Chapter 254: Chapter 221: Hemorrhoids (Part 2)

"Your Majesty, as an old minister and a healer, I must speak the truth to my patients. Deception will ultimately lead to disaster," Fu Qingzhu said. "Lies must be tailored to whom they’re told. If it’s a commoner, a lie might help them live a little longer, and afterward, you can explain the truth to their family."

The intrigues of the royal harem are far more complex, incomparable to the lives of commoners. A slight mistake can have severe consequences.

"I’ve heard you’ve recently given a public lecture at the Research Institute that caused quite a stir, haven’t you?" Zhao Rui asked.

"Even Your Majesty knows about this?"

"I overheard it in casual conversations from my staff. It’s rather surprising that you would suddenly support an unknown young apprentice from Dongshan City’s medical community," Zhao Rui questioned.

"The old minister has found a promising talent and wishes to assist him."

"Aren’t you afraid that you might ruin him by elevating him too high?" Zhao Rui asked.

"If he lacks the ability, it is his fate. But if he truly has talent, my support is just icing on the cake."

"Your words are quite honest," Zhao Rui nodded, "However, with your endorsement, this young man named Lin Miao has now become famous overnight."

"The Imperial Pharmacy is stagnant and in need of fresh blood. Lin Miao lacks any foundation, which works in my favor. Your Majesty, if he is truly a talented and capable young man, it is beneficial for the court."

"Isn’t your closed-door disciple Wen Ruyu quite excellent? Haven’t you hoped to groom him as your successor?" Zhao Rui asked in surprise.

"Ruyu is excellent in every way except his temperament is too steady. While I don’t worry about his medical research, I fear his ability to adapt to official duties."

"But you are still here, you can guide him," Zhao Rui replied.

"I must leave the court eventually," Fu Qingzhu said. Though he had a good relationship with the old emperor, once the new emperor ascends, even the most skilled physician could fall out of favor, as the new ruler would undoubtedly choose his own trusted aides.

After all, nothing is more precious to an emperor than his life.

"Ruyu has been with you for a long time, and his only deficiency might be a lack of experience. Perhaps, with this opportunity, you could let him go out and gain some experience. People grow through challenges and training," Zhao Rui contemplated for a moment before speaking.

"Your Majesty, you also have this idea?" Fu Qingzhu asked in astonishment. Although the emperor had appointed a Crown Prince, the prince has yet to bear children, which has become a source of anxiety for the emperor. The problem is that inability to produce heirs cannot be helped by others.

The old emperor himself has sons, yet he still strives for more!

"Old friend, you have already thought of this, but feared my opposition, is that right?" Zhao Rui suddenly opened his eyes and jokingly chided.

"There is no hiding from Your Majesty’s insights."

"Where do you plan to send him, the Dongshan Prefecture?"

"No, Bozhou or Bianzhou will do," Fu Qingzhu shook his head.

"Why is this?" Zhao Rui asked puzzled, "You’ve already advocated for Lin Miao, sending Wen Ruyu there now would seem to indicate your position, or are you trying to hedge your bets on both sides?"

"Your Majesty, someone without any foundation who can rise amongst a sea of medical practitioners certainly has luck, but also undeniable skills. Hence, I determine that this person must use methods that are unusually bold, far beyond the ordinary. Ruyu, being with me, though he has encountered many patients, is known for his prudence. If he goes, they might immediately fall into conflict, leading to irreconcilable differences. Whereas, Bozhou and Bianzhou harbor strong backing forces behind two ambitious, rising talents..."

"Old friend, are you saying the opposite?"

"No, every word the old minister said is true. Ruyu has not encountered setbacks, so I truly fear he might doubt himself if he goes to Dongshan."

"What do you mean?"

"Your Majesty may not be aware, aside from writing the ’Medical Three Character Classics,’ Lin Miao also authored a ’Pulse Study Notes,’ filled with profound insights and wisdom. I’ve been studying it these days, and instead find it vast and profound, even more thorough than previous medical scholars’ summaries, something unprecedented for the old minister," Fu Qingzhu explained.

"A seventeen-year-old youth accomplished such a feat?"

"To be honest, the old minister found it hard to believe, so I secretly sent someone to investigate. Indeed, this is true," Fu Qingzhu replied.

"Why did Dongshan Prefecture not report such a talented young person?" Zhao Rui inquired.

"Local favoritism is severe. Lin Miao comes from a humble background, with a teacher who was merely an ordinary medical practitioner. Due to his master’s passing, he was forced to go to Dongshan to take the physician’s examination. He ranked third in both the written and oral tests. Wan Bin from the oversight realized his talents, saw his intent to apply for the ’Path to Sainthood’ trial, and took him back to the Imperial Pharmacy for application," Fu Qingzhu detailed Lin Miao’s situation.

"Did the Imperial Pharmacy initially reject his trial application?" Zhao Rui slightly expressed displeasure. He trusted Fu Qingzhu, so witnessing such talent being buried due to malicious obstruction from beneath was distressing.

"In truth, they cannot really be blamed. Select trial applicants are required to be first in both tests, and one’s background is also considered since trials necessitate oversight funded by the court. Lin Miao was ranked third in both, so following regular procedure, his application would likely fail the initial review and be dismissed outright," Fu Qingzhu explained.

"How can someone of such talent rank third in both tests?"

"For the written exam, it depends on one’s familiarity with medical texts and bibliographies. As a country-born boy, with a master who’s just an ordinary doctor, it’s naturally challenging to be as familiar with medical texts. Scoring third in the exam is quite excellent. The pivotal part is the oral exam, wherein he encountered a case of a woman diagnosed by all Dongshan Prefecture’s renowned doctors as pregnant. However, during his exam, he diagnosed it as an ectopic pregnancy, initially marked as a failure. But then, the woman suddenly suffered a major hemorrhage, and all Dongshan’s revered doctors were at a loss. Only he could save her, and her symptoms matched his diagnosis exactly," Fu Qingzhu explained.

"Under such circumstances, he should have been deemed first!"

"He was marked third because the prescription he wrote during the exam differed from the one he used later," Fu Qingzhu replied.

"Since he diagnosed correctly, why was the prescription inconsistent?"

"Your Majesty, when diagnosing, the woman hadn’t hemorrhaged yet and seemed quite normal. The acute symptoms occurred while she was resting, altering the condition naturally requiring different medication. At the time, none could confirm whether his initially prescribed drugs were correct or effective, hence, he wasn’t listed as the top candidate," Fu Qingzhu explained.

"Handling thus seems reasonably just," Zhao Rui nodded.

"Does Your Majesty know the treatment for Prince Jing’s grandson was devised by Lin Miao?"

"That happened? Prince Jing’s old uncle hadn’t mentioned it?" Zhao Rui exclaimed in surprise.

"Probably, Prince Jing himself didn’t know. The prescription was reported by Dongshan City’s oversight to the Imperial Pharmacy, where they deemed it preposterous and attention-seeking. But when Prince Jing’s grandson was bitten by a savage dog and developed rabies, it became the only solution remembered. So, testing the prescription was worth a try and given to Prince Jing," Fu Qingzhu elaborated.

"I heard from Prince Jing’s old uncle. It’s said to have come from someone called Mr. Jia?"

"Mr. Jia was the head of the three overseers sent to Dongshan, who was hired at Wan Bin’s own expense," Fu Qingzhu replied.

"Why was that?"

"The head of the Imperial Pharmacy made things difficult for Wan Bin, claiming: Lin Miao could have a chance to trial, but Wan Bin needed to find his own oversight team, covering all expenses," Fu Qingzhu explained.

"Absurd! Who was responsible?"

"Your Majesty, it’s not entirely their fault. They were merely following standard protocol, not intentionally obstructing. Eventually, they allowed the opportunity," Fu Qingzhu reasoned.

Gradually, Zhao Rui’s anger subsided. Truly as per protocol, there should not be punitive actions, or it would be unfair.

"Would sending Ruyu to manage a Medical Bureau be suitable with his training?" Zhao Rui inquired.

"His training is adequate but lacking official experience. Directly appointing him as a director may be improper," Fu Qingzhu advised.

"No matter. Ruyu is thirty this year, still unmarried, right?"

"Indeed, there hasn’t been a suitable match, hence, it’s been delayed," Fu Qingzhu nodded.

"Then let him go to Dongshan. Local recommendations shouldn’t favor kin. Elevate the director of Dongshan Prefecture Medical Bureau, and let him continue as an advisor for another year, how about it?" Zhao Rui asked.

This statement seemed a consultation but was actually a decision.

"I will follow Your Majesty’s recommendation," Fu Qingzhu bowed.