Chapter 1776: On Duty (1 more chapter for the reward from the book friend “Da Da”)
Seeing that they were still in a daze, Manbao nodded to the table and said, "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and take out a pen and paper. Today we will start by learning about the meridians and acupuncture points on the left arm..."
Everyone, including Zhou Liru, took out paper and pen. Not everyone had good drawing skills, but Manbao didn't mind. He first taught them how to find various acupoints on the left arm and briefly explained the functions of these meridians and acupoints. Then he began to teach them how to draw a hand, and then pointed out the acupoints and drew the meridians on the hand.
Well, it's quite uneven. Even Zhou Liru drew the arm to look like a branch.
But Manbao didn't care at all. He said as if it was normal: "You will get it by drawing. Don't be discouraged now. First find the corresponding acupuncture points on your own body, and then find the corresponding acupuncture points on other people's bodies. This is the most important thing."
One student couldn't help but raise his hand and ask, "Sir, can't we each have a meridian and acupuncture point map like this?"
"No," Manbao cruelly rejected them, saying, "I drew this picture. It took a lot of time. There are only a few of them in the Imperial Hospital, all left by former imperial physicians. If you want it, learn how to draw it yourself. With so many students, how long would it take to draw so many pictures?"
Manbao cheated in drawing this picture. She had been using pictures from the encyclopedia, but later Teacher Mo brought a human-shaped model with the locations of meridian points specially marked on it into the teaching room.
The pictures in the encyclopedia were so exquisitely made that it was obvious at a glance that the paper was not from this world, so she copied one herself.
She copied it exactly as it was drawn, which was quite a bit of cheating. But this picture is completely presentable. When she added to it later, Xiao Yuanzheng and the others saw it.
After class, Manbao put away her treasured paintings, rolled them up, put them in a painting tube, and left with them by her side.
Zhou Liru put down his pen and ran out to chase, "Aunt, can I go in through the back door?"
Manbao thought about it and nodded: "Okay."
Zhou Liru's face was full of smiles, but before he could be happy, Manbao said, "Others draw one, you draw two. Later I will ask your senior sister to teach you how to draw arms. She can draw patterns and arms very well. The last time I saw her draw, I found that she can draw heads well too."
Zhou Liru: ...
Manbao reached out and patted her head, encouraging her: "You have to think in your heart that you can do it, and then you will be more talented than usual. Believe me, you are right."
Manbao turned around and went to find her other three disciples to get their homework. After filling the baskets with a lot of books, she carried them out of the Imperial Medical Bureau and got on Rong Si's carriage back to the palace.
When she returned to the palace, she received an order from the Queen, asking her to prepare to go to the palace on the winter solstice to check the pulse of all the ladies.
Manbao was stunned for a moment and asked, "Then I don't have a holiday on the winter solstice?"
You know, the Winter Solstice is a big festival, second only to the New Year's Festival. Manbaodu and Baishan have already thought about how to spend these five days of vacation.
The female official who delivered the message paused and then said, "This year's winter solstice falls on the 26th. Your Majesty will almost certainly invite ladies into the palace on the 23rd, so it won't delay Doctor Zhou's reunion with his family."
The female official paused and said, "But Doctor Zhou, even if the Empress doesn't order you, you still have to be on duty at the Imperial Hospital, right?"
Manbao said, "Xiao Yuanzheng won't let me be on duty."
After hearing this, the female official went back to report to the queen.
The Queen thought for a moment and said, "Zhou Man is still young, and Xiao Yuanzheng is considerate. He can just not be on duty."
The female official advised, "Your Majesty, Zhou Man is the only female imperial physician in the palace. She is in the palace to facilitate the concubines and princesses. On weekdays, it's fine. She has always lived in Chongwen Hall. It's not difficult to summon her. It's okay for her to be absent from duty during the ten-day break, but on a major festival like this, she shouldn't be absent from duty."
"I heard that during the last Mid-Autumn Festival, Xiao Yuan was looking for her but couldn't find her because she was not only not in the palace, but also left the capital without reporting. Your Majesty and the Empress love her, so she should abide by the rules..."
Seeing her bring out the palace rules, the Queen smiled and said, "In that case, I will have Aunt Shang speak to the Imperial Hospital to arrange for Zhou Man's holiday duty."
So the next day, when Manbao returned to the Imperial Hospital to file the pulse case after his follow-up consultation with the emperor, he heard the bad news from Xiao Yuanzheng.
She looked at Xiao Yuanzheng, who seemed to be gloating, and asked in disbelief, "Didn't you say that I'm young and can be excused from duty?"
Xiao Yuanzheng tried his best to suppress the joy on his face and said to her, "Yes, but the Empress said that this is the palace rule. It's okay if you don't stand guard on ordinary days, but on major festivals like the Winter Solstice and New Year's Day, the holidays are too long. It's not right for you to be absent. People in the palace and the court will have opinions."
Manbao frowned and asked in a low voice, "Is there someone trying to deal with me behind my back?"
Xiao Yuanzheng gave her an approving look and lowered his voice, saying, "This is just a small matter. We just need to follow the rules. Don't worry, after Xu Yu, no one in the palace dares to harm anyone anymore."
At least not in the short term.
"So, we have to follow the rules and not let anyone find fault with us." Xiao Yuanzheng returned to his usual tone. "However, considering your young age, don't worry. Your shifts will be arranged earlier or later, and your vacation will not be interrupted."
Seeing Manbao's bitter face, he smiled and comforted her, "Don't worry, it's only during such a long holiday that it's possible for you to be on duty. It's not your turn even if we only have two or three days off."
Manbao felt better and started to speak kindly, "Xiao Yuanzheng, I'm still young and can't stay up late. Wait until I grow up and get a little taller. You can arrange for me to be on duty more often in the future, and then you can rest."
Xiao Yuanzheng took a look at her height and sighed, "There's still time to wait. I'm not in a hurry."
Manbao: ...
Xiao Yuanzheng smiled and advised her, "Eating more beans will help you grow taller, or drinking more goat's milk is also good. You manage your official land, right? You can raise some sheep on the farm and have goat's milk to drink every day."
Manbao sighed and said, "I'll ask my sister-in-law to stew beans for me when I get home tomorrow."
Xiao Yuanzheng said enviously, "It's my turn to be on duty tomorrow during the holiday."
Manbao then remembered to instruct him, "Xiao Yuanzheng, please go see His Majesty again tomorrow. I think his symptoms have subsided today, but he still needs to take medicine for another day."
The emperor's health was not a small matter, Xiao Yuanzheng agreed. The two talked for a while, and just as Manbao was about to leave, someone from the East Palace arrived, "...The little grandson has a fever. The Crown Princess asked Doctor Zhou to come and take a look."
Xiao Yuanzheng said to her, "Children's fever can be mild or severe. You and Doctor Liu should go and see them together."
Good night
(End of this chapter)
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