Chapter 516 A Dream of Youth 48

Xie Ning, who had been waiting in the courtyard, never expected that Xie Wangzhi would not use this merit to seek an official position, but instead plead for a teacher for her.

“Father…” She couldn’t deny that she was somewhat moved.

“Bao’er, you must study hard, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you don’t want to study anymore, just tell your father, and then we can learn something else.” Xie Wangzhi teased Xie Ning.

Chen and Xie looked at the three carts of rewards, both mother and son were quite excited.

Prince Duan was not a stingy person. Since Xie Wangzhi did not make any demands, he simply gave him more money as a reward.

Madam Chen picked up a piece of pink fabric and held it up against Xie Ning, saying, "Baby, this color looks good on you. Tomorrow, your mother will cut it up and make you new clothes."

Xie Qi also came over carrying a bolt of red cloth. "Mother, I want to use this cloth to make clothes!"

It will definitely be very bright!

"Okay, do them all!" Madam Chen was very happy. These fabrics were all of very good quality, and the plump gold ingots on the tray warmed her heart.

With the new prescriptions that addressed the symptoms and various measures to prevent and control the plague, the plague outside the city was quickly brought under control.

When he had some free time, Physician Mu would visit Xie Wangzhi to fulfill his promise to teach his youngest daughter.

However, Imperial Physician Mu never expected that Xie Wangzhi's youngest daughter would be so young...

"Ahem—, can Ning Jie'er read yet?" Surely he wouldn't have to start by teaching a child to read? Just thinking about it made Physician Mu feel dizzy.

He hasn't taught any children who haven't started their formal education in a long time; he only taught children in his clan when he was younger.

"He can read and write." Xie Ning knew what Physician Mu was thinking at a glance and quickly said.

Xie Wangzhi, who was standing to the side, also smiled and said, "Doctor Mu, don't worry. Bao'er has already started her studies, but she has only learned some classics such as 'The Great Learning,' 'The Doctrine of the Mean,' and 'The Analects.' You can test her a bit."

Is this still "only"?

Physician Mu thought to himself, "Xie Wangzhi shouldn't be showing off so obviously."

But it's no wonder. What family has a little girl this young who isn't playing with dolls but is already able to read and write and has read so many books? This family must have raised their little girl like a boy, right?

After much deliberation, Physician Mu did not test Xie Ning on anything from "The Great Learning" or "The Doctrine of the Mean." Instead, he took out an old book, opened it, and asked Xie Ning if he recognized any of the characters. Then he asked Xie Ning to read it aloud.

"Rhinoceros horn relieves heart heat; antelope horn clears lung and liver heat. Alisma promotes urination and relieves strangury while replenishing yin deficiency... Dichroa febrifuga clears phlegm and treats malaria; Lepidium apetalum clears lung heat and relieves asthma while promoting urination. These are the sixty-six kinds of medicines that are cold in nature."

Physician Mu listened and nodded, "Not bad, not bad. Today we'll start by learning pharmacology. Come, I'll teach you how to identify herbs."

He brought a lot of medicinal herbs with him, and when he saw the little Xie Ning, he thought he wouldn't need them, but he didn't expect this little girl to be so smart.

Xie Wangzhi quietly withdrew, leaving the old man and the child alone. Chen walked to Xie Wangzhi's side and looked towards the study from across the corridor.

"Are we really going to let Bao'er study medicine?"

Although she didn't think there was anything wrong with studying medicine, as a young lady from a respectable family, no one would specifically study medicine and even think about treating patients; at most, they would learn some pharmacology.

"If she likes it, let her be. Don't worry about what others say."

Madam Chen nodded. She was just worried about Xie Ning's future. If Xie Ning really wanted to go out and practice medicine... she didn't really agree with it. After all, people's opinions were a powerful force, and her child was so young. How could he bear it?

Xie Ning, however, had no such worries. Her medical talent was quickly recognized by Imperial Physician Mu, who couldn't help but lament to his colleagues, "That child is talented. If it were a boy, I would have taken him under my wing and brought him to the capital."

"So intelligent?" His colleagues were somewhat skeptical, thinking that Physician Mu was just being overly fond of Xie Ning. When it was their turn to teach Xie Ning, they couldn't help but feel sorry for him when they returned.

"Why is it a girl? She's such a promising medical student."

If they were absorbed into their own family, they would definitely be able to lead their family to a higher level.

"You're overthinking it."

One of the physicians shook his head. "Doesn't the Xie family have an eldest son? I think this Ning-jie is even more intelligent than Xie Qi. If she were a boy, she would definitely study and pass the imperial examinations like her brother. Why would she come to study medicine?"

Even in their family, any children with academic talent were sent to academies to study; learning medicine was just a less desirable option.

Upon hearing this, all the physicians sighed softly.

Yes, if she weren't a girl, they wouldn't have a chance to teach her.