Chapter 264 Enriching Chinese Medicine
Just then, a figure rushed over and stood in front of Ye Wanning. Pei Zhi raised his hand, instinctively protecting Ye Wanning's shoulder, and coldly looked at Xiao Ruowei: "Miss Xiao, have some self-respect."
Ye Wanning's nose brushed against Pei Zhi's sleeve, and a rich, familiar scent of ink mixed with a faint fragrance of osmanthus wafted towards her. Her heart skipped a beat, her cheeks flushed, and her body stiffened.
Pei Zhi's arm was strong, protecting her shoulder and giving her a sense of security. She could feel his body temperature and his calm aura, and her panicked heart gradually calmed down.
Xiao Ruowei's anger intensified when she saw who was blocking her way. She knew that Pei Zhi was the current prime minister, wielding immense power, and that she couldn't afford to offend him.
But she couldn't swallow her anger, so she could only grit her teeth and glare fiercely at Ye Wanning: "Ye Wanning, you wait! I won't let you get away with this!"
After saying that, she turned and left, her steps hurried, and all traces of her previous arrogance were gone.
Pei Zhi withdrew his arm, turned to Ye Wanning, and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Ye Wanning shook her head, not daring to look him in the eye, her cheeks still flushed. "Thank you."
Just then, a young man dressed in the uniform of a physician from the Imperial Medical Academy walked over, cupped his hands in greeting to Ye Wanning, and said sincerely, "Doctor Ye, my name is Qin Yue, and I am a physician from the Imperial Medical Academy."
"I watched you perform acupuncture just now, you were really amazing. I learned a lot from your diagnostic and treatment methods."
Qin Yue was only in his early twenties, with delicate features and eyes full of admiration.
"You flatter me." Ye Wanning smiled and returned the greeting. "We're just learning from each other."
"Dr. Ye is too modest," Qin Yue said. "I have always felt that the diagnosis and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine is very good, but many senior doctors in the Imperial Hospital are bound by convention and only know how to mechanically apply ancient prescriptions."
"After witnessing Dr. Ye's diagnostic and treatment methods today, I am even more convinced of my own ideas. If I have the opportunity in the future, I hope to learn more from Dr. Ye."
"I don't deserve such praise," Ye Wanning said. "If Doctor Qin doesn't mind, you can come to the Heritage Hall to find me anytime."
Qin Yue nodded, chatted with Ye Wanning for a few words, and then left.
Pei Zhi watched the two chatting and laughing, a fleeting, almost imperceptible emotion flashing across his eyes before quickly returning to calm. He looked at Ye Wanning and said in a flat tone, "The matter here is over. I'll take you back to the Heritage Hall."
"No need, I can go back by myself." Ye Wanning hadn't recovered from the ambiguous atmosphere just now and didn't want to travel with Pei Zhi, so she added, "If it's convenient for you, could you give me a ride?"
"If Xiao Ruowei causes you any more trouble, come find me," Pei Zhi said calmly.
"I understand, thank you!" Ye Wanning nodded and then left the Imperial Hospital.
Watching her retreating figure, Pei Zhi's gaze softened. When he had protected her shoulder just now, he had felt the stiffness and slight trembling of her body, as well as the warmth of her cheek, which warmed his heart.
He suddenly realized that his feelings for her seemed to be growing stronger.
When Ye Wanning returned to the Heritage Hall, her heart was still pounding. The image of Pei Zhi protecting her and his scent kept swirling in her mind, refusing to leave.
She walked to the wardrobe, took out the cloak Pei Zhi had given her, and hugged it to her chest, feeling the lingering warmth and ink scent on it. Her heart was filled with both warmth and unease.
She didn't know what her feelings for Pei Zhi were. There was gratitude, and perhaps a sense of dependence, but beyond that, there was a more complex emotion that left her flustered and at a loss.
Just then, Su Ning walked in, smiling, and said, "Sir, you're amazing! You beat Xiao Ruowei, and even Doctor Qin from the Imperial Hospital admires you. The way Prime Minister Pei protected you just now was so cool!"
Ye Wanning's cheeks burned even hotter, and she quickly changed the subject: "Don't talk nonsense. By the way, there are still quite a few patients at the Heritage Center, let's go take a look."
Su Ning noticed her embarrassment, smiled and nodded, and didn't ask any further questions.
Over the next few days, Ye Wanning tried to focus on her medical practice, not wanting to recall the ambiguous situation from that day. But the more she tried to forget, the more frequently Pei Zhi's image appeared in her mind, making her somewhat uneasy.
That day, Qin Yue came to the Heritage Center to find Ye Wanning and exchange medical knowledge with her. The two hit it off as they talked, discussing everything from acupressure techniques to the timing of medication and the "National Medical Classic".
Qin Yue said, "Dr. Ye, I have recently been studying spices from the Western Regions and have discovered that some spices from the Western Regions, when used in combination with traditional Chinese medicine, have a very good effect on some difficult and complicated diseases."
“I wanted to include Western Region spice therapy when revising the National Medical Classic. But I was worried that the conservatives in the Imperial Medical Academy would object. They always believed that ‘those who are not of our race must have different hearts,’ and they even rejected things from the Western Regions.”
Ye Wanning said, "The Western Regions spice therapy does have its unique features. As long as it can cure diseases and save lives, it should be included in the 'National Medical Encyclopedia'. There should be no prejudice in practicing medicine. We should not distinguish between ourselves and others. What is beneficial to the patient is a good treatment."
"Dr. Ye is absolutely right!" Qin Yue said excitedly. "With your words, I have even more confidence. Tomorrow I will propose to the Imperial Physician that Western Region spice therapy be included in the 'National Medical Classic'!"
Qin Yue's proposal quickly caused a huge uproar. The conservatives in the Imperial Medical Academy opposed it, saying that Qin Yue was "worshipping foreign things and fawning on foreigners" and undermining the traditions of traditional Chinese medicine.
Sun Chengzong slapped his thigh and seized the opportunity to fan the flames, pointing the finger directly at Ye Wanning.
"Qin Yue must have been bewitched by Ye Wanning!" Sun Chengzong shouted at the Imperial Medical Academy meeting. "Ye Wanning is a female doctor from the common people, of unknown origin. She may be colluding with people from the Western Regions and trying to use Qin Yue to sabotage our 'National Medical Classic'!"
Conservative medical officers from the Imperial Medical Academy echoed this sentiment, demanding severe punishment for Qin Yue and Ye Wanning and prohibiting the inclusion of Western Region spice therapy in the "National Medical Classic".
The news quickly reached the emperor's ears. The emperor summoned his ministers to discuss the matter in the court.
In the imperial court, the two sides were deadlocked. A group of conservative ministers impeached Qin Yue and Ye Wanning, accusing them of "worshipping foreign things and fawning on foreigners" and disregarding ancestral rules.
Sun Chengzong added fuel to the fire by smearing Ye Wanning's name.
“Your Majesty, the essence of medicine is to heal the sick and save lives. Whether it is traditional Chinese medicine or the spice therapy of the Western Regions, as long as it can save people, it should be recorded in our country’s ‘National Medical Encyclopedia’,” Pei Zhi hurriedly defended the two.
"Dr. Qin's proposal to include Western Region spice therapy in the 'National Medical Classic' is for the benefit of the people and to enrich our country's medical skills. It is by no means a so-called 'worship of foreign things'."
"Doctor Ye is a highly skilled physician with a kind heart and excellent medical practice, deeply loved by the people. It is absolutely impossible for him to collude with the people of the Western Regions. Your Majesty, please keep this clear."
"Prime Minister Pei, how dare you! You actually favor Ye Wanning!" Among the group of conservative ministers, Minister of Revenue Wang Kun jumped out and pointed at Pei Zhi, saying in a sarcastic tone.
"Who doesn't know that you and Ye Wanning are in cahoots? She must have bewitched you to make you say such things! Prime Minister Pei is clearly trying to win over the new faction and expand his own power!"
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