfully applied so acupuncture on the back of his neck after treating the cold, leaving him much relieved.
The Emperor was now certain Zhou Man had sothing to say.
The Emperor turned his neck, feeling significantly more comfortable, which put him in a better mood and made him willing to chat with Zhou Man. He said cheerfully, "So, what’s the matter?"
Manbao then sat up straight, placed her hands solemnly on her knees, and said, "Your Majesty, may I recomnd a talent to you?"
The Emperor thought she was referring to so folk doctor, so he nodded and asked imperiously, "Who is it? What skills does he have?"
Manbao replied earnestly, "He has the talent of Guan Zhong. You’d lose greatly if you don’t use him."
Emperor: ...
He couldn’t help but examine Zhou Man thoroughly from outside and asked perplexedly, "Is it Guan Zhong and not soone like Bian Que or Hua Tuo?"
"How could Scholarly Senior Brother Yang have the skills of Bian Que or Hua Tuo?" Manbao digressed for a mont, quickly recollected herself, and promptly said, "I’m recomnding Yang Heshu."
Emperor: "...Isn’t Yang Heshu already serving in the court? Does he still need your recomndation?"
Manbao sighed, "But isn’t he just about to leave the capital for a post elsewhere? Many say he’s implicated by Ms. Yang, and his future is uncertain."
Manbao sat on the stool and spoke frankly with the Emperor, "Scholarly Senior Brother Yang is truly remarkable. Among all the officials I’ve t, he’s the most impressive, even more than Lord Wei."
The Emperor, though displeased with Wei Zhi in various ways, didn’t think Yang Heshu was more capable than Wei Zhi, "Is this conclusion based on appearance?"
Seeing the Emperor question her, Manbao imdiately restored her expression and said, "Who said that? I hadn’t seen many people before, so I didn’t know he was so good-looking outside."
The Emperor felt sothing was wrong with that statent, and after processing it twice in his mind, he realized, "You didn’t think he was good-looking when you’d seen fewer people, but you think he’s good-looking now that you’ve seen more? What kind of reasoning is that?"
Manbao said, "Because Bai Shan and I aren’t bad-looking either."
She declared confidently, "Since childhood, Bai Shan and I were the most intelligent, good-looking, and fair-skinned around. Many households preferred inviting us to be the child rolling on their wedding bed. Those days taught us there are always higher skies and greater people, that there are many smarter and better-looking people out there, discouraging arrogance."
Manbao sighed, "Later, when we t Scholarly Senior Brother Yang, we realized he wasn’t inferior to us in appearance. After eting more and talking more, we found he wasn’t less smart than us either. At that ti, we wondered how many other remarkable people were out there. Upon arriving in the capital, we learned that Yang Senior Brother was indeed among the best out there."
Emperor: ...
He felt a bit stifled inside, but since she spoke modestly, he lacked words to refute her.
The Emperor opened his mouth for a while, realizing for the first ti that, other than facing Wei Zhi, he found himself speechless even with soone else.
Since the Emperor wasn’t entertained, the atmosphere instantly beca tense, with the two exchanging innocent glances in silence.
Manbao hesitantly asked, "Your Majesty, are you going to resent Scholarly Senior Brother Yang? Can I plead on his behalf?"
The Emperor finally found his voice again and asked, "How old were you when you t him?"
Manbao thought for a mont and said, "About seven or eight years old, I think."
The Emperor felt relieved, knowing she was still young, without youthful affection. Not wanting to discuss this with a child, he waved his hand and said, "Alright then, I understand. He is my subject; as long as he’s talented, I will surely employ him. No need for you to recomnd him again."
Manbao looked at the Emperor suspiciously and emphasized once more, "Scholarly Senior Brother Yang is very capable, and he loves the people. He will surely beco a pillar of the state. If you don’t employ him, Great Jin, not just you, will be at a loss."
The Emperor queried again, "Really not for his looks?"
Manbao: "Am I soone like that?"
The Emperor stroked his chin and thought that it seems Yang Heshu is even more formidable than he expected, with infinite charm.
Manbao was already chattering away, "...He said long ago that his aspiration is for all the people under heaven to be free from hunger, for everyone to live and work in peace and contentnt. Your Majesty, honestly, among the civil and military officials in court, how many truly hold this idea while serving?"
"Most wish to establish great deeds and bring glory to their ancestors." Manbao sighed and said, "To be honest, don’t tell Your Majesty, but my reason for being an official, half of it is because of the Imperial Hospital. If the Empress hadn’t told about building hospitals all over in the future, I wouldn’t have wanted to be an official. The other half is just to make my parents happy."
Emperor: ...
He nodded and said, "Even that’s a comndable reason."
Manbao shook her head, "It’s far inferior to Scholarly Senior Brother Yang’s reasons, alas. Later, I even indulged in agricultural work fields, which was truly inappropriate."
The Emperor thought for a mont and then said to her, "As for Yang Heshu, I’ve noted it. The Ministry of Personnel has already decided to post him outside. As long as he does well, there will be plenty of opportunities for promotion in the future."
He continued, "Since he has his heart set on the people’s welfare, it’s all the more reason to be posted outside for a few more years. Otherwise, staying too long in the capital would leave him inexperienced, making him well-intentioned but powerless."
Upon hearing this, Manbao’s eyes lit up, "So, you also acknowledge his talents?"
The Emperor nodded, "Yes, I acknowledge them. Now hurry and prescribe a redy for , then leave. It’s getting late, and it’s ti for lunch."
Worried that if she didn’t leave soon, he might burst into laughter right in front of her.
It was Manbao’s first ti being sent away, but she didn’t mind at all. She happily saluted the Emperor and then went out to write the prescription.
Gu Zhong soon brought the prescription in for the Emperor to review, and only after looking at it did he send soone to accompany Zhou Man to the Imperial Hospital to get the dicine.
Manbao still had to return to file it in the records.
She arrived cheerfully and left just as cheerfully, so much so that even the Emperor felt her joy, prompting him to ask Gu Zhong, "Do you think she’s been waiting to see , which is why she’s so happy now?"
Gu Zhong smiled and said, "Imperial Doctor Zhou is still young and doesn’t hide her feelings well."
"Not concealing is better. Like you all, sotis I don’t even want to look at your faces."
Gu Zhong could only smile and admit guilt.
The Emperor then fell into thoughtful reflection, "So, do you think she’s been hoping I’d get sick all along?"
Gu Zhong was stunned and didn’t dare laugh.
The Emperor just thought about it and quickly cast the matter aside.
He rose and said, "Let’s go, have lunch at the Empress’s place."
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