Chapter 11 Mei Xi (Eleven) Manpower or system changes? ...

The trip to the Treasury and the "injured and sick treatment order" in the palace area were like two stones thrown into a stagnant pond, causing ripples at the bottom of the royal court. The glimmer of light called "kindness" brought by Concubine Yuan, Mei Xi, although weak, truly illuminated countless lives struggling on the edge of despair.

Lin Jiaojiao could feel that a faint spark of hope began to ignite in those eyes that were once numb and fearful, and the gazes cast towards her, in addition to awe, were filled with an indescribable gratitude and... piety?

This change made her feel heavy-hearted. She knew that what she had done was far from enough. The simple environment in the palace area, the lack of medicine, and the dilemma of Doctor Zhao facing huge demands alone all made her worried. She had to do something, even if it was only to help reduce Zhao's burden a little bit and improve the efficiency of treatment a little bit.

That afternoon, the sun shone through the high windows, casting warm spots of light on the cold floor of the side hall.

Lin Jiaojiao sat on a low couch covered with thick thatch. The wound on her right shoulder only left a slight soreness and swelling, which hardly affected her movements. She watched Chun carefully arranging the soft linen cloth that Ku Ding had just sent, which had been boiled in boiling water and dried, and she had an idea in her mind.

"Chun," she said softly, "go and ask Doctor Zhao to come over. Just tell him... my shoulder injury has recovered well, but there are some minor issues, and I'd like him to take another look." She needed a reasonable excuse.

"Yes!" Chun responded and left.

Not long after, steady footsteps echoed outside the palace. Doctor Zhao, still wearing his dark hemp robe and carrying his familiar wicker medicine box, appeared at the door. He bowed and saluted, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Concubine Yuan."

"No need to be so polite, medical officer." Lin Jiaojiao nodded slightly, motioning him to come forward.

Zhao walked over to the bed, set down his medicine box, and his gaze habitually fell on Lin Jiaojiao's right shoulder. He didn't immediately examine her, but first carefully observed her complexion. The sun slanted across her face, revealing her skin, translucent and radiant with a healthy blush. Her clear eyes were brighter than they had been a few days before. She radiated a restrained brilliance, like a precious piece of jade that had been carefully cared for.

A barely perceptible trace of satisfaction flashed across his eyes, and then he lowered his eyelashes and said in a steady voice, "Please undress, Madam Princess, and allow me to examine your wound."

Lin Jiaojiao cooperated and unbuttoned her outer robe, revealing her right shoulder. The new skin was pink and smooth, and the scar was so faint that it was almost invisible. Only if you looked closely could you find a faint mark.

Zhao's fingers had thin calluses from years of contact with herbs, and they felt cool and steady. He carefully pressed and moved her shoulder joint to check the healing process. His movements were precise and gentle, with the concentration and rigor unique to a doctor.

"My Lady Consort has recovered very well." After a moment, Zhao withdrew his hand, his voice still calm. "The scar is light and the joints are movable. She will be fine after some rest."

"Thank you, Doctor." Lin Jiaojiao pulled up her clothes, her eyes fixed on Zhao's medicine box. She asked casually, "Doctor, have you been very busy lately? There seem to be quite a few injured people in the palace area."

Zhao's movements paused almost imperceptibly. He raised his eyes, and his deep eyes looked at Lin Jiaojiao with a barely perceptible inquiry: "The Princess is kind-hearted and considerate of the people. Recently... the number of patients seeking medical treatment has indeed increased." He did not say much, but there was a barely perceptible heaviness in his tone. The environment in the palace area was harsh, the injuries were complicated, and medicines were scarce. Even though he had the ability to rejuvenate, he often felt powerless.

Lin Jiaojiao caught a glimpse of the heaviness in his eyes. She sighed softly, her voice tinged with genuine worry. "Yesterday, I went to the palace quarters and saw many people suffering from festering sores. I'm afraid it's difficult for the medical officer alone to treat them all." She paused, looking at Zhao sincerely. "Although I'm not proficient in medicine,... when I was young in the countryside, I did come across some folk remedies that might provide some relief. I wonder if the medical officer... would be willing to listen?"

Zhao's gaze suddenly fixed, and he stared at Lin Jiaojiao intently. A complex mix of emotions instantly surged in those calm eyes—surprise, confusion, scrutiny, and a hint of... inexplicable anticipation. He recalled her previous suggestions of "boiling the cloth in boiling water" and "separating the powder into separate packages." While unheard of, upon closer examination, they did seem to make some sense. Could it be... that this imperial concubine truly possessed some unusual insights?

"Please speak, my lady." Zhao's voice was a little deeper, with unprecedented concentration. He leaned forward slightly, as if listening attentively.

Lin Jiaojiao calmed down slightly. She carefully considered her words and tried to use language that could be understood by this era. "I have seen villagers treat minor wounds and ulcers with a common... 'cleaning' method. They take clean water, boil it, and then let it cool, then rinse the wound repeatedly to wash away the pus, blood and dirt. Although this method cannot cure it immediately, it can greatly reduce the redness, swelling, heat and pain, and the wound is also... less likely to worsen." She carefully avoided modern words such as "bacteria" and "infection".

"Clean?" Zhao repeated the word in a low voice, frowning slightly, as if thinking. Rinse the wound with boiling water? This was indeed something he had never thought of. His usual herbal compresses were effective, but they were indeed limited in their effect on deep ulcers and pus. Repeated rinsing... seemed... feasible?

Seeing him lost in thought, Lin Jiaojiao didn't immediately refute him. Feeling a little relieved, she continued, "Also... for those sores that are red, swollen, hot, painful, and even oozing yellow fluid, I remember... the villagers often boil wild chrysanthemum and licorice root together to make a thick juice. After it cools, they dip a clean cloth in the juice and apply it to the affected area, changing it several times a day. This juice... seems to have the effect of clearing heat and reducing swelling."

Zhao knew that wild chrysanthemum cleared away heat, while licorice root harmonized the medicinal properties, but boiling the two into a concentrated juice for external application? This combination was quite novel, and he silently took note.

"Also..." Lin Jiaojiao thought of the palace maids who had developed fevers from cold or fatigue. "If someone has a persistent fever and is listless, use mint leaves." She described the scent and appearance. "Then use gan root and some... ginger slices. Boil them together into a decoction. Drink it while it's warm to induce sweating. After the sweating, the fever often subsides a bit."

Peppermint is pungent and cool, relieving exterior symptoms; sweet root soothes urgency and harmonizes the stomach; ginger induces perspiration and dispels cold… Zhao's eyes flashed. This combination, seemingly simple, yet implicitly conforms to medical principles. It seems even milder and more effective than the several fever-reducing prescriptions he often uses? This is definitely not the insight of an ordinary "countryside remedy"!

Lin Jiaojiao listed several small methods that she thought were relatively safe, easy to use and effective. They were all basic trauma treatment and fever-reducing prescriptions.

As she spoke, she observed Zhao's reaction. She saw that he was in deep thought at first, then frowned slightly, with confusion and surprise mixed in his eyes. In the end, his deep eyes actually revealed a hint of... shock and... fanaticism?

Yes, fanaticism, that is the light that a medical fanatic will reveal when faced with medical skills that he has never heard of but seems to contain the truth.

[External Subject (Zhao) Emotional Fluctuations: Surprise → Contemplation → Shock → Curiosity (Peak). Threat Level: Very Low → None. Intention Analysis: Highly Curiosity-driven.] The system's analysis accurately captured Zhao's current state.

After Lin Jiaojiao finished speaking, the hall fell into silence, with only the occasional bird calls outside the window and the crackling of burning firewood in the fire pit.

Zhao was silent for a long time before slowly raising his head and gazing at Lin Jiaojiao with a burning gaze. His eyes were as sharp as a scalpel, as if he could see through her. His voice was low, with a hint of barely perceptible excitement: "What the Concubine Yuan said... the 'cleansing' method involves rinsing the wound with boiling water... applying a decoction of wild chrysanthemum and ganyu root... and using a decoction of mint, ganyu root, and ginger slices to reduce fever... Are these... what the Concubine Yuan saw in the countryside?"

Lin Jiaojiao felt a little uneasy under his gaze, but she forced herself to nod calmly, "That's right. I've found this method... quite effective, so I've informed the medical officer. The medical officer is highly skilled, so perhaps you could consider it and see if it would be of any benefit to the palace maids?"

Zhao took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He stood up and bowed deeply to Lin Jiaojiao, his gesture more solemn than ever before. "Your Majesty... thank you for your guidance! This method... is unheard of, but upon closer consideration, it aligns with medical principles. Your Majesty... will definitely verify it carefully. If it is effective, I will promote it to relieve the suffering of the palace ladies!"

His voice was filled with an irrepressible excitement and gratitude. This was not only an endorsement of a few "traditional remedies", but also an acceptance of a brand new way of thinking. This Princess Yuan brought not only beauty and kindness, but more likely... an opportunity to change the landscape of medical technology.

Lin Jiaojiao looked at the undisguised excitement and respect in Zhao's eyes, and a huge weight finally lifted from her heart. Phew... her words hadn't been in vain. She smiled faintly, a smile like ice just beginning to melt, carrying a pure warmth. "Medical Officer, you're too kind. If you can be of any help, I'll be at peace."

Zhao once again gave Lin Jiaojiao a deep look, his gaze complex and indescribable, filled with too much inquiry, gratitude, and... an indescribable respect. He picked up his medicine box and bowed to take his leave. "I'll take my leave now. I'll immediately prepare to verify the method taught by Concubine Yuan!"

Looking at his hurriedly leaving back, Lin Jiaojiao breathed a sigh of relief. She knew that this was just a beginning, but at least, she had opened a small door of hope for those palace people struggling in pain, and she had also established a new and subtle connection based on "medical skills" with this unfathomable Zhao medical officer.

However, after the joy, a trace of worry quietly crept into my heart.

Zhao was still too little, with so many palace servants, constantly injured and sick. Even if he had three heads and six arms, he wouldn't be able to handle it all... Moreover, although these methods were simple, they required manpower to execute them. She thought of the helpless eyes of the palace servants, the festering wounds on the old slaves' legs, and a feeling of powerlessness washed over her again. What she was doing was just a drop in the bucket. Could it really change anything?

Host's Emotional Fluctuation: Worry (Rising). Logical Analysis: Significant gap exists between the goal (improving medical conditions) and current resources (number of doctors, implementation manpower). Risk Assessment: Target Achievement Expectation Lowered to 35%. The system's cold voice echoed, like a precise scalpel, dissecting her predicament.

35%? Sure enough, it wasn't enough. Lin Jiaojiao felt bitter, and the sense of accomplishment she had just felt was instantly diluted. She looked out the window. The sun was still bright, but it couldn't dispel the haze in her heart. System... Am I... too naive? She couldn't help but ask in her heart, with a hint of confusion and fatigue.

[…Zizi…] The system was silent for a moment, the cold electronic sound seeming to fluctuate slightly, almost imperceptibly. […Host Behavior Logic: Optimize Living Environment (Group). Execution Strategy: Effective (Verified). Resource Gap: Objectively Existing. Suggestion: Expand Execution Units. Emotion Simulation Unit: …Redundant Data (Host Concern) …Analysis…Logical Conflict…Zizi…Execution Unit Expansion…Priority Increased…]

This sound... seemed a little different from before? Lin Jiaojiao keenly caught the faint noise and brief pause.

The system… was “thinking”? Furthermore, it seemed… trying to “comfort” her? Although its method was extremely clumsy, simply suggesting “expanding the execution unit,” the brief silence and the reminder of the logical conflict were like a glimmer of light, dispelling the haze in her heart.

Expand the execution unit? Yes! Train more people! The system prompt was like a flash of lightning, instantly illuminating Lin Jiaojiao's thoughts. She sat up straight, her eyes rekindled. She couldn't rely on Zhao alone! She needed to train more people who understood basic nursing.

She immediately said to Chun, who was standing guard nearby, "Chun, go look over to the palace maids' quarters and find a few... well, women who are attentive, nimble, and know some common herbs. It doesn't matter their age, but preferably those who have been injured or have cared for the injured. Bring them to me."

Although Chun didn't understand what the concubine wanted to do, when she saw the renewed light in Lin Jiaojiao's eyes, she immediately responded crisply: "Yes! I'll go right away!" She ran out quickly like a happy little bird.

Lin Jiaojiao's heart calmed down. She walked to the window, looked at the bright sunshine outside, and silently thought in her heart that she would start with the most basic wound cleaning, dressing change, and decocting medicine soup. Zhao Ke could be the teacher. She seemed to see a small "medical training class" promoted by her quietly sprouting in the bottom of the royal court.

Not long after, Chun came back, followed by three women with humble expressions. They were wearing coarse linen dresses that were washed white. Their ages ranged from teenagers to thirty-somethings. They had nervous and frightened expressions on their faces, and they obviously didn't understand why Concubine Yuan summoned them.

Lin Jiaojiao glanced at them. One was an older woman with a calm face, her hands thick with calluses, but her eyes were calm. Another was a girl of fifteen or sixteen, with a timid look in her eyes, but her fingers were slender and nimble. Another was a woman in her early twenties, with a light scar on her face, but her eyes were unusually resolute.

"Everyone, raise your heads." Lin Jiaojiao's voice was gentle and soothing.

The three of them raised their heads cautiously, and when their eyes fell on Lin Jiaojiao's breathtakingly beautiful face in the sunlight, they were stunned for a moment, their eyes filled with amazement and incredible awe.

Lin Jiaojiao looked at them and smiled slightly. That smile was like a spring breeze blowing across the ice, instantly dissolving their tension. "Don't be afraid. I summoned you here because I saw that you are smart and clever, and I want to assign you to do something else."

She paused, her voice clear and gentle. "Officer Zhao's medical skills are exceptional, but there are so many people in the royal court, and they're constantly injured and sick. It's difficult for one physician to take care of them all. I'd like to invite you to follow Officer Zhao and learn some basic...care techniques. For example, how to clean wounds with boiling water, how to apply dressings and bandages, and how to boil simple medicinal decoctions. Are you willing?"

Upon hearing this, the three of them were stunned for a moment, then their eyes lit up with disbelief. Studying under the Master Medical Officer?! This was something these lowly palace servants couldn't even imagine! What did this mean? Did it mean they could learn skills, help more people, and even... change their own destinies?

"Slave...slave maids are willing!" The three of them answered almost in unison, their voices trembling slightly with excitement. They fell to their knees with a plop. "Thank you, Princess Yuan, for your grace! Slave maids will do their best!"

Lin Jiaojiao watched the hope in their eyes light up, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. The first step was accomplished! She gestured for Chun to help them up. "Okay. You go back first. I'll discuss this with the medical officer, and then I'll arrange for you to study."

"Yes!" The three of them bowed again in thanks before retreating excitedly.

[Execution Unit Expansion Instructions: Confirmed. Goal: Training of basic medical nursing staff. Expected Achievement: Increase to 65%. Emotional Simulation Unit: ...Redundant data (Host's hope value increases)...Weak positive feedback...Logic Module: Smooth operation...] The system's prompt sounded again. This time, the cold electronic tone seemed to have...a barely audible sense of stability, like the steady flow of electricity...?

Lin Jiaojiao leaned against the window, feeling the warmth of the sun. Although the road ahead was still difficult, at least she was no longer fighting alone.

She had Zhao as a potential ally, Chun as a loyal assistant, and now, the first batch of seeds willing to learn. She looked at the palace outside the window illuminated by the sun, and for the first time, her heart was filled with solid hope.