Chapter 596: Director of the Imperial Academy of Medicine |
The sky darkened.
Yet the imperial physicians and minor clerks delayed and didn't dare to Finish Work and go home, only able to hide in the dark and Whisper Privately. Some chatted about recent rumors regarding Chen Ji, while others counted on their fingers how many people he had killed in these past few months.
From Guyuan to the Capital City, from the Heavenly Strategy Army to Yuan Wang, calculating back and forth, it was indeed more than the Imperial Academy of Medicine had saved in an entire year.
They looked toward the library.
In the dim light, with only the last bit of twilight from the horizon filtering in through the lattice window, that figure in the red robe still sat in the chair without moving an inch. It was impossible to tell whether he was reading a book or had already fallen asleep.
It wasn't until that last bit of twilight also completely sank and the writing on the pages could no longer be made out that Chen Ji finally moved.
He slowly stood up, closed the book, and walked out of the library.
The imperial physicians and minor clerks hid in the shadows of the main hall, pharmacy, and corridors, poking out half a head to peek, and then swiftly shrinking back when his gaze swept over.
Chen Ji acted as if he hadn't seen anything, only cupping his fists to the surroundings with hindsight: "Apologies for delaying everyone's Finishing Work. From now on, everyone may Finish Work on your own; there's no need to wait for me."
The Vice Director deliberately acted troubled: "Reporting to Viscount Wuxiang, the library is an important restricted area of my Imperial Academy of Medicine; there cannot be open flames. How about you go back to rest earlier? You can take the book back with you to read, whichever book you want to take is fine."
"Going back would also waste the oil money at home," Chen Ji thought for a moment, looking toward the main hall of the Imperial Academy of Medicine where candles were lit: "How about I just find a random seat in the main hall?"
The Vice Director steeled himself: "These desks in the main hall are all one radish, one pit (each has its designated occupant); there truly is no room left."
Chen Ji raised his eyebrows: "Aren't you guys Finishing Work?"
The Vice Director lied with his eyes open: "Healers have a heart of Benevolence. Nighttime is when one is most prone to catch a chill, and there are also often elderly Elite Nobility whose old illnesses flare up. We must stand guard at the Imperial Academy of Medicine, normally only Finishing Work at the hour of Hai (9-11 PM)."
"There can't be not even a single empty seat, right," Chen Ji笑了笑 (smiled), walking straight into the government office's main hall and glancing left and right. The imperial physicians sat in their own seats, not even daring to raise their heads, deeply afraid of being targeted by him.
At this time, Chen Ji pointed to an unoccupied desk: "Whose seat is this?"
The Vice Director's heart skipped a beat, hurriedly answering: "You can't sit there, that is Lord Director's seat."
Chen Ji said nonchalantly: "Where is Lord Director? I happen to be looking for him to ask some things about the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division."
The Vice Director said bitterly: "Lord Director went to Changping to purchase medicinal herbs. After autumn is precisely when medicinal herb merchants from the Northern Region gather in Changping. Lord Director is selecting medicinal herbs and I'm afraid he won't return to the capital for a short while."
Chen Ji笑了笑 (smiled): "Then that's just perfect, I'll borrow it for a bit first."
Having said that, he actually swaggeringly sat in the Director's seat, completely disregarding others and continuing to flip through his book.
The Vice Director and the imperial physicians looked at each other in blank dismay (Looking at One Another). Chen Ji sitting behind the Director's desk in this Qilin Rank Robe looked like a young prince who was currently making Cinnabar Rescript endorsements.
Chen Ji flipped through two pages of the book, then suddenly raised his head: "The book says that after taking Cinnamon Twig Decoction, one must accompany it with hot porridge to assist the medicinal power. Why doesn't Ephedra Decoction need it? Both are formulas for inducing sweating, yet the rules are different. Could it be because Ephedra Decoction is a Strong Sweating Inducer, its power is already sufficient, and if one were to further assist it with porridge, it's feared the sweating would be excessive, and instead give rise to other complications?"
The Vice Director was startled. A bit of complex meaning appeared in his eyes; these words actually showed a bit of insight.
But he couldn't let Chen Ji treat the Imperial Academy of Medicine as a schoolhouse, immediately saying slowly: "Reporting to Viscount Wuxiang, this lowly one does not know."
In the flickering candlelight, Chen Ji said nonchalantly: "As a Vice Director, Your Lordship actually doesn't even know the common knowledge from the general outline of medical skills. Could it be you are a spy planted in my Ning Dynasty by the Jing Dynasty?"
The Vice Director's expression changed drastically: "Wait, allow me to think!"
Chen Ji tapped his fingers on the table without rushing him.
Two breaths later, the Vice Director responded: "Cinnamon Twig Decoction's purpose is Harmonizing Nutritive and Defensive Qi, its power is slightly moderate. The one who accompanies it with porridge borrows the grain qi to assist the medicinal power, allowing a Mild Sweat to emerge, which neither harms the righteous qi nor fails to expel the evil qi. Whereas Ephedra Decoction is indeed as the Viscount said, there is no need for porridge assistance."
Chen Ji said seriously: "Many thanks to the Vice Director for resolving my confusion. You go busy yourself with your work, I will sit for a while longer."
The Vice Director, as if granted a great amnesty, cupped his fists, turned around, and exited the door: "I'm going to the latrine."
He had just walked out of the main hall with his head lowered when the Director popped out from somewhere, grabbed him, and asked in a low voice: "Why is he sitting in my seat? Is he intending to inspect my official documents?"
The Vice Director looked back toward the direction of the main hall, his expression complicated: "Lord, I'm afraid he truly came to study medicine."
Truly came to study medicine?
The Director stood in the shadows under the Eaves, sneering: "As the saying goes, witch doctors, musicians, and various artisans are despised by noblemen. In this day and age, anyone with true capability has gone to take the Imperial Examinations. Who comes to study medicine?"
He subconsciously looked toward that Viscount Wuxiang who was sitting under the lamplight with his head lowered turning pages of a book.
The figure before his eyes, currently poised at the crest of the waves, although having a bad reputation, was indeed a solid newly-risen member of the Elite Nobility in this capital city. How could he come to study medicine?
The Vice Director explained: "But once he sits, it's for a whole day, and the questions he asks are all from the medical skills general outline. It's clear he has read into it."
The Director thought deeply: "Even if he truly wants to study medicine, it won't do! He, a Eunuch Faction member, staying in my Imperial Academy of Medicine every day; even if we act upright and sit straight, we can't stop the criticism of others. It's already not easy for us to guard this Imperial Academy of Medicine, how can we get involved with this kind of person? Let's quickly send him away."
The Director stroked his graying beard, continuing to complain: "Besides, which yamen doesn't have a time for Finishing Work? Everyone has wives and children. With him sitting here, who dares to leave? For the sake of the imperial physicians, we must also politely invite this god of plague to leave."
The Vice Director gave a sound of acknowledgment: "I'll think of another way."
Right at this moment, a young man barged into the Imperial Academy of Medicine holding a piece of yellowed Bamboo Paper, saying angrily: "Zhou Fangping, pack up and roll out here for your lords!"
The Director frowned and looked over: "Who are you?"
The Vice Director whispered: "Tang Shun."
Tang Shun took large strides to the Vice Director, slapping the Medical Prescription in his hand against the Vice Director's chest: "Seven days ago, my family invited Zhou Fangping to the residence to diagnose the venerable old master. At that time he could clearly still talk and eat meals, but after fetching medicine according to Zhou Fangping's prescription for these seven days, now he can no longer swallow food or speak!"
The Vice Director lowered his head to look at the prescription in his hand: "Aconite, Dried Ginger, Roasted Licorice... Frigid Extremities Decoction? Where is Zhou Fangping?"
An honest and law-abiding middle-aged imperial physician ran out from the pharmacy: "Vice Director, I am here."
The Vice Director handed the prescription to him: "Is this the prescription you wrote?"
Zhou Fangping hurriedly responded: "It was prescribed by this humble official. Elder Tang is eighty-three years of age, his pulse condition was declining and weak; only with the method of Frigid Extremities Decoction could one attempt Restoring Yang and Rescuing from Collapse. Logically speaking, the old master's internal organs hadn't yet failed, so it should be effective. As long as he wasn't fed great tonic items like Ginseng and the like, he could at least drag on for another half a year or a year."
The Director looked at Tang Shun: "You guys didn't feed the old master tonic items, right?"
Tang Shun's expression stifled: "You people are speaking nonsense. Ginseng is an item that sustains life and extends longevity, how could it harm someone's life?"
Zhou Fangping let out a sigh, his expression turning bitter: "The old master is already Too Weak to Receive Tonics, why didn't you listen to persuasion?"
Tang Shun flew into a great rage, grabbing Zhou Fangping by the collar: "It's clearly a problem with your prescription, and you still want to frame me?"
The Vice Director was so angry his face flushed red: "Outrageous! You were clearly instructed not to consume tonic items, how can you shift the blame onto my Imperial Academy of Medicine? This is bullying others too far! My Imperial Academy of Medicine consists of palace imperial physicians; without a decree from the palace, we need not be dispatched by the likes of you. Being willing to visit the door for a diagnosis is already..."
Tang Shun squinted at him sideways: "Do you know who my father is?"
With one sentence, he choked back a bellyful of words the Vice Director had, making him hum and haw without being able to speak.
Amidst the quiet, a calm voice came from deep within the main hall: "Who is your father?"
Tang Shun looked over angrily: "My father is the Court of Judicial Review Vice Minister, Tang Zheng..."
The three vermilion-lacquered main doors of the Imperial Academy of Medicine's main hall were wide open. Over twenty candles were lit inside the room. Someone draped in red clothes was sitting beneath the lamplight, leaning over the desk reading a book, not even raising their head when asking the question just now.
Tang Shun's gaze fell on the Qilin Rank Patch on the other party's chest. He forcefully swallowed back the words on the tip of his tongue, and the hand grabbing Zhou Fangping's collar also unknowingly loosened.
He stood fixed in place, looking at the person sitting in the middle of the lamplight, for a moment actually not knowing whether to advance or retreat.
Chen Ji still didn't raise his head, merely turning a page: "Roll."
As the words fell, Tang Shun fled in panic.
The Vice Director sighed with some sorrow. He subconsciously looked at the doddering Director, and then looked at Chen Ji who was quietly reading in the main hall.
Today he had been entirely focused on driving the other party away, but at a certain moment just now, he felt that with the other party sitting there, he seemed somewhat more effective than the Director.
And also more majestic...
A moment later, Chen Ji closed the book pages and stood up, walking straight toward the outside of the Imperial Academy of Medicine: "It's too late today, I will come again tomorrow."
As he passed by the Vice Director, he suddenly stopped his footsteps: "The Imperial Academy of Medicine is a primary rank three government office. How could you allow a Without Learning or Skill, Spoiled Heir official's son to bully his way to your door?"
The Vice Director had been stifled and depressed for a long time, ultimately letting out a long sigh: "In this capital city, imperial physicians live even worse than eunuchs. With no power in our hands, we can only be ordered about. When meeting Elite Nobility we have to bow and scrape; when encountering difficult and incurable diseases, lightly we get scolded, heavily we lose our lives. Being an imperial physician not only requires knowing how to treat illnesses, but also requires knowing how to feign madness and act foolish. Otherwise, what do you think Physician Yao meant by writing that couplet?"
The Director to the side also began to sigh and groan.
Hearing the sound of sighing, Chen Ji turned his head to look at the Director, asking with eager interest: "And who might this be?"
The Director had been momentarily attacked by anger to the heart just now; only at this moment did he remember that he was supposed to be in Changping right now.
The Vice Director hurriedly smoothed things over: "This is the Registrar of our Imperial Academy of Medicine."
Chen Ji wore a half-smile: "So it's Lord Registrar... see you tomorrow."
Having said that, he took large strides and left.
Early morning the next day, Chen Ji arrived as promised.
He still wore that bright red Qilin Rank Robe, walking straight into the depths of the Imperial Academy of Medicine. The imperial physicians yielded to both sides one after another, but didn't hide completely like yesterday.
When Chen Ji arrived at the main hall, the Director was currently writing furiously behind the desk, unknown what he was writing.
It wasn't until the light in front of him was blocked by a large patch of shadow that the Director finally raised his head. When he clearly saw the Qilin Rank Patch close at hand, his body abruptly leaned backward: "What are you doing?"
Chen Ji pointed to the Director's desk: "Excuse me, this is the seat where I read books."
The Director was so angry his graying beard trembled wildly: "Nonsense, this is clearly my seat."
Chen Ji gave an "oh": "Isn't this the Director's seat?"
The Director froze, and then, tucking his official documents under his arm, dejectedly got up and went to the pharmacy: "You sit."
In the distance, the imperial physicians looked at each other in blank dismay... Why does it seem like the Director of the Imperial Academy of Medicine has changed people? (End of Chapter)