Chapter 814 Five Years Later (Part 3) Li Mingfang
Five years have passed. Although Li San Niang's official rank is still that of a minor seventh-rank official, her authority has grown over the years to the point that it is now comparable to that of a department head.
Two years ago, it wasn't that no one wanted to take over the maternity ward managed by Li San Niang. At that time, someone in the court, for reasons unknown, actually summoned Zhou Yanran, the daughter of Princess Li Mengjiang of Linchuan who had married during the reign of Emperor Taizong, back to Chang'an.
It is said that Li San Niang was just a commoner's daughter. Although she had some talent, such an important matter as the maternity ward should be handled by the royal family. Zhou Yanran, the granddaughter of Emperor Taizong and a member of the royal family with the title of Princess Qingchi, was the most suitable person to take over all the affairs of the maternity ward.
From the moment Li Sanniang stepped into officialdom, she knew this day would come.
Therefore, she was not surprised at all. Even though Princess Qingyang, who was qualified to attend court, immediately spoke up to stop her, she still did not really prevent Princess Qingchi and the people behind her from interfering.
However, Princess Qingchi and the people behind her really didn't have the brains to sort out this mess, and they almost ruined the Imperial Medical Bureau's annual free clinic during their tenure.
The free clinic almost turned into a disaster. Emperor Wu reprimanded Princess Qingchi and her attendants in court and handed the whole affair back to Li Sanniang.
However, after this incident, Li San Niang, together with Mr. Bu Ke and Princess Qingyang, discussed the matter and decided to allocate some of the maternity ward's affairs to other people in the court.
"...Third Miss is too young, and so is the Princess."
They're scared. They're afraid that you're so young, you'll outlive them, these old bones.
They fear that the power derived from what you now control will remain firmly in your grasp, preventing them from getting involved.
If we don't offer them a little something now, they might resort to assassination.
At this time, Li Sanniang was only 25 years old and had just turned 25. Compared to the officials in their forties and fifties in the imperial court, she was indeed too young.
Even if it's just waiting it out, Li San Niang can outlast them, so they can't wait any longer.
After leaving the main hall, they walked a distance before returning to the room where the officials waited for the monthly grand court assembly.
As soon as she arrived at the door, Li San Niang saw Qiu Xiang and Song Fu Ling waiting for her at the bottom of the steps outside the corridor.
"Third Sister!"
"master!"
"It's nothing. It's just that the saint was kind and gave me a cup of tea, which is why I came out a little late."
Qiu Xiang and Song Fuling entered the palace as disciples of Li San Niang. Now that Li San Niang is very busy, Qiu Xiang not only has to protect her, but also has to assist Li San Niang with paperwork on a daily basis.
Later, Qiu Xiang was so busy that she couldn't keep up with everything. But if she wanted to find someone knowledgeable in medicine who was also kind and trustworthy to help Li San Niang, it would be really too difficult.
Then, Song Fuling volunteered to recommend herself to Li Sanniang.
“I have been under my master’s wing for a long time. Over the years, Senior Sister Linglan, Sister Yao and Sister Chunlan have all done very well. I also want to help my master.”
Therefore, Song Fuling began to follow Li Sanniang closely. Not only did she learn various medical skills from Li Sanniang, but she also helped Li Sanniang sort out documents and coordinate the tasks that Li Sanniang had to do.
After more than a year, Song Fuling, who was about to turn eighteen, was already capable of handling things on her own.
"Master, are we going straight back to the maternity ward?"
When Li San Niang heard Song Fu Ling ask this question, she couldn't help but recall the question that had been raised by the court official and Emperor Wu in the side hall earlier.
After thinking for a moment, Li Sanniang smiled and said to Song Fuling, "Didn't you say last time that Furongji had some new products? Let's go to Furongji first and see if they're good. If they are, we'll buy some for you."
"Buy some more and distribute some to the nurses at the maternity ward. They've all worked hard with me for a year; even if they receive a salary from the government, I should still show them some appreciation."
Song Fuling is at the age where young girls care about their appearance. Even though she has been by Li Sanniang's side for more than a year and is now doing things in an orderly manner, she still sometimes shows her charming and cute side in front of Li Sanniang.
Song Fuling naturally agreed with Li Sanniang with a big smile, "Okay, I'll listen to you, Master." Overjoyed, Song Fuling took a step forward and grabbed Li Sanniang's arm. While acting coquettishly towards Li Sanniang, she smiled at Qiu Xiang beside her and said, "Buy some for me too, buy some for Sister Qiu Xiang as well, and some for Dewdrop!"
The three of them left the palace and boarded the carriage driven by the tenth prince outside the imperial city gate, heading towards Furongji Restaurant with the gentle hooves of the horse.
Li San Niang, along with Song Fu Ling and Qiu Xiang, who had bought a lot of things and ordered several new items from Fu Rong Ji, were seen off by Duan Si Niang, the female manager of Fu Rong Ji, accompanied by four servants.
"If Medical Supervisor Li needs anything in the future, just send someone to tell him. Furongji will naturally give some preferential treatment to important customers."
"At that time, I will personally bring the new product to Dr. Li's door for tasting."
After saying these polite words, Duan Si Niang took a small wooden box from the woman behind her.
"This item is from our Furongji restaurant owner, who admires the actions of Physician Li and specifically instructed us to present it as a gift if we come across it."
Just as Li San Niang was about to refuse, Duan Si Niang's expression turned serious and she said solemnly, "Medical Inspector Li, please don't refuse. Inside is just a silver hairpin with orchid design. The coincidence is that this hairpin was made by the late Master Lu, and only a few of them were made, which happened to be collected by the owner."
Seeing that Li San Niang still seemed to want to decline, Duan Si Niang quickly continued, "Our master, Si Niang, and the women in Fu Rong Ji all admire Doctor Li very much. We may not understand those grand principles, but we all know that the maternity ward built by Doctor Li is a place where women can save their lives. This is just a small token of our master's appreciation, and we hope that Doctor Li will not refuse any longer."
Since Duan Si Niang had already said so much, how could Li San Niang possibly refuse?
"In that case, I would like to thank your boss, Fourth Madam, and everyone at Furongji."
Li San Niang, Qiu Xiang, Song Fu Ling, and the fourteenth man, each carrying large and small wooden boxes, boarded the carriage and left under Duan S Niang's farewell gaze.
Sitting in the carriage, Qiu Xiang seemed to sense something. She lifted the curtain and looked towards the second floor of Furongji, where she saw a woman dressed in gorgeous attire.
As if sensing Qiu Xiang's gaze, the woman nodded slightly to Qiu Xiang, who then nodded in return before entering the carriage.
As soon as Qiu Xiang sat down, she heard Li San Niang say, "It should be the master that Duan Si Niang mentioned. I also felt that gaze, but I didn't sense any malice."
The employer probably just wanted to see what I looked like.
Qiu Xiang nodded slightly, but still said, "Afterwards, we should still investigate, just in case."
Third Sister, there are plenty of people who want to do bad things to you right now.
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