With Song Siyuan and Dingxiang present, Song Xibai didn't stay long and soon left.
Inside the room, Dingxiang was diligently inserting needles, while Song Siyuan watched silently, nodding repeatedly.
Only after this round of treatment was over did Song Siyuan finally speak.
"Miss Ding, it's truly remarkable that you possess such medical skills at your age!"
Dingxiang gave him a strange look.
"Uncle Song, just call me Dingxiang. Xixi taught me acupuncture. I haven't been learning for long, and I still need more practice!"
Song Siyuan shook his head with a smile.
“Xixi has been practicing since she was a child, for more than ten years! You don’t need to compare yourself with her. In my opinion, your medical skills are good enough to get into the Imperial Hospital.”
Dingxiang looked surprised.
"Go to the Imperial Hospital? But isn't the Imperial Hospital all men?"
"The Imperial Physician recently told us that he wants to recruit a group of female physicians. There are so many women in the harem, it's not easy for us imperial physicians to get close to them when they are sick, which is very inconvenient. If there were female physicians, it would be much more convenient."
Dingxiang astutely grasped a key word.
"A female physician? Not a royal physician?"
Song Siyuan paused for a moment, then said, "This has not been decided yet."
Dingxiang shrugged.
"Then forget it. Going to the Imperial Hospital to treat those women in the harem is not as good as staying by Xixi's side! At least I won't be bossed around."
Song Siyuan frowned: "But what about after Xixi gives birth? You can't let all your medical skills go to waste, can you?"
"How could it be a waste? The baby will need someone to look after it's born! Everyone gets sick sometimes!"
“In this situation, Xixi can see for himself.”
Dingxiang felt that Song Siyuan's attitude was a bit strange, and after thinking about it, she had no choice but to use her own grandfather as an excuse.
“My grandfather wants me to go back and take over the medical clinic! Uncle Song, I appreciate your kindness, but I won’t go to the Imperial Hospital.”
Song Siyuan stroked his beard, feeling quite emotional.
"The Imperial Medical Academy is currently severely understaffed, especially since the Empress Dowager has been ill intermittently since returning to the palace. She is not getting better and refuses to let the imperial physicians near her, which is very troublesome."
That is why the Imperial Physician thought of recruiting some female doctors into the Imperial Hospital.
Of course, given Song Siyuan's understanding of the Imperial Physician, the female doctors would at most serve as assistants; it was impossible for him to appoint them as chief physicians.
If his daughter hadn't entered the Eastern Palace, Song Siyuan would have loved to bring her into the Imperial Hospital, but now, that's absolutely impossible.
As for the two sons, they were probably disheartened after the house was ransacked, and neither of them had the desire to become doctors.
Song Siyuan was very worried.
He never expected that the Imperial Medical Academy would be in short supply of personnel only two years after he left.
Dingxiang discreetly observed his expression, quickly put away her needle case, and then left.
As soon as she stepped out of the room, Dingxiang hurried to the backyard.
Song Xibai had barely sat down when she heard a bang. Looking up, she saw Dingxiang running in, panting heavily.
“Xixi, your father just insisted on calling me to the Imperial Hospital.”
Song Xibai blinked.
"What's going on? Why are you being summoned to the Imperial Hospital for no reason?"
Dingxiang recounted in detail what Song Siyuan had just said.
As soon as she finished speaking, Wei Hong thoughtfully handed her a cup of warm tea, which Dingxiang drank in one gulp and exhaled.
"I think your dad's acting strange. What's he trying to do?"
Song Xibai understood after a moment's thought.
"The Imperial Hospital is short-staffed, and my father probably developed a competitive spirit, wanting to put his own people in. But why bother calling you? With the head of the Imperial Hospital's personality, he would never let a woman take the lead. Even if you got into the Imperial Hospital, you would only be doing odd jobs and some things that are inconvenient for them, such as acupuncture and massage."
"What kind of person is that Imperial Academy Minister?"
Dingxiang was curious.
Speaking of this, Song Xibai looked strange: "He has seven or eight concubines in his mansion, but they have never been able to give birth to a son. Therefore, he secretly collected folk remedies for having a son."
Ding Xiang was completely stunned.
"Isn't he the head of the Imperial Medical Academy? How can he still believe in folk remedies?"
"Who knows! Actually, the Imperial Academy Master is usually a nice person. I even visited his home when I was a child. It's just that this behavior is really..."
It leaves one speechless.
Song Xibai shook her head and then changed the subject.
"The Imperial Hospital is not suitable for you now. The situation in the inner palace is complicated and we can't figure it out. In addition, you are young and have good medical skills, so you are likely to be targeted. It would be better to make a name for yourself outside now, and then have the Crown Prince invite you to the Imperial Hospital. That way, no one will dare to look down on you."
Song Xibai herself had used this method before, but her goal was not to get into the Imperial Hospital.
She knew all too well how difficult it was for a woman to rise in society. If Dingxiang had entered the Imperial Hospital as an ordinary female physician and climbed her way up from the bottom, she probably would never have had the chance to become a formal imperial physician in her entire life.
Although her method was suspected of being opportunistic and relying on powerful figures, since she had power, why couldn't she use it?
After a pause, Song Xibai suddenly lowered her voice and said another sentence.
"Actually, I've thought about this issue before, but the old emperor is still on the throne, so the timing isn't right. It would be more convenient to wait until the crown prince ascends the throne."
Song Xibai thought even further ahead.
Her true identity would eventually be revealed, and then her father would no longer be able to work at the Imperial Hospital. At that time, without her own people in the Imperial Hospital, Song Xibai would be extremely worried.
The Ding family and my family are on good terms, but they are neither relatives nor old friends on the surface, so they won't be criticized.
Unfortunately, Old Man Ding disliked being tied down and probably didn't want to join the Imperial Medical Academy. Furthermore, the medical skills of the rest of the Ding family were rather mediocre.
Dingxiang is a skilled doctor and a clever person, making her the best choice.
Of course, it depends on whether Dingxiang herself is willing.
It was too early to talk about these things now, and Song Xibai didn't want to pass on her pressure to others, so she stopped thinking about it.
Dingxiang had no idea that she had thought of so much in such a short time. After finishing her second cup of tea and eating two slightly sour small fruits, she suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
"Oh dear! Isn't that physician surnamed Fu from before also in the Imperial Hospital? I think he's a decent person. Wouldn't it be great if your father tried to win him over? He's already from the Imperial Hospital, so it'll be so convenient!"
After a moment's thought, Song Xibai also expressed his agreement.
"I wonder how he is doing now. Since he was promoted to Imperial Physician, he can't come to the palace as often, and it's quite troublesome to contact him. I'll ask my father later! You don't need to worry about this matter; just take care of the Sixth Prince."
Dingxiang hummed in agreement, swung her legs, and truly put the matter aside.
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