Chapter 1301: Chapter 1279: Answering Questions
Han Wuniang was a bit disappointed. Today was already the third day after the surgery, and it still hurt a lot. However, she could already see the scar on her belly when Manbao applied the medicine, and she thought it was very ugly.
Although she knew deep down that she couldn’t ask for too much, after all, she had survived what seemed like certain death, she still thought the scar was very ugly.
Seeing her sullen look, Manbao comforted her, saying, “Don’t worry, take care of yourself properly. If you apply the ointment for half a year after it heals, it will fade.”
Manbao confirmed that the Li Residence did things quite adequately, waved her hand, and left, agreeing to come back the next day.
Before Han Wuniang was completely out of danger, she had to check on her every day.
Leaving the Li Residence, Manbao didn’t bother to return to Jishi Hall and said directly, “Let’s go to the Imperial City. I need to visit the palace.”
Shao was startled, “Do I have to go too?”
“No need, just take me to the palace gate. You still have to take the bill from the Li Family back for accounting. I’ll have someone from the palace send me home later.”
Shao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Manbao entered the palace to decline an invitation from the Empress.
The Empress had already prepared the current list of female physicians in the Imperial Hospital. Manbao’s refusal was evidently not within her plans, but she just paused for a moment and then smiled, asking, “Why are you unwilling?”
Manbao certainly couldn’t speak directly, so she said, “Your Majesty, your female Imperial Hospital is indeed excellent, but my abilities are limited. I am currently incapable of opening a hall to teach students.”
The Empress: “You shouldn’t underestimate yourself. The Emperor and I have both witnessed your medical skills. You’ve shown insight into not only my illness but also the Crown Prince’s condition, and Director Xiao praises your medical skills highly.”
Manbao said, “Director Xiao is just being polite. I still have a lot to learn in medicine.”
“You can also learn from the doctors in the Imperial Hospital when you enter the palace.”
Manbao, however, shook her head with a smile and said, “Your Majesty, if the doctors were truly willing to teach everything, how come the female physicians have been in the palace for many years and still can’t diagnose and prescribe?”
The Empress was silent.
Manbao said, “They are willing to share their medical skills with me because I have something of equal value to offer in return. I learn their medical skills, and they gain more from me.”
“But I am not taught by them hand-in-hand, nor do I teach them hand-in-hand. The knowledge is given out, and how much one can learn and comprehend depends entirely on one’s talent and effort,” Manbao said, “And the reason I can have these things to discuss with them is because I’ve seen various ailments out there and then studied them diligently. If I didn’t have the cases from the common people, couldn’t produce the medical knowledge and prescriptions they don’t know, and entered the Imperial Hospital, they might not regard me as a colleague to exchange with but instead see me as a competitor.”
The Empress understood what Manbao meant, “Are you afraid of being ostracized?”
Manbao paused for a moment and then shook her head, “I’m afraid I might forget my original intentions.”
The Empress furrowed her brows, “But the female Imperial Hospital requires a female doctor to preside over it. Otherwise, why establish it? Yet across the entire Great Jin, you are the only female doctor whose medical skills can bear this responsibility.”
Manbao said, “If Your Majesty is willing, how about letting Ms. Doctor Liu study by my side? She is very perceptive and already knows quite a bit about pharmacology and medicine. She could graduate in three to five years.”
The Empress chuckled, “Ms. Doctor Liu is just one person. What good would that do?”
She paused and then said, “I found twelve female physicians for you, intending for you to teach them in the palace.”
Manbao thought for a moment and shook her head, “Twelve people are too many. I will only take Ms. Doctor Liu.”
The Empress furrowed her brows.
Manbao seized the opportunity to say, “Your Majesty, by establishing a female Imperial Hospital in the palace, when the concubines and princesses in the harem fall ill, will they still invite male Imperial Physicians or female Imperial Physicians?”
The Empress smiled, “It depends on their own preferences, and also on the illness.”
“But if both genders are allowed to serve in the Imperial Hospital, how could female Imperial Physicians ever be dispatched to the populace?” Manbao asked, “At that time, will the court establish medical bureaus in localities, or will they open their own medical halls, or post at other pharmacies?”
The Empress laughed, “I plan to appoint them to local pharmacies for consultations. The pharmacy would pay them, and the court would give them a stipend.”
“It sounds good, but how will the locations be chosen? Will the female Imperial Hospital decide, or will they choose for themselves?” Manbao continued, “What if they don’t want to leave the capital after learning?”
If they don’t go, there are ways not to go. Besides the first batch of students being female physicians, she decided to select subsequent students from the palace.
Alternatively, choose women from convict records to train them; these people could directly be placed into craftsman’s records, and their assignments would naturally follow court orders.
The first batch of female physicians only needed to stay in the capital to teach students, which was an honor for them.
But the Empress looked at the young Manbao and didn’t tell her these things, instead reassuring her, “Rest assured, the court can come up with a solution.”
Manbao tilted her head and suspiciously looked at the Empress, then shook her head after pausing, “Your Majesty, let’s discuss it further, okay? Why not let Ms. Doctor Liu first study with me?”
The Empress did not force her and nodded with a smile, “Alright, I’ll release Ms. Doctor Liu home today, and from now on, she will follow you to study.”
The Empress paused, then asked with a smile, “I heard that you only consult in the morning, is that right?”
Manbao nodded, “I only consult in Jishi Hall in the morning, but there are often house calls, so I’m mostly seeing patients.”
The Empress said, “When teaching Ms. Doctor Liu, don’t let her slack off too much. Otherwise, have her serve you closely, listening to your teachings day and night?”
Manbao shuddered, shaking her head repeatedly, “I’d rather not. I’m not taking her as a disciple, just giving her guidance. I’m still a student myself; how can I take on a disciple?”
Being treated like a teacher by someone while in front of her teacher is terrifying just to think about. She doesn’t want that at all.
The Empress found it amusing and said to Madam Shang, “Alright, you send Doctor Zhou Junior out. Oh, and the Crown Princess sent over two pots of chrysanthemums last time. Though they haven’t bloomed yet, the leaves look good, and they seem quite rare. Choose a pot to give to Doctor Zhou Junior.”
She also said, “And those fox skins the State Duke sent last time, have someone pick some and reward her as well.”
Madam Shang agreed.
Only then did the Empress say to Manbao, “It’s getting colder these days, and you’re often running outside. Use the fox skin to make a fox fur coat for warmth.”
Manbao never declined their rewards, accepting them with gratitude after saluting.
Madam Shang sighed slightly and couldn’t help but remind her as she escorted Manbao out, “Doctor Zhou Junior, you are really too bold. The Empress invited you, how could you repeatedly refuse?”
Manbao blinked, “Can’t I refuse?”
Madam Shang: “… This is because the Empress has a good nature. If it were another master, it wouldn’t be so easy to talk.”
Not to mention rewards, it would be good enough not to be punished.