Chapter 783 Stance and Public Sentiment
Li's mother and her two companions hurried into Changshoufang amidst the large raindrops. Li's eldest sister-in-law stood at the entrance of Li's Medical Hall, holding an oil-paper umbrella and looking towards the intersection.
As soon as Brother Li drove the carriage into the street, Sister-in-law Li saw it at first glance and quickly opened her umbrella to go to the side of the road.
“Mother, come here, let me hold Dewdrop.”
Li Erxiong took the other umbrella from Li Dasao's hand and held it up to shield Li's mother from the rain. After watching Li's mother carefully hand over the dewdrops she was holding to Li Dasao, he then offered his arm for Li's mother to help him get off the car.
After sending Li's mother, Li's sister-in-law, and Luzhu into the clinic, Li's second brother turned back to drive the carriage.
Although the summer rain was quite heavy, the temperature wasn't particularly cool. However, the rain did bring a touch of coolness to the sweltering Chang'an.
Seeing the anxiety in his father's eyes, Li Erxiong quickly and carefully recounted to his father everything that Li Sanniang had said by the official road outside the drug rehabilitation center in the suburbs of Beijing.
Sister-in-law Li heard everything clearly. After hearing what her second brother Li said, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief and looked much more at ease: "Thank goodness, thank goodness. If Third Sister says it's alright, then it must be alright."
After hearing what Li's second brother relayed, Li's father was not as relieved as Li's sister-in-law. Li's father thought more deeply. He frowned and said to Li's mother and second brother with a stern face, "What Third Sister said must be true. She is not the kind of child who talks big."
However, now that some rumors have been circulating and have even implicated Third Sister, it's likely that even though Third Sister is safe this time, these people will still be looking for an opportunity to make a move in the future.
Didn't Third Sister say that she was invited by the Imperial Medical Academy to attend its commendation ceremony later this month?
"It's clear that Third Sister is now the most promising doctor in our family; we can't let her down."
After saying this, the head of the family, Li, went to see his second brother, Li Er. “Second brother, Third sister is up. With her taking care of you from now on, our family can truly be considered up.”
"My eldest son is busy all day long. Our family's affairs, big and small, are mostly managed by your mother, your sister-in-law, and you. Now that this has happened, you must keep a close eye on our family and not let anyone take advantage of the situation, lest it bring trouble to Third Sister and our family!"
Li Erxiong naturally stood up and bowed in response. He understood that his father's words were practically a direct address to Li Ersao.
It's impossible for Brother Li not to feel resentment, after all, Sister-in-law Li is his wife, the one who bore him three sons, and the one who sleeps in the same bed with him at night.
But when Li Erxiong thought about what Li Ersao had done in the past, he had to admit that Li Sanniang and Li's father's worries were not without reason.
Of all the adults in the Li family, only Li Ersao was truly so short-sighted, having been jealous of Li Sanniang and having grudges against her in the past.
Not content with just instructing his second brother, Li's father also summoned everyone currently in the Li family after dinner. Although he didn't elaborate on what Li's third sister-in-law had been involved in that led to the current rumors circulating in the streets.
The text only emphasizes that Li San Niang is a member of the Li family. Since she is a member of the Li family, she shares the same fate as them. If Li San Niang is not doing well, the Li family will not benefit either.
After Li's father finished speaking, Li's eldest brother and second brother quickly stood up and said they understood, agreeing with Li's father's words.
A few days ago, Li Dalang led Wang Dadan and Gao Haiping, along with Li's mother and sister-in-law, carrying large and small bags of love, back to the camp on the outskirts of Beijing.
Therefore, at this moment, Li Erlang, the first of the third generation of the Li family, stood behind his father, leading Li Sanlang, Li Silang, and the ignorant Xiao Wulang, Xiao Liulang, Luzhu'er, Ping An, and others, who also followed behind Li Daxiong and Li Erxiong and bowed in response.
The Li family was stabilized thanks to Li's father's words. However, Li's second brother kept an eye on Li's second sister-in-law, who was also quite obedient. After Li's father's reprimand that night, she stayed at home and didn't go out.
Whenever there was a need to go out, it was Sister-in-law Li who would take Wu Qiaolan and Baoya with her to handle it.
As everyone expected, during the grand court assembly, Minister Qiao stepped forward and impeached Director Wang of the Imperial Medical Bureau with a prepared memorial. Director Wang, in turn, refuted each of Minister Qiao's points in a prepared memorial that had been presented to Emperor Wu.
Even though Qiao Zhongcheng already knew that Emperor Wu would protect the Imperial Medical Bureau and that he had been abandoned, as a member of the Censorate, he was still quick to speak his mind.
The two officials, both with beards and nearly a hundred years old combined, engaged in a heated debate in the main hall.
You say that the Imperial Medical Bureau's use of human corpses violates etiquette and disregards the foundation of the nation. I would say that our Imperial Medical Bureau's surgeons saved countless lives and prevented countless deaths in this great battle, saved the Emperor a great deal of compensation money, and saved the lives of countless soldiers' families.
You said I didn't manage my subordinates well and that I'm not fit to be the head of the department. I just said I'm a human being, not a god. How could I have known that my subordinates would be so despicable?
Then, he stated righteously: "Dr. Huang's actions were truly wrong and he should be severely punished according to the law!"
Finally, let me say this: "You have the nerve to say I neglected my duties? You old Confucian scholar, don't you even look at how dutiful you are?"
"You, the censor in charge of supervising all officials, haven't even properly understood the duties of our Imperial Medical Bureau before arbitrarily implicating us. You are the one who is derelict in your duty!"
Wang Shuzheng and Qiao Zhongcheng debated back and forth for a full quarter of an hour, while Emperor Wu, sitting calmly at the head of the table, watched the two old men arguing with great interest.
When Qiao Zhongcheng blurted out in a panic, "...even if it's for the sake of saving the soldiers, one shouldn't wantonly desecrate other people's corpses!"
"Qiao Zhongqing (Qiao Zhongcheng's name), you heartless wretch, you are unworthy to be a disciple of Confucius!"
Shouldn't we, as physicians, improve our medical skills to save the soldiers of our Great Tang Dynasty?
"Who do you think has ensured the stability of our Great Tang Dynasty's status as a celestial empire?!"
Upon hearing Wang Shuzheng's words, Qiao Zhongcheng began to regret his words. He realized he had spoken incorrectly. Sure enough, every military officer present was furious upon hearing this.
"Fine, so what if our lives don't matter to us martial artists?"
"I'm out there fighting desperately, shouldn't I be treated for my injuries?"
Not to mention that there were already military officers arranged by Emperor Wu who were ready to seize the opportunity to speak on behalf of Wang Shuzheng, as soon as Qiao Zhongcheng said this, those military officers who were not arranged by Emperor Wu and who had the temper to shout angrily on the spot: "Hey!"
Qiao Zhongqing, you call yourself a scholar!
How could someone be so vicious!
While I was fighting on the battlefield, you were probably enjoying yourself in some romantic haven somewhere!
"Bah! I think you pedantic scholars should be dragged to the battlefield to see who gave you the time to waste here arguing!"
The Confucian scholars among the civil officials were displeased when a military man insulted them in court and even called them "pedantic scholars."
Thus, what was originally just a war of words between Wang Shuzheng and Qiao Zhongcheng escalated into a chaotic brawl between civil and military officials.
The noisy main hall was even more chaotic than the busiest street in the West Market. There was no order at all. As the argument escalated, anger was finally ignited. When the first military officer stepped forward and shoved a civil official, things got out of control. Even officials of the lowest rank, the seventh grade, started fighting in front of Emperor Wu!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com