Unhindered mind

Winter has arrived, and the New Year is approaching. The days are short and the nights are long, and the palace walls are covered in white snow.

The steaming pot started to boil, and the female doctors gathered in groups of three or five around the pot to cook meat.

Bai Zhu got along well with Su You, Xiao Fu, and Lang Dianxian. They sat together playing drinking games and having a lively time.

Pan Cheng and Qiu Chuxin couldn't stand the girls' constant chatter, which gave them a headache, so they went with Fang Lingshan to sit at a table with Shen Gongfeng.

The group started talking about Bai Shu, and Qiu Chuxin spoke highly of her, saying, "This little girl is quick to learn and has a good temperament, but she's still lacking in experience. She's a promising talent. Acheng, don't be too strict with her."

Pan Cheng said, "This girl is reckless and impulsive, and often doesn't know what's important."

“Young people are often like this, it’s not a bad thing,” said Fang Gongfeng kindly. “You should take better care of her.”

Shen Gongfeng scalded a piece of tofu and said, "I think that girl's temperament is somewhat similar to those two."

Shen Gongfeng smiled and said, "I think so too."

Xu Qingyan and Lin Shaoyin went to Bai Shusu You's table to move on to another table. With six people at one table, it felt crowded. Since everyone was half full, they simply moved another table to make room for each other. But with two tables put together, it still looked sparse. Lin Shaoyin counted the heads and said, "The senior sisters and Zhifang are not here."

Su Youdao said, "Tonight, Zhifang is on duty in the palace, and Senior Sister Pan and the others are in Shen Gongfeng's room."

Xiao Fu said, "There are so few people, it's not fun to play."

Lang Dianxian picked up a wine pot and said, "I'll go and 'invite' Senior Sister Fang and the others over. Who will come with me?"

“I’ll go, I’ll go,” Xu Qingyan replied.

Su You and the others joined in the commotion, so Lang Dianxian and Xu Qingyan took the lead, and the girls went to ask Chen Gongfeng for help. Fang Gongfeng smiled and said to Fang Lingshan, "You go and have fun with them. You don't need to sit here with this old woman."

As Shen Gongfeng watched Bai Shu and Xiao Fu tease Pan Cheng, and Su You and Lin Shaoyin tease Qiu Chuxin, a group of chattering young girls kept talking, making it difficult for Pan Cheng and Qiu Chuxin to refuse. Shen Gongfeng laughed and said, "Looking at these little girls, I am reminded of the scene when I first entered the palace twenty years ago."

Fang Gongfeng also said, "That's right. Watching them make a fuss, even my old bones feel many years younger."

Bubbling water billowed from the brass charcoal stove, rising in wisps of steam. Outside, the moonlight was cold and clear. In this small courtyard amidst the snow and ice, the lights were warm and the atmosphere was filled with laughter and conversation.

Bai Zhu sincerely said, "I want to thank Senior Sister Pan, Senior Sister Qiu, and all my fellow senior sisters and colleagues for teaching me medical skills and guiding me in how to conduct myself. I will work harder in the future to improve my medical skills and not let my senior sisters down!"

Then Su You raised his glass and said, "I wish us all a smooth year ahead, with timely medical records and accurate prescriptions, and that we won't be punished by the Fang and Yao Cheng."

Lang Dianxian said, "Then I wish our Imperial Medical Bureau all the best in the new year. I hope the Imperial Household Department and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices will be lenient and help us all focus on our work, haha."

Xu Qingyan joked, "I'd like to add one more thing: I hope there will be fewer useless meetings next year."

Xiao Fu raised her glass in a toast and said, "I hope my sisters can be this happy every day!"

Fang Lingshan said, "I wish all the honorees good health, and all my colleagues excellent medical skills and a clear mind."

Pan Cheng said, "I am willing to use my meager medical skills to relieve the suffering of the palace women."

Qiu Chu thought to himself, "If I only wish for a world free from illness, what does it matter if the medicine on the shelves gathers dust?"

Lin Shaoyin said, "I wish everyone all their wishes come true. Come, let's drink to this together."

Su Youdao said, "Come, come, let's drink a big cup!"

"Raise your glass!"

...

In the spring of 701, Bai Zhu, who had been working at the Imperial Medical Bureau for nearly a year, finally passed the examination of Wan Gongfeng and was qualified to practice medicine independently.

At the age of seventeen, Bai Shu became a real physician in the Imperial Medical Bureau.