Chapter 116 - 115: The Substitute Eldest Miss 31

Chapter 116: Chapter 115: The Substitute Eldest Miss 31

Chen Zilan looked around curiously, taking in the spacious, bright classrooms filled with neat rows of desks, chairs, and various medical instruments.

The walls were covered with charts of human meridians and illustrations of medicinal herbs, so numerous it was hard to take them all in at once.

A little girl, about seven or eight years old, pointed to an illustration of an herb and exclaimed excitedly, "Look! I’ve seen this one on the mountain!"

Another girl, around ten years old, leaned toward a cabinet filled with medicinal ingredients. She brought her nose close, took a sniff, and said, "Wow, it smells so good!"

A few other girls gathered around a medical mannequin, curiously fiddling with the markers indicating its acupoints.

Zixi watched them with a smile, patiently answering their questions as she guided them on the tour.

"In two days, the Empress will personally attend your opening ceremony. For the next two days, you may all rest and prepare."

Upon hearing this, the students’ eyes widened one by one, their faces filled with surprise and excitement.

"Wow, the Empress is coming!" a little girl with her hair in twin buns exclaimed, jumping in excitement.

"I never thought I’d get to see the Empress!" Another, slightly older girl covered her mouth with her hands, her voice trembling.

Chen Zilan also couldn’t hide her excitement. She clenched her fists, thinking, ’I have to do my best.’

Some of the girls began to whisper amongst themselves, discussing how they should curtsy and how to make a good impression on the Empress.

For a moment, the entire room was filled with the lively chatter and laughter of the girls.

Once everything was settled, Zixi returned to the palace to report to Ji Xiaosong.

After a respectful bow, Zixi said, "Your Majesty, the Medical Academy’s recruitment is complete. All the newly selected women have been settled in."

Ji Xiaosong nodded slightly. "You’ve worked hard. Let me see the list."

Zixi quickly presented the list. Ji Xiaosong perused it carefully, her expression shifting between a slight frown and a gratified smile.

After finishing the list, Ji Xiaosong asked, "Are there any particularly promising candidates among them?"

Zixi thought for a moment before replying, "Your Majesty, there is one young woman named Chen Zilan. She comes from a difficult background but is intelligent and resilient. She performed exceptionally well during the examination."

"Oh? Tell me more."

Zixi then proceeded to tell Ji Xiaosong about Chen Zilan’s circumstances in detail.

"Regarding Mother Ji’s poisoning all those years ago," Ji Xiaosong asked after hearing Chen Zilan’s story and pausing to think, "has Nanny Chen told her the full story?"

"She has been told. It was all Old Madam Ji’s doing. Nanny Chen discovered it by accident back then, which is why she resigned from the Ji family. Old Madam Ji looked down on Mother Ji and wanted to replace her with her own niece, so she used poison. After learning that you were still alive, Your Majesty, she died of fury that very same day."

"Cause and effect in this world always come full circle; good is rewarded and evil is punished in the end. Old Madam Ji schemed and plotted, so for her to meet such an end can be considered fate."

Ji Xiaosong didn’t dwell on it. As far as she was concerned, the affairs of the Ji family were in the past.

She now poured all her energy into the Medical Academy and its affiliated clinic. Once this project was successfully established, she could smoothly move on to creating other types of employment suitable for women.

「On the day of the opening ceremony」

The entire Medical Academy was festooned with lanterns and colorful banners, bustling with excitement.

Red silks fluttered in the breeze amid clusters of fresh flowers, creating a joyous atmosphere.

Chen Zilan and the other students had washed and dressed early, donning their brand-new uniforms as they waited, both nervous and excited, for the ceremony to begin.

Each of them had a bright, lovely face, their eyes filled with hope and anticipation for the future.

Empress Ji Xiaosong entered the hall with dignified grace, surrounded by her retinue. The officials’ wives all curtsied and paid their respects.

Ji Xiaosong smiled and gestured for everyone to rise before taking her seat at the head of the hall.

The ceremony began with a series of solemn opening remarks expressing high hopes for the Medical Academy and offering encouragement to the new students.

Below the stage, the officials’ wives whispered among themselves. One of them said with fawning praise, "The Empress truly has the welfare of all in her heart. Establishing this Medical Academy is a true blessing for women!"

Another wife quickly chimed in, "Indeed, indeed! Her Majesty’s act is one of immense merit and will surely be recorded in the annals of history!"

Yet another added, "Her Majesty is so virtuous, we can only look on in admiration. This Medical Academy is certain to produce many outstanding female physicians in the future."

Ji Xiaosong smiled faintly. "You ladies flatter me. I simply wish to create an opportunity for women, allowing them to have a chance to make their own contributions."

Amid cheerful laughter and conversation, the opening ceremony of the Medical Academy came to a successful close. For Chen Zilan and the other students, the journey to becoming physicians had only just begun.

「Three years later」

By this time, the Second and Third Princes had also made significant progress on the construction of the official roads they were supervising.

Chu Yuzhe was now three years old. Chu Qingyun brought him to court every day, and the boy’s stern little face looked even more serious than his father’s.

He rarely spoke during the sessions, but Chu Qingyun would occasionally lean over and explain matters to him.

Though only three, he could already recognize every character and had no trouble reading the court memorials.

To help train him, Chu Qingyun had a special seal carved for him. The seal bore a single word: "Read."

"Father, can you make these officials stop submitting memorials just to pay their respects?"

Chu Yuzhe’s little face was taut with frustration. Seeing yet another one of these perfunctory memorials, he wished he could smash it over the writer’s head.

"And why is that?"

Chu Qingyun asked calmly, not at all annoyed.

Chu Yuzhe furrowed his little brow and said earnestly, "Father, these memorials have no substance. They’re a complete waste of time. We could be using this time to deal with important matters of state."

Chu Qingyun nodded and explained patiently, "Ah, Yuzhe. When officials submit these memorials, it serves two purposes. First, it’s an expression of their respect and loyalty to the Royal Family. Second, it’s a matter of etiquette and protocol. While they may seem to lack substance, they are a means of maintaining order at court and reinforcing the relationship between the ruler and his subjects. If we were to forbid them, some officials might feel slighted and grow resentful, which could in turn affect the stability of the court. Do you understand?"

Chu Yuzhe considered this for a moment. "I understand, Father," he said thoughtfully.

"If you truly dislike them, Yuzhe, you can simply apply your seal and move on."

Chu Yuzhe nodded and continued to the next memorial.

"Father, Imperial Censor Liu is impeaching Mother. He says that as a woman of the inner palace, she is interfering with matters of the state."

"Pay it no mind, Yuzhe," Chu Qingyun said dismissively. "Just stamp ’Read’ on it."

Chu Yuzhe obediently stamped the memorial with "Read," but he was still fuming inside. He picked up his brush and scribbled on the document: "Imperial Censor Liu is talking nonsense! Watch your head!"

Seeing this, Chu Qingyun gave a helpless smile. "Yuzhe, you mustn’t be so impulsive. An Emperor must be composed and calm."

"But Father, he slandered Mother! I couldn’t help it," Chu Yuzhe said with a pout, looking very displeased.

"Are we just going to let it go? He’s always saying bad things about Mother."