You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 88: First Ask Metaphysics, Then Ask Science

South City.

At the corner of an alley, Jiang Qingyun ran into Monk Tianji again. The monk had a bruised and swollen face, clearly having just been beaten up.

Eyes facing each other.

There is a connection between the hearts.

Jiang Qingyun smiled: "Master, how have you been lately?"

“Amitabha, this is not good. This humble monk has been expelled from the mountain hall by Chongfu Temple.”

“Master, why don’t you come and be my attendant from now on? There will be no salary, only three meals a day and coarse linen clothes.”

"Thank you for taking me in, benefactor."

The monk Tianji accepted the invitation without hesitation.

……

They proceeded slowly, inspecting the southern part of the city.

"Master, why did Chongfu Temple kick you out?"

"When the old abbot passed away, the monks all said that he had become a Buddha in his physical body. In reality, it was just that iron rods were driven through his body and the external force was used to keep his body from falling. I exposed this in public, which ruined their source of income. It is normal for me to be kicked out."

"Do you hate it? I can help you get revenge."

"No hate."

"Ah."

Tall watchtowers, regular patrol teams, clean streets, and bright red propaganda slogans—everything seen along the way reflects change.

"Master, do you think I'm great?"

The monk Tianji shook his head.

"Great people do not think they are great."

Zhou Cang was furious, rolled up his sleeves, and was about to beat him.

Jiang Qingyun waved his hand and burst into laughter.

……

"Monk, there is so much suffering in the world. How many people do you think I can save?"

"Amitabha Buddha~ Save as many people as you can. The world is vast, but the number of people is ultimately limited. Even if the Foolish Old Man moves the mountain, there is still hope."

"Hmm, what you said does have a touch of Zen."

After a moment of silence, Jiang Qingyun posed another question.

"Which is more useful to the world: the profound Buddhist teachings or virtuous monks?"

The monk Tianji was speechless.

He pondered for a moment, then said, "This question is too complicated for this humble monk to answer. I will think about it repeatedly until I arrive at an answer."

Jiang Bei looked at Zhou Cang with a completely confused expression.

Zhou Cang shook his head.
……

That night.

Jiang Qingyun hosted a private vegetarian banquet at his residence to entertain the monks.

After three rounds of tea~
Jiang Qingyun waved away the maids serving in the room.

"Monk, can you read faces?"

"This humble monk has some knowledge of physiognomy."

"Could you help me find a few people?"

"It's a woman, isn't it!"

"Yes, how did you know?"

“It’s written all over your eyes.”

Jiang Qingyun was taken aback. "I'm a seasoned official who's lived one or two lifetimes. Are you saying I'm not good at managing my expressions?"

……

After a while.

Jiangnan, Lüzhu, Wanchun, and Hongtao, the four women came together.

Jiang Qingyun smiled and said, "The presence of this esteemed monk is an honor to our humble abode. Ladies, please offer the master tea."

"Yes."

According to their status in the household, the four women served each of them fragrant tea.

Then, she gracefully departed.

Jiang Qingyun gazed at Tianji with a hint of anticipation.

"But it doesn't matter."

"The First Madam is valiant and composed, capable of managing the inner quarters. The Second Madam is meticulous and loyal, a suitable retainer. The Third Madam has bright and charming eyes, a suitable favorite. The Fourth Madam comes from a distinguished background, but her aura is disordered, making her seem out of place, more like an outsider."

Jiang Qingyun nodded, picked up a vegetarian bun, and broke it in half.

He handed half to the monk and stuffed the other half into his own mouth.

"Actually, I have another woman, but it's not convenient to introduce her."

"If there is a name and date of birth, it can be used without a face reading."

"Liu Zhangtai is beautiful and in her early twenties. She was given to her by someone else. Her birth date and place of origin are unknown. She claims to have had a period of spiritual practice."

"Those of unknown origin who offer themselves as wives must have great desires."

……

Jiang Qingyun remained calm.

Continue to ask:

"Master, both of my wives are pregnant now, and I would like to know whether it is a boy or a girl?" "This humble monk is not a god, how could I predict the sex? However, this humble monk believes there will be three."

"Who else?"
"It was probably the fourth wife."

Jiang Qingyun stared at the monk Tianji in disbelief for a long time before going out to call his old maid and instructing her to find Wu Yong's apprentice to come to the mansion for a pulse diagnosis the next day.

"Monk, there's an empty room in Puji Hall that I've already had prepared. You can stay there for now. From now on, I'm the owner, and you're the advisor. Is that alright?"

"Thank you, Mr. Xie."

……

Jiang Qingyun was slightly irritated.

He fought with great force, and his opponents were all wiped out. Only Hong Chengchou, even after becoming a ghost, was unwilling to accept his fate and his spirit lingered.

The Hong siblings cannot be killed for the time being.

But one can use someone else to do the dirty work.

First, use the counterattack of the Great Western Army to kill Hong Shiming, thus fulfilling his wish, so that father and son could both become ghosts of the Qing Dynasty. Then, Hong Tao, overwhelmed with grief, will also die of illness.

Nobody will care.

But man proposes, God disposes; on that one occasion, the woman actually became pregnant.

That's really awkward.
Jiang Qingyun was extremely resentful, and he thought of a phrase: a lingering ghost.

Governor Hong's will to live is too strong; it seems we'll have to use ritual implements to suppress him at his grave.

……

Emperor Shunzhi was also troubled by his marital relationship.

Jingren Palace.

Empress Borjigit, her face ashen, knelt on the cold floor tiles.

Shunzhi's angry roar echoed throughout the hall.

"You are not worthy of your position; you are not fit to be the Empress."

"You are jealous by nature, and you want to kill any pretty palace maid you see. You also love luxury, and all your clothes are adorned with pearls and jade."

"I can no longer tolerate you. Issue an edict to depose the Empress."

Having said that, Shunzhi strode away.

Palace affairs have always been a focus of attention. Soon, the news of the Empress's deposition became common knowledge.

……

South of the city, at the Chiang Kai-shek residence.

"Greetings, Uncle Jiang."

"Nephew, please don't stand on ceremony, please come in."

The one who came was Wu Guo, the eldest son of Wu Yong, the Imperial Physician.

"Thanks to Uncle for the promotion, I obtained this sixth-rank position as a Principal of the Ministry of Rites without any effort."

"We're family, no need to be so polite."

This was their first meeting, and they spent a long time exchanging pleasantries.

"Nephew, is your refusal to join the Imperial Hospital your own choice or your father's?"

Wu Guo was actually about the same age as Jiang Qingyun, but due to their seniority, there was no way around it, so he was still very respectful.

“My father said that my medical skills were not good enough and that I was not suitable to enter the Imperial Hospital.”

"Oh?"

Wu Guo's youthful temper instantly flared up.

“Uncle, you may not know this, but my medical skills are more than enough for the Imperial Medical Academy. There’s nothing difficult about the Imperial Medical Academy. I’ve seen hundreds of their prescriptions, and they can be summed up in just five words.”

Which eight characters?

"The first character is '补' (bǔ, meaning 'supplement')."

"anything else?"

"Clears heat and detoxifies."

Jiang Qingyun laughed heartily and exclaimed, "My dear nephew, you are truly a renowned doctor!" He thought to himself, "Your father was right; you are indeed not suited to join the Imperial Hospital."

……

Hong Tao arrived silently.

To put it nicely, they appear indifferent to praise or criticism; to put it bluntly, they are actually utterly despondent.

She extended her wrist through the curtain.

Wu, without glancing to the side, first placed a thin handkerchief over the patient's hand, then took the pulse. First the left hand, then the right.

He glanced through the curtain again and said, "It's ready."

He only spoke after Hong Tao, who was unaware of the situation, left.

"Congratulations, Uncle, this concubine is pregnant."

"How long?"

"More than a month."

Jiang Qingyun nodded; the timing was right.

"However, the mother's poor mood may have an impact."

"Got it, is it a boy or a girl?"

"It's too early to determine the gender, and according to my father's teachings, it's not appropriate to judge the sex at this time. However, I believe it's a girl."

Jiang Qingyun seemed to have all sorts of thoughts.

He praised again, "My dear nephew is truly a renowned physician of our time."

(End of this chapter)