Emperor's Inquiry
Inside the Guanyun Hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Beneath the gilded dragon pillars, officials and their wives sat according to their ranks, their gazes all fixed on the moon-white figure who had just created a miracle.
Su Qingyue calmly entered the main hall, feeling countless gazes piercing her like needles. She lowered her eyes slightly, deliberately slowing her pace, quickly reviewing every detail of what had just happened in her mind—the angle at which the silver needles were inserted, the judgment of the horse's acupoints, the wording when answering the emperor's questions...
"So perfect, unlike a sheltered young lady." Pei Jin murmured softly, holding her cup, her voice only audible to Xiao Jue beside her.
Xiao Jue stroked the jade thumb ring, his gaze fixed on Su Qingyue like a hawk's: "Have you found out?"
"Su Xiang's illegitimate daughter, whose birth mother died early, suffered much bullying in the household." Pei Jin paused, "But according to intelligence, after falling into the water a month ago, her personality changed drastically. Not only have her medical skills improved by leaps and bounds, but her behavior has also become completely different."
"Fell into the water?" Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly. Interestingly, the elder sister who pushed her into the water is sitting right across from us right now." Pei Jin gestured for him to look in Su Qingxue's direction.
Su Qingxue tried to remain calm as she held the teacup, but her knuckles turned white from the force. Li Yanran beside her was whispering something, her eyes frequently glancing at Su Qingyue with undisguised jealousy.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
At the eunuch's announcement, everyone hurriedly rose and bowed. The emperor, now dressed in a bright yellow robe, walked with a pleased expression to the throne, his gaze lingering on Su Qingyue for a moment.
"Rise, all of you." The Emperor raised his hand. "Today's Hundred Flowers Banquet should have been a delightful occasion. But the unexpected incident in the Imperial Garden just now showed me that women are just as capable as men."
These words were clearly pointed, and many people looked at Su Qingyue.
The Minister of Rites stepped forward at the opportune moment: "Your Majesty, may the imperial contest begin?"
As is customary, the imperial competition at the Hundred Flowers Banquet is divided into four arts: music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. This year, medicine has been added as an additional category. The noble ladies participating have been preparing for a long time and are now eager to try their skills.
"Wait a moment," the Emperor suddenly said, "Miss Su San."
Su Qingyue stepped forward in response: "Your subject is here."
"You are knowledgeable in medicine and quick-witted, which I greatly admire," the emperor said gently. "However, I am curious: from whom did you learn these skills?"
The question silenced the entire hall instantly. Prime Minister Su nervously clenched his sleeves, while Madam Wang turned pale—if Su Qingyue were to reveal that she had studied at home, wouldn't that be a slap in the face to the Prime Minister's family for failing to properly educate their children?
Su Qingyue's mind raced. Of course, she couldn't say that she was taught at a 21st-century medical school, but attributing it entirely to self-study seemed too suspicious.
"Your Majesty," she curtsied and replied, "My maternal grandfather was a village doctor who left behind several medical books. I have read them in my spare time and have a rudimentary understanding of them. As for my ability to respond to situations..."
She looked up at the emperor, her gaze clear: "My mother passed away early, and I often had to take care of my daily life in the palace. Over time, I developed the habit of thinking things through carefully and remaining calm in the face of adversity."
These words explained the origin of his medical skills, hinted at his situation in the Prime Minister's residence, and cleverly avoided the sensitive topic of "apprenticeship." He neither offended the Prime Minister's family nor failed to leave himself room for maneuver.
The emperor, being astute as he was, immediately grasped the underlying meaning. He glanced at Prime Minister Su and said meaningfully, "It seems Prime Minister Su's residence is indeed a blessed place for nurturing people."
Prime Minister Su broke out in a cold sweat and repeatedly said he dared not.
"Since you are knowledgeable in medicine, would you be willing to participate in the newly added medical knowledge competition?" the emperor asked.
"I am but a humble woman, lacking in talent and learning, and I fear I may make a fool of myself," Su Qingyue said modestly.
"It's alright," the emperor waved his hand, "consider it just for entertainment."
At this moment, Xiao Jue, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty, since we're going to compete in medical theory, why not try a different method?"
All eyes were focused on the cold-faced prince.
"Oh? What brilliant idea does Prince Rui have?" the emperor asked with great interest.
Xiao Jue rose, his black python robe gleaming coldly in the candlelight: "Theoretical discussions are boring. The Imperial Medical Academy happens to have a few difficult cases; why not have the contestants diagnose and prescribe on the spot? Wouldn't that be a better way to see their true abilities?"
These words shocked everyone present. A young, unmarried noblewoman treating a strange man? This was utterly unheard of!
"This...I'm afraid it's against the rules of propriety..." The Minister of Rites hurriedly tried to dissuade him.
Pei Jin chuckled lightly, "Your Highness's suggestion is excellent. A doctor's heart is benevolent; why be bound by formalities? Besides..." He glanced meaningfully at Su Qingyue, "When the Third Miss treated the frightened horse just now, she didn't care about these things."
Su Qingyue immediately understood the two men's intentions—they were testing her abilities. Xiao Jue posed a difficult question, while Pei Jin took the opportunity to push things along.
"Your Highness is absolutely right," she suddenly said. "A doctor's heart is like a parent's; to refuse to save someone in distress because of empty formalities is truly immoral."
These words were so powerful that they silenced those who had wanted to object.
The emperor clapped his hands and laughed: "Excellent! As Prince Rui says! Summon the head of the Imperial Medical Academy."
Before long, three patients were led into the hall. One was an elderly man with a sallow complexion, another was a woman who kept coughing, and the third was a young guard with a bandage wrapped around his arm.
The head of the Imperial Medical Academy bowed and said, "Your Majesty, these three patients are among the most difficult and complex cases the Imperial Medical Academy has encountered recently, and we have yet to find a suitable treatment."
The emperor looked at the noble ladies participating in the competition: "Who wants to go first?"
The other noble ladies all looked troubled. They had only ever studied theory, and had never actually treated patients, let alone such difficult and complicated illnesses.
Su Qingxue forced herself to remain calm and stepped forward. After taking the old man's pulse, she hesitated and said, "It seems like he has a weak spleen and stomach..."
"Wrong," the judge interrupted directly. "This old gentleman's pulse is wiry and slippery, indicating a condition of liver stagnation transforming into fire."
Su Qingxue blushed instantly and retreated in a fluster. Seeing this, the other noble ladies dared not approach.
"Miss Su San?" The Emperor looked at Su Qingyue.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Su Qingyue calmly stepped forward. She first observed the complexions of the three women, then took their pulses in turn. Every movement was professional and precise, unlike that of a typical young lady from a sheltered family.
When she examined the young guard, she suddenly asked, "Is your wound hot or itchy?"
The guard nodded in surprise: "How did Miss Third know?"
Su Qingyue unwrapped the bandages to examine the wound, her brow furrowing slightly: "The wound was not treated properly and has become infected... pardon, it's already festering."
She quickly corrected herself, but the unfamiliar word still caught Pei Jin's attention.
"Immediate wound cleaning is needed." Su Qingyue turned to the judge, "Do you have any liquor, clean cotton cloth, and a silver knife?"
The judge immediately ordered someone to fetch it. Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Su Qingyue skillfully sterilized the silver knife with liquor and carefully removed the necrotic flesh from the wound. Her movements were swift and steady; the guard, though sweating profusely from the pain, gritted his teeth and endured it.
"What are you doing!" Su Qingxue couldn't help but exclaim, "So...so rude!"
Su Qingyue didn't even look up: "If a wound becomes infected and isn't treated promptly, it can fester and be difficult to heal, or even be life-threatening. Compared to life, what is pain?"
After treating the wound, she took out her homemade medicinal powder, sprinkled it on, and re-bandaged it with a clean cotton cloth.
"Change the dressing once a day, and do not get it wet for three days," she instructed the guard, then wrote down the prescription, "Take it orally, and you should recover in half a month."
The court judge took the prescription and was increasingly astonished as he read it: "This prescription... is wonderful! It uses honeysuckle and forsythia to clear heat and detoxify, supplemented with astragalus to promote tissue regeneration... How come I never thought of that!"
These comments shocked everyone. The head of the Imperial Medical Academy was a renowned physician of the time, and for him to praise Su Qingyue like this showed that her medical skills were indeed extraordinary.
In her subsequent diagnosis of the elderly man and the woman, Su Qingyue displayed astonishing medical skills. Not only did she accurately diagnose their illnesses, but the prescriptions she wrote also amazed the court judge.
"A prodigy! Truly a prodigy!" the imperial physician excitedly reported to the emperor. "I am ashamed to admit that I am no match for Miss Su's medical skills!"
The entire hall erupted in uproar.
The Emperor looked intently at Su Qingyue: "I now believe that your saving of the Grand Tutor was no accident."
These words were like a thunderclap, silencing the entire hall.
Grand Tutor? That Grand Tutor Yang, the veteran of three reigns and imperial tutor?
Su Qingyue was shocked—it turned out that the old man in the garden was actually the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty!
She finally understood why Pei Jin and Xiao Jue were paying so much attention to her. Saving the Imperial Tutor was a feat that would make her famous throughout the capital.
"I was unaware of the Grand Tutor's identity at the time," she said truthfully.
"It is precisely because of ignorance that true sincerity is revealed," the emperor said meaningfully. "Not coveting power and wealth, but possessing both benevolence and skill—this is the true nature of a physician."
He looked at Prime Minister Su: "Prime Minister Su, you've raised a fine daughter."
Prime Minister Su's feelings were extremely complicated at this moment. This illegitimate daughter, whom he had never taken seriously, had unknowingly won so much attention and praise.
"Your Majesty flatters me," he said with a forced smile. "My daughter is mischievous..."
"If such medical skills and benevolence are considered mediocre," the emperor interrupted him, "then wouldn't all the children of the court officials be considered incompetent?"
These words carried immense weight, and Prime Minister Su immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
Su Qingyue stood silently with her head bowed, her mind clear as a mirror. The Emperor's words were both praise and a move that thrust her into the eye of the storm. From this day forward, her situation in the Prime Minister's residence would be completely altered.
All of this stemmed from that afternoon when she instinctively reached out a helping hand in the desolate West Garden.
The gears of fate began to turn quietly from that moment.
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