Chapter 253 Xian'er and I are of the same mind...
"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"
In stark contrast to Pei Jichuan and Ana's joyful expressions, Lu Zhengqing was pale-faced, as if struck by lightning!
He staggered backward, his lips trembling, and blurted out.
"Cheating! It's definitely cheating! How...how could they possibly win the last two games in a row?! I refuse to accept this!!"
Lu Zhengqing lost his composure for a moment and couldn't even control the volume.
"Judge Lu! How dare you behave so disrespectfully before the Emperor and roar in the palace!"
Feng Shunxiang's face darkened, and he rebuked him sternly.
Emperor Zhaoheng's face was ashen, and the anger he had been suppressing for so long was finally no longer concealed.
The oppressive aura unique to emperors pressed down relentlessly, instantly enveloping the entire side hall like dark clouds looming overhead.
He slowly stood up, his voice not loud, but carrying the force of thunder, making Lu Zhengqing tremble with fear.
"Lu Zhengqing! What else do you have to say?!"
"I think you, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, have been in this position for too long and have become too complacent! You receive a generous salary from the court and are worshipped by the people, yet you lead the entire Imperial Medical Academy to remain stagnant and complacent, holding positions without doing any work!"
"You spout rules and regulations, but in reality, you're only protecting your own petty interests! In my eyes, have you ever cared for the country and its people, or even possessed the slightest compassion of a healer?!"
Emperor Zhaoheng looked at Lu Zhengqing with extreme disappointment. As the head of the Imperial Academy, Lu Zhengqing was naturally a minister whom he had once trusted.
But now, after the competition, he realized that Lu Zhengqing was no longer the person who would accompany the army to provide medical consultations.
Lu Zhengqing knelt down with a thud, his whole body trembling like a leaf.
Normally extremely proud, he was quite embarrassed and kowtowed repeatedly after hearing Emperor Zhaoheng's hurtful words.
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty..."
It was thought that Lu Zhengqing would admit his mistake.
However, extreme resentment and years of stubbornness gave Lu Zhengqing a final glimmer of courage to fight back in his death throes.
He suddenly pounded his head on the ground, making a loud thud, his voice trembling, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please see the truth! I... I beg... I beg to see Imperial Physician Pei's prescription! I don't believe... I don't believe that all the colleagues in the Imperial Medical Academy..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: he still suspected the review process was unfair and that Pei Jichuan's prescription was rigged.
Emperor Zhaoheng, enraged, laughed coldly and snorted, "Fine! I'll make you give up! Feng Shunxiang, present the original copies of both prescriptions!"
Feng Shunxiang: "Yes!"
Soon, the original manuscripts of the prescriptions written by Pei Jichuan and Lu Zhengqing were presented to the emperor.
Emperor Zhaoheng glanced at it and then gestured for Feng Shunxiang to take it to Lu Zhengqing.
Lu Zhengqing almost snatched Pei Jichuan's prescription and eagerly began to read it.
He only read a few lines before his face turned even uglier, and the more he read, the more his hands trembled.
Pei Jichuan's prescriptions were clear and meticulous, dividing the epidemic into different stages and syndromes, and formulating detailed treatment principles and prescriptions for each.
The use of medicines is exquisite, and the combination of principal, assistant, adjuvant, and guide herbs is meticulous.
However, none of this made him feel ashamed.
When he saw the prescription prepared by Pei Jichuan, he found that most of the selected medicinal materials were common, readily available, and inexpensive, yet could achieve excellent therapeutic effects. This clearly showed that the actual situation of the people and the affordability of the patients had been fully considered.
At the end of the prescription, Pei Jichuan added a note: "The ingredients in this series of prescriptions are mostly common, with mild properties and great efficacy. They are suitable for widespread use among the people and can effectively control the epidemic and reduce the burden on the people."
This is not a prescription that a high-ranking imperial physician could devise.
Only by going into every household and getting close to the people could Pei Jichuan and Ana come up with such a prescription.
Not only to heal people... but also to heal the nation!
It is said that the inferior doctor treats the disease, the middle-level doctor treats the person, and the superior doctor treats the country!
Even the proud Lu Zhengqing couldn't help but admit deep down that Pei Jichuan's prescription was indeed excellent!
In contrast, his own prescription, written hastily and conservatively due to its initial dismissive attitude, mainly consisted of expensive and reliable medicinal materials commonly used in the Imperial Hospital. His thinking was rigid, and he barely mentioned the combination of prevention and treatment of the epidemic. Compared with Pei Jichuan's professional and compassionate plan, the difference was stark, like heaven and earth!
Lu Zhengqing finally understood.
He was not only thoroughly defeated by his opponent in terms of medical skills, but he also lost miserably in terms of vision, magnanimity, and the most basic benevolence of a doctor!
His long-standing reliance on seniority, connections, and the legitimacy of the Imperial Medical Academy appears utterly laughable and vulnerable in the face of absolute power and a heart dedicated to advocating for the people!
He seemed to have lost all his strength; the prescription in his hand fell to the ground, tears streaming down his face, and he could no longer utter a single word.
At this moment, he experienced not only defeat, but also the collapse of his beliefs.
Emperor Zhaoheng stopped looking at his disheveled appearance.
"Lu Zhengqing is incompetent and lacks virtue, unworthy of his position! Effective immediately, he is removed from his post as head of the Imperial Medical Academy and expelled from the Imperial Medical Academy, never to be reinstated! All members of the Imperial Medical Academy must take this as a warning and deeply reflect on their actions! Anyone who continues to be complacent and disregards the people's livelihood will be severely punished!"
He turned his gaze to Pei Jichuan, who stood respectfully with his hands at his sides, and his tone became expectant: "I hereby decree that Pei Jichuan and Ana shall temporarily take charge of the Imperial Medical Academy and oversee all matters related to the prevention and control of this epidemic inside and outside the palace!"
"All imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy, except for those who must remain on duty, shall go to the free clinics outside the palace in batches, awaiting the orders of Pei Jichuan and Ana! No excuses or delays are permitted! Violators will be punished for disobeying imperial orders!"
This series of decrees not only definitively declared the verdict against Lu Zhengqing, but also fully realized Shui Xian's goal of promoting the decentralization of imperial medical resources to the common people!
The storm has subsided, and the world is now clear.
When Shui Xian returned to Lihe Palace, the lanterns were already lit.
Shedding the majesty of an imperial concubine from her time at the Qianqing Palace, she changed into comfortable everyday clothes, just like an ordinary mother.
She went into the inner hall, where the wet nurse had just coaxed Yongning, who was tired from playing, to sleep.
Narcissus gently waved for the wet nurse to leave, then sat on the edge of the bed and tenderly held her daughter's soft little body in her arms.
In his sleep, Yongning seemed to sense his mother's presence. He nuzzled his head against her chest and mumbled a vague murmur in his sleep.
Narcissus looked down at her daughter's peaceful sleeping face, and a relaxed and joyful smile unconsciously appeared on her face. It was a gentle smile from the bottom of her heart, a smile that came after a heavy burden had been lifted.
Perhaps it was because her gaze was too gentle, Yongning's long eyelashes trembled, and she slowly woke up.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes, and when she saw it was Narcissus, she immediately gave a sweet smile, stretched out her little arms to hug Narcissus's neck, and asked in a childish voice, "Mother...you're back? You seem so happy today?"
Narcissus kissed her rosy cheek and said softly, "Yes, Mother is very happy today."
Why are you happy?
Yongning opened her eyes wide with curiosity. Her soft hair, which had been pressed against her cheeks from sleeping, made her look even cuter.
Shui Xian thought for a moment and explained in the simplest language: "Because today, my mother, together with Physician Pei and Physician Ana, did something very important."
"Once this is done well, it will help many uncles, aunts and children outside the palace who are sick but don't have the money to see a doctor, so that they can be less in pain and get better sooner."
Yongning seemed to understand, but she remembered the phrase "helping others" very clearly.
She remembered how her mother had taken her out of the palace and exchanged her beautiful jewelry for cotton clothes, and a bright light appeared on her face.
She pouted and gave Narcissus a big kiss on the cheek, saying in a clear voice, "Mother is so good! When Yongning grows up, I want to be like Mother and help many, many people!"
Hearing her daughter's innocent and kind words, Narcissus felt a great sense of comfort.
She knew that her efforts in teaching by example had not been in vain.
At this time, Emperor Zhaoheng also finished dealing with the follow-up matters and came to Lihe Palace.
He dismissed the palace servants and walked to the side hall where Yongning was. Looking at the mother and daughter embracing each other, the cold and hard look in his eyes softened completely.
Emperor Zhaoheng strode forward, stretched out his arms, and embraced Shuixian and Yongning together.
"Xian'er, today... I really owe you a lot."
The man's voice was gentle, as if he had been moved by the scene, and he was no longer the emperor who ruled the world, but an ordinary father and husband.
Emperor Zhaoheng paused, his voice lowering, "If you hadn't insisted on this action and devised this scheme, I would never have known that the Imperial Medical Academy, under Lu Zhengqing's control, had become so corrupt!"
Emperor Zhaoheng sighed, "The Lu family is deeply entrenched, almost treating the Imperial Medical Academy as their private property, disregarding the emperor's grace, and ignoring the suffering of the people! It was you, Xian'er, who, for me and for all the people, removed this long-standing malignant tumor!"
Narcissus nestled in his arms, gently shaking her head, her tone utterly sincere.
"Your Majesty is too kind... I was merely there by chance and did my duty. As for Physician Pei Jichuan, he is indeed a talented physician with a kind heart, and what is even more commendable is that he is down-to-earth and cares about the common people."
"I have read the epidemic prevention strategy he proposed. The medicinal materials are cheap and readily available, yet the effects are remarkable. If it can be promoted among the people, it will truly be a blessing for them."
Emperor Zhaoheng nodded, his eyes full of admiration: "Xian'er and I have the same idea."
"I have decided to take this opportunity to vigorously reorganize the Imperial Medical Academy!"
When the Imperial Medical Academy was mentioned, he couldn't help but snort coldly.
Emperor Zhaoheng said, "I not only want to eliminate the remaining poison of the Lu family, but also to reform their selection mechanism! From now on, the Imperial Medical Academy must select physicians based on their actual performance and medical ethics, and open up channels to recruit those skilled and benevolent doctors from the common people. We must never again allow family background and connections to bury true talents!"
This is not only a reform of the imperial physician system, but also a silent affirmation of Shui Xian's rise from humble beginnings to stand out through her own abilities, symbolizing the further opening of the path for children from poor families, or rather, for all those who rely on genuine talent and learning.
The emperor and empress looked at each other and smiled, their eyes filled with understanding.
Looking at his beloved wife and daughter in his arms, Emperor Zhaoheng felt that life was perfect, nothing could be more so.
Outside the window, the moonlight, like water, gently bathed the courtyard, reflecting the warmth and tranquility within the Lihe Palace...
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