Chapter 53

Chapter 53

On her first day at the Imperial Medical Institute, Doctor Xu Yunqi was not assigned to see patients but was instead instructed by Doctor He to shadow Han Lin and learn about the institute's procedures and regulations.

Han Lin handed her a stack of documents and a pile of medical cases. He then led her on a tour of the facility, revealing that the Imperial Medical Institute was not just responsible for treating illnesses but also oversaw several departments, including the Pharmaceutical Bureau and the Raw Medicine Warehouse. In addition to the resident doctors, there were numerous medical officials who coordinated with local medical bureaus, facilitated talent exchange, trained medical practitioners, and compiled herb catalogs. There was even a dedicated team of scholars responsible for writing books, their extensive library surpassing Xu Yunqi's expectations.

With this newfound knowledge, Xu Yunqi's interest in the Imperial Medical Institute deepened.

"Indeed, the depths of medical knowledge are vast and boundless."

Han Lin explained patiently, holding nothing back. "Everything around the Imperial Medical Institute is commendable, except for one aspect that cannot compare with the outside world..." As he was about to elaborate, a court attendant hurriedly approached them, bowing respectfully to Xu Yunqi and Han Lin.

"Both doctors, Doctor He requests your presence."

The two followed the attendant back to the main hall, where they found a haughty eunuch dressed in purple standing proudly in the center. With a whisk resting on his elbow and an air of disdain, he looked down his nose at them.

"Which one of you is Doctor Xun?"

Doctor He quickly pointed at Xu Yunqi. "This is she. May I ask, Lord Zhao, what is your request?"

Eunuch Zhao gave Xu Yunqi a casual glance and said, "Come with this eunuch to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Prince Qi, the former royal highness, is suffering from another headache. He's requesting your treatment."

Doctor He looked hesitant, and Xu Yunqi noticed that everyone seemed uneasy. She sensed there was more to this situation than met the eye.

Sure enough, Han Lin soon leaned close and whispered,

"The Old Prince Qi is His Majesty's own brother. He currently holds the position in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, overseeing all matters concerning the imperial family. Relying on his seniority, he usually acts very arrogantly. I suspect he heard about you curing His Majesty's headache yesterday and now wants you to treat him today."

Xu Yunqi had vaguely heard of the Old Prince Qi but, having never met him, wasn't familiar with his character. Seeing the severity of the doctors' preparations today, she realized this man was not someone to be trifled with.

Whether or not to go was not her decision. She waited for Doctor He's lead.

Doctor He was deeply conflicted. Agreeing would mean pushing Xu Yunqi into a difficult situation, as the emperor's decree only allowed her to treat female members of the court. Declining, however, would likely result in a scene before the emperor, who wouldn't dare offend his younger brother. In the end, Xu Yunqi would still have to treat the prince, and the Imperial Medical Institute would find itself in an awkward position.

After considering his options, Doctor He quickly came up with a plan.

"In that case, I'll accompany Doctor Xun to pay our respects and check on the Old Prince Qi's health," he proposed.

Eunuch Zhao, pleased with the respectful tone, softened his expression. "Very well, then follow me."

Dr. He led Xu Yunqi out, discreetly shooting a glance at Han Lin, gesturing for him to inform Pei Musheng on the other side.

The Imperial Clan Court was located in the first row of official buildings. Heading north along the broad path between the Imperial Hospital and the Ministry of Rites, one would arrive directly opposite the Ministry of War.

The Imperial Clan Court was impressively grand, with a five-bay hip-and-gable-roof structure that clearly surpassed the grandeur of other offices. However, compared to the Six Ministries, it was considered a relatively idle department, housing a group of royal family members who spent their days idling away and indulging in pleasure.

Xu Yunqi followed Dr. He into the hall without any change in expression. The vast and luxurious chamber featured a twelve-panel floral and bird screen on the northern side. Prince Qi sat in a high-backed armchair beneath the screen, holding a smoking pipe in his mouth while resting one leg on a crescent-shaped stool. He listened to music leisurely with his slender figure, looking extremely thin. His beard was unkempt, making him appear not much younger than the emperor.

Eunuch Zhao approached respectfully, whispering a few words into the old prince's ear before pointing at Xu Yunqi. Only then did the old Prince Qi slowly open his eyes and glance at Xu Yunqi. The gaze didn't linger long as he slowly put down his leg, straightened up, and pointed at the crescent-shaped stool.

"Come, come. Examine this prince."

Dr. He hurried forward with his medical kit, but the old prince's expression changed, and his tone turned grim. "I wasn't talking to you." He indicated toward Xu Yunqi.

Without hesitation, Xu Yunqi stepped forward calmly and sat on the crescent-shaped stool.

Eunuch Zhao personally helped the old prince roll up his sleeve, revealing his wrist, and then carefully placed it on a handrest. Xu Yunqi began to take his pulse.

Dr. He took Xu Yunqi's medical kit from Xingyin's hands and carried a cushioned stool to sit beside her. After Xu Yunqi palpated the old prince's wrist for a moment, she paused, frowning as she observed his complexion.

Prince Qi was known for his ill-temper, and he certainly wasn't going to tolerate being sized up by a young lady. His expression darkened, and he said sternly, "I share the same ailment as His Majesty. Treat me just as you did the Emperor when you were needling him."

Xu Yunqi shook her head. "Your Highness, your headache differs greatly from the Emperor's. It would be more accurate to say that you suffer from diabetes."

At the mention of diabetes, Doctor He nearly choked on his water. He shot Xu Yunqi a cryptic look.

In the past, Doctor Fan had been in charge of treating Prince Qi's illness. Doctor Fan had long diagnosed Prince Qi with diabetes and advised him on how to manage it. Unfortunately, Prince Qi ignored this advice and continued his indulgence in rich foods. As his condition worsened, the elderly prince caused a commotion at the Imperial Hospital, denouncing Doctor Fan as an incompetent physician. Unable to reason with him, Doctor Fan had no choice but to placate him with half-truths and coaxing, which had continued until now.

What Doctor He hadn't anticipated was Xu Yunqi diagnosing the truth with just one pulse reading. This remarkable skill genuinely surprised him, so much so that he hadn't discussed it with Xu Yunqi beforehand.

Now, the mention of 'diabetes' was like poking a hornet's nest.

Prince Qi, as expected, flew into a rage. "Nonsense! Whenever I had my dizzy spells in the past, your fellow court physician, Fan Ruji, would needle me. Why can't you do the same?"

"How did you cure His Majesty yesterday, and why can't you do the same for me today?"

Xu Yunqi looked helpless. "Your Highness, diabetes cannot be treated haphazardly."

The old Prince Qi harrumphed. "Well then, what exactly is diabetes?"

Dr. He explained, "Diabetes, or 'excessive thirst,' refers to a condition where one drinks excessively, urinates frequently, and has an insatiable appetite, yet still becomes weak and emaciated. Over time, it can lead to dizziness, blurred vision, and numbness in the limbs. And then..." Considering the elderly Prince Qi's ailments, Dr. He tactfully refrained from delving deeper.

The elderly Prince Qi nodded, acknowledging the dizziness but denying the severity, "You're mistaken, I do not have this illness."

Xu Yunqi offered a wry smile, "For those with diabetes, their urine is sweet. One only needs to taste it to know."

Upon hearing this, the old Prince Qi's expression darkened. He had indeed noticed a sweet, fishy odor every day when attending to his needs. Could it be that he truly had this illness?

"Is this condition curable?"

Dr. He exchanged a glance with Xu Yunqi, both revealing a sense of dilemma. Dr. He rose and, with his sleeves elegantly folded, replied,

"Your Highness, this illness lies not in curing, but in nurturing. If the patient abstains from rich and greasy foods, adopts a light diet, exercises more and ponders less, the symptoms will gradually alleviate through careful nursing."

Prince Qi the Elder didn't say much more. He extended his arm. "Very well, proceed with the acupuncture."

The Elder Prince Qi had evidently heard of Xu Yunqi's exceptional medical skills and his mastery in acupuncture, hence his proposition.

Xu Yunqi, however, was filled with distress. Rising to her feet, she offered a graceful bow and spoke softly,

"Your Highness, the treatment for diabetes differs greatly from that for migraines. Since your dizziness is a symptom of diabetes, acupuncture alone cannot cure it. Allow me and Doctor He to prescribe a regimen for you. Starting today, follow Doctor He's instructions, and we will treat your condition gradually."

Xu Yunqi didn't mention that the disease was almost incurable, especially since Prince Qi was already in critical condition.

The elderly Prince Qi's face darkened. "Yesterday, one session of your acupuncture cured His Majesty's long-term illness. Yet, you refuse to do so for me. Why? Do you look down on this prince?"

Doctor He broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly bowed to apologize. "Your Highness, what Doctor Xun said is true. Different ailments require different treatments. If we proceed carelessly, it would be you who suffers the consequences..."

Prince Qi couldn't afford to joke with his health. After a moment of patience, he asked, "If you prescribe a treatment, how long will it take to recover?"

This was precisely the question that both Doctor He and Xu Yunqi wished to avoid.

Doctor He waited for Xu Yunqi to answer, while Xu Yunqi waited for Doctor He. However, their hesitation didn't escape the sharp eyes of the elderly Prince Qi, who immediately flew into a rage.

"Frustrating! Does that mean this prince's condition is incurable?"

Doctor He hastened to reassure him. "No, Your Highness. As long as you follow my previous advice for rest and recuperation, you'll be no different from an ordinary person. Though difficult to treat, this illness poses no serious threat..." The numbers he mentioned afterward were spoken with great difficulty.

Prince Qi paid no heed, only gazing intently at Xu Yunqi, "Administer the acupuncture on this prince first to alleviate my headache and dizziness."

Xu Yunqi had encountered stubborn personalities before, but never one with such power and influence.

"Your Highness, I am indeed capable of applying acupuncture on you. However, doing so might stir up the flow of energy in your body, which wouldn't benefit your dizziness; it might even worsen the condition. I have a method to cure you, please trust me, would you?"

The primary concern for the ailing Old Prince Qi was to take his medicine, abstain from meat, fish, and sugary foods, not acupuncture.

Old Prince Qi's patience was waning. He looked at Xu Yunqi with a cold gaze,

"Do not presume to disregard this Prince just because your father is the Prime Minister. Others may fear Xun Yunhe, but I do not. For a man of his stature to be toyed with by a woman, it brings shame even to me!"

Xu Yunqi's expression froze, the tenderness in her eyes fading gradually. Her clasped hands slowly lowered, and after a moment of silence, she replied,

"I apologize, Your Highness, but your illness is beyond my ability to cure."

For an instant, Doctor He entertained the idea of persuading Xu Yunqi to merely placate Prince Qi. But meeting the serene gaze of the young lady, he ultimately held his tongue.

Prince Qi erupted in fury. "If you refuse to treat me, do you believe I won't have your license revoked at the Imperial Medical Bureau?"

"Dare you!"

A cold voice interrupted from the entrance.

Everyone turned to look and saw Pei Muheng, dressed in a dark red prince's robe, striding in with his hands behind his back. Upon seeing him, Doctor He heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly made way for him.

Pei Muheng stepped forward and pulled his wife behind him before turning to face Prince Qi. "Your Highness is an esteemed elder prince. How can you make things difficult for the imperial physician? A physician treats illnesses with precision; how can they cater to your whims and fancies?"

Prince Qi was displeased with his tone and sneered. "Pei Muheng, even your father has to show respect before me. Don't get too arrogant here."

"I'll ask you this, I summoned them both today to treat my illness. It's only right for one to be loyal to their paymaster. What's wrong with that? I'm showing favor to this young lady by allowing her to treat me. Otherwise, with the Hospital Director and Deputy Director of the Imperial Hospital present, why would I call for her? I'm giving you face by doing so."

"Oh, there's no need for you to grant that favor," Pei Muheng replied without any hesitation.

Prince Qi was taken aback, the first time someone had ever challenged his authority like this. He laughed out of anger. "If Physician Fan can apply acupuncture, then she can do it too. If she can cure His Majesty, she can cure me as well. In short, since she's a doctor from the Imperial Hospital, she must treat this prince."

Xu Yunqi gazed at her towering husband with a faint sigh. The life of a royal physician truly was not an easy one. She was still unaccustomed to hiding behind someone and didn't wish to put Pei Muheng in a difficult position.

"Third Master…" She gently tugged on Pei Muheng's sleeve, but he held onto her hand instead, his gaze sharp as he spoke to Prince Qi,

"The Emperor has decreed that she is only to treat noble ladies, both inner and outer. May I ask if you are an outer or inner noble lady?"

His words were tantamount to an insult.

Prince Qi nearly leaped to his feet. "You, you, you! Do you believe me when I say I'll seek justice from the Emperor right now? He would still order her to treat me. Besides, I am your great-uncle, both an elder and a blood relative. What does gender distinction matter? If your father fell ill, would you deny her from treating him?"

Changing his tone, he continued,

"I'll be honest with you. Doctor Fan has been treating me with acupuncture for years, yet the effects have dwindled. I want to see what she can do. Whether it works or not, I won't hold it against her. Brother Heng, you now oversee the Censorate and the Ministry of Finance, wielding power and bearing responsibilities. You cannot act on impulse. Go back and review the rules of the Imperial Hospital. Does it not say the same thing?"

Pei Muheng looked at him calmly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Your Highness Prince Qi, I am first and foremost a person, then a court official. As her husband, I'm not here to uphold justice; I'm here to support her. This illness, she will not treat!"

With that, he took Xu Yunqi's hand and left the Palace of Lineage without looking back.

Prince Qi was furious, pointing at the couple's departing backs while cursing under his breath. "How could he do this? How could he?"

Exiting the grand hall, Pei Muheng led Xu Yunqi towards the Imperial Hospital, his steps swift and steady. Xu Yunqi glanced at her husband, noticing his lingering anger, and apologized with a guilty expression, "Third Master, I caused trouble on my first day of duty."

Pei Muheng paused upon hearing this and shook his head, saying,

"Yunqi, precisely because it's your first day, you must establish rules. If a patient trusts you, you treat them. If not, don't. Your position as a physician is different from others; you needn't cater to others' whims."

Xu Yunqi felt a nameless emotion stir within her upon hearing these words. This had indeed been her guiding principle as a doctor, but entering the Imperial Hospital meant she couldn't act on impulse. She had prepared herself for hardships, only to find that Pei Muheng didn't intend to let her suffer.

"Thank you," she replied, her eyes brightening slightly.

Seeing her relieved, Pei Muheng was also reassured and promptly escorted her back to the hospital.

Soon, an imperial attendant arrived, reporting that a young princess was running a high fever and requesting Xu Yunqi's medical attention. Xu Yunqi and Han Lin hurried to the inner palace. As a result of Pei Muheng's intervention, Empress Chen remained silent and followed Xu Yunqi's instructions without question.

It wasn't until the late afternoon that they finally left the inner palace. The two hadn't had lunch and were ravenously hungry. Silver Apricot could hardly walk, so Han Lin took over her medical case.

Silver Apricot didn't hesitate to lean on him as they walked, asking Han Lin, "What did Doctor Han discuss with our Miss earlier? What makes the Imperial Hospital different from other places?"

Wiping his sweat with his sleeve, Han Lin turned to Xu Yunqi and said, "I wanted to tell you earlier that in the Imperial Hospital, whether a patient gets well or not is secondary – it's crucial not to offend anyone. Now, I see my concerns were unfounded. The Duke has clearly given this much thought and paved the way for you."

Xu Yunqi recalled her husband's gentle smile, "I'm starving now. Let's hurry back to the Imperial Medical Bureau and rest."

As they neared the Meridian Gate, a figure clad in a crimson robe stood ahead, clearly having waited for some time.

"Yunqi, the Imperial Medical Bureau is still quite far from here. By the time you return, the food will be cold. I've prepared lunch for you in the Cabinet. There's something I need to discuss with you," Xun Yunhe spoke with a warm expression.

Xu Yunqi's countenance froze, and she paused in her steps.