Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 930: Chapter 841: Unwilling to Be a Slave 61

It can be said that the attire and jewelry of female officials are even better than those of some low-ranking concubines, so becoming a female official is not something that can be done easily.

In this world, there are many women who do not wish to become concubines of the Emperor, but the selection process is unavoidable. Some women with excellent looks might be chosen by the Emperor, so those who don’t want to become concubines will participate in the examination to become female officials.

The examination for female officials is extremely strict because they are to serve either the Princess or concubines of Second Rank or above, whose identities are highly esteemed. Unlike palace maids and eunuchs who only need to attend to people, female officials are expected to keep company with concubines or princesses, providing them with interlocution and enlightenment.

Female officials must be literate because this dynasty does not endorse the idea that lack of talent in women is virtuous; instead, it values learned mothers who can raise children with a wider perspective. Thus, among officials’ families and palace concubines, there isn’t a woman who is illiterate.

Female officials must be physically agile to assist their masters in times of danger. They must also possess a special skill, such as proficiency in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, to while away time with their masters. Understanding classics and history enables them to engage in scholarly conversations with talented concubines.

Being skilled in medicine is the most sought-after skill, as no concubine would refuse a close confidante well-versed in medicine, which makes passing the examination as a female official easier for those skilled in medical arts.

Nangong Shuangshuang’s medical skills became well-known after she provided emergency care for Lady Jing during a miscarriage, earning her praise from the Imperial Physicians, which made many concubines, even the Empress, envious.

Therefore, when Nangong Shuangshuang took the examination for female officials, she primarily relied on her medical skills. This examination was straightforward, requiring her to identify symptoms and prescribe treatments, recognize medicinal herbs, and know their storage and preparation methods. Then she was asked to diagnose and prescribe treatment for two actual patients, with the Imperial Physician reviewing her prescriptions.

The tools for Nangong Shuangshuang’s medical examination were palace maids and eunuchs from the harem who were ill, and there were plenty of sick palace maids and eunuchs in the harem.

For these sick palace maids and eunuchs, having their medical skills examined by female officials was a rare opportunity to receive treatment, so the two recruited palace maids gazed at Nangong Shuangshuang with eyes full of hope for life.

The two palace maids were quite ill, and after Nangong Shuangshuang examined them, she quickly prescribed treatment. The Imperial Physician in charge of the examination also took their pulses and carefully reviewed Nangong Shuangshuang’s prescriptions.

After a while, the Imperial Physician stroked his beard and nodded, saying, ”Not bad, these prescriptions are well-done. This young lady’s medical skills are excellent, sufficient to make her a female official.”

The Imperial Physician meant that since Nangong Shuangshuang had correctly prescribed the treatments, she could directly pass. However, Nangong Shuangshuang, noticing the previously hopeful but now dimmed eyes of the palace maids upon understanding the Imperial Physician’s words, felt somewhat uncomfortable.

This disregard for human life greatly displeased Nangong Shuangshuang. When she served as the Main God, she particularly disliked the notion that ordinary people were akin to ants—a mindset that often forgot how many of the so-called Gods arose from amongst these very people.

For Shuangshuang, humans are not ants, but her peers. Every life is valuable to her, except for those unworthy of being called human. In Shuangshuang’s eyes, each life is precious and not to be compared with ants.

Back then, Shuangshuang and her friend Chang Ge, along with many like-minded Gods, fought fiercely against the Demon Clan for this belief. Many Gods perished in that battle, while others, rescued by Shuangshuang and Chang Ge, had to reincarnate to save themselves, yet none regretted it.

Both Shuangshuang and Chang Ge nearly perished too. Even now, as they traverse the path of reincarnation—one repairing the Divine Soul and the other purging the Demon Thought from it—they do not know how long it will take them to recover, but neither has ever regretted it.

Thus, seeing the humans she once fought hard to protect being so callous towards their own kind made Nangong Shuangshuang particularly uneasy. Unfortunately, she was now no longer the Main God, but just an ordinary person, and rescuing these palace maids and eunuchs was not something she could achieve overnight.

However, Nangong Shuangshuang intended to save the two palace maids before her, so she addressed the steward aunt and the eunuch responsible for the examination: ”Although the Imperial Physician says my medical skills are sufficient, I believe these two palace maids should take the prescribed medicine for a few days to ensure they are cured before I pass this female official examination.”

Now, Nangong Shuangshuang was no longer a servant; when facing masters of the harem, she could refer to herself as a common woman. When facing steward aunts and eunuchs, she could use the pronoun ”I.” After becoming a female official, she would be able to address herself as a subject woman in front of the harem’s masters.

Nangong Shuangshuang suggested giving medicine to the two palace maids. The steward aunt, eunuch, and Imperial Physician could see that her heart was compassionate, and all three considered this a good quality.

The steward aunt and eunuch were also among those not permitted to seek medical advice when ill. While as close confidantes to the masters, their masters would not deny them an Imperial Physician if genuinely sick, having a female official who understood the plight of servants was genuinely comforting.

As for the Imperial Physician’s thoughts, they were more straightforward: a doctor must have a compassionate heart, and ignoring patients betrayed one’s medical vocation. Though he reflexively thought there was no need to prescribe medicine for the two palace maids due to being accustomed to the lowly status of palace servants, it didn’t mean he disapproved of compassion in other healthcare professionals.

Moreover, prescribing medicine for the two palace maids was no significant matter. The steward aunt and the eunuch agreed readily and generously prescribed a seven-day course of medicine for the two palace maids. Nangong Shuangshuang estimated that the seven-day medication would be enough to cure them.

Of course, Nangong Shuangshuang’s examination for female officials didn’t truly wait for the palace maids to recover before passing; she passed directly and was awarded four sets of female official attire since she was now a Junior Fourth Rank female official. The material was exquisite, and there were matching accessories.

The accessories included hairpins and hair sticks for the head, and earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and waist decorations made of jade, enough to compare with what Shuangshuang had when she was still an official’s daughter.

After being selected as a female official, there was a seven-day holiday. Nangong Shuangshuang, taking advantage of this holiday, returned to their recently unsealed house with her mother, Luo Yueying, to clean the rooms, clear the weeds in the courtyard, and also had plans to purchase servants.

But before Nangong Shuangshuang and her mother could buy servants, Lady Jing had already thoughtfully had her father, Gao Yan, prepare trustworthy servants and sent them over with their contracts.

This was mainly because Nangong Shuangshuang and Luo Yueying were women with lacking Combat Power, making it unsafe for the two of them to be in the empty house. Servants bought outside were of unknown background, and it would be troublesome if any had ill intentions.