Chapter 245 Living Up to the Patients' Trust
Sun Chengzong trembled, speechless. Several people in the hall began to whisper and exchange glances—no one had expected this.
The emperor put down the booklet and pondered for a long time: "Ye Wanning, is what you said true?"
"Your Majesty, I dare not deceive you." Ye Wanning bowed. "Women practicing medicine may be met with suspicion, but as long as it can cure diseases and heal wounds, it is the right path."
"I guarantee with the honor of the Heritage Hall that the members of the Female Physician Training Program will abide by medical regulations, study medicine diligently, and live up to the trust of patients."
Suddenly, Pei Zhi, standing behind the ministers, spoke up: "Your Majesty, I have something to say."
Ye Wanning was delighted and looked up. Pei Zhi was wearing a dark blue robe, his posture was straight, and his face was expressionless.
"In recent years, there have been more and more private clinics, some of which are not legitimate and should be rectified. Dr. Ye's suggestion to set up a special class for female doctors to increase the number of medical practitioners is true."
"Moreover, female doctors can take care of female relatives who are unable to seek medical treatment, which is actually beneficial to the country and the people. I believe that new regulations should be established and policies should be introduced to regulate private medical clinics."
“The special training program for female doctors can be approved, but medical regulations must be established, and any violations will be severely punished.”
At first glance, it seemed like they were acting in the best interests of the imperial court, but in reality, it was paving the way for a special training program for female doctors. Ye Wanning was somewhat puzzled.
Pei Zhi always handles official business strictly, why would he speak up for this? Could it be that he wants to bring the Heritage Hall under the jurisdiction of the imperial court?
She harbored an inexplicable resentment and didn't even glance at Pei Zhi when she expressed her gratitude.
The emperor nodded after hearing Pei Zhi's words: "Prime Minister Pei is right. As you said, we will implement the new policy of standardizing private medical clinics and grant Ye Wanning permission to open a special class for female doctors."
"The Imperial Medical Academy will provide collaborative supervision."
Sun Chengzong wanted to say something more, but the emperor glanced at him, so he had no choice but to shut his mouth indignantly.
Ye Wanning walked quickly as she left the palace, unaware that someone was following her. It wasn't until she reached the palace gate that Li Dequan caught up with her and said in a low voice, "Doctor Ye, this old servant has something to say to you."
Ye Wanning stopped in her tracks: "Please speak, Eunuch Li."
"Lord Pei has been under a lot of pressure because of this new policy to standardize private medical clinics," Li Dequan sighed.
“Sun Chengzong joined forces with three senior officials from the imperial clan and submitted memorials opposing the movement several times, but Lord Pei suppressed them all.”
"Lord Pei was afraid you would feel burdened, so he specifically instructed me not to say anything, but I think you should know his feelings."
Ye Wanning was stunned, feeling as if something had hit her hard in the heart, leaving her feeling sullen.
She recalled the look in Pei Zhi's eyes when he spoke in the main hall earlier; it was clearly a gesture of protection, but she had mistakenly thought he wanted to take over the Heritage Hall.
Back at the heritage center, she found the prescription her mother had left behind, selected a few herbs to soothe the heart and calm the nerves, and brewed them herself.
The aroma of medicine filled the small kitchen. She stared at the medicine pot, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Pei Zhi had helped her; she should be thanking him.
But she was afraid of appearing too deliberate if she went directly to his door, so in the end she put the prepared heart-protecting pills into a plain porcelain bottle and had her servant deliver them to the Prime Minister's residence anonymously.
Xiao Kai returned and reported: "The people from the Prime Minister's residence accepted it. They asked who sent it, but I didn't say. I only said it was from an old friend."
Ye Wanning nodded, said nothing more, and turned to tidy up the empty room in preparation for recruiting female medical apprentices.
A few days later, the plaque bestowed by the emperor for the Heritage Hall arrived, wrapped in red velvet, looking very dignified. It bore the four large characters "Female Physician Saves the World".
The women who signed up practically broke down the doors of the heritage center—there were impoverished housewives, widows trying to make a living, and children like Su Ning with tragic backgrounds.
Ye Wanning set the rules: no tuition fees, food and lodging provided, and three years of free service at the Heritage Center after graduation.
After much deliberation, she selected about twenty girls. Su Ning became her assistant, helping to teach the newly arrived female medical apprentices.
On the opening day, the museum was brightly decorated, and people came to see it. They all said, "Dr. Ye has really done a great thing!"
Standing under the plaque, looking at the women whose eyes were full of hope, Ye Wanning suddenly felt that all the slander and difficulties she had suffered before were worth it.
Pei Zhi held the plain white porcelain bottle, rubbing it in his hands. He could smell that licorice and lotus seed hearts had been added to the medicine—only Ye Wanning would prepare it this way.
The servant beside him asked, "Sir, should we examine this medicine that was delivered anonymously?"
Pei Zhi shook his head, unscrewed the bottle cap, poured out a pill, and popped it into his mouth. The medicine tasted slightly bitter, yet with a hint of sweetness.
Just like that woman who's all bark and no bite. Pei Zhi's lips curled up slightly as he put the porcelain bottle in his pocket: "No need to investigate, keep it."
Ye Wanning stared at the empty drawer, her fingers icy cold.
That copy of "The Secret of the Green Bag" was a keepsake left to her by her mother. The paper was yellowed, and the edges were worn from her mother's frequent use.
There are also meridian diagrams and annotations drawn by my mother, which were one of the bases for her revision of the Chinese Medical Classic.
A few days ago, Mother took it out to check one of the secret recipes for treating tuberculosis. It was clearly placed at the very back of the drawer, locked with a brass lock, so how could it be gone?
"Master, could it be that Ning'er accidentally put it in the wrong place when she was tidying up the study last night?" Su Ning stamped her feet anxiously.
He knelt on the ground searching while wiping away sweat, his fingers bleeding from the sawdust on the ground, without him even noticing.
Ye Wanning waved her hand. The copper lock was pried open from the inside; there were pry marks on the keyhole. It definitely wasn't Su Ning, that honest girl, who did it.
The people coming and going in the heritage center are either apprentices or employees; who would do something like this?
She glanced up and saw Liu Ruyan standing under the eaves, pretending to dry herbs, but her eyes kept glancing towards the study, her little movements very unnatural.
Ye Wanning's heart sank. Liu Ruyan had been in the institution for three months, and she loved to gossip and spread rumors. She always felt that she was not as valued as Su Ning, and she often talked about her behind her back.
Just two days ago, she overheard Liu Ruyan asking Su Ning, "Did Master hide the most powerful prescriptions in that book?"
"Liu Ruyan, come here," Ye Wanning said in a deep voice.
Liu Ruyan was startled, and the herbs in her hand fell to the ground. She hurriedly picked them up and ran over: "Master, did you call me?"
"My mother's manuscript is missing. Did you see anyone enter the study last night?" Ye Wanning asked coldly, her eyes fixed on her, not missing a single expression.
Liu Ruyan panicked and quickly waved her hands: "No, Master! I went to bed early last night and didn't go out at all."
"You really didn't go out?" Ye Wanning took another step forward, getting closer to her. "I went to the outhouse last night because of a stomachache, but I passed by the study door."
“I clearly saw you coming from the study, didn’t I?”
Liu Ruyan's face turned pale, and her lips trembled: "Yes...yes, I went to the outhouse, but I didn't go into the study!"
"Master, you can't doubt me just because I passed by!" she suddenly burst into tears, turning to shout at the apprentices who were watching the commotion.
"Everyone, tell me, Master lost something and is blaming me! I know Master has always favored Su Ning and doesn't think much of me, but I can't take the blame for this for nothing!"
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