Retire after achieving success
The shadow of the epidemic finally dissipated, and quarantine zones throughout the capital were gradually lifted. That morning, Su Qingyue stood on the city wall, gazing at the bustling streets below, now teeming with life, feeling as if she had stepped into another world.
"The statistics are in." Judge Zhou approached, carrying a thick booklet, his voice tinged with suppressed excitement. "The city has treated over 5,700 patients in total, with over 4,900 recovering. This number... is unprecedented."
Su Qingyue nodded gently. She knew that in this era, a cure rate of over 80% was nothing short of a miracle.
Have all the elderly residents of Tzu Chi Hospital been settled in?
"Everything has been arranged perfectly," Judge Zhou remarked. "Thanks to the rehabilitation camp set up by Miss Third, the elderly are recovering even better than expected."
At this moment, a troop of palace guards rode up, and the leading eunuch loudly proclaimed the imperial decree:
"His Majesty has decreed that Su Qingyue be summoned to the palace for an audience immediately!"
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, civil and military officials stood in two rows. Su Qingyue knelt in the hall, feeling countless gazes upon her—some admiring, some curious, and some undeniably jealous.
"Rise." The emperor's voice was unusually gentle. "Su Qingyue, you have rendered outstanding service in this epidemic."
"This humble woman dares not claim credit; it is all due to Your Majesty's great fortune and the diligent efforts of all officials."
The Emperor chuckled, "No need for such modesty. I've heard that you are not only a highly skilled physician, but also have invented many unique methods of prevention and treatment. The Imperial Medical Bureau reports that your proposed measures, such as isolation zones and water source disinfection, have yielded remarkable results."
Prime Minister Su stood among the officials, his expression complex. He had never imagined that this illegitimate daughter, whom he had always ignored, would be standing here receiving the emperor's praise.
"This humble woman is merely fulfilling her duty as a physician."
"What a fine example of a physician's integrity." The Emperor nodded approvingly. "I have decided to bestow upon you the position of advisor to the Imperial Medical Bureau, with the rank equivalent to a fifth-grade official. You will also be awarded a thousand taels of gold and a hundred bolts of brocade."
A collective gasp filled the hall. It was already rare for a woman to hold an official position, but to be directly granted a fifth-rank official post was unheard of.
Officials from the Crown Prince's faction immediately voiced their opposition:
"Your Majesty, there is no precedent in ancestral rules for a woman to serve as a physician!"
"Su Qingyue is, after all, the daughter of the Prime Minister's family. It's already inappropriate for her to appear in public; if she were to be granted an official position as well..."
"Ancestral rules?" The emperor's voice turned cold. "If we adhered strictly to ancestral rules, countless more people would have died this time!"
Xiao Jue stepped forward at the opportune moment: "Your Majesty is wise. Su Qingyue's medical skills are superb, and what's even more commendable is her concern for the people. Such a talent should be given important responsibilities."
Pei Jin also said, "The Imperial Medical Academy certainly needs reform. Many of Su Qingyue's ideas are worth promoting."
With the support of two important ministers, the opposition gradually subsided.
Su Qingyue unexpectedly replied, "Your Majesty's kindness is deeply appreciated. However, I dare not accept the official position bestowed upon me."
The entire hall erupted in uproar.
"Oh? Why?" The emperor raised an eyebrow.
"My ambition is to practice medicine and help the world, not to become an official," Su Qingyue said, raising her head with clear eyes. "If I were to take an official position, I would inevitably be bound by many rules and regulations, which would make it difficult to treat the people."
This was a clever way of putting it, expressing one's ambition without offending the emperor.
The emperor pondered for a moment: "In that case, I grant you permission to exercise the powers of a physician, even in plain clothes. Within the Imperial Medical Bureau, you may freely consult medical texts and participate in consultations."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After the court session, Su Qingyue was stopped by Prime Minister Su outside the palace gate.
"You did very well today..." Prime Minister Su hesitated, then continued, "...very well."
This rare compliment surprised Su Qingyue: "Father, you flatter me."
"I know your mother..." Prime Minister Su sighed, "From now on, you can be more at ease in the manor."
This statement is tantamount to acknowledging Su Qingyue's special status in the Prime Minister's residence.
Back at Ningxiang Courtyard, the courtyard was already piled high with the bestowed gifts. Qingdai was directing the servants to count them, her face beaming with joy.
"Miss, look! With so many rewards, we'll never have to worry about the Madam's mood again!"
Su Qingyue remained calm: "Register all of these. Put the gold and silver into the treasury, and the brocade... except for a few bolts to make clothes, sell the rest and use the proceeds for medicinal herbs."
"Should we switch to medicinal herbs?"
"Yes." Su Qingyue looked out the window. "Although the pandemic is over, there are still many poor people who can't afford medical care. I plan to open a free clinic in the south of the city."
The news spread quickly. Surprisingly, Xiao Jue was the first to express his support.
"Has the location been decided?" He went straight to Ningxiang Courtyard and asked bluntly.
"Still looking for a suitable location."
"There's a house in the west of the city, originally my villa, which has been vacant for a long time." Xiao Jue handed over the land deed. "Take it and use it."
Su Qingyue looked at him in surprise: "This is too valuable..."
"Instead of leaving it idle, let's do something useful," Xiao Jue said calmly. "Make a list of the medicinal herbs needed and give it to Steward Zhou."
Pei Jin also presented a great gift—the "Handbook for the Prevention and Treatment of Epidemics," compiled and published by the Imperial Medical Bureau, which included many of Su Qingyue's treatments and prescriptions.
"More people should know about this," Pei Jin said. "I have already petitioned His Majesty to send the handbook to all prefectures and counties."
What moved Su Qingyue even more was that many of the people she had previously treated spontaneously came to help. Some contributed their labor, some donated goods, and even the recovered elderly asked to do what they could.
"Dr. Su, let me handle this," the old carpenter said. "I'll take care of the tables, chairs, and furniture for the free clinic."
With everyone's help, the free clinic was quickly set up. On the opening day, people came in droves to offer their congratulations.
"The Marquis of Yongchang's residence has sent a plaque!"
"Lord Zhao of the Military Command donated five hundred taels of silver!"
"The West Market Chamber of Commerce has delivered twenty boxes of medicinal herbs!"
Even the emperor specially sent someone to deliver the plaque with the inscription "Jishetang" written by his own hand.
However, amidst the celebration, Su Qingyue noticed a lonely figure—Su Qingxue stood alone in a corner, her expression complex.
"My sister is here too." Su Qingyue stepped forward.
Su Qingxue forced a smile: "Third Sister is now a celebrity in the capital."
"It's just a title," Su Qingyue said sincerely. "The free clinic has just opened and we're short-staffed. If you have some free time, sister..."
"Me?" Su Qingxue was taken aback. "What could I possibly do?"
"My sister is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; she can teach the children who come for treatment to read and write," Su Qingyue smiled. "Many of the patients are children, and it would be good if they could learn something while they are recovering."
This suggestion took Su Qingxue by surprise. Looking into Su Qingyue's sincere eyes, she realized for the first time that this half-sister was different from what she had imagined.
"I...I'll think about it."
Since the free clinic opened, people have been flocking to it for treatment. Su Qingyue is busy from morning till night every day, but she enjoys it.
Here, there is no distinction between the powerful and the common people, only doctors and patients. She can practice medicine freely without having to worry about those cumbersome rules.
That day, she was taking the pulse of an old woman when she suddenly heard a familiar voice:
"It seems you're settling in well here."
Pei Jin stood at the door of the consultation room, looking at her with a smile.
"Why has the Imperial Advisor come?"
"Let's take a look at the free clinic of the first female physician of the Great Chu." Pei Jin looked around. "It's even better than I imagined."
He handed over a wooden box: "This is a manuscript by the former Imperial Physician. I think you'll find it useful."
Su Qingyue opened the wooden box, inside which was a thick stack of manuscripts. The ink had yellowed, but the handwriting was still clear. What shocked her most was that one of the pages contained a simplified anatomical diagram of the human body!
"This..." she looked up in disbelief.
"The Imperial Physician is an extraordinary person," Pei Jin said meaningfully. "Perhaps you two will have a lot in common."
At this moment, Xiao Jue also arrived. He raised an eyebrow when he saw Pei Jin:
"The Imperial Advisor has arrived too?"
"I've come to deliver some materials to Doctor Su." Pei Jin smiled. "Is it also Your Highness?"
Xiao Jue placed a wooden box on the table: "These are medicinal herbs sent from the border, some of which are unique to the Western Regions. You might find them useful."
Su Qingyue looked at the two of them with emotion. Although they had very different personalities, they were both supporting her in their own ways.
"Thank you, Your Highness; thank you, Imperial Advisor."
"No need to thank me." Xiao Jue looked at Pei Jin. "If you want to thank someone, thank yourself. You earned respect through your strength."
These words struck Su Qingyue like a chord. Yes, in this era, the only way for a woman to gain recognition was through genuine talent and learning.
As evening fell, a special guest arrived at the free clinic—Grand Tutor Yang, the Crown Prince's tutor. He was the same old man whom Su Qingyue had treated in the garden.
"Dr. Su, I have come specifically to express my gratitude." Grand Tutor Yang bowed deeply. "I will never forget your life-saving kindness."
"You flatter me, Grand Tutor. That's just a doctor's duty."
Grand Tutor Yang shook his head: "It's not just a matter of saving a life. Your proposed epidemic prevention measures saved countless lives."
He lowered his voice: "His Highness the Crown Prince greatly admires you. If you are willing..."
"Grand Tutor," Su Qingyue interrupted politely, "Qingyue is merely a physician, only wishing to practice medicine and help the world."
Grand Tutor Yang smiled knowingly: "Good, good. Maintaining your original aspirations is truly commendable."
After seeing Grand Tutor Yang off, Su Qingyue stood alone in the courtyard of the free clinic. The setting sun cast a long shadow of her.
From a concubine's daughter in the Prime Minister's mansion to a renowned physician in the capital, she relied not on power or status, but on her genuine talent and compassionate heart to rise to the top.
Qingdai came over and draped a cloak over her shoulders: "Miss, you must be tired after a long day. Go back and rest."
Su Qingyue shook her head: "I'll stay a little longer."
Looking at the three large characters "Jishetang", she felt calm and determined.
This place is not only where she practices medicine, but also where she stands in this era. Through her medical skills, she has earned respect, found her value, and seen the possibility of changing the world.
As night deepened, Su Qingyue blew out the candles and locked the door of the free clinic.
When the sun rises tomorrow, new patients will come seeking treatment. And she is ready.
The road ahead may still be difficult, but she will persevere.
Because this is the path she chose, and this is the mission she has come to this era for.
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