The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

The eunuch hesitated for a moment and said, "Master Zhang has intestinal abscess and is suffering from persistent bloody stool."

Wanli frowned and said, "Hurry up and ask the imperial physician to take a look. If there is any medicine needed, just get it from the storehouse."

"The imperial physician has already gone. The empress dowager has also sent someone to express her condolences," said the eunuch.

Wanli nodded: "Tell the teacher to rest and recuperate, and come back when he is better."

Min Xi was listening to this, and his heart was filled with emotion. He couldn't remember where he had read this, but it said that Zhang Juzheng died from a hemorrhoid surgery. He thought it was a wild history at the time, but now it seems that it is indeed possible. Beijing has a dry climate, and there are few fresh fruits and vegetables in winter at that time. Zhang Juzheng ate delicate food, which made him prone to getting angry. It is very likely that he would suffer from constipation. If this lasted for a long time, he would have hemorrhoids.

In addition, Zhang Juzheng was busy with official duties, devoted all his energy to state affairs, and was old, so his body's resistance was not as good as before. Once he had hemorrhoids, they would be very serious.

It would be such a pity if Zhang Juzheng really died from hemorrhoid surgery.

Min Xi chatted with Wanli for a while, then left the palace. He was concerned about Zhang Juzheng's health, so he planned to visit Zhang's house and pay a visit to Zhang Juzheng.

After returning home, Min Xi told Yun Ji about the news he heard in the palace today.

Yun Ji said, "I heard that Zhang Ge Lao has had intestinal abscesses for many years. This year, it is particularly serious. Sometimes even several layers of pants will be soaked with blood."

Min Xi frowned: "Why have I never heard you mention it?"

"This is the elder's private matter, and I can't bring it up to you for no reason." Yun Ji said.

"This is not a private matter! It concerns the life of Lord Zhang." Min Xi was worried, "Let's go and pay a visit to Lord Zhang."

Yun Ji was stunned: "Going at this time?"

Min Xi nodded: "Yes, if I don't go at this time, I'm afraid I won't have the chance in the future."

"What do you mean?" Yun Ji knew that Min Xi knew a lot of secrets.

"I can't tell you directly, but it's very serious anyway. I'll explain it to you later. Tomorrow you can accompany me to Zhang's house and ask for half a day off from the government office."

Yun Ji heard that it was very serious, and he didn't dare to refuse: "Okay!"

So early the next morning, Min Xi and Yun Ji went out, and they brought some medicinal herbs and fresh fruits with them.

When they arrived at Zhang's house, they were stopped by the doorman: "The master is ill and cannot see guests. Please go back, my lords."

Min Xi said, "I heard that the Lord is ill. I may have a way to relieve the Lord's pain. Please inform us."

The doorman was skeptical, so he let the two in and turned back to convey Min Xi's intention to the steward.

The front yard steward looked at Min Xi and said, "Sir, do you really have a way to relieve my master's illness?"

Min Xi said: "I can't guarantee it, but I can definitely give it a try."

The steward led Min Xi to the living room and asked them to wait for a while. After a long while, the steward led the haggard Madam Gao out.

Mrs. Gao looked at the two strangers with a skeptical expression on her face: "Who are you?"

Yun Ji hurriedly bowed and introduced himself: "Madam, I am Yun Ji, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Revenue, and this is my brother Min Xi, the Chief Clerk of the Honglu Temple."

Min Xi said: "I heard that you were not feeling well, so I came to visit you. Maybe I can find a way to relieve your pain."

When Madam Gao heard their names, her brows relaxed slightly: "It turns out to be Lord Yun and Lord Min. My master is not feeling well. Do you really have a way to relieve his pain?"

"I am willing to give it a try." Min Xi said.

"Please follow me." Mrs. Gao turned and went into the house, and Min Xi and Yun Ji followed.

After passing through several courtyards, they arrived at the courtyard where Zhang Juzheng lived. They saw a mess inside. Maids and boys were carrying water and basins, running hurriedly in the corridors. If you didn't know, you would think that some daughter-in-law was about to give birth.

Min Xi and Yun Ji stood outside the door and heard the sound of something being thrown inside. They could also vaguely hear Zhang Juzheng cursing, "It's just a piece of intestine. It's so painful. I must cut it off today. Where's Doctor Chen? Hasn't he come yet?"

Madam Gao went in, lifted the beaded curtain, and said, "Doctor Chen hasn't come yet. It's Master Yun and Master Min who are here to see you."

"What are they doing here? Didn't you say you wouldn't see guests?" Zhang Juzheng was not feeling well and naturally had a bad temper.

Mrs. Gao said, "The two masters said they have a way to relieve the master's pain."

Zhang Juzheng was stunned for a moment, then said, "Let them come in and talk through the curtain."

After a while, someone came to lead Min Xi and Yun Ji into the house. The room was filled with a strong smell of medicine, and maids and boys came in and out like a stream. There was no other sound in the room except the sound of footsteps and the sound of pouring water. Min Xi noticed that the maids standing outside were holding trays with all kinds of delicacies from land and sea, all of which were exquisite.

Madam Gao stood outside the curtain, covering her face and sighing, "Master has a poor appetite and hasn't eaten properly for a few days. Today he didn't eat a single grain of rice. I don't know if his body can hold up."

Before Min Xi and Yun Ji opened their mouths to speak, Zhang Juzheng inside spoke up: "Is it Yun Ji and Min Xi?"

"I heard that you were unwell, so I came here specially to visit you, hoping to help you solve your problems." Min Xi said hurriedly.

"Do you have a way to help me out of this predicament?" Zhang Juzheng asked through the curtain. He looked disheveled and didn't want to be seen by outsiders.

Min Xi said: "I have a few words to say to you alone. It concerns the future of the Ming Dynasty. I hope you will help me."

Zhang Juzheng remembered what Min Xi had said to him before, so he said to the people in the room, "All of you go down. Wait outside."

Madam Gao hesitated: "Master, should I go out too?"

"You can go too." Zhang Juzheng said.

Yun Ji looked at Min Xi, asking with his eyes whether he wanted to leave, but Min Xi held him back and he shook his head slightly.

After everyone left, Zhang Juzheng said, "Come in and talk."

Min Xi and Yun Ji then entered the beaded curtain and saw Zhang Juzheng lying on the bed, wearing a middle-length shirt and a thin quilt covering his waist. There was a faint smell of blood coming from him, and it seemed that he had suffered a lot: "The elder has suffered."

Zhang Juzheng waved his hand feebly: "If you have something to say, please speak up."

"Then I will be frank with you. Your Excellency's surgery cannot be performed." Min Xi went straight to the point.

Zhang Juzheng looked at Min Xi in surprise: "Why?"

"The elder minister encountered a disaster because of this," said Min Xi.

"You said I would die from hemorrhoid surgery?" Zhang Juzheng was extremely smart. As soon as Min Xi said that, he made the connection.

"Hemorrhoids are not a life-threatening disease. If you have surgery at this time of year, various flies and invisible poisonous insects will be active, which will make it difficult for your wound to heal and cause complications. You are old and have worked hard for the country. Your body is weak. I am afraid you will not be able to survive such complications. It will be very dangerous."

Zhang Juzheng stared at Min Xi for a long time before he said, "But this disease has been tormenting me for decades. It is really unbearable. What should I do?"

Min Xi said: "The recurrence of your illness is not only due to your overwork, but also has a lot to do with your diet."

Zhang Juzheng asked, "What do you mean?"

"I think your eating habits follow the ancient saying that one should never tire of fine food. But it is precisely because your diet is too fine that you have difficulty using the toilet. If you trust me, you can eat simple meals and eat more vegetables and fresh fruits. In a few days, you will be able to use the toilet smoothly. I know some cooking methods, and I will prepare some recipes for you and let the chef in your house make them. You may as well try it." Min Xi's words were very sincere.

Zhang Juzheng heard this and said, "But now I can't go to the toilet, what should I do?"

"The imperial physician should have a way to relieve constipation. Starting from the next meal, the Lord will insist on eating simple tea and light meals to see if it is as I said."

"Let's give it a try." Zhang Juzheng was also troubled by constipation and had no other choice.

To be honest, Min Xi had no choice. He didn't want to let Zhang Juzheng go just like that. Although Wanli had changed, he was still a young man under 20 years old and had far less experience in governing a country. The Ming Dynasty still needed Zhang Juzheng, so he took the risk to give it a try.