Chapter 46 Free Clinic
As dawn broke, the usually solemn long street in front of the General's Mansion had already changed its appearance.
Under the makeshift shed, Yin Bai was already seated.
He was dressed in white, and his body smelled of herbs.
A long line had already formed outside the shed.
The procession was orderly and stretched for a long distance, mostly made up of ordinary people dressed in coarse cloth and with weathered faces.
There was no noise, and hope lingered on every tired face.
Several men dressed in the uniforms of the general's personal guards stood guard on both sides of the group.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out at the back of the group.
An old woman dressed in silk and adorned with silver ornaments, accompanied by a young woman with a sallow complexion who was being supported by a maid, tried to bypass the line and squeeze to the front.
The old woman kept shouting, "Make way! We're from the residence of Vice Minister Li of the Ministry of War! Your Majesty is of noble birth; how can you queue with these peasants..."
Before she could finish speaking, the guard stopped the old woman and said expressionlessly, "The General's Mansion's free clinic only treats ordinary people. We do not see officials' families. Please leave."
The old woman wanted to argue, but she was intimidated by a sharp look from the guard.
The young lady from the Li family turned even paler with fright. This general's mansion was truly extraordinary; even a guard's eyes were so terrifying.
She hurriedly pulled the old woman along, and slunk away amidst the disdainful gazes of the surrounding crowd.
This scene was clearly witnessed by every citizen in line.
Someone murmured a low praise: "Well done! Miss is so kind!"
The sound was like a pebble thrown into a lake, drawing countless grateful and admiring glances toward the tightly closed vermilion gate of the General's Mansion.
Xie Sangning's ironclad rule of treating ordinary people has warmed hearts and subtly reshaped her image.
Inside the Songtao Pavilion of the General's Mansion.
Xie Wuyou picked up a delicate lotus-shaped pastry and took a bite.
Her face was full of disdain.
"Tsk, look at the stupid thing our dear sister did! She spent a fortune to hire a living god, and what did she do? She set up a huge stall at the door and gave free medical treatment to those lowly peasants! She must have too much money to burn, right?"
"What's even more stupid is that they actually drove away officials' families! Isn't that blatantly offending people? Stupid! Utterly stupid!"
Xie Wulu paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Sometimes, looking at his older sister who shared the same parents, he would wonder if they really came from the same womb.
How exactly does Xie Wuyou's brain work?
Offend someone?
What can those wives and daughters of officials who were turned away today do, even if they are angry at this moment?
Besides, it was stated that the clinic was a free medical consultation for the public, so it's unreasonable for them to insist on going for treatment.
They dare to openly oppose this General's Mansion? Moreover... Xie Wulu's eyes darkened slightly.
How could they know that Xie Sangning wouldn't later take Yin Bai to the homes of powerful officials to treat their illnesses and charge exorbitant consultation fees?
By then, Xie Sangning will have gained both fame and fortune, and his shrewdness will be impeccable.
That's real skill.
If it were Xie Wuyou who organized this free clinic?
She probably wanted to send out invitations to every high-ranking official and noble in Jinling City, so they would line up to show off her connections and influence as Miss Xie...
That would truly be pleasing neither side.
This not only lost the hearts of the people, but also made those arrogant nobles think that the general's mansion was nothing more than a cheap doorman for a clinic that could be ordered around at will!
only...
Xie Wulu put down his teacup, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.
The cost was indeed too high.
It seems unworthy to use the name of Yinbai and create such a grand spectacle merely to improve one's reputation or secretly cultivate relationships with powerful figures.
Having fought for so long, he knew that Xie Sangning never made a losing deal, nor would he make baseless accusations.
Besides the obvious benefits of this free clinic, what else is hidden behind it that he hasn't seen through?
...
There was still a long queue outside the General's Mansion.
Yin Bai twisted a silver needle between his fingertips, his movements so fast they almost left a blur, and pierced an old farmer's swollen, blackened knee, accompanied by a few suppressed groans of pain.
As the sun rose higher, the air became increasingly hot and dry.
The general's guards, maintaining order, stood ramrod straight, their sharp eyes scanning the crowd to ensure no one disrupted the order.
The people waited patiently, some squatting, some sitting.
Just then, a group of people appeared at the other end of the long street.
The leader was dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, the kind usually worn by wealthy gentlemen. Although the material was fine, the style was extremely understated and reserved.
He was tall and slender, with a steady gait, and his walk exuded a natural air of authority.
This group of people did not attract much attention from the common people, and their clothing was not particularly eye-catching in Jinling City.
The man in the dark blue brocade robe fixed his gaze precisely on Yin Bai, who was engrossed in grinding medicine inside the shed.
Yin Bai seemed oblivious, still focused on the stone mortar in his hands, pounding away with a loud thud, scattering medicinal powder everywhere.
The man in the dark blue brocade robe was none other than Emperor Pei Yan, who had traveled incognito from the palace.
He walked straight to the clinic tent, with two guards standing on either side like door gods, coldly scanning the inside and outside of the tent. The invisible pressure caused several people queuing nearby to involuntarily take a few steps back.
Pei Yan looked at Yin Bai.
This was the first time he had met this legendary doctor.
So young, he was far removed from the image of a reclusive sage he had imagined.
“Mr. Yinbai,” Pei Yan spoke.
Yin Bai stopped what he was doing, slowly raised his head, his face still covered with a few specks of grayish-white powder.
"Um?"
Yin Bai's attitude displeased Pei Yan, but Pei Yan knew the temperament of the man before him well: "Sir, you have a skillful heart and a compassionate heart, and you have been practicing medicine to save lives. I... cough, I have always admired you."
"Today's visit has truly revealed your extraordinary talent. Your exceptional abilities are being wasted in this small clinic, where you dedicate yourself to helping ordinary people overcome their difficulties."
The surrounding people were not happy. These high-ranking officials and nobles were not like them. They all had their own doctors. Why did they have to compete with them?
Besides, aren't their lives also lives?
Yin Bai picked at his ear, seemingly annoyed by the other person's excessive chatter, and yawned widely: "Just get to the point, I'm busy. Can't you see I have a long line of people waiting?"
He pointed to the endless queue outside, his tone extremely impatient.
Pei Yan's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger.
As the supreme ruler, it is already an immense favor for him to humble himself and visit the common people, yet he is treated with such disrespect!
But his purpose for this trip was clear: for the sake of this extraordinary person who could control life and death, he would endure this grievance!
Pei Yan leaned forward slightly: "Sir, your talent is immense; how can such a gem be allowed to go to waste? My household is in dire need of someone like you. With just your nod, you will be rewarded with wealth, luxury, and even a high position in the imperial court..."
He paused deliberately, emphasizing his words, his gaze fixed intently on Yin Bai: "All of this is within easy reach! From now on, you only need to focus on your medical studies, and you will no longer need to worry about these mundane matters, enduring wind and rain."
Outside the shed, all was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.
After listening, Yin Bai's impatient expression disappeared.
He tilted his head, staring at Pei Yan with eyes full of mockery.
Yin Bai grinned, revealing a somewhat strange smile:
"Oh? That's quite a generous price."
He casually nodded in the direction of the general's mansion.
"What a pity, I'm a member of the Xie family, Xie Sangning!"
"One person! I will not serve two masters!"
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