Chapter 31 Her Medical Card
Deep within the North Courtyard of the Imperial Medical Academy.
The courtyard is spacious, paved with bluestone, and the side rooms on both sides are where the various departments of physicians and medical doctors conduct their lectures.
The main hall, with its plaque inscribed with "Benevolent Heart Saving the World," is the official residence of Zhu Zhi, the Imperial Censor.
In the east wing, a dark door was half-closed, which was where Judge Ji Yun handled official business and took pulses.
The interior furnishings are elegant, with every table and chair made of rosewood. Medical books and documents awaiting approval from the Bureau of Human Welfare are neatly stacked on the desk, and a detailed meridian chart hangs on the wall. In the corner, a bronze incense beast exhales a refreshing cypress fragrance.
Only an open volume of the "Taiping Shenghui Fang" was placed on the table, clearly indicating that the owner had just been reading it.
As the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, Ji Yun had many responsibilities: he was in charge of all the medical records in the country, examined the medical officers of the local public welfare bureaus, and also had to take turns to treat difficult and complicated diseases in front of the emperor and in the academy.
At that moment, he had just finished a consultation and was about to review reports from various places when Chen Bin, a medical officer from the hospital, gently knocked on the door and entered carrying a stack of test papers.
Ji Yun lowered his gaze slightly, recalling how the academy magistrate Zhu Zhi had mentioned a few days ago that the number of places was limited this year and had instructed him to set questions that would truly test his abilities.
Following Zhu Zhi's usual preference, he used the same symptom his grandfather had tested him on a month earlier: "bloating, vomiting, and insomnia."
This condition is a mixture of deficiency and excess, and is certainly not something that ordinary doctors can cure. He also consulted numerous medical texts and carefully considered the pros and cons before arriving at a reliable prescription.
"Hmm," Ji Yun responded, his voice cold and emotionless.
After Chen Bin finished handing in the answer sheets, she remained standing at the table, her eyes constantly glancing furtively at Ji Yun's face.
"Is there anything else?" Ji Yun looked up at him.
"Um... Your Honor, there's something I'm not sure if I should ask. Is it true that the rumors circulating outside say you were jilted?"
After Chen Bin finished asking the question, the room fell silent for a moment, and remained quiet for a long time.
These past few days I've been hearing rumors that the marriage between the Ji and Meng families has changed, and that the girl from the other family didn't seem to like Ji Yun.
The story was told with great conviction.
He was so curious that he held it in for a long time, and just happened to ask when he handed in the answer sheet.
He was an extremely inquisitive person, but also a bit timid. So after thinking for a long time, he didn't dare to ask directly if the woman's family had broken off the engagement. Instead, he added the word "was" to his question.
Ji Yun's brow twitched very slightly, and Chen Bin's heart jumped.
After a long while, Chen Bin was prepared that he would ignore him and was about to leave when he suddenly heard Ji Yun's very soft voice.
"Um."
He was taken aback, and before he could even utter a word of comfort, "There are plenty of fish in the sea," Ji Yun had already unfolded the answer sheet, picked up his vermilion pen, and begun to grade it.
She didn't even glance at him.
Chen Bin swallowed her words, feeling resentful.
Ji Yun reviewed the answer sheets on his desk one by one, seemingly unaffected by the somewhat offensive question he had just asked.
As Chen Bin said, many people left the final question blank. Those who did answer either rigidly adhered to ancient prescriptions without considering the need for adaptation, such as using only Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction without taking into account phlegm and dampness obstruction, or used medicine rashly and without proper balance, such as overusing strong sedatives and damaging the spleen and stomach. All of these were unacceptable to Chen Bin.
He reviewed them extremely quickly, and with a few strokes of his red pen, he could immediately tell which were good and which were bad.
When he turned to one of the documents, his fingertips paused.
On the exam paper, the calligraphy, written in elegant and neat small characters, seemed to penetrate the paper itself. The arguments in the first question were clear and well-organized, with appropriate quotations, demonstrating a profound understanding of the subject. As his gaze shifted to the answer to the last question, a very faint hint of surprise flashed across Ji Yun's usually calm eyes.
The prescription described in the answer sheet was ingeniously modified from the "An Shen Ding Zhi Tang" recorded in "Wai Tai Mi Yao". The prescription: Poria cocos and Polygala tenuifolia are used in large quantities to calm the mind and stabilize the will, while Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa and Platycladus orientalis seeds are used to nourish the blood and calm the mind; the wonder lies in reducing the sinking effect of hematite and replacing it with Zibei Chi to subdue the yang and calm the mind without harming the stomach; a small amount of Citrus medica and Prunus mume are added to soothe the liver and regulate qi, relieving the symptoms of vomiting.
This prescription not only addresses the core pathogenesis of "qi stagnation causing vomiting and insomnia," but also takes into account the patient's possible liver qi stagnation. The medication is light and precise, and the combination is appropriate. The ingenuity of its approach even surpasses the modified Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction he made that day.
Ji Yun stared at the elegant handwriting, his dark eyes unfathomable, his gaze lingering unconsciously on the names of the medicinal herbs "Purple Cowrie Teeth" and "Green Plum Blossom" for a moment.
My grandfather's problem was solved in such an unconventional way, and the solution seemed so familiar, quite ingenious.
This unconventional approach to medication, which emphasizes the harmony of medicinal properties, is somewhat in line with the prescriptions Meng Yutong used to write.
His gaze swept over the tightly sealed name, a hint of inquiry rising within him, which he then subtly suppressed.
Immediately, his expression returned to normal, and the tip of his vermilion pen steadily touched the paper, clearly and forcefully writing the word "Excellent" in the upper right corner of the exam paper.
The handwriting is vigorous, slender, and solitary, its strength penetrating the paper.
"Send it to the Dean for review." He handed the exam paper back to Chen Bin.
Chen Bin acknowledged the order and withdrew. The study returned to silence, with only the thin wisps of smoke from the incense burner swirling around.
Ji Yun picked up his pen again, but the tip did not touch the official document. His gaze fell on the swaying shadows of trees outside the window, and in his deep eyes, there seemed to be flickering thoughts.
Could that brilliant answer just now have come from her?
After taking the medical licensing exam, what does she want to do next?
That's enough. The Ji and Meng families have already broken off the engagement, so what does this have to do with him?
He pursed his thin lips, forcibly suppressing these strange speculations that stemmed from that answer sheet.
A moment later, an official came to inquire: "Judge, the Chief Justice asks if you are free at the moment? The list of examinees needs to be copied and posted. Your calligraphy is the most elegant and natural, and the Chief Justice would like to ask you to write it. It needs to be posted on the gate of the court before 5 pm."
Upon hearing this, Ji Yun's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly for a moment before returning to their deep, still-deep state.
He nodded slightly, his voice still cool and clear: "Agreed."
In the late afternoon or early evening, dusk was just beginning to fall on the Imperial Medical Academy.
As dusk settled, Zhu Zhi's official residence was bathed in a warm, yellowish light.
The academy's chief physician, Zhu Zhizheng, was engrossed in his work, while Ji Yun sat upright at a side table, his back as straight as a bamboo shoot, holding a purple-tipped brush, transcribing the names of those who had passed the medical examination onto a plain white paper.
His brushstrokes are steady and deliberate, his wrists displaying a rugged and elegant style. His silhouette, outlined in the dimming light, is exquisitely refined, and his graceful demeanor is so captivating that it makes one forget worldly concerns.
Zhu Zhi glanced up casually and his gaze fell on Ji Yun. He was momentarily stunned by Ji Yun's imposing presence.
A sudden pang of sadness gripped his heart. He instinctively grabbed a polished bronze mirror from the table, its surface gleaming, and silently pursed his lips at the reflection of his round, chubby face, his flat nose looking as if it had been punched flat.
God is so unfair! A good family background, good looks, and great skills were all given to Ji Yun, but when it came to him, it was like scraps that splashed out when Nuwa was throwing mud!
He angrily turned the bronze mirror upside down, wanting to avoid seeing it altogether.
His gaze returned to the medical examination answer sheet in his hand, and he casually flipped through it.
When you turn to a scroll written in elegant and neat small regular script, you will see a powerful and vigorous character "优" (you, meaning excellent) at the beginning, as solitary and aloof as a pine tree in winter. It is clear at a glance that it was personally annotated by Ji Yun.
Zhu Zhi took a closer look and carefully examined the contents, especially the last question. The exquisite use of medicine and the skillful combination of ingredients made him increasingly astonished as he read on.
Ji Yun raised his eyes and gave a cold glance.
He realized his words were inappropriate as soon as they left his mouth, so he awkwardly stopped and changed his words with a wink: "Ahem, an ex-fiancée is still a fiancée! You little rascal, you've been keeping it well hidden!"
"This Meng family girl is so accomplished? Who is her master? Tsk tsk tsk," he pointed at the answer sheet, spitting as he spoke, "Look how wonderfully she uses this 'purple shell tooth'! It can calm the mind and soothe the nerves, and it doesn't have the stomach-damaging effect of hematite!"
"And this 'Green Plum Blossom' is soothing to the liver, regulating qi, and relieving nausea—it's all so perfectly executed! The thought process! The timing! Incredible! Truly, the younger generation is formidable, and women are just as capable as men!"
He was talking animatedly, his face flushed.
Ji Yun finished the last stroke, and the three characters "Meng Yutong" stood upright on the list.
He calmly put down his purple brush, his gaze sweeping over the familiar small-script answer sheet in Zhu Zhi's hand with utter indifference, his eyes undisturbed.
It was as if the person who wrote the answer sheet already knew the answer when he picked up his pen and wrote "excellent".
"The list is complete." Ji Yun's voice was devoid of any emotion.
Zhu Zhi was taken aback by his unwavering demeanor. His small eyes darted around Ji Yun's face a few times before he couldn't help but lower his voice, his tone full of gossip and inquiry: "Hey Huaizhi, tell me the truth, is that rumor going on... true? Is it really true that the girl... didn't like you?"
Taking advantage of his position as Ji Yun's half-mentor in the Medical Academy, he asked questions without any restraint.
Ji Yun did not raise his eyes. He curled his slender fingers and gently tapped the still-dry ink on the list on the table, producing a crisp sound: "Your Excellency, it is almost dusk. The list should be posted."
The voice remained cold and imposing, a reminder that carried considerable pressure.
Zhu Zhi was met with this firm but not overt rebuff. His chubby face fell, and he said sullenly, "Tsk, you child, you can't take a joke! My concern for your life's important matter has been labeled as meddling!"
Reluctantly, he called out to the clerk and handed over the list: "Go quickly to affix the seal and post it on the courtyard gate before dusk!"
The official accepted the order and left, returning shortly with a tray of newly made wooden medical plaques.
Each piece is made of cedar wood with copper lining on all four sides. The front is engraved with "Lin'an Prefecture, Department No. X" and the back is engraved with "Made in the 55th year of Jinghe" and stamped with an anti-counterfeiting fire seal. A vermilion official seal is prominently displayed on it, making it a medical practice certificate.
Ji Yun got up to leave.
"Hey! Huai, wait!" Zhu Zhi's small eyes darted around, and his chubby hand quickly picked up a medical token from the plate and stuffed it into Ji Yun's slightly cool palm without saying a word.
The copper edges were cool to the touch, and the wooden plaque was heavy.
“Here, it’s on the way! You’ll be passing by Jufu Inn on Peach Blossom Street on your way back, right? Could you run an errand and bring Miss Meng’s medical card over? This is the address she wrote down.”
He spoke incredibly fast, giving Ji Yun no chance to refuse. He had already strode out, but turned back at the door and added in a loud voice, "Oh! By the way! Tell her that getting the plaque isn't enough! If she really wants to practice medicine, she needs a registered physician from our Medical Academy to vouch for her. Only when she's on the roster does it count! I'm off!"
After saying that, the obese figure disappeared into the corridor outside the door.
The government office fell silent.
As dusk deepened, the last rays of the setting sun pierced through the window, casting flickering light and shadow on Ji Yun's jade-like profile.
He lowered his eyes, his gaze fixed heavily on his palm.
The copper-clad cedar medical plaque lay quietly. The cool touch of the copper edge seeped through the skin and reached the depths of the heart.
Peach Blossom Street, Jufu Inn? A faint doubt flashed in his eyes.
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