Chapter 1290 Questions and Answers
Mrs. Han Wu was a little disappointed. Today was already the third day after the operation and she was still in pain. However, she could already see the scar on her belly when Manbao was applying medicine, and she thought it was very ugly.
Although she knew deep down that she couldn't ask for too much, after all, she survived a fatal situation, she still thought the scar was ugly.
Seeing that she was depressed, Manbao comforted her, "Don't worry, take good care of yourself, the wound will heal faster. Apply ointment for half a year and the pain will fade."
Manbao was sure that the Li family had done a good job, so he left and agreed to come back tomorrow.
She would come to see Han Wu Niang every day until she was completely out of danger.
After leaving Li's house, Manbao was too lazy to go back to Jishiditang and said directly: "Let's go to the imperial city. I have to go to the palace."
Xiao Shao was startled, "I want to go too?"
"No need, just send me to the palace gate. You still have to take the bill from the Li family back to settle it. I'll have someone from the palace send me home later."
Xiao Shao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Manbao went to the palace to refuse the Queen's request.
The Queen had already prepared a list of all the female doctors in the Imperial Hospital. Manbao's refusal was obviously not part of her plan. However, she was only stunned for a moment before asking with a smile, "Why don't you want to?"
Manbao couldn't say it directly, so he said, "Your Highness, your female imperial hospital is really good, but my ability is indeed limited. I can't open a clinic and teach students yet."
The Queen said, "You don't have to belittle yourself. Your Majesty and I have both witnessed your medical skills. Not only have you figured out my illness, but the Crown Prince's as well. Dean Xiao has also praised your medical skills highly."
Man Bao said, "That's just Dean Xiao being polite. I still have a lot of medical skills to learn."
"You can also come to the palace to learn from the doctors in the Imperial Hospital."
Man Bao smiled and shook his head, saying, "Your Majesty, if the imperial physicians were truly willing to teach us everything they know, how could the female physicians have been in the palace for so many years and yet not be able to learn how to diagnose and prescribe?"
The queen was silent.
Man Bao said: "They are willing to show me their medical skills because I have something in return. I learned medical skills from them, but they got even more from me."
"But I didn't teach them personally, and they didn't teach me personally either. The knowledge is given, but how much they can learn and understand depends entirely on their talent and hard work," Manbao said. "And the fact that I can discuss these things with them is entirely due to my experience with various diseases and my painstaking research. If I didn't have a variety of folk case histories, couldn't offer a variety of medical techniques and prescriptions they didn't know, and if I entered the Imperial Hospital, I'm afraid they wouldn't see me as Doctor Zhou, with whom they could communicate, but as a colleague competing on the same stage with them."
The Queen understood what Manbao meant and asked, "Are you afraid of being bullied?"
Manbao paused and shook his head, "I'm afraid I've forgotten my original intention."
The Queen frowned, "But the Imperial Women's Hospital must be headed by a female doctor, otherwise why set it up? But in the entire Jin Dynasty, you are the only female doctor with medical skills worthy of such a responsibility."
Man Bao said, "If your Majesty is at ease, why not let Dr. Liu study with me? She is very perceptive and knows a lot about pharmacology and medical principles. She will be able to become a master in three to five years."
The Queen laughed, "Doctor Liu is just one person, what use can she be?"
She paused and then said, "I found twelve female doctors for you. I originally wanted you to come to the palace to teach them."
Manbao thought about it and shook his head, "Twelve people are too many. I will only take Dr. Liu with me."
The queen frowned.
Manbao took the opportunity to ask, "Your Majesty, you have set up a female imperial hospital in the palace. If the concubines and princesses in the palace are sick in the future, will you call a male imperial physician or a female imperial physician?"
The Queen smiled and said, "Of course it's up to them. It also depends on the condition of the patient."
"But if all of them can serve in the Imperial Medical Bureau, why would the female doctors be sent out to the common people?" Manbao asked. "Will the court then set up medical offices in the localities, or will they be allowed to open their own clinics, or register with other pharmacies?"
The Queen smiled and said, "I want to appoint them to the local pharmacies to register for consultation. Not only will the pharmacies pay them a penny, but the court will also give them a salary."
"That sounds good, but how do they choose the place? Does the Imperial Hospital decide, or do they choose for themselves?" Manbao continued, "What if they don't want to leave Beijing after they finish their studies and become a female doctor in the countryside?"
Of course, there was a way to not go. Except for the first batch of students who were female doctors, she decided to select the other students from the palace.
Or they could select female relatives from the criminal register to train. These people could be directly registered as craftsmen, and their whereabouts would naturally be determined by the court.
The first batch of female doctors only needed to stay in Beijing to teach students, which was also an honor for them.
But the Queen looked down at the young Manbao and didn't tell her any of this. Instead, she comforted her and said, "Don't worry, the court can come up with a solution."
Manbao tilted his head and glanced at the Queen suspiciously. After a pause, he shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, let's discuss this further. How about you let Doctor Liu study with me first?"
The Queen did not force her, but smiled and nodded, "Alright, then I will let Doctor Liu go home today, and she will study with you from now on."
The Queen paused and then asked with a smile, "I heard that you only consulted for half a day, right?"
Manbao nodded and said, "I only see patients at Jishiditang for half a day, but there are always cases to see, so I spend most of the day seeing patients."
The Queen said, "Don't let her slack off when teaching Doctor Liu. Otherwise, why not let her stay by your side and serve you, listening to your teachings morning and night?"
Manbao shuddered and shook his head repeatedly, "Forget it. I'm not taking her as my apprentice, I'm just giving her some guidance and instruction. I'm still a student myself, how can I take in an apprentice?"
It's scary to think about being treated like a master by someone in front of her husband. She doesn't want that.
The Queen was amused and said to Aunt Shang, "Alright, you can send Doctor Zhou out. Oh, and remember, didn't the Crown Princess send two pots of chrysanthemums last time? Although they haven't bloomed yet, I think the leaves look good. They're obviously well-maintained. I heard they have some rare colors. Go pick one out for Doctor Zhou."
He added, "There are also the fox furs that the Duke sent last time. Let someone pick out a few to reward her."
Aunt Shang agreed.
The Queen then said to Manbao, "The weather is getting colder, and you're often out and about. Take the fox fur and make a fur coat for yourself. It will keep you warm."
Manbao never refused their rewards, so he accepted them after bowing and expressing his gratitude.
Aunt Shang sighed slightly when she saw this, and when she sent Manbao out, she couldn't help but remind her, "Doctor Zhou, you are too bold. How can you refuse the Empress' invitation again and again?"
Manbao blinked, "Can't you refuse?"
Aunt Shang: "...This is because the queen is kind-hearted. If she met another master, she wouldn't be so easy to talk to."
Forget about rewards, it would be great if I could just not be punished.
See you tomorrow
(End of this chapter)
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