Chapter 62 Doctor Meng stayed at the clinic last night…
On the seventh day of the fifth lunar month, the sky was clear and the air was fresh. At the Medical Officer's Hospital.
As dawn broke, the pale golden light enveloped the red walls and yellow tiles of the Medical Academy.
Physicians dressed in various official robes hurried about, moving between the corridors and courtyards.
Clerks hurried along carrying thick volumes of documents, while young pharmacists pushed carts laden with medicinal herbs to their respective offices. Occasionally, the low, urgent discussions of patients' conditions would drift by.
This government office, which oversees medical affairs in Lin'an City, is doing its utmost to deal with this sudden illness.
The atmosphere inside the Medical Academy's council chamber was solemn.
As usual, the abbot Zhu Zhi presided over the morning meeting. The physicians sat upright around the huge long table, all with solemn expressions.
After counting the number of people, Physician Chen Bin whispered to Zhu Zhi, "Your Excellency, everyone except Physician Li has arrived."
Zhu Zhi waved his hand dismissively: "It's nothing important, as long as everyone else is here."
He thought to himself, "Although Li Jing has been unusually diligent these past few days, showing up every single day, he's still a lazy person with a long history. How could he really keep it up? I'm afraid he's been too busy with medical matters these past few days, which has exhausted him, or perhaps his old ailment has flared up again, and he can't get out of bed."
Zhu Zhi surveyed the room, cleared his throat, and began to summarize the recent work: "The diarrhea epidemic is rampant in the city, and the situation is serious. Fortunately, thanks to the concerted efforts of all the medical clinics, the condition has been brought under some control, but the situation is still not optimistic."
His voice was solemn: “Everyone must strengthen communication with the medical clinics under your jurisdiction and closely monitor their treatment progress. If any medical clinic encounters any difficulties, whether it is a shortage of medicines or a lack of manpower, it must be reported immediately without delay!”
"Furthermore, I have some news to share. Yesterday, our court signed purchase agreements for several essential medicinal herbs with the Meng family, a reputable herbal medicine merchant in the city. You can rest assured about the supply of medicinal herbs for now."
He then changed the subject, his expression becoming even more grave, "However, considering that some patients are severely poisoned and have progressed to critical conditions, making treatment extremely difficult, Physician Ji worked tirelessly overnight yesterday, collaborating with several medical clinics such as Zhaoyutang, Huichuntang, and Jishetang to jointly discuss and initially formulate a prescription for the appropriate ailment."
"Lotus seeds?" A physician below immediately exclaimed in a low voice, "Such a precious medicinal herb, Zhaoyutang actually has it in stock?"
"This Dr. Meng is truly a compassionate healer, willing to part with something so precious..."
As soon as Zhu Zhi finished speaking, a murmur arose from below. Previously, during the medical officer assessment, the exam paper that had received an "excellent" grade personally approved by Ji Yun had been circulated within the academy. Its insightful views and skillful use of medicine had already amazed everyone, and the name "Meng Yutong" had already spread throughout the medical officer academy at that time.
However, the hospital was mostly staffed by middle-aged and elderly male doctors who had been immersed in Confucian classics since childhood and held some prejudice against women showing their faces in public and practicing medicine.
Some people privately speculated that her "excellent" rating might not be entirely based on her real talent and learning, but might be related to her past relationship with Ji Yun.
However, Zhu Zhi's words today, especially his donation of the rare medicinal herb *Stone Lotus Seed*, have begun to shake the prejudices in many people's hearts. In the face of a major epidemic, such selfless and generous donations, regardless of gender, deserve our utmost respect for their magnanimity and benevolence.
Zhu Zhi was also gratified. Whether a woman or a man, whether from a merchant family or a noble family, it is in the face of major issues of right and wrong, and in times of crisis and danger, that the true nature of people is revealed.
In this light, Huai Zhi's judgment... is indeed excellent. No wonder he makes so many exceptions for this woman, always taking care of her and helping her openly and secretly.
Zhu Zhi then carefully assigned all the tasks for the day, and after everything was explained, everyone was about to leave.
The clerk Shen Zhou hurriedly entered the council hall and went straight to Ji Yun, bowing and saying, "Physician Ji, someone from the Rong Prince's Mansion has come to invite you. They say that His Highness the Heir Apparent is suffering from diarrhea, and His Highness the Princess is extremely anxious. She has personally requested that you come to the mansion immediately to treat him."
Zhu Zhi was somewhat surprised to hear this, raising an eyebrow and asking, "Oh? Li Jing didn't come today because he's sick? How is it? Is it serious?"
Shen Zhou replied, "The messenger said that the symptoms came on suddenly and violently, with incessant vomiting and diarrhea, which seems... to be symptoms of a serious illness. The princess is very worried and has ordered Physician Ji to go immediately."
Upon hearing this, Ji Yun nodded slightly to Zhu Zhi. Zhu Zhi patted him on the shoulder and instructed, "Go and take a look, and treat him properly. Don't worry about the affairs of the hospital; we will take care of them."
Only after Ji Yun left did Zhu Zhi gaze in the direction he had gone and sigh with considerable worry. This scourge of sewage was truly harmful, even the heir of the Prince's mansion was not spared.
Ji Yun had just discussed with him that although the newly drafted prescription was finalized, its efficacy still needed to be verified. He had planned to go to Zhaoyutang today to carefully observe the condition of those seriously ill patients after taking the medicine before deciding whether to promote it on a large scale.
Unfortunately, Li Jing suddenly fell seriously ill at this time. And the crucial stone lotus seed in the prescription was still stored in Zhaoyu Hall... It is unknown how Ji Yun will deal with Princess Rong and treat his pampered cousin, the heir apparent, without the corresponding medicinal material.
*
The sun was high in the sky; it was already noon.
Zhaoyutang was still packed with people, the air was stuffy, and the hall was filled with the heavy smell of medicine and the suppressed groans of patients.
All morning, Meng Yutong and everyone in the museum were spinning like tops, without stopping for a moment.
She sat upright at the table, intently taking pulses, asking questions in a soft voice, and deftly inserting needles; fine beads of sweat had already formed on her forehead. Liu Sijun sat beside her, tacitly writing out a prescription based on her dictation.
Wu Ming and Bai Zhi bustled about in front of the medicine cabinet at the back, grabbing and weighing medicines, their feet barely touching the ground. Cui Da and Mei San, on the other hand, maintained order in the consultation room, guiding and calming anxious patients.
Today's patients are no less numerous than yesterday's, and many have come specifically from the northern section of Yujie Street, or even further afield, drawn by his reputation. Rumors have spread that Dr. Meng of Zhaoyutang is a miracle worker, his medicine curing all ailments instantly.
This drove people to flock to this small clinic.
So, after a busy morning, the clinic was still bustling with people, and even as noon approached, the number of visitors didn't seem to decrease. One wave after another, seemingly without end.
Meng Yutong's face clearly showed signs of fatigue, her lips were pale, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes.
But she continued to see patients and prescribe medicine meticulously, reading the names of the prescriptions aloud to Liu Sijun word by word.
Liu Sijun continued writing, glancing sideways at her struggling appearance, and his heart tightened. Just as he was thinking of a reason to let her take a break, he saw a tall and upright figure walk past the patients in the room and head straight for them.
Liu Sijun narrowed his eyes, feeling that this person looked somewhat familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before.
Before he could think it through, the refined young man stopped beside Meng Yutong but did not disturb her. He patiently waited for her to finish taking the pulse and prescribing medicine for the current patient before tapping the consultation table twice with his fingers and calling out, "Doctor Meng, are you free now? I have something to discuss with you."
Meng Yutong looked up at him. There were still many patients waiting in the clinic, and she couldn't leave. She was about to shake her head when Liu Sijun, who was standing next to her, grabbed her shoulder and pulled her up without saying a word. His tone was natural and familiar: "Tongtong, I'll cover for you here for a while. We'll see the patients with complicated symptoms when you come back. You go and take care of your business. Don't worry."
Ji Yun stood to one side, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly upon hearing this. His gaze swept over Liu Sijun's hand resting on Meng Yutong's shoulder before quickly returning to Meng Yutong's face, as if urging her slightly: "Doctor Meng, there are too many people here, please let us speak privately."
Meng Yutong was still a little worried, and looked at Liu Sijun, instructing him, "Brother Liu, if there are any tricky situations, be sure to wait for me to come back and handle them."
"I understand, go ahead and rest assured!" Liu Sijun sat down with an air of authority and began to examine the next patient with great professionalism.
Meng Yutong then turned around and left the clinic one after the other with Ji Yun. The two stopped in the corridor leading from the clinic to the backyard, with Meng Yutong leaning against the tall medicine cabinet. In front of her were Bai Zhi and Wu Ming busily dispensing and weighing medicines, and she could see the crowded scene inside the clinic.
"Medical Officer Ji, didn't you say you'd come after your shift? Is something urgent that you've come now?" Meng Yutong turned to Ji Yun, her tone questioning.
Ji Yun did not answer her question immediately, but simply looked at her quietly. His gaze lingered for a moment on her slightly pale cheeks and the faint blue under her eyes. His eyes were deep and unpredictable, seemingly concerned, but quickly covered by his usual coldness.
After a long pause, he asked an unrelated question: "Didn't you sleep well last night?"
Standing at this angle, if you turn your head slightly, your gaze can pass through the layers of green of the old persimmon tree by the well and catch a glimpse of a few clean women's clothes hanging on the clothesline in the corner of the backyard.
A gentle breeze rustled the green leaves, and amidst the swaying leaves, a familiar apricot-yellow hem could be vaguely seen—the very one she had worn yesterday.
He understood, but still asked, "Did Doctor Meng stay at the clinic last night?"
"Hmm," Meng Yutong nodded slowly, her reactions were a little sluggish due to fatigue, and her speech also slowed down, "Thinking that there are many patients these days and it is inconvenient to travel back and forth, I stayed at the inn. Perhaps I am not used to the bed, I did not sleep well last night."
She spoke slowly, her nodding movements carrying a gentle, deliberate quality, like a butterfly whose wings had been dampened by spring rain, taking a brief rest, with a rare vulnerability and bewilderment.
At this moment, Bai Zhi saw the two of them talking in the aisle. She put down the medicine packet in her hand, turned around and poured two cups of water from the warm teapot by the counter, and quickly brought them over: "Miss, please have some water to soothe your throat. Physician Ji, please have some too."
Ji Yun took the teacup, but his gaze fell on Meng Yutong's smooth forehead, where a fine layer of sweat had formed.
He turned to Bai Zhi, saying nothing, but gesturing with his eyes and gently pointing to Meng Yutong's forehead. Bai Zhi immediately understood and hurriedly searched her own body for a handkerchief, but couldn't find one for a long time.
Just then, a neatly folded plain white cotton handkerchief was handed to her. Without thinking, Bai Zhi took it, walked around the counter, and stood beside Meng Yutong, carefully wiping the sweat from her forehead.
Meng Yutong held the warm tea and sipped it slowly.
Ji Yun looked at Wu Ming, who was busy behind the counter, and said, "Young Master Wu, could you please get me a piece of wild ginseng?"
Wu Ming responded and deftly took a piece of wild ginseng from the medicine cabinet drawer, placed it in Ji Yun's palm, and without even asking what it was for, turned around and continued to wrap the medicine.
Ji Yun held the ginseng slice, about half the size of a copper coin, with clear texture, and waited quietly for Meng Yutong to finish drinking the warm water in her cup.
"Dr. Meng, open your mouth." He suddenly spoke, but his face remained expressionless.
Meng Yutong didn't react for a moment, and opened her mouth slightly in confusion: "What did you say..."
Before she could finish speaking, she felt a cool sensation on her lips. Ji Yun's fingertips had already swiftly brushed across her lips, and in the next instant, something with a strong herbal scent was stuffed into her mouth.
It is ginseng slices.
When wild ginseng slices are held in the mouth, they slowly release their medicinal power, which can replenish qi and blood, strengthen the body and nourish the spirit, making them most suitable for her current state of qi deficiency and fatigue.
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