Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1460: Chapter 1561: The Embarrassing Predicament of the Female Physicians Institution_1

Bai Ruozhu maintained a smile on her face, looking calm and composed. Hao Mu, who was watching everything from outside the palace doors, nodded in approval, thinking to himself that his master had indeed not misjudged her. The lady was indeed very impressive; just for her ability to remain unflustered in the face of danger, Hao Mu greatly admired her.

Indeed, Hao Mu had another identity as a member of the upper echelons, and he was also one of Jiang Yichun’s subordinates, though Bai Ruozhu was unaware of this.

Bai Ruozhu looked towards Mao Xingcai with a friendly smile on her face, ”A few days ago, Liu Fei and others blocked me from treating the Empress Dowager, so I gave them a little lesson. I suppose they should have sought out the Imperial Medical Hospital by now. Since you, Chief Doctor Mao, and others are more skilled than this member of the younger generation, why don’t you try to cure the red rash on their faces? If you can remove the rash from any one of them within three days, I, Bai, will gladly admit defeat.”

”You dare to poison the noble ladies of the Harem?” Mao Xingcai was so angry he almost jumped, ”This is utterly preposterous.”

”Enough talk, Chief Doctor Mao, do you dare to compete?” Bai Ruozhu asked with a mischievous smile.

”Compete, why wouldn’t I dare? I don’t believe I can’t beat your underhanded tactics,” Mao Xingcai called out indignantly.

Bai Ruozhu’s smile widened, ”Well then, it’s settled. You have three days, better get to it.”

”Alright, it’s a deal!” Immediately after speaking, Mao Xingcai realized how short three days were and quickly stood up to grab his medicine box, turning his head to Wei Pengbo and saying, ”What are you standing around for? Hurry up and make the most of the time!”

So, a few old men were seen rushing out, as if racing against time and fearing they would lose the bet. Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh, and Hao Mu approached and said, ”You’re bullying a group of old men like this, isn’t it a bit much?”

Bai Ruozhu glared at her, clearly enjoying herself more, but now pretending to be righteous.

”It’s actually a bunch of old men much older than me bullying a weak woman who couldn’t even harm a chicken, you know?”

Hao Mu couldn’t stop laughing, ”You’re hilarious. I have to tell the Empress Dowager about this later; she’s sure to find it amusing too.”

Jiu Sheng reminded from the side, ”Teacher, aren’t you going to meet that female physician?”

Bai Ruozhu wasn’t used to being called by Jiu Sheng, saying, ”Do you really want to take me as your teacher? There is too much difference in our ages. Calling me ’Teacher’ is already respectful enough. As long as you join the Medical Alliance, I can teach you Medical Skills without the need for such a formal apprenticeship.”

Jiu Sheng suddenly knelt down upon hearing this, ”Disciple has always admired Teacher’s Medical Skills and magnanimity. Now that you’ve agreed to take me as your disciple, Teacher, you can’t go back on your word.”

Bai Ruozhu’s mouth twitched at this, ”Alright, alright, stand up. I’m not comfortable with others kneeling before me; don’t perform such grand gestures in the future.”

”Yes, Teacher,” Jiu Sheng stood up delightedly, calling ”Teacher” with extra enthusiasm.

At this moment, not all the Imperial Doctors from the Imperial Medical Hospital had left; those who had were the young Imperial Doctors who bet against Bai Ruozhu. However, there were still quite a few younger Imperial Doctors who decided to wait and see how things unfolded.

Although they were considered young, they were also in their thirties and forties, around the same age as Jiu Sheng, and he was the most skilled among them. Therefore, they were quite astonished to see him actually kneeling and calling Bai Ruozhu ’Teacher’.

”Jiu Sheng’s Medical Skills have improved a lot recently; could it really be because he took Bai Ruozhu as his teacher?” an Imperial Doctor seated at the back quietly asked the person beside him.

Another Imperial Doctor replied softly, ”Perhaps it is true; don’t underestimate Bai’s youth. If she didn’t have some real skills, would the Emperor have appointed her as the Chief Female Physician?”

Bai Ruozhu, with her keen hearing, listened to their conversation, thinking to herself that indeed the younger generation was not so stubborn. However, her age made it difficult to convince people, so she had to prove herself with her abilities.

Afterward, Jiu Sheng led Bai Ruozhu to the adjoining room where the female physicians stayed. Upon entering, Ruozhu saw several female doctors busily at work, completely unlike the Imperial Doctors from the rest of the Imperial Medical Hospital who seemed to have plenty of leisure time.

She wondered why they were so busy this early in the morning.

She looked more closely and saw that three of them were grinding medicinal materials, while two others were copying texts with pen and paper.

”This is the newly appointed female Chief Doctor Bai, appointed by His Majesty. Come quickly and pay your respects,” announced Jiu Sheng with formality.

The five female doctors hurriedly set down their work and stood up to salute Bai Ruozhu. Bai Ruozhu nodded, indicating that there was no need for such formalities, and then silently observed the five women.

These five female doctors looked to be in their early twenties, the oldest not more than thirty. Their attitudes were all rather honest, without the troubles brought by those at the Imperial Medical Hospital.

Bai Ruozhu breathed a sigh of relief. If there were any troublemakers below her, she would have had to deal with them, not that she wasn’t capable, but who wouldn’t prefer to avoid trouble?

Unfortunately, when she asked a few questions, her head began to hurt again.

”What were you busy with just now? What duties do the female doctors usually have here?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

An older female doctor replied, ”Reporting to Chief Doctor Bai, my name is Wei Tianzhen. We were just copying the account books for the Imperial Medical Hospital. And this is Li Cuicui, she was copying the records of the Imperial Doctors’ clinic visits this month. The other three were grinding medicinal materials as instructed by the Hospital Administrator.”

Bai Ruozhu frowned, ”Have you always been doing these duties?”

”Occasionally, we also make clinic visits to the various palaces to see the ladies,” Wei Tianzhen answered cautiously.

”If you’re supposed to make clinic visits, why are you doing menial tasks like this? Couldn’t the little eunuchs or other servants handle the copying? And as for grinding medicine, doesn’t the Imperial Medical Hospital have apprentices and errand people for that?” Bai Ruozhu’s last question was directed at Jiu Sheng. It was normal for a doctor to grind and prepare their own medicine, but why should a doctor grind medicine for others? Wasn’t that a task for a pharmacy apprentice?

Jiu Sheng, embarrassed, touched his nose and explained, ”Before this, there wasn’t a specific institution for female doctors, and since the Hospital Administrators didn’t value the role of female doctors, they mostly ended up doing menial tasks.”

Bai Ruozhu became dissatisfied. However, these arrangements were made before her arrival, and it wasn’t good for her to quibble over past decisions. All that mattered was that she would change the situation moving forward.

Taking a deep breath, she temporarily put the matter aside and looked at the five women, asking, ”What are your individual strengths? To what level have you developed your Medical Skills?”

Wei Tianzhen bowed and replied, ”I specialize in delivering babies; I’ve assisted the Nannies in the palace with childbirth before.”

The corner of Bai Ruozhu’s mouth twitched. Assisting... Could that be called specializing?

”What about other areas?” Bai Ruozhu inquired.

Showing embarrassment, Wei Tianzhen said, ”I also know some postnatal care methods.”

Bai Ruozhu could only turn to the other four, who began to answer in turn.

”My name is Li Cuicui; I excel in massage therapy and am often called by the ladies to perform massages,” responded Li Cuicui.

”My name is Xiang Hongyun; I can treat wounds and apply bandages.”

”My name is...”

Bai Ruozhu felt a headache coming on. Were these five really doctors? It seemed they knew even less than the nurses from her previous life. How were they supposed to treat patients like this?

---

Yesterday, I was out with my child and didn’t get any writing done. I ended up falling asleep while putting my child to bed, sorry everyone. Today I still have to pick up my mother, and time is extremely tight, so I can only do my best to update more later~