Chapter 787 Shennong Tastes Hundreds of Herbs
The one who struck the small gong to attract everyone's attention was naturally a court official from the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Li San Niang followed her father and the others out in an orderly fashion. Outside the door, someone led everyone to their respective places.
Just as Li San Niang stepped out of the house, someone called out to her.
"Is it Dr. Li Mingfang?"
Looking at the official in front of her, dressed in a round-necked robe and wearing a hat, Li San Niang thought about the color of the robe and realized that he was a ninth-rank official in the Imperial Medical Bureau. She quickly stopped and responded.
"Dr. Li, the chief has already given the instructions. Please come with me to the front of the line."
Li San Niang looked at Li's father and Li's second brother. Li's father didn't say anything, only nodded. Li's second brother did say, "We'll wait for you at the door later so we can go home together."
After saying this, everyone parted ways. Li San Niang followed the young man forward, while Li's father and the others followed the apprentice who was leading the way to another place.
They walked in silence, and before long, Li San Niang was led to a large square.
Li Sanniang looked around the square and understood how today's commendation ceremony was being held.
A high platform was erected in the center of the square, with an incense table on it. Presumably, Wang Shuzheng would go forward to worship Shennong later.
The area directly north of the high platform should be where the officials of the Imperial Medical Bureau, as well as those specially invited, will stand later, because Li San Niang noticed that there were several chairs arranged there.
The only people who can sit in chairs and participate in such a grand event here are the retired imperial physicians, such as the former director of the imperial physicians, who is also Li San Niang's master, Physician Liang.
Or they could be senior doctors with a high standing in the medical field, such as the highly respected Dr. Gao.
The doctors from the Chang'an Medical Alliance should be located on the east and west sides of the high platform. If there are any medicine merchants who participated in the free clinics proposed by the Imperial Medical Bureau, they should also be able to secure a few positions.
Li San Niang thanked the official who led the way, and just as she was wondering which row she should stand in, she heard the voice of Physician Sun calling out in her ear.
"Medical Supervisor Sun!"
“Third Sister! Come, stand here. Physician Ning told us a long time ago to stand at the front of the line.”
Looking at the spot, which was almost exactly in the center, Li San Niang couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. Her hesitant expression was naturally noticed by the observant Physician Sun.
"Haha, Third Sister, don't worry, this position was arranged by Director Wang in the first place."
The name of Third Sister has been registered before the Sage, and besides, what Third Sister has taught is enough for you to stand here.”
Since Doctor Sun had already said so much, how could Li San Niang possibly refuse anymore?
Moreover, there's really no need to be humble in front of others in public.
Besides, the reason why Doctor Sun spoke so loudly was deliberately to let the people around him hear it, so that they would know why Li San Niang was qualified to stand in the front row.
Thus, Li San Niang bowed and stepped forward to stand confidently beside Physician Sun.
However, she was still somewhat concerned about what Physician Sun had just said, "Mr. Bu Ke also said something similar: 'He has registered before the Sage.'"
Good heavens, now I, a transmigrator from another world, finally have a name in front of the Martial Emperor. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
While her mind was filled with these miscellaneous thoughts, Li San Niang's eyes darted around the square. She saw her father, her second brother, and Tang Mingyue standing on the east side of the high platform.
Li's father was positioned slightly ahead of Li's second brother, and Tang Mingyue was also positioned slightly ahead of Li's second brother.
After looking around, Li San Niang had basically met all the doctors she knew, whether they were from the Imperial Medical Bureau or the Chang'an Medical Alliance.
Fortunately, the square was quite large, with no fewer than a hundred people standing in each of the three directions, so it didn't feel cramped.
"...Who knows, the Sage might come today?"
Sun, the medical supervisor, spoke to Li Sanniang while looking ahead, his lips slightly parted. Upon hearing this, Li Sanniang couldn't hold back any longer and tilted her head to look at Sun, asking, "Really?"
"The Director meant that he had invited the Emperor. If the Emperor was willing to come, he should be able to. After all, the Imperial Medical Bureau did a very good job in this great battle."
However, that's not necessarily true. The Emperor is extremely busy. Even last year, when the Ministry of Revenue held its awards ceremony, Yao Cheng, at the invitation of the Minister of Revenue, went to ask the Emperor, but the Emperor still didn't attend.
Li San Niang couldn't help but feel excited. In the past, she could only catch a glimpse of Emperor Wu's figure from afar. If she could see him up close this time, it would truly be one of the things on her "100 things to do before she dies" list.
After a while, the old physicians who had retired from the Imperial Medical Bureau and stayed in Chang'an instead of returning home were invited out. Physician Liang did not come, saying, "I really don't have the patience to go to such an occasion."
With Dr. Liang's influence, even the junior apprentice from Shaoyang didn't come; he must have voluntarily stayed somewhere to be on duty.
Of course, there are also doctors like Dr. Gao who have a good reputation in the medical field, and a considerable group of doctors behind them have been invited to come.
Before Emperor Wu arrived, Wang Shuzheng and Ning Yizheng, adhering to the custom of the highest-ranking officials making their final appearance, did not.
Wearing an official hat, a scarlet round-necked official robe, a gold belt around his waist, and a silver fish-shaped tally, Wang Shuzheng had even trimmed his beard today. From a distance, Li Sanniang could see that Wang Shuzheng exuded a great sense of official authority.
Seeing this, Li Sanniang understood that Emperor Wu would not be coming today.
Li San Niang couldn't quite describe her feelings. She both wanted to see Emperor Wu and was afraid to see him, feeling a vague and inexplicable sense of guilt.
Before Li San Niang could think of anything else, the sound of the gong rang out, and the entire square gradually quieted down.
Wang Shuzheng walked up to the high platform, first bowing to the north, a gesture of respect to Emperor Wu, and then bowing to the crowd in the hall.
A court official loudly announced the start of the Imperial Medical Bureau's commendation ceremony from the side of the platform, and then Li San Niang actually heard the sound of string and wind instruments!
Li San Niang hadn't expected this; she truly hadn't anticipated that there would be music playing on such a special occasion.
Sensing Li San Niang's curiosity, Dr. Sun explained in a low voice, "They are musicians invited from the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau). They are in the side hall on the east side."
As the music began, Wang Shuzheng solemnly picked up three incense sticks from the altar on the high platform, respectfully bowed to the four directions, and finally placed them in the incense burner.
The music stopped, and Wang Shuzheng took out a document from his sleeve and began to read it aloud.
After listening for a while, Li San Niang finally understood that what Wang Shuzheng was saying was actually about Shennong, the ancestor of doctors, tasting hundreds of herbs to save people, and he was using this to explain how doctors should be today.
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