Chapter 203 Medical Skills Are All Unorthodox Methods
Pei Zhi was displeased but didn't say much: "Wan'er, don't overthink it. Wan Ning isn't that kind of person. She's taking on apprentices just so the palace maids can learn a skill and survive better in the future."
“Cousin, you’re just too kind!” Pei Wan’er said. “Isn’t the harem full of dangers? Don’t let her drag you down with you!”
Pei Zhi didn't respond to her. He knew Pei Wan'er was vain and jealous, but he never imagined she would become so harsh after entering the palace. Because he was busy with political affairs, he ignored Pei Wan'er's words and didn't even think of mentioning them to Ye Wanning.
However, Pei Wan'er's words quickly reached Ye Wanning's ears.
That day, Ye Wanning was teaching apprentices at the Heritage Hall when Chuntao rushed in, her face grim: "Miss, something terrible has happened! Consort Wan spoke ill of you to Lord Pei, saying that you look down on her and that you recruited palace maids to plant spies!"
Ye Wanning's hand froze, her heart aching as if pricked by needles. She had only taken on palace maid apprentices out of a compassionate heart, hoping they would learn medicine and secure a future; she had no other intentions. Yet Pei Zhi hadn't defended her, nor had he even told her about it.
The shadow of betrayal once again loomed over Ye Wanning.
"Don't be angry. Lord Pei must have been deceived by Consort Wan. He didn't do it on purpose!" Chun Tao comforted her.
"I know." Ye Wanning nodded, but she felt uneasy. He hadn't even offered an explanation, which disappointed her greatly.
From then on, Ye Wanning began to distance herself from Pei Zhi.
When Pei Zhi came to see her, she always said, "I'm too busy," and didn't want to pay much attention. When he brought her her favorite snacks, she would just accept them perfunctorily, say "thank you," and put them down. A cold war began between them again, and things gradually became awkward.
Ye Wanning thought that staying away from him would reduce misunderstandings and hurt. Little did she know, Qin Song, a royal physician in the Imperial Hospital, had already set his sights on her under the orders of Consort Li.
Qin Song had always been jealous of Ye Wanning's status as a guest imperial physician, believing that a commoner female doctor was unworthy of entering the Imperial Hospital, much less having the right to peruse the ancient books in the library. Instigated by Consort Li, Qin Song spread rumors within the Imperial Hospital: "Ye Wanning lacks manners, and her medical skills are all unorthodox!" "The Emperor is truly blind, appointing her as a guest imperial physician and even allowing her to peruse ancient books!"
Not only that, Qin Song also deliberately hid the "Secret Medical Cases of the Imperial Court" that Ye Wanning urgently needed.
When Ye Wanning found him and asked about the ancient book, Qin Song pretended not to know: "Madam Ye, the ancient book you mentioned has long been lost. The Imperial Hospital doesn't have it!"
In truth, Ye Wanning knew that Qin Song was lying. How could a book recording unique court ailments and treatments, which would be of great help in perfecting the *Qing Nang Mi Yao*, suddenly be lost?
She didn't expose him, but calmly said, "In that case, let me look again. Maybe it's in the wrong place!"
After leaving the Imperial Hospital, Ye Wanning had her men secretly follow Qin Song. Qin Song must have hidden the book; finding its whereabouts would expose his lies.
Sure enough, when the person who was following him returned that evening, he reported: "After Qin Song got off work, he went to the Imperial Hospital's storeroom and hid an ancient book inside."
Ye Wanning quickly led her people to the Imperial Hospital and found the storeroom. Sure enough, they discovered "Secret Medical Cases of the Imperial Court" under a pile of discarded medicinal herbs and equipment.
"Imperial Physician Qin, what are you doing?" Ye Wanning asked coldly, holding an ancient book and looking at Qin Song who had suddenly appeared.
Qin Song was startled, but forced himself to remain calm: "Madam Ye, what are you doing here?"
"Qin Song! Don't change the subject!" Ye Wanning looked directly at him. "I found this book by chance, and I plan to hand it over to Judge Zhang tomorrow."
"Is that so?" Ye Wanning sneered. "But when I asked you about it during the day, you said the book was lost. Now it seems you hid it, not wanting me to study it, is that right?"
Qin Song retorted, "I didn't! This book is too precious for a commoner like you to study. It would be more appropriate to give it to the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital!"
"Imperial Physician Qin, you must speak reasonably." Ye Wanning stood her ground. "I am a guest imperial physician personally appointed by the Emperor. I have the right to consult any ancient books in the Imperial Medical Academy. Your deliberate hoarding of books to hinder my study of medicine is settling a personal score and disregarding the principles of medicine!"
The two argued and quarreled, attracting the attention of other imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy, including Chief Physician Zhang.
After understanding the whole story, Judge Zhang's face immediately turned extremely ugly: "Qin Song, you've gone too far!"
He pointed at Qin Song and angrily rebuked him: "Madam Ye is a guest imperial physician appointed by the Emperor. She has the right to read any ancient books. How could you keep them for yourself? You even spread rumors in the Imperial Hospital, saying that Madam Ye is a fraud. You have completely forgotten the rules of the Imperial Hospital!"
Qin Song was terrified and knelt down with a deathly pale face: "Judge Zhang, I was wrong, I will never dare to do it again!"
Imperial Physician Zhang's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets: "You think one wrong word is enough? You've not only disgraced the Imperial Medical Academy, but you've also tarnished the reputation of medicine! This matter is of utmost importance, and I will inform the Emperor. You will certainly be punished!"
The next day, Judge Zhang reported the matter to the Emperor.
The Emperor was furious: "Qin Song, I have given you an official position and a salary, but instead of focusing on your medical studies, you use your position to settle personal scores and slander loyal officials. How despicable!"
He immediately ordered Qin Song to remain secluded for three months to reflect on his mistakes, during which time he was forbidden from participating in any affairs of the Imperial Hospital.
Qin Song's scheme failed, and he not only gained nothing but was also punished. He hated Ye Wanning even more, but he dared not openly bully her anymore.
Having obtained the "Secret Medical Cases of the Imperial Court," Ye Wanning breathed a sigh of relief. She knew that there would be many more such cases, whether in the Imperial Hospital or the inner palace, but she would never back down.
But just as she had resolved Qin Song's troubles, another person came knocking on her door—this time seeking help, it was Consort Shu from the harem.
Consort Shu was gentle and kind, unwilling to get involved in the palace intrigues, which made her a target of Consort Li's constant exclusion and suppression. Recently, Consort Shu had been feeling unwell and was becoming increasingly anemic, but the cause of her illness could not be found. She could only secretly ask a palace maid to contact Ye Wanning, hoping that she would come and treat her in secret.
"If men should do this to help the world and save lives, how much more so women? If you can help innocent people, that is also doing good deeds. How could I refuse?" Ye Wanning thought to herself and agreed to Consort Shu's request.
On this day, Ye Wanning took advantage of the opportunity to go to the palace to give the Empress Dowager a follow-up examination and secretly came to Consort Shu's palace.
Consort Shu's palace was extremely simple, a world apart from Consort Li's Chang Le Palace. Consort Shu lay on a soft couch, weak and pale. When she saw Ye Wanning arrive, she struggled to get up to greet her.
"Your Highness, please don't get up!" Ye Wanning quickly went to help her. "I'm here to treat Your Highness's illness, you can just lie down!"
She sat by the bed and took Consort Shu's pulse. The pulse was deep and thready, with a slight toxicity, clearly caused by long-term poisoning.
"Your Majesty, do you often take things that others give you?" Ye Wanning asked softly.
Consort Shu nodded, her eyes brimming with tears: "Consort Li often sent people to deliver pastries and medicines, how could I dare not eat them? I could only accept and take them! I never imagined that Consort Li would be so heartless as to take my life!"
Ye Wanning's suspicions were confirmed.
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