Chapter 26: Rigorous Process

Song Zhimian knew that Lian Qiao must have her own purpose in entering the palace as a female physician.

Lianqiao is skilled in medicine, having learned it from an old doctor since childhood. She is knowledgeable about medicinal herbs, while other female doctors only have a superficial understanding and need further systematic training.

Forsythia, however, does not require this.

She can now prepare her own ointment.

Adding to the unusual behavior of Lian Qiao when she saw Prince Zhao and Cai Boju that day, Song Zhimian knew that Lian Qiao's goal must be quite significant.

"Lianqiao, do you deal with those medicinal herbs all day long?" Song Zhimian asked deliberately.

Lian Qiao hummed in agreement.

"All day long, I'm identifying medicinal herbs, looking at them, learning about their medicinal properties, and figuring out which herbs clash with each other."

In short, those medical officers were all teaching us diligently.

"Zhimian, are you still spending all your time learning etiquette and rules?" Lianqiao asked with a smile.

Song Zhimian nodded.

"There are so many rules! It's not just the palace rules and inner court regulations we learned when we were in class together."

The six bureaus and one division have quite a few of their own rules.

Today, we had our lessons taught by the head chef of the Imperial Kitchen.

Is it the simplest thing for nobles to eat every day?

"This matter looks simple, but the process is actually quite complicated," Song Zhimian said, looking into Lian Qiao's eyes.

Lianqiao's eyes indeed became serious.

"Isn't it just a meal? It's served every day. The imperial kitchen prepares the meals and distributes them to each palace every day."

Then the palace servants and eunuchs in each palace would serve the noblemen to eat it!

"Is this... very complicated?" Lian Qiao asked.

Song Zhimian waved her hand.

"These are things we normally see, just like the meals we eat every day. They seem pretty simple, don't they?"

Actually, it's much more complicated than we think.

Starting the night before, the imperial kitchen would begin preparing the meals for the next day.

The vegetables, meat, water, and even the charcoal used for cooking all need to have a source.

It is necessary to keep detailed records of where the food came from, who handled it, what time it entered the imperial kitchen, and who was in charge of it.

In addition, when the meals were first prepared, it was also necessary to keep records of which royal chef prepared them and who assisted them.

After the meals were prepared, the eunuchs delivered them to the various palaces. The order of which eunuch delivered the meals to which palace and which palace servant the meals were given to was also recorded.

After the palace servants received the food, a special food taster would try it first before it was served to the nobles.

If any noble person in the palace had a problem or felt unwell, the first thing to check was their diet.

Then all the palace servants and eunuchs along that line, the imperial chefs who prepared the meals, and the people who supplied the meals were to be thoroughly investigated.

"It's very strict!" Song Zhimian said, while casually glancing at Lian Qiao's expression.

Lianqiao's expression did indeed change slightly.

"Is it that strict? Does dining have to be this complicated?" Lian Qiao asked subconsciously.

"Of course! Anything that goes into the mouth will be subject to strict standards."

Actually, it's not just the diet that's strictly controlled.

If those important people were unwell and needed medicine, the treatment was very strict.

I vaguely heard from others that each noble person's medicine was handled by a dedicated imperial physician and female physician.

Anyway, if something goes wrong with the important person at the entrance, the investigation will involve a whole host of people.

I heard that during the reign of the late emperor, there was a young apprentice doctor who was preparing medicine. He was punished by a prince and secretly added something to the medicine while preparing it.

Later, it was discovered by the Imperial Medical Academy.

Not only was the young medical apprentice beaten to death on the spot, but the imperial physician who brought him was also thrown into prison.

The eunuch who recommended the young medical apprentice was also beaten and driven out.

Anyway... anyone connected to that little medical apprentice didn't fare well." Song Zhimian said softly.

Lianqiao has stopped talking.

She stared blankly out the window, seemingly in a daze.

With such strict requirements... do you think she can succeed?

"Lianqiao, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Song Zhimian gently tugged at Lianqiao, who was lost in thought.

Lian Qiao forced a laugh twice, then quickly shook her head.

"N-nothing...it's just that working in the palace is really tough!"

"It's definitely difficult. The imperial family is in the palace. If we're not strict, what if others find a loophole?"

Oh, by the way, do you know what foods are good for your eyes?

My eyes are blurry from copying those regulations so many times these past two days.

"I'm afraid my eyes will be ruined by the time I finish copying all those regulations." Song Zhimian immediately changed the subject.

Lianqiao quickly came to her senses.

She thought for a moment and then gave her advice.

"To protect your eyes, eat more lamb liver. We're currently in the inner palace, and our meals are all fixed. No one is willing to prepare special meals for us."

It's currently impossible to eat lamb liver.

You can eat more goji berries.

Goji berries are available at the Imperial Pharmacy and other pharmacies.

However, the Imperial Household Department has regulations that prohibit medicinal herbs from entering the department and the palace without permission.

"If you want to eat goji berries, you can only tell Auntie in charge of medicine, and she will get them for you from the Imperial Pharmacy," Lian Qiao said earnestly.

Song Zhimian wrote it down carefully.

The two then spoke a few more words, and Lianqiao returned before the other candidates for female official position came back.

In the following days, Lian Qiao did not come to see Song Zhimian.

Even when they met on the road, Lian Qiao only managed a forced smile, nodded to Song Zhimian, and went back to her own courtyard.

Song Zhimian could clearly sense that Lian Qiao's spirits had been off these past few days, as if she were a completely different person.

Finally, three days later, Lianqiao made a mistake during the routine assessment of the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. She picked up the wrong medicinal material and was slapped on the palm of her hand ten times.

Lianqiao, who had been outstanding among all the female doctors, suddenly became listless.

After learning that Lian Qiao had been punished, Song Zhimian took some snacks that she had secretly obtained from the nanny and went to see Lian Qiao.

...

As soon as Song Zhimian entered the room where Lian Qiao lived, she saw Lian Qiao sitting on her bed with her knees drawn up to her chest.

She didn't wash up, and just sat on the bed with her knees drawn up, lost in thought.

Her long, flowing hair fell loosely down her back, making her look even thinner.

"You haven't eaten yet! I brought you some osmanthus cake, have a taste!" Song Zhimian placed the plate of osmanthus cake in front of Lian Qiao.

Lianqiao whispered a thank you.

"Are you alone in this room? Where is the female physician candidate?" Song Zhimian asked in a low voice.

"She went to help the head of the medicine department count the medicinal herbs, and she won't be back for a long time!" Lian Qiao said in a very soft voice.

Song Zhimian took out the ointment that Lian Qiao had given her earlier and carefully applied it to Lian Qiao's hands.

Lian Qiao remained silent, watching Song Zhimian apply ointment to her swollen hands.

"Actually... no matter what you do, don't rush!"

Sometimes it's just that the timing isn't right, and sometimes it's because you're not capable enough.

"Neither of these two things can be missing!" Song Zhimian said while applying Lianqiao's ointment to her palms.

Lianqiao's hand trembled...

Song Zhimian ignored her and continued to carefully apply the ointment...