Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1481: Chapter 1582: Pick the One You Like_1

Her heart pounded fiercely as she stole a quick glance at him, her voice laced with agitation as she said, ”I know you’re already married, and I won’t put you in a difficult position. Whether as a concubine or a maid, I just want to stay by your side, I don’t care about those worldly titles.”

Jiang Yichun was completely petrified; the day before, when Ling had confessed her feelings for him, he had deliberately ignored her. If it were any other woman, he might have told her to get lost long ago, but she had taken an arrow for him. He was not ungrateful, but it was absolutely impossible for him to accept the affections of anyone other than Bai Ruozhu.

In the Western Regions, because he was afflicted by the Evil Technique of the Red Lotus, he had already hurt Ruozhu once. Therefore, no matter what, he could not hurt her again, even if that meant being labeled ungrateful and vindictive.

”Ling, what are you talking about? I’m already married, and I won’t have any relationship with another woman. She is the only one in my heart,” Jiang Yichun said, lowering his voice, making sure each word was understood.

Ling’s face turned instantly pale; she looked incredulously at Jiang Yichun, then at the wound on her chest, her voice choking up as she said, ”But you saw it when you were bandaging me, what am I supposed to think? You were so gentle yesterday.”

”It wasn’t me who bandaged and treated you, you’re confused. If you don’t believe it, you can ask him yourself later,” Jiang Yichun inwardly breathed a sigh of relief that he had gotten Danliang to bandage her the day before, otherwise he really wouldn’t have been able to clear things up now.

Just then, the door opened, and Danliang returned with the Golden Wound Medicine and clean gauze, meeting Ling’s gaze as he entered.

His cheeks flushed as he heard Jiang Yichun ask, ”It was you who removed the arrow and bandaged Ling’s wound yesterday, wasn’t it?”

Not daring to look at Ling, he nodded, ”Yes.”

Suddenly, Ling let out a miserable scream and started shouting hysterically, ”Why was it you? Why wasn’t it Officer Jiang? You don’t even know how to treat injuries, why did you bandage me?”

Danliang took two steps back, alarmed, ”Officer Jiang said it was inconvenient for him, I...”

Jiang Yichun quietly left the room, thankful that the responsibility was not his.

...

In the Imperial Study Room, Bai Ruozhu presented the Acupoint Map to His Majesty, saying, ”This human body acupoint map is the result of my long-term research and meticulous effort. I don’t wish to keep it hidden and would like the Printing Office to produce more copies to distribute to hospitals everywhere, so doctors can gain a more accurate understanding and mastery of the human acupoints, to better serve their patients.”

The Emperor looked at the detailed drawings with small script annotated acupoints and became engrossed. He examined each acupoint closely, and although he was not a doctor, as a martial artist, he recognized many acupoints. The points Bai Ruozhu had marked were all accurate as far as he knew.

Seeing the Emperor so absorbed, Bai Ruozhu sneakily winked at her second brother, who was recording information on the side. It was the first time she had run into her brother in the Imperial Study Room.

A look of indulgence flashed in Bai Zepei’s eyes. He shook his head helplessly, signaling her to listen to the Emperor’s commands and not to be mischievous.

Bai Ruozhu smiled smugly at her second brother, conveying that her acupoint map was impressive and that the Emperor would surely praise her.

”Very good, very good, Bai’s acupoint map is done with great precision,” praised Tang Yin, as expected.

At that moment, Bai Ruozhu had already put away her playful demeanor, her head bowed quietly listening, as if the proud person before was not her at all.

”However, the acupoint map cannot only be judged by your word alone, we must convene some doctors to carefully study it, to see if the acupuncture points are all accurate. Only after confirming there are no errors can it be sent to the Printing Office for reproduction.” The Emperor continued.

Bai Ruozhu nodded in agreement, ”Your Majesty’s consideration is thorough, it should indeed be so.”

The Emperor gave Wang Shun a meaningful look, ”Go invite the people from the Imperial Medical Hospital over here. This is a matter that will promote the advancement of medical science in our Danliang, and I intend to personally oversee it.”

”Thank you, Your Majesty.” Bai Ruozhu curtsied and moved closer to her elder brother, taking a glance at the register he was summarizing, which seemed to pertain to a certain region.

Bai Zepei glared at her, and she hastily withdrew her gaze, only to find the Emperor watching them, brother and sister, with interest, though she couldn’t fathom what he was thinking.

”Bai Ruozhu, I’ve heard you are a clever woman. Have you ever considered what kind of wife to choose for your elder brother?” The Emperor suddenly asked with a smile.

Bai Ruozhu’s heart tightened; could the Emperor be implying Si Yihuan? She indeed had a good impression of Si Yihuan, but how could she dare to make such a decision for her elder brother?

”To answer Your Majesty, this official believes my elder brother should choose a gentle and virtuous wife, of mild temperament, and one who possesses some literary grace,” she replied cautiously, ”But no matter what, it must be my elder brother’s own choice, and as his family, we will support his decision.”

Tang Yin seemed lost in thought for some reason, mumbling to himself, ”Choose his own liking, and the family will support his decision?”

He too wished to choose the woman he loved the most, but almost none of his family supported his decision, and in the end, he had to marry a woman he did not love as Empress.

Bai Ruozhu had no clue what the Emperor was thinking; she just stood obediently near her elder brother.

At this moment, Wang Shun arrived with a large group of Imperial Doctors. The Emperor spoke of Bai Ruozhu’s presented acupoint map and then stated, ”Matters of medical practice must not be taken lightly, so I’ll trouble the various Imperial Doctors to inspect it for Lady Chief Doctor Bai and verify the accuracy of the acupoint map.”

As soon as Mao Xingcai heard this, he became anxious, stepping forward to say, ”Your Majesty, this must not be done. Bai Ruozhu has drawn the body of a man, which is utterly indecent. How can such a map be taken to the Printing Office to be reproduced?”

The Emperor, holding the acupoint map and examining it for a long while, said, ”How did I not find it indecent? It only depicts the acupuncture points and their locations on the human body, without showing any parts with clothes removed that would reveal inner strength. Mao Yanshi, you are indeed being overcautious.”

”Your Majesty, propriety must not be abandoned!” Mao Xingcai shouted loudly.

”Mao Yanshi, do not be overly rigid. This is a matter that benefits both country and people; it has nothing to do with indecency,” said Tang Yin, now visibly annoyed and his expression stern.

Mao Xingcai fell silent, subdued, but his eyes still showed dissatisfaction with the acupoint map.

Wei Pengbo, standing aside, shifted his gaze and suggested, ”We ought to scrutinize it closely, for careless comments might mislead other doctors. Looking at this, it seems some of the positions of the acupuncture points may not be quite right.”

With a faint smile, Bai Ruozhu watched him and Mao Xingcai, these two stubborn old men. She masked her emotions and said with an unchanged expression, ”If Deputy Chief Doctor Wei has found discrepancies, please feel free to point them out, and I will certainly take it to heart and make corrections.”

Pointing at a spot on the map, Wei Pengbo said, ”Take this ’Zusanli’ point, for example, it should be three fingers lower.”