Chapter 744 They deserve it!
Just as Princess Qingyang had said, after standing in the designated spot, it took another half an hour before the scene finally came to life.
Because Li Sanniang had taught the wounded doctors in the Imperial Medical Bureau who were going to war with the army before the army set off, and because Li Sanniang's techniques greatly improved the survival rate of the wounded soldiers, Li Sanniang's position this time could be considered very high.
She and Qiu Xiang stood right at the front of the Imperial Medical Bureau's line. To her left, across from Physician Ning, stood Physician Wang, the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
So, Li San Niang not only stood in the front row, she was actually standing right in the middle.
Li San Niang repeatedly declined the position from the beginning. Putting aside the issue of her being a woman standing in the center in front of a group of imperial physicians of varying ages but generally much older than her, the fact that she did not hold any official position was enough to draw criticism.
According to that jealous and petty person's thinking: "She's just a woman, and a woman without any official position at that, does she deserve to stand in the center?"
Li San Niang did not want to be criticized at this moment, or to make enemies on her path.
No matter how Li San Niang tried to refuse, she really didn't want to compete for face. But Physician Ning insisted that she stand next to him instead of backing up.
If it weren't for the difference between men and women, Physician Ning would probably have grabbed Li Sanniang's sleeve and made her stand on his side.
"Doctor Ning, please don't make things difficult for me. This position is not one I should or should stand in."
As a lowly physician in a medical alliance, I already feel honored to be standing at the back.
Just as Ning Yizheng was about to say something to Li Sanniang, Wang Shuzheng, who had been watching the two of them refusing each other's invitations, coughed. Seeing that the cough had attracted their attention, Wang Shuzheng put on a standard fake smile and said to Li Sanniang, "Why does Doctor Li refuse?"
Dr. Li previously taught us the surgical techniques of the Imperial Medical Bureau free of charge. The Imperial Medical Bureau should thank you.
No one else could stand in this spot, but Dr. Li could!
After saying this, Wang Shuzheng smiled at Li Sanniang.
What could Li San Niang say?
She quickly bowed and thanked Director Wang for his affirmation, then had no choice but to stand there.
After Li San Niang stopped, Qiu Xiang had no choice but to find a place to stand at the back. After all, Qiu Xiang was only Li San Niang's eldest disciple in name, and she was not qualified to stand in the center.
"I don't believe there's nothing going on here."
This is what Li San Niang thought. After all, when the army went on the expedition earlier, apart from Dr. Sun from the Department of Surgery, she had never seen Director Wang. Even if Director Wang knew that the former Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, Physician Liang, was Li San Niang's master, he would never have allowed Li San Niang to stand in the center.
You should know that this position allows us to directly face Emperor Wu, who will be arriving shortly, and to see him immediately.
Even if the Imperial Medical Bureau was located on the side of the altar when Emperor Wu paid his respects at the monument to the loyal martyrs after entering the mausoleum, it would still be visible to him.
Wouldn't standing at the front of the Imperial Medical Bureau's formation allow for a closer view of Emperor Wu?
Why would such a good position be given to Li San Niang, a female doctor with no official rank or position?
Therefore, there must be something else going on.
Didn't Li San Niang guess correctly?
When the Ministry of Rites reported to Emperor Wu at the end of the memorial ceremony, Emperor Wu specifically mentioned the Imperial Medical Bureau and asked Wang Shuzheng, who was present, "The number of wounded soldiers who survived this time is very high. The Imperial Medical Bureau did a good job."
Wang Shuzheng quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty! It is all what our Imperial Medical Bureau should do!"
Our soldiers fight for the Tang Dynasty, and it is our duty, the Imperial Medical Academy, to treat them!
Emperor Wu nodded, looking at the memorial detailing the army's affairs at the border, and asked Wang Shuzheng again: "I saw that Physician Sun wrote in the memorial that it was thanks to the skills of a female physician in the Chang'an Medical Alliance that so many soldiers' lives were saved."
Is that really true?
Yes, it was precisely because Emperor Wu specifically mentioned the term "female physician" that Wang Shuzheng made the decision that Li Sanniang must attend this memorial ceremony, and that she must stand in the front row so that Emperor Wu could see her.
As for why Emperor Wu deliberately mentioned the words "female physician"?
Besides the fact that Dr. Sun did mention Li Sanniang in his memorial, it was also because Mr. Bu Ke's memorial mentioned Li Sanniang. In addition, Emperor Wu also knew that Li Sanniang was one of the dozen or so people who were the focus of attention in the "Record of Extraordinary People".
After all, the high concentration of alcohol and smallpox vaccine alone were enough to make Emperor Wu take Li San Niang seriously.
Standing tall and poised, Li San Niang stared straight ahead. She felt that since she was standing in the front row, she had to maintain a proper posture and not let anyone look down on her.
After a while, the sun had risen high in the sky, and the sound of orderly marching from afar became clearer and clearer.
Li San Niang turned her head to look and saw in the distance a hundred or so Golden Guards riding tall horses and wearing golden armor. As the Golden Guards got closer, Li San Niang could vaguely see Emperor Wu riding a chestnut horse behind them, wearing a black robe with gold silk embroidery and vermilion trim, and a crown.
Before Emperor Wu even got close, Li Sanniang felt her heart pounding so fast it felt like it was about to leap out of her chest.
This reminded Li Sanniang of the time when she went to Zhuque Street to watch the festivities of the Emperor's birthday celebration. She had caught a glimpse of the Emperor from afar, and her heart had been pounding just as fast, as if she couldn't wait to see someone.
As Emperor Wu approached, a eunuch announced loudly, "The sage has arrived; pay your respects."
Li San Niang followed the people around her, bowing and saying, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
With her head down, Li Sanniang didn't see Emperor Wu's face. However, after Emperor Wu walked past her, Li Sanniang's heart rate gradually decreased and returned to normal.
Unbeknownst to Li Sanniang, Xing Yu, who was being held back by the Imperial Guards, reached out his right hand to touch his heart, which had been pounding wildly since he had just caught a glimpse of Emperor Wu's back in the distance. He also recalled the events of the Emperor's birthday celebration two years ago.
Having already ridden her horse to the gate of the Martyrs' Mausoleum, Empress Wu dismounted. She thought about the slightly burning sensation in her chest earlier and recalled the time two years ago.
However, the more important thing at this time was to pay tribute to the loyal souls who died for the Tang Dynasty.
Emperor Wu had dismounted, and no one present could be of higher status than her. The princes, nobles, and officials had also long since dismounted or gotten out of their carriages.
In fact, the Ministry of Rites had previously told Emperor Wu that he should ride a horse into the Mausoleum of Loyal Martyrs and dismount after arriving at the monument.
But Emperor Wu rejected it on the spot.
Emperor Wu's original words were: "As the Son of Heaven, I should pay even more respect to these loyal men who fought and gave their lives for my Great Tang Dynasty. They deserve it!"
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