May you return in triumph soon.

The pent-up grievances, resentment, bitterness, and heartbreak seemed to suddenly find an outlet. Bai Shu put his arm around Tai Shiyi's shoulder, buried his eyes in her clothes, and cried out, "Shi Xiaoyi, I want to resign, I want to go home. I'm so miserable. It's not like what they said at all, it's not! It's too hard, Shi Xiaoyi, it's too hard for us..."

Tai Shiyi hugged Bai Shu back, letting her cry her heart out, and comforted her, saying, "I know, Bai Xiaoshu, cry if you want to. I'm here, listening to you and crying with you."

...

A few days later, the case of Yang Huaishu's murder was closed by the Imperial Household Department, which was considered to have cleared Yang Huaishu's name.

The imperial physicians jointly wrote a guarantee for Qiu Chuxin, and the Imperial Historian also reported to the Empress that Physician Qiu was of upright character and had no intention of embezzling money. The officials who came to arrest her searched Qiu Chuxin's residence but found no more money. After several days of investigation, they released Qiu Chuxin without charge.

Taishi Yi later told Bai Shu, "I heard that the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) also put in a lot of effort in these two cases."

Bai Shu asked, "What kind of strength?"

Tai Shiyi said, "I'm not entirely sure either, it's a bit complicated. I've heard that quite a few women have contributed, so don't underestimate Soft Jade Pavilion."

Yang Huaishu's death was a bloody lesson. The Imperial Medical Bureau held numerous meetings, and Xue Lingcheng repeatedly emphasized service and communication to prevent such incidents from happening again.

The palace also issued another strict decree, prohibiting the use of weapons and the concealment of weapons.

These are all things to be discussed later.

After the case of Yang Huaishu's murder was settled, Yang Gongfeng and Yang Huaishu's parents came to the Imperial Medical Academy to collect Yang Huaishu's belongings.

Bai Shu glanced over, marking her final farewell to Huai Shu. Yang Gongfeng stopped Bai Shu, handing her about a dozen thick booklets, saying, "Xiao Shu said you're writing something called 'Medical Compendium.' These are Xiao Shu's notes from childhood. This girl has always been quick to understand; she has many imaginative metaphors for medical principles and has even composed quite a few nursery rhymes. I'll leave them to you; if you can use them, her life won't have been in vain."

Yang Gongfeng touched the dozen or so thick booklets with reluctance, as if stroking the head of his beloved granddaughter whom he had raised with his own hands. The old man, rigid and stubborn, couldn't help but turn his head away and wipe away a tear.

Bai Zhu took the booklet, holding it heavily in his hands, and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely continue writing the 'Collection of Medical Classics'."

Yang Gongfeng nodded, then resigned from his post, packed his things, and said, "I'm leaving."

...

In early autumn, Qiu Chuxin was released from prison and also submitted her resignation.

"Why, Senior Sister?" Bai Shu asked, puzzled. "Hasn't it already been investigated and clarified?"

Qiu Chuxin smiled and said, "After this incident, I won't be able to be promoted to a high-ranking official in the next two or three years. According to the rules of the palace, female physicians who are thirty-five years old and have not yet been promoted to a high-ranking official must be released from the palace. I will be of age next year, so I might as well resign. That's fine. I plan to rent a shop in the capital and open a clinic. I won't have to worry about not having food to eat. But will you still go to the Jiaofangsi in the future?"

“Yes!” Bai Shu nodded firmly and promised, “As long as I am in the Imperial Medical Bureau, I will not let the ladies of the Jiaofangsi be without doctors or medicine.”

"Okay." Qiu Chuxin said with relief, "Then we'll meet at the Jiaofangsi in the future."

Autumn is in full swing.

As the autumn wind grows colder, it blows down a carpet of withered sycamore leaves.

Three pieces of good news spread throughout the Imperial Medical Bureau—

Firstly, the chief pharmacist was dismissed for embezzlement, and the new chief pharmacist reorganized the medicine storehouse, which solved the urgent problem of the Imperial Medical Bureau having no medicine available.

Secondly, the pharmacist, who could no longer tolerate the five trips required for a single prescription, complained to the Imperial Household Department. The Imperial Household Department clarified that there had never been a rule requiring a prescription to be administered in five separate doses, thus ending this farcical paperwork.

Thirdly, the Empress issued an edict to re-examine the "Palace Women Relief Order," especially prohibiting the abuse of the Imperial Medical Bureau, and said: "Treatment should be based on diagnosis and treatment, and should vary from person to person. How can one generalize?"

The Imperial Medical Bureau was overjoyed and praised the Emperor and Empress for their wisdom.

It's getting cold, and the first snow of winter has fallen in Kyoto.

Fang Gongfeng's chronic leg pain was a long-standing ailment, a deep-seated disease that even the most skilled doctors couldn't cure completely. She relied on daily medication and acupuncture to alleviate the symptoms, day by day. This winter, however, was colder than usual, making it difficult for her to walk. She had no choice but to submit her resignation and retire to Jiangnan.

Meanwhile, the imperial court also received a military report delivered by express courier—

The dog-like Di invaded the border.

The Quandi Aguda tribe rose to power, marched south, and repeatedly raided the northern border.

The imperial court appointed General of the Cavalry to lead an army of 50,000 to launch a distant expedition to the northern desert.

On the night of the winter solstice, the female officials of the Imperial Medical Academy held another hot pot banquet to send off Qiu Chuxin and Fang Gongfeng, whose resignations had been approved.

After several rounds of drinks, Su You and Lang Dianxian exchanged a glance and stood up.

Su You said, "I have something to say."

Seeing their serious expressions, everyone stopped eating, and Fang Lingshan asked, "What is it?"

"My senior sister Lang and I are going to join the Northern Expeditionary Army as military doctors."

"What?" Bai Shu was taken aback. "Senior Sister Su, Senior Sister Lang, are you leaving too?"

“Yes.” Su You nodded and said, “I was born in Guanshan Camp and apprenticed under an old doctor in the army. I studied trauma surgery. My ambition to become a doctor is to serve the country with the army.”

Lang Dianxian then said, "My ancestor was the Marquis of Changning, the Grand Marshal Lang. I can also use the ancestral long-tasseled spear. So I will join the army with Ayou to do my part."

Bai Shu knew that Su You and Lang Dianxian had thought things through carefully and were determined to leave.

"Alright." Bai Shu stood up, poured wine for Su You and Lang Dianxian, raised his cup and said with a smile, "Then I wish my two senior sisters a successful start and an early triumphant return."

After Bai Shu finished speaking, he drank it all in one gulp. Su Youlang and Dian Xian also smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Junior Sister."

Everyone stood up to see them off. Xiao Fu said reluctantly, "I'll wait for you two to get together again next year. You two must come back soon."

“Alright!” Su Youhao replied readily. “I’ll come back after the war is over. I want to work with you all to compile the medical classic. When I return, I’ll complete the Golden Injury Technique.”

"It's a deal."

"It's a deal!"

"It's a deal."

...

The brass pot burned brightly with charcoal, steam billowing out, while outside, snow fell silently, layer upon layer covering the ground.

Night fell, the party ended, the fire went out, the soup grew cold, leaving only a chilly room.

Bai Zhu returned to the house and lay down when suddenly there was a loud bang. A cold wind blew open the door that wasn't properly locked, rushing into the house and extinguishing the charcoal brazier with snowflakes and ice shards.

Bai Zhu sneezed and frowned as he looked at the extinguished brazier.

Without fire, it will be cold.

Bai Zhu, who had drunk too much, felt a chill in the wind but a restless heart. She rubbed her face, not wanting to sleep, so she wrapped herself in a blanket, hugged her pillow, slipped on her shoes barefoot, and went to knock on Pan Cheng's door.

"Senior sister, senior sister," Bai Shu knocked on the door and said, "the charcoal brazier in my room has been extinguished. Senior sister, senior sister, please take me in, please take me in."

When Bai Shu repeated "Please take me in" for the second time, Pan Cheng opened the door for her.

Pan Cheng pulled Bai Zhu into the room and told her to warm up on the bed, saying, "What are you doing, getting so drunk in the middle of the night? I'll go make you some hangover soup."

Bai Shu said she wasn't drunk, and with a grin, she hooked her arm around Pan Cheng's and said, "I knew Senior Sister would take me in. Senior Sister is the best."

Pan Cheng helped Bai Shu onto the bed and covered her with the blanket. "You just drank some wine and sweated a lot. If you were exposed to a cold wind, you'd be more likely to catch a cold. Just behave yourself."

Bai Shu chuckled, "I'm not leaving, Senior Sister, I want to sleep with you."

"Okay." Pan Cheng had no choice but to blow out the light. "Go to sleep."

The moon shines even brighter on a snowy night; its cool light shines through the window, casting shadows and casting a pale glow on the ground.

Bai Zhu tossed and turned, and Pan Cheng, who had been holding back for so long, asked her in a cold voice, "Are you going to sleep or not?"

Bai Shu turned over to face Pan Cheng and said pitifully, "Senior sister, I can't sleep."

Pan Cheng had also drunk some wine and was so exhausted from her antics that he couldn't sleep. He opened his eyes and asked, "So what do you want?"

Bai Shu sniffed and said, "I miss Xiao Shu, I miss Senior Sister Qiu, Senior Sister Su, Senior Sister Lang, and Second Senior Brother."

Pan Cheng remained silent.

Bai Shu then said, "Senior Sister, I can't sleep. I want to talk to you, okay?"

Pan Cheng closed his eyes: "Okay, go ahead."

Bai Zhu kept rambling on and on, saying this and that, and Pan Cheng just listened.

Bai Shu talked for a while, then, finding it boring, asked Pan Cheng, "Senior Sister, you seem to know Ruan Yeting very well. How did you two meet?"

Pan Cheng paused for a moment, then said, "I grew up in the Imperial Medical Academy. Aunt Ruan used to be the Assistant Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, and she took great care of me."

Bai Shu suddenly remembered Pan Cheng's "seniority"—he became Wan Gongfeng's disciple at the age of six.

It turns out he didn't become an apprentice, but rather grew up in the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Bai Shu considers herself to be a "second-generation" person, with eight generations of her ancestors serving in the Imperial Medical Bureau. However, she has not yet reached the point of treating the Imperial Medical Bureau as her "home".

Bai Shu asked, bewildered, "Why? Senior Sister, why did you grow up in the Imperial Medical Bureau?"

Pan Cheng remained silent for a moment.

Just when Bai Shu thought Pan Cheng wouldn't answer, she heard Pan Cheng's cold voice say, "My father died in the line of duty on Haiqi Road."

Bai Shu was taken aback.

Pan Cheng continued, “That year, my father had just been promoted to Imperial Physician and returned to his hometown with my mother, elder brother, and elder sister to pay respects to our ancestors. I was too young to travel with, so my father left me in the capital and entrusted me to the care of his colleagues. When we passed through Yaodong County, a great plague broke out there. My father, being an Imperial Physician, stayed in Yaodong County to treat patients and fight the plague, while also sending my elder brother back to the capital by fast horse to report the news. My elder brother died outside the capital, and his will was found by the city gate patrol officer. Only then did the court learn of the great plague in Yaodong. By the time the relief workers arrived, Yaodong County was already like a dead city.”

This is what the second senior brother said about Senior Sister Pan, the origin of her saying that she "receives government subsidies every year".

She was the only surviving orphan of the Pan family, who served in the Imperial Medical Academy.

Bai Shu suddenly regretted coming to bother Sister Pan so late at night.

She hugged Pan Cheng and asked cautiously, "Senior sister, are you sad?"

Pan Cheng thought for a moment and said, "I don't remember much about that year, but... I don't know what sadness feels like."

Bai Shu remained silent.

“I think…” Pan Cheng said softly again, “When I was little, I resented my parents for meddling in other people’s business. But I think if it were me, I would probably do the same as them…” Pan Cheng paused and said, “Go to sleep, it’s getting light, Bai Shu.”

Year after year, the year 703 of Ningxi arrived.