Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1499: Chapter 1600: The Staff of the Free Clinic_1

”If someone comes to challenge me and I have to accept every fight, wouldn’t I die of exhaustion?” Bai Ruozhu hooked up the corners of her lips, her smile laced with sarcasm.

”You just don’t dare, do you?” Grand Princess Huilan’s face was full of disdain. She had no knowledge about Bai Ruozhu’s medical skills and thought Bai Ruozhu had only secured the position of Chief Female Doctor through her husband and brother’s fame.

Bai Ruozhu shrugged, ”I’ve just defeated her master not long ago, competing against her now would be somewhat disrespectful, right? Since the princess believes that Hao Baishuang is suited for the role of Chief Female Doctor, you should personally speak to His Majesty. The appointment and dismissal of official positions can’t just be exchanged in private, after all.”

”You think I wouldn’t dare? Just you wait to pack up your bedding and get the hell out.” Grand Princess Huilan flicked her sleeve and, along with Hao Baishuang, left in a huff.

Bai Ruozhu lifted the corner of her mouth, winked at Jiu Sheng, and said, ”Watch, our charity medical work is about to get a lot easier.”

Jiu Sheng glanced at his little mentor, then at Grand Princess Huilan walking away, and thought, who exactly is scheming against whom here?

Princess Huilan looked at Hao Baishuang’s face, swollen as if it were a pig’s head, and felt a surge of aversion, but with a look of concern on her face, she said, ”Don’t worry, I’ll have the Emperor take a look later, and I will also help you seek justice from His Majesty.”

”Thank you, Your Highness.” Speaking made Hao Baishuang’s face and the corners of her mouth hurt terribly; she simply uttered a brief reply and said no more.

Princess Huilan inquired and found out that Tang Yin was working in the Imperial Study Room at the moment, and hurriedly took Hao Baishuang there.

”Paying respects to Your Majesty.” Despite being overbearing outside, Princess Huilan was meticulous in her courtesies and extremely humble in her demeanor when facing the Emperor.

”Auntie need not be so formal. How come you have time to visit me today?” Tang Yin’s voice was very cheerful, showing his recent good mood.

Princess Huilan’s eyes suddenly reddened, and she quickly glanced at Bai Zepei, who was waiting on the side, before saying, ”Your Majesty, I felt unwell a while ago, and someone recommended Doctor Hao to treat my illness. Not only did my health improve, but I also felt much more spirited. Seeing Doctor Hao’s exceptional medical skills, I recommended her to apprentice under Chief Doctor Mao, but on my way just now, I saw her being slapped by Bai Ruozhu, who even fainted Chief Doctor Mao with anger.”

”I couldn’t hold back my anger and rebuked her a few words. She kept belittling Chief Doctor Mao and Doctor Hao. I then suggested that she have a contest with Doctor Hao—only those with real ability should hold the position of Chief Female Doctor. Yet, she insulted me as well.” As she spoke, Princess Huilan shed tears, looking the picture of utter grievance.

Hao Baishuang listened in on the side, secretly astonished at how well Princess Huilan could spin a tale. It was true that Chief Doctor Mao fainted and she was hit, but with the order of events reversed, the issue took on a different meaning. She secretly gritted her teeth, knowing she was outplayed by Bai Ruozhu exactly because she didn’t understand these machinations.

The Emperor glanced over at Hao Baishuang, saying, ”Bai Ruozhu has made meritorious contributions by treating disaster victims in the epidemic area. Regardless of Doctor Hao’s medical skills, she has no such achievements. How could she assume such a position?”

”This...” Princess Huilan thought for a moment, ”Then let Bai Ruozhu and Doctor Hao have a competition. We need to make her understand there are always people better than her, lest she becomes too lacking in modesty.”

Bai Zepei had been standing silently to the side all along, not making a sound from start to finish. Princess Huilan looked at him, smugly thinking, what of a newly honored top graduate? Couldn’t he still not dare to speak half a word in support of Bai Ruozhu?

Bai Zepei noticed Princess Huilan’s look and sneered inwardly. Did he not know what his younger sister’s medical skills were like? Hao Baishuang challenging his sister would only make her achievements greater and her reputation louder.

The Emperor said to Wang Shun beside him, ”Summon the Chief Lady Doctor Bai over.”

”Your Majesty could have simply issued a decree. Why must you inquire personally?” Princess Huilan complained somewhat grudgingly.

The Emperor glared at her directly and said, ”Lady Doctor Hao isn’t very renowned, so what’s the big deal in challenging Bai Ruozhu that would require me to issue a decree myself? Aunt, do you want the imperial censors to say that I am idle and neglecting state affairs?”

”I was worried about delaying Your Majesty’s time; it is also my bother that troubles Your Majesty,” Princess Huilan said, adept at reading the room, quickly lowering her stance considerably.

When the Emperor ascended the throne, he was a young sovereign, nearly suffocating under internal troubles and external threats, and Princess Huilan had also stood by his side. Therefore, he had always been quite courteous to Princess Huilan.

In no time, Bai Ruozhu was summoned. After performing the ceremonial greeting, she listened to the Emperor speak of Princess Huilan’s desire for her to compete with Hao Baishuang. She responded calmly, ”Your Majesty, I have posted a notice at the headquarters of the Medical Alliance, announcing a three-day free clinic for the city’s common folk. Following that, I will also hold a Medical Competition. I truly do not have spare time. If Lady Doctor Hao really wants to compete with me, perhaps she could wait until she has won first place in the Medical Competition.”

”First place before she can compete with you? You really have quite the nerve!” Princess Huilan remarked.

”Otherwise, perhaps the top three will suffice. Lady Doctor Hao should prove her own capabilities,” Bai Ruozhu said indifferently.

The Emperor looked at her and said, ”Chief Lady Doctor Bai’s free clinic, benefiting the common people, is important. Since Lady Doctor Hao has no achievements, she should participate in the free clinic. If there are available hands at the Imperial Medical Hospital, they should also be allocated to the free clinic. Moreover, I will give Lady Doctor Hao an opportunity. As long as she secures a spot in the top ten of the Medical Competition, she can challenge Bai Ruozhu.”

Seeing the Emperor had made up his mind, Princess Huilan had no good reason to object, since being in the top ten was already a generous condition. If Hao Baishuang couldn’t even reach the top ten, how could she compete with Bai Ruozhu?

Bai Ruozhu smiled, her eyes almost squinting, ”The Emperor is concerned with the nation and the people. I thank Your Majesty on behalf of the common folk and the members of the Medical Alliance for your compassion.”

Bai Zepei saw the intention behind his younger sister’s actions and smiled subtly. Watching Hao Baishuang with a swollen face, her expression was utterly dejected. She essentially needed to earn a reputation worthy of challenging Bai Ruozhu, a notion that already placed her below Bai Ruozhu.

Since when had the woman who needed her help with childbirth risen to such heights? Hao Baishuang couldn’t figure it out and felt unbearable resentment. She was determined to clinch a top ten position in the Medical Competition and then ruthlessly knock Bai Ruozhu down from her lofty perch, making her taste the bitterness of a tarnished reputation and public disdain.

After leaving the Imperial Study Room, Bai Ruozhu glanced at her pocket watch. It was nearly time for her appointment with Gao Zhou. She promised to treat him as a token of gratitude for saving her life; it wouldn’t be good to be late, would it?

With that thought, she briskly walked out of the Palace. If it weren’t for Hao Baishuang and Princess Huilan picking a quarrel, she wouldn’t have been delayed this long.

Once out of the Palace Gate, she and Jianqi mounted their horses and galloped towards the guesthouse.

There weren’t many pedestrians on the street before the main thoroughfare, so Bai Ruozhu rode at full speed. Suddenly she sensed something was off. Before she could ponder it further, her horse’s front hooves weakened, and it began to topple forward...