Clearly, this was a deal.
If Lu Ming cured Zhang Rang's adopted son, Zhang Rang would use Emperor Ling's influence to help Lu Ming suppress Wu Ban's affair.
This kind of thing could be big or small, entirely depending on whether he wanted to manipulate it.
A pawn can only gain a sliver of initiative and sufficient benefit by maximizing its role, thus potentially becoming the player in the game.
"That's alright, but the medicinal herbs are rather difficult to find. I'll try to find some time tomorrow. This matter isn't certain, and I can't guarantee it," Lu Ming said, his brows furrowed, appearing unusually serious.
This actually reassured Zhang Rang considerably. If Lu Ming had guaranteed a cure, he would have been more skeptical.
Having seen too many boastful people, he found it surprisingly pleasant to be around such an honest person.
The two discussed various matters, which Emperor Ling overheard, but he ignored it, preoccupied with his affairs with the palace maid.
He shivered slightly, then stopped, and soon fell fast asleep.
The palace maid beneath him, blushing, got up and dressed, still needing to attend to Emperor Ling as he lay down.
"Anmin, please come with me," Zhang Rang said, after covering Emperor Ling with a blanket, and personally led a group to find a side hall for Lu Ming to sleep in.
It was Lu Ming's first time staying overnight in the palace, and he still found it quite novel.
He was unaware that Yuan Shi and Yang Shi already knew, and were beginning to waver.
Being able to stay overnight in the palace at least proved the other person's ability and their position in the emperor's heart.
Originally, they thought Lu Ming would be neglected after his unpleasant encounter with the eldest son of the Marquis of Zhao, but now it seemed they had worried too much.
Yuan Kui was about to go to sleep, but after receiving the news, he found himself unable to sleep.
He hadn't expected that Lu Ming, whom he considered a little beast, could reach this point; now, dealing with him was proving difficult.
But letting him swallow this insult was absolutely out of the question; the thought of it was making him increasingly enraged!
On the other hand, the Yang family's attitude was somewhat ambiguous, remaining neutral, watching the drama unfold from the sidelines.
Who won or lost was of no consequence to them.
And the influence Lu Ming had displayed might just entice the Yang family to invest a little.
Actually, this so-called side hall was merely a slightly larger room than a regular one. There were still palace maids serving him, but Lu Ming hadn't taken them. Who knew if they'd been used before? His focus was no longer on women.
Calming himself down, Lu Ming lay on the bed and began his exploration.
On the panel, the palace was a map.
He could spend time exploring, each session lasting fifteen minutes, with each exploration representing three percent progress.
Understanding the map clearly would also benefit him.
This was the right choice; after all, it was the palace, and countless eyes were watching him.
Lu Ming's obedience, ironically, saved his life. A troop of battle-hardened soldiers patrolled outside constantly. Although the Imperial Guards had declined, their foundation remained strong; a real fight wouldn't be easy.
The names of various locations appeared, along with the route: Daming Hall, Yangxin Hall, North Garden, the Inner Palace, Shufang Hall, Mingxin Hall, Yongxiang, and the Cold Palace.
The sky was already turning white, and the sun was rising. Lu Ming, deciding it was about time, got up and left.
Zhang Rang, having somehow received word of the situation, was also prepared early in the morning. After a long wait, Lu Ming got up. "Anmin, did you sleep well last night?"
"Thanks to Lord Zhang's hospitality, I slept soundly. It's getting late, and the day's work begins in the morning. I plan to go see Lord Zhang's son first, and then make further plans." Lu Ming knew what the other man was thinking. "Zhang Rang, I'm entrusting Wu Ban's matter to you."
"Of course, of course. Anmin, please go ahead. This is my family's token. Wherever you go, show this token, and my adopted son will know." Zhang Rang had naturally come for his adopted son. Lu Ming wasn't worth his flattery, but Lu Ming's medical skills were.
All of this was for his adopted son, for his descendants.
The pain of a parent outliving their child is unbearable. If he could be cured, all the better; if not, he would have to accept it.
With Zhang Rang seeing him off, the palace guards dared not cause trouble.
Instead, they remembered Lu Ming's appearance, determined not to offend such a powerful figure in the future.
In the palace, the most important thing is to recognize faces, know who holds what position, and avoid offending or making things difficult for anyone.
Leaving the palace, Lu Ming finally saw Jiang Qin, who had been waiting outside all night. "Gongyi, go back to your residence and rest. I have some matters to attend to."
"Heh, my lord underestimates me. Back when we were fleeing—well, during the hunt—we didn't sleep for three days and three nights. This is nothing. I'm well-rested." Jiang Qin laughed heartily. Since he had decided to pledge his loyalty, he would do his best.
Moreover, for his lord to allow him to stay overnight in the palace was a tremendous honor!
"Haha, good, then follow me." Lu Ming didn't stand on ceremony, and with his entourage and personal guards, he headed east of the city. He mounted his horse and rode towards Zhang Feng's residence.
The residence Zhang Rang chose for his adopted son was located in the east of the city. Its sheer size was astonishing. The main gate had three rooms, and the main hall, wing buildings, and rear building were arranged arbitrarily on both the east and west sides, typically with five to seven courtyards on each side. Gardens were attached to the back or sides of the residence, and some even included stables and family temples.
Compared to theirs, his own residence was truly quite simple.
The gatekeepers were initially reluctant to open the door, but upon hearing that Lu Ming had been sent by Zhang Rang, they dared not be negligent.
Normally, if someone came to curry favor or seek connections, they wouldn't dare say such a thing. If it were discovered they weren't, it wouldn't be a simple matter of being driven away; they could be imprisoned!
Seeing the token in Lu Ming's hand, the servants led him to the living room.
After a short while, a graceful young woman with a mature and alluring figure entered. Her phoenix eyes scanned the area, quickly settling on Lu Ming. "Does Your Excellency possess a token from Attendant Zhang?"
"The token is here." Lu Ming displayed the jade pendant.
The elegant young woman took the pendant and examined it carefully for a while before nodding and saying, "It is indeed Attendant Zhang's token. May I ask your name, sir?"
Looking at the young woman before him, so poised and graceful, possessing the air of a well-bred lady, Lu Ming felt a touch of admiration. "My name is Lu Ming, Commandant of the Western Garden Army and concurrently Prefect of Longxi Commandery. Attendant Zhang entrusted me to examine his adopted son. May I ask who you are, madam?"