People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 104, Encountering an Assassination Attack
“Master, but I’ve heard that his character isn’t as good as the rumors suggest.”

Looking at her confident master, Duanmu Rong told him what she had heard.

It wasn't that she had any misunderstanding about Xu Qing, but rather that she didn't want her master to have excessive expectations.

"Rong'er, when judging a person, don't care about what you hear, but what you see and feel."

“I’ve heard about what he did in South Korea, but he’s not a bad person at heart.”

"Being in the South Korean court, at the center of controversy, one must tarnish one's own reputation to protect oneself."

Nian Duan used a rag to open the lid of the medicine pot, and while stirring the herbs inside, she instructed Duanmu Rong.

Her purpose in coming to Korea was Xu Qing, and after entering the Zhang residence, how could she not inquire about Xu Qing's true situation from Zhang Kaidi?

In her view, Xu Qing was a person with both strengths and weaknesses, but no one is perfect, and who isn't like that?
Xu Qing is still young, and with proper guidance, he can be led onto the right path.

"So how do you plan to help him? You're not going to take him as your disciple," Duanmu Rong asked curiously.

"Three men can make a tiger, and many things will happen; three men can also make a dragon, helping people take off."

"When a person is pushed into a certain position, even if he is unwilling, there are some things he has to do and can only act according to the expectations of others."

"Alright, let's send the medicine to the Prime Minister first."

Nian Duan poured the medicine from the medicine pot into a bowl; the brown medicine emitted white steam.

Duanmu Rong carefully placed the soup bowl into a box beside her, then carried the box toward the room where Zhang Kaidi was.

"All diseases and poisons in the world have curable methods, but the poison of power is incurable."

Nian Duan shook her head helplessly as she watched Duanmu Rong's retreating figure. She had no intention of getting involved in the turmoil of the Korean court.

Once Zhang Kaidi's condition improves slightly, she will leave with Duanmu Rong.

On the other side, in the open bedroom.

"Grandfather, why are you sending me to the Little Sage Village in Qi now?!" Zhang Liang asked in astonishment.

"The Little Sage Village is about to begin enrolling students, and the great Confucian scholar Yan Ke has also emerged from seclusion. If you can receive instruction from Mr. Yan Ke, it will greatly benefit you."

"If we miss this opportunity, we may never have another chance."

Zhang Kai leaned back on the bed and said with a serious expression.

“Grandfather, you are now bedridden, how can I leave you?” Zhang Liang refused resolutely.

He knew his grandfather's expectations and always hoped that he could go to Xiaoshengxianzhuang to study.

He had twice gone to Xiaoshengxianzhuang to study, but ultimately failed both times for various reasons.

This recruitment drive at Xiaoshengxianzhuang is a crucial opportunity for him. But given Zhang Kaidi's current situation, how can he possibly leave with peace of mind?
“Foolish filial piety! You should remonstrate with your parents several times, and if they do not listen, you should still respect them and not disobey them, and work hard without complaining. Have you forgotten the words of the sages?” Zhang Kai rebuked.

He had raised Zhang Liang himself, so how could he not know what the other man was thinking?

Because of the changing political landscape, some people even dared to openly take action against him, the clan leader and prime minister of Han.

This is enough to show that some people have already become impatient and are preparing to get rid of him, their political enemy, and he is worried that this will implicate Zhang Liang.

Therefore, he had to get Zhang Liang away from the vortex of Xinzheng for the time being. Even if he lost the struggle in the end, as long as Zhang Liang was safe and sound, the Zhang family would still have hope of making a comeback.

“Grandfather, I know what you are thinking. A virtuous person who is loyal but not filial is a petty person. Filial piety should be done to the utmost, and loyalty should be given to the death.”

"If Little Sage Manor knew that I had abandoned my bedridden grandfather and acted out of a fear of death, would they still accept me?"

"Grandfather, please let me stay!"

Zhang Liang knelt directly in front of the bed, his expression resolute, clearly indicating that he would absolutely not leave.

Meeting Zhang Liang's resolute gaze, Zhang Kai helplessly closed his eyes. For the first time, he felt that he had taught Zhang Liang so well.

He cultivated Zhang Liang's resolute and unyielding character so that he would never give up no matter what difficulties he faced, but he never expected that this perseverance would be used on him the first time.

Just as the two were at an impasse, there was a knock on the door. "Prime Minister, the medicine is ready," Duanmu Rong's voice rang out from outside.

Zhang Kai slowly opened his eyes, looked at Zhang Liang's still youthful but resolute face, and finally nodded helplessly.

"You can stay, but no matter what happens, you must follow my instructions."

"Yes."

Zhang Liang looked delighted and quickly stood up from the ground.

Zhang Liang waved his hand, opened the door, and took the box from Duanmu Rong's hand.

After taking out the medicine, Zhang Liang began to serve Zhang Kaidi the medicine.

In the guest room, Xu Qing was completely absorbed in the bamboo scrolls that Nian Duan had given him.

He even felt that the bamboo slips accumulated by the Imperial Medical Academy over the generations were utterly worthless compared to this scroll of bamboo slips.

The contents of these bamboo slips are incredibly rich, recording more than a dozen diseases, both major and minor, and including all kinds of symptoms that can occur in various people, along with their solutions.

Not only that, there were also many prescriptions he had never heard of before.

Although he hasn't found a prescription to improve his internal strength yet, with Nian Duan, the living medical book, he'll be able to find it out sooner or later.

Xu Qing was completely absorbed in the bamboo slips, and before he knew it, dusk had fallen.

"Is this disturbing you, Imperial Physician?" Zhang Liang's voice rang out at the door.

Xu Qing snapped out of his reverie and looked at Zhang Liang at the door.

"Young Master Zhang, how is the Prime Minister's situation?" Xu Qing asked.

"The Imperial Physician can summon me, Zifang. My grandfather has already taken the medicine, but as for the specific situation, Mr. Nianduan said we still need to wait and see."

"It's getting late. I've come to inquire whether the Imperial Physician wishes to stay overnight at the residence?" Zhang Liang asked.

"It's already dusk? I won't stay overnight. I have to see patients outside the palace tomorrow, so I need to go back and prepare some things," Xu Qing said.

He Guanzi was still waiting for him at the teahouse. He needed to tell He Guanzi about what had happened today and see what the other party's attitude and thoughts were.

"Alright, then I'll see the Imperial Physician off."

"Good work."

After Zhang Liang expressed his gratitude repeatedly, Xu Qing left in the Zhang family's carriage. He planned to go home first to change out of his official robes before going to the teahouse.

Xu Qing sat in the carriage, looking at the bamboo slips in her hand, but her thoughts were on Zhang Kai's illness.

"Could it really be that Ji Wuye targeted Zhang Kaidi? Zhang Kaidi exists to check and balance Han Wang An, and Ji Wuye has long wanted to get rid of him."

"But isn't this method too crude? Zhang Kaidi's sudden death will make anyone with eyes to see him a suspect. Isn't he afraid of Han Wang'an's suspicion?"

Thinking of this, Xu Qing revealed a mocking smile.

“In the original work, he dared to use such an absurd excuse as ghost soldiers to kill people, not to mention that Zhang Kaidi’s previous illness was an indisputable fact.”

"Forget it, I was summoned here to treat the illness. I've done all I can. As for the rest, it's up to Zhang Kaidi's fate."

Xu Qing put the matter aside for the time being. He would just focus on doing his job and didn't want to get involved in anything else.

Suddenly the carriage stopped, the coachman's figure fell down outside the curtain, and a dozen chaotic footsteps sounded from all directions.

A sharp claw came toward the carriage curtain and tore it open in an instant.

Xu Qing looked at the situation outside with a solemn expression. A dozen men dressed in brown clothes and wearing square headscarves blocked the way. These men were holding strangely shaped weapons.

"So you're the Imperial Physician? The brothers would like to ask you to do something."

The man in the lead glared at Xu Qing with hostility, while the others walked towards him with menacing expressions.

The computer broke down again. There's still one chapter left to write. I'll send it back after the author gets the computer fixed.
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(End of this chapter)