Green Mountain-Chapter 744 - 595: Hospital Director of the Imperial Hospital

Darkness fell.

Yet the Imperial Physicians and clerks hesitated to leave work and go home. They could only hide in the shadows and whisper to each other, discussing the recent rumors about Chen Ji. Some counted on their fingers how many people he had killed in the past few months.

From Guyuan to the Imperial Capital, from the Heavenly Strategy Army to Yuan Wang, when you add it all up, indeed he had killed more people than the Imperial Hospital could save in an entire year.

They looked towards the library.

In the dim light, only the last bit of twilight filtered through the window lattice, and the figure in the red robe remained seated motionless, indistinguishable whether he was reading or had already fallen asleep.

Only when the twilight completely disappeared, rendering the words on the pages unreadable, did Chen Ji finally move.

He slowly got up, closed the book, and left the library.

The Imperial Physicians and clerks were hiding in the shadows of the main hall, pharmacy, and corridor, craning their necks to peek, only to quickly draw back when his gaze swept over them.

Chen Ji acted as if he hadn't seen anything and belatedly cupped his hands to the surroundings, apologizing: "Sorry for delaying everyone from finishing work. In the future, feel free to leave; you don't need to wait for me."

He paused, looked towards the Dean: "By the way, Dean, could you light an oil lamp for me? I'd like to read a bit longer."

The Dean feigned difficulty and replied: "Marquis Wu Xiang, the library is a crucial part of the Imperial Hospital, where open flames are prohibited. Perhaps you should go home early, rest, and take the book home with you; you can take whichever you want."

"Going home would waste the family's oil money," Chen Ji pondered, glancing towards the candle-lit main hall of the Imperial Hospital: "Why not find a seat somewhere in the main hall?"

The Dean replied bravely: "All the seats in the main hall are occupied, like radishes in holes; there's really no room left."

Chen Ji raised an eyebrow: "Aren't you finishing work?"

The Dean lied with open eyes: "Doctors should be compassionate; it's easy to catch a cold at night, and elderly officials often fall ill again. We usually stay on duty at the Imperial Hospital until around 9 to 11 PM."

"Surely there's not a single empty seat," Chen Ji laughed, and walked straight into the main hall of the government office, looking around. The Imperial Physicians sat at their spots, not daring to raise their heads, fearing he'd target them.

At this moment, Chen Ji pointed at an unoccupied desk: "Whose seat is this?"

The Dean's heart skipped a beat and quickly replied: "This isn't available; it's the Hospital Director's seat."

Chen Ji carelessly said: "Where's the Hospital Director? I happen to need to ask him about the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department."

The Dean said bitterly: "The Hospital Director is in Changping buying medical herbs. It's the time of year when northern medicine merchants gather in Changping. The Hospital Director is selecting herbs and might not return to the capital anytime soon."

Chen Ji laughed: "That's just right; I'll borrow it for now."

He then boldly sat at the Hospital Director's desk, continuing to read as if no one else were there.

The Dean and Imperial Physicians exchanged glances; Chen Ji, in his Qilin Embroidery, sitting behind the Hospital Director's desk, resembled a young prince annotating imperial decrees.

After turning two pages, Chen Ji suddenly looked up: "The book states that after taking Guizhi Decoction, one should take warm porridge to aid the medicinal effect. Why is Ma Huang Soup not required? Both are sweating agents, yet the rules differ. Is it because Ma Huang Soup is a potent sweat-inducing agent, whose effect suffices, so if porridge is added to increase it, excessive sweating could lead to other complications?"

The Dean paused, his gaze complex. Surprisingly, this question had merit.

But he couldn't allow Chen Ji to treat the Imperial Hospital as a place of study, so he replied softly: "Marquis Wu Xiang, I don't know."

With the candlelight flickering, Chen Ji casually continued: "As a Dean, you don't even know the common knowledge in the Medical Skills Summary. Could it be that you're a spy planted by Jing Dynasty in our Ning Dynasty?"

The Dean's face turned: "Wait, allow me to think!"

Chen Ji drummed his fingers on the table without pressuring him.

After two breaths, the Dean responded: "Guizhi Decoction harmonizes the nutritive and protective. Its force is slow; adding porridge borrows the energy of grain to enhance the medicine's effect, causing a mild sweat to be expelled without harming the vital energy and driving away evil. Indeed, as the Viscount stated, Ma Huang Soup doesn't require porridge."

Chen Ji seriously said: "Thank you, Dean, for clarifying. You can carry on with your duties; I'll sit here a while longer."

The Dean was like receiving amnesty, cupping his hands before turning to leave: "I'll go use the restroom."

He was lowering his head and walking out of the main hall when the Hospital Director appeared out of nowhere, grabbed him and asked in a lowered voice: "Why is he sitting in my place? Is he inspecting my official correspondence?"

The Dean glanced back towards the main hall direction, his expression complex: "Sir, he probably truly came to learn medicine."

Came to learn medicine?

The Hospital Director stood in the shadow beneath the eaves, smirking: "As the saying goes, the likes of witch doctors, musicians, and craftsmen are looked down upon by honorable men. These days, anyone with real skills goes for the Imperial Examination; who comes to learn medicine?"

He instinctively glanced at the Viscount Wu Xiang reading under the lamp.

This figure at the eye of the storm, though his reputation wasn't good, was indeed a newly emerged authority in the Imperial Capital. How could he have come to learn medicine?

The Dean explained: "But he's been sitting here all day, asking questions solely related to the Medical Skills Summary. Clearly, he's absorbed in it."

The Hospital Director pondered: "Even if he genuinely wants to learn medicine, it's a bad fit; an Eunuch Party member everyday in our Imperial Hospital, even if we act uprightly, we can't prevent others from gossiping. It's already difficult to maintain control over this hospital; how can we associate with such a person? Better send him away quickly."

The Hospital Director stroked his whitening beard, continuing to grumble: "Besides, what kind of government office doesn't finish work? Everyone has wives and children; with him sitting here, who dares to leave? For the sake of the Imperial Physicians, we must rid ourselves of this troublemaker."

The Dean sighed: "I'll think of another way."

Just then, a young man barged into the Imperial Hospital, clutching a piece of yellowed bamboo paper, shouting angrily: "Zhou Fangping, come out for me!"

The Hospital Director frowned and looked over: "Who are you?"

The Dean whispered: "Tang Shun."

Tang Shun strode to the Dean, slapped the prescription he held onto the Dean's chest: "Seven days ago, we invited Zhou Fangping to our house to treat the old master. At that time, he could still speak and eat. But after following Zhou Fangping's prescription for seven days, he can no longer swallow and cannot speak!"

The Dean lowered his head to look at the prescription in his hand: "Aconite, dried ginger, honey-fried licorice... Four Reversals Soup? Where is Zhou Fangping?"

An honest middle-aged Imperial Physician ran out from the pharmacy: "Dean, I'm here."

The Dean handed the prescription to him: "Did you prescribe this?"

Zhou Fangping hurriedly replied: "Yes, I prescribed it. The old master is eighty-three, his pulse is weak, only the Four Reversals Soup can attempt to restore the vital yang and reverse decline. Logically, since his organs haven't deteriorated, it should be effective. As long as he isn't given ginseng or other strong tonics, he could at least hold on for another year or so."

The Hospital Director looked at Tang Shun: "You didn't give the old master any tonics, did you?"

Tang Shun's face froze: "Such nonsense, ginseng is a life-prolonging remedy, how could it harm someone?"

Zhou Fangping sighed, his face turning bitter: "The old master is too weak for supplements, why didn't you listen to advice?"

Tang Shun flew into a rage, grabbing Zhou Fangping by the collar: "It's clearly your prescription that's at fault, and you want to blame me?"

The Dean was so angry that his face turned red: "Nonsense, we clearly advised you not to use supplements, how can you blame the Imperial Hospital? That's outrageous! Our Imperial Hospital is composed of imperial doctors, unless there's a decree from the palace, we don't take orders from anyone. The fact that we came to your home for a consultation is already..."

Tang Shun sneered at him: "Do you know who my father is?"

That single sentence choked off the Dean's words, leaving him stammering.

In the silent corridor, a calm voice came from deep within the main hall: "Who is your father?"

Tang Shun glared over: "My father is the Junior Minister of Dali Temple, Tang Zheng..."

The three large vermillion doors of the Imperial Hospital's main hall were wide open, twenty or more lamps were lit inside, and someone dressed in a red robe sat reading beneath the light. When they asked the question, they didn't even lift their head.

Tang Shun's gaze fell on the Qilin Badge on the person's chest, and he swallowed back his words, releasing his hold on Zhou Fangping's collar unconsciously.

He stood in place, looking at the person sitting in the center of the lights, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

Chen Ji still didn't lift his head, just turned a page in his book: "Leave."

As the word fell, Tang Shun fled in disarray.

The Dean was somewhat wistful; he instinctively glanced at the decrepit old Hospital Director, then at Chen Ji, quietly reading in the main hall.

Today, he had wholeheartedly intended to drive the intruder away, but at that moment, he felt that the person sitting there seemed even more capable than the Hospital Director.

And more dignified...

Moments later, Chen Ji closed the book and stood up, walking straight out of the Imperial Hospital: "It's too late today, return tomorrow."

When he passed the Dean, he suddenly stopped: "The Imperial Hospital is a Standard Third Rank government office, how can it let an unlearned wastrel bully their way in?"

The Dean held his frustration for a long time, finally sighed deeply: "In this Imperial Capital, Imperial Physicians live worse than eunuchs. Without power, we can only be summoned and dispatched, bowing to dignitaries and insulted for treating difficult illnesses. Being an Imperial Physician requires not only medical skill but also feigned ignorance; otherwise, why do you think Doctor Yao wrote that couplet?"

The nearby Hospital Director also sighed.

Chen Ji heard the sigh and turned to look at the Hospital Director with interest: "Who is this?"

The Hospital Director, having lost his temper, finally remembered he should be in Changping at this hour.

The Dean quickly attempted to smooth things over: "This is our Imperial Hospital's Chief Clerk."

Chen Ji smiled slyly: "I see, it's Chief Clerk... See you tomorrow."

Then, he strode away.

The next morning, Chen Ji returned as promised.

He was still wearing the vividly red Qilin Embroidery, striding deeper into the Imperial Hospital. The Imperial Physicians retreated to the sides, yet not as thoroughly hidden as yesterday.

When Chen Ji reached the main hall, the Hospital Director was behind a desk, briskly writing, though it was unclear what.

Not until the light in front was blocked by a large shadow did the Hospital Director finally look up. When he recognized the Qilin Badge so close to him, he abruptly leaned back: "What are you doing?"

Chen Ji pointed at the Hospital Director's desk: "Excuse me, that's my reading spot."

The Hospital Director's white beard trembled furiously with anger: "Nonsense, that's clearly my seat."

Chen Ji responded with an "Oh": "Isn't this the Hospital Director's desk?"

The Hospital Director froze; then, carrying official correspondences, he sheepishly got up and went to the pharmacy: "Have a seat."

The Imperial Physicians looked at each other from a distance... How come it seemed like the leadership at the Imperial Hospital had changed?