Chapter 113 The Physician

Chapter 113: The Physician

For the metropolitan exam, candidates also needed guarantors, with two methods available: either a capital official, or ten candidates mutually guaranteeing each other.

Meng Wan prepared safeguards on both fronts. He kept in regular contact with Song Tingzhou and Zhu Zening, fellow candidates from Changping Prefecture School who'd come to the capital. Privately, he also consulted Madam Geng and, using Lord Lin's influence, spent silver to hire a seventh-rank Hanlin Academy compiler to affix the seal for the guarantee.

The eighth day of the second month was not the official exam day. Outside the examination hall, the many candidates would be inspected one by one, taking an entire day and night.

Song Tingzhou took off his cotton-padded robe, leaving on several layers of thin robes, and disembarked carrying his basket and belongings. Xue Sheng helped carry the bedding roll. Meng Wan couldn't go down and could only watch from the carriage as they got in line.

The area outside the examination hall was chaotic with carriages coming and going. Song Tingzhou spotted Zhu Zening, then turned back and gave Meng Wan a look to go home first. Xue Sheng would stay to carry the luggage and look after his master, while the coachman brought along a young servant.

Meng Wan watched Song Tingzhou's back, illuminated by flickering torches, for a moment, then said softly, "Let's go back."

On the ninth day of the second month, the candidates who had already entered their cells began the exam. Similar to the provincial exam, the main test consisted of three sessions, but after each session, candidates were not allowed to leave the examination hall; they could only exit after all three sessions were completed.

The examiners stayed even longer than the candidates. The king appointed four chief examiners—one principal and three deputies. This year, the principal examiner was Gou Zhengfang, the influential Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. The three deputy examiners were Xia Yuan, Vice Minister of Works; Zeng Shiqi, Vice Minister of Justice; and Li Liansong, a Reader-in-Waiting of the Hanlin Academy.

There were also eighteen associate examiners, a supervising officer from the Ministry of Rites, and a monitoring officer from the Censorate.

Other minor officials included paper receivers, sealers, copyists, and proofreaders, each responsible for tasks like collecting papers, sealing the candidates' names, transcribing papers, and checking transcriptions.

From the moment they received the appointment decree, these officials were not permitted to return home. They had to go straight to the examination hall to be locked in. No matter what happened at home, they could not leave, nor could they communicate with the outside world.

After the candidates finished their exams, they still had to stay in the hall to grade the papers. The associate examiners graded first, then the chief examiners reviewed once more to ensure accuracy and fairness. All these arrangements were more stringent than for the provincial exam.

The first session tested classical exegesis. Questions were drawn from the Four Books—*The Great Learning*, *The Doctrine of the Mean*, *The Analects*, and *Mencius*—and the Five Classics—*The Book of Songs*, *The Book of Documents*, *The Book of Rites*, *The Book of Changes*, and *The Spring and Autumn Annals*. The focus was on major themes, supplemented by minor ones, and answers had to be written in eight-legged essay style.

Song Tingzhou, as usual, used the first day, when his mind was sharpest, to carefully examine the questions and begin breaking them down.

It wasn't until his stomach growled with hunger that he called an attendant to add hot water.

Each cell had been issued a basin of charcoal. Song Tingzhou took two pieces and placed them under the small double-eyed copper pot he had brought from home. He lit them with a flint, setting a kettle on one eye and a small pot on the other. He added a shallow layer of hot water to the pot and placed the torn pieces of flatbread on top.

Once the frozen-hard bread was softened by steam, Song Tingzhou ate it without much taste, drank half a cup of hot water, warmed his hands and feet with the residual heat of the charcoal, and then continued answering questions.

As night fell, he immediately lit white candles. White candles were more expensive than ordinary ones, costing four hundred wen each, but Wan'er had said not to skimp on such things—ruining one's eyesight wasn't worth it.

Song Tingzhou placed candles at both corners of his desk. Looking around, he seemed to be the first in the entire examination hall to light candles. He wrote his essay on draft paper until it was eighty percent complete, and by then the candles had burned down to the base.

He lit a new candle, took out the pot again, added another piece of charcoal, heated another piece of bread using the same method, boiled an egg, and drank two more mouthfuls of hot water.

After eating, he carefully stored away the charcoal and other items. Under the desk, there was a covered chamber pot for relieving himself, placed as far away from the other items as possible.

Before sleeping, he arranged the wooden boards in his cell to form a bed, spread a rug underneath, covered himself with a thin quilt, and rolled his outer robe into a pillow.

Because he was tall, he suffered more in the cramped cell than others. He couldn't stretch his legs, and his neck had to be bent.

Occasionally, someone would use the chamber pot. Fortunately, it was cold, so the smell wasn't as bad as during the provincial exam.

Some candidates burned the midnight oil, sighing from time to time, or shivering from cold, unable to stop coughing.

After one night, Song Tingzhou woke up exhausted—and he still had eight more days of this to endure.

The heavens were unkind. On the fifteenth day of the second month, even a light dusting of snow fell.

At home, Meng Wan had no appetite for tea or food. He looked at the gray sky with worried eyes. The weather had turned cold, and Song Tingzhou was wearing only thin clothes. He wondered if his husband could endure it.

After thinking it over, he figured that when the gates opened in two days, many candidates would be seeking doctors, and it would be hard to find one then. Better to go now and find a doctor to stay at the house.

He called Madam Geng and a young maidservant to accompany him. Xue Sheng drove the carriage—one that had originally come with the house.

Meng Wan first asked at the nearest medical clinic to Shichun Alley, but the resident doctor had already been booked.

Meng Wan thought he was being proactive, but he hadn't realized the capital's ladies were even more on the ball.

So he had Xue Sheng search farther out. They came across a doctor heading back from a house call. Just as Meng Wan was about to approach, a young woman with a basket dashed out from the side.

She looked around fifteen or sixteen, dressed in patched gray coarse cloth, her hair wrapped in a cloth. Her complexion was sallow, but her features were fine, especially her big, clear almond eyes.

"Uncle Zhang, I've brought the notopterygium roots, all prepared. See if they're good enough?"

She placed a full basket of medicinal herbs on the steps. The doctor handed his medicine case to his apprentice, grabbed a handful from the basket, examined the quality, and sniffed them: "Not bad. I'll have Xiao Zhen settle up with you shortly."

The young woman's face lit up. "Thank you, Uncle Zhang."

The doctor seemed to know her family from way back and asked, "How is your grandfather lately?"

"He's doing well. Sometimes he goes to the countryside to collect herbs and treat patients, sometimes he prepares medicines at home. He can't stay idle for a moment."

"He's always been that way, even when he was young." Dr. Zhang called for his assistant to carry the herbs inside.

The three went inside, and Meng Wan followed behind quietly.

Only then did Dr. Zhang notice them. "Good sir, are you here for a checkup or to pick up medicine?"

"My husband's taking the imperial exams. I'm worried he'll be in rough shape when he gets out of the examination hall in two days. I'd like to hire a doctor to come to my place at dusk the day after tomorrow." Meng Wan stepped inside the clinic and explained.

The young woman, standing next to Dr. Zhang, was momentarily stunned by Meng Wan's refined features. She blushed and stepped aside to give him space.

Her sleeves and skirt were caked in mud. As it dried, it started flaking off when she moved. She stared at the dirt clods on the floor, clearly embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, sir, but you've come at a bad time. I've already promised Madam Zheng of Huimin Street to visit her house the day after tomorrow." Dr. Zhang politely declined.

Meng Wan was disappointed. "In that case, sorry to bother you."

He turned and left, getting back into the carriage. After they had traveled a short distance, Xue Sheng, who was driving, suddenly said, "Sir, that young woman from earlier is chasing after us."

Meng Wan's heart had a hunch. "Pull over and wait for her."

He got out to see her. Madam Geng advised, "Sir, let this old woman handle it."

"It's all right. A little walk won't hurt me."

Meng Wan had a pretty good idea what was going on and stood by the carriage, waiting for the young woman to approach.

"Miss, were you looking for me?"

After getting paid at the clinic, the girl had run all the way here and was still catching her breath. "I... I heard you say earlier that you needed a doctor to come to your home. I can do it too."

Meng Wan was surprised. "You?" He'd thought it might be her grandfather.

"I've studied medicine with my grandfather since I was a child. I've been treating patients in town since I was ten. My grandfather also runs clinics in nearby towns, and I usually see patients there too." The young woman blinked, secretly rubbing the dry mud off her sleeves behind her back.

Meng Wan caught it out of the corner of his eye and found her both cute and pitiful, which made him feel sorry for her. "Then, the day after tomorrow at dusk, please come to Shichun Alley. The last house with the sign 'Song Residence' is my home." Since he couldn't find anyone else for now, he might as well give her a shot.

"You really dare to use me?" After Meng Wan agreed, she seemed a bit incredulous.

Meng Wan chuckled. "Why wouldn't I? Didn't you just say you're a doctor?"

The young girl fidgeted with her hands. "But many people see that I'm a woman and don't want me to treat them."

Meng Wan toyed with the jade pendant hanging from his waist, saying casually, "But shouldn't you judge a doctor by their skill? What does gender have to do with it?"

The girl had clearly never heard anyone say such things to her before. She was taken aback at first, then said, "Ah? Then... then alright! I will definitely come on time." She couldn't hide the smile spreading across her face.

Meng Wan watched her skipping and hopping figure, his expression softened, but then he turned to Mother Geng and said, "In a moment, Mother, please go back to that clinic and ask about the girl's background."

Mother Geng's crow's feet deepened. "The young master is sharp, even sharper than this old woman. The Old Madam will surely be at ease." Once Song Tingzhou finished the metropolitan exam, she was also going to leave the capital to find Master Xiang.

They went to two more clinics later, and indeed, those doctors were already booked.

This way of finding a doctor was too inefficient. Mother Geng paid some silver to ask the pharmacy assistant at the clinic. The girl's family did run a medical clinic in the town, and she did see patients and treat them. Her grandfather was Zhang's senior disciple.

With this, Meng Wan was a bit more at ease. At home, he also prepared old ginseng and medicinal herbs for treating wind-cold.

On the day of the seventeenth of the second month, at noon, Meng Wan instructed Mother Geng to supervise the kitchen, preparing hot water and food. He then had Xue Sheng drive the carriage, and the two of them went to wait in front of the examination hall.

They arrived not too early; there were many families who had come since early morning to wait. Carriage after carriage lined up, even more crowded than on the eighth day.

At a quarter past the You hour, the doors of the examination hall, which had been closed for nine days, finally opened. The examinees filed out, each with a pallid face and scruffy beard.

More than ten people were carried out by stretcher. Two of them had their faces covered with white linen; they had already passed away. It was unknown how many days they had been dead, for according to the rules of the examination hall, even if someone died inside, their body could not be removed until after the exam ended and the doors opened. Otherwise, not even an ant was allowed out of the hall.

Meng Wan's heart was in his throat as he stared intently at the dozen or so people being carried out.

The soldiers called out names one by one. When a name was called, family members rushed over, weeping bitterly. While the examinee still had breath, they hurriedly took him to find a doctor.

Two other families threw themselves onto the bodies covered with linen, wailing in despair. Their loved ones were gone, and they were overwhelmed with grief.

"Master, I see the young master!"

Xue Sheng's words instantly drew Meng Wan's attention back. He stared at the examination hall gate and asked urgently, "Where? Why can't I see him?"

Xue Sheng simply jumped off the carriage. "I'll go help the young master come over."

Song Tingzhou was physically strong, but after nine days of ordeal, he was utterly exhausted, his steps unsteady.

He squeezed through the crowd and, in a daze, heard Xue Sheng calling him.

Someone took the luggage off his back. Xue Sheng took the luggage in one hand and supported him with the other. "Young master, our carriage is over there."

His eyes swept over and saw his husband lifting the carriage curtain, looking at him with concern.

A wave of warmth surged through Song Tingzhou's heart. His stiff body seemed to regain some life, and his pace quickened.

When he arrived near the carriage, he suddenly slowed his pace, raised his arm to smell himself, and indeed he smelled faintly.

"Husband, what are you standing there for? Get in the carriage quickly," Meng Wan urged.

Song Tingzhou got on the carriage but did not go inside the cabin. Instead, he sat on the shaft together with Xue Sheng.

Meng Wan saw that he was in acceptable condition and was relieved, but couldn't help feeling both amused and exasperated at his action. "It doesn't bother me. The wind is strong today; come inside and sit."

To his surprise, Song Tingzhou's tone was firm. "I'll sit outside to clear my head. Wan'er, don't worry."

Afraid the smell would offend his husband, he didn't even dare turn his head. For the first time, Meng Wan realized how much he cared about his appearance.

"Are you feeling unwell?" Meng Wan simply lifted the curtain and sat at the carriage door to talk to him.

Song Tingzhou replied after two seconds, "I'm fine."

Meng Wan sensed that he seemed a bit off. He came out of the cabin, reached out to touch Song Tingzhou's forehead. It was burning hot. The man in front of him slowly slumped onto him.

"Xue Sheng, stop the carriage first. Help me move the young master into the cabin," Meng Wan said urgently.

Xue Sheng moved Song Tingzhou into the cabin, then cracked the whip to speed up. But there were too many carriages; it still took twice as long as last time to return to Shichun Lane.

At home, Mother Geng was waiting at the door with a servant. Xue Sheng first went into the cabin and carried the unconscious Song Tingzhou out; the servant stepped forward to help.

Mother Geng asked anxiously, "Did the young master catch a chill or is he just exhausted? Why is he unconscious?"

Meng Wan jumped down from the carriage and gave a series of orders: "Where is Miss Qing Xing resting? First, have her take a look. Then send some servants to look for any doctors who have finished their rounds. If there are, bring them all here."

Mother Geng quickly sent people out to find out, and had one person stay behind to lead the horse and organize the luggage.

Qing Xing was that young girl from the other day. She had come early that morning with her medicine box, wearing a neat outfit. Though it was still coarse cloth, the color was much brighter than that day.

She didn't come alone; she brought a little pharmacy assistant, a young boy, only ten years old, following her obediently, not daring to look around or move.

Song Tingzhou was carried by Xue Sheng to the bed in the main room. As a physician, Qing Xing naturally didn't have the same concerns about reputation as other women—of course, it might also be due to life's necessities.

In any case, she sat on a low stool by the bed, leaning slightly forward, taking Song Tingzhou's pulse while observing his complexion.

Meng Wan waited nearby, anxious inside but afraid to disturb.

"It is an external contraction of wind-cold. The wind-cold pathogen took advantage of his weakened state, invaded the meridians and collaterals, and entered the viscera, hence the fever. The young master has a strong constitution. A few doses of medicine will cure him. There's no need to worry too much."