Blood-Sucking Empress - Chapter 51

“How to save?”

“This dynasty needs more doctors. Zhen wants to set up a medical academy so that more people can learn the art of medicine. However, my dynasty’s physicians and doctors are very strict and have high expectations for those learning the subject, valuing the broom as one’s own[1]. As such, many medical techniques and skills are never passed on, do you understand this point?” As the son from a medicinal family, Yun Tailing should fully understand this truth.

“Yes, this concubine understands.” The Yun family’s medical skills and techniques had been passed down from generation to generation. Even an ordinary manservant would understand a little bit, but the truly advanced medical skills were passed down to females, but not males and passed down to the old but not to the young. Many of his medical skills came from self-study and amongst this, he was also grateful for his status as the Empress’s playmate. Otherwise, no matter how smart he was, no one would be willing to teach him.

It was just that he did not expect such a favor from the beginning. He had originally thought that his life would pass by plainly and dully, but the Empress once again gave him an unexpected favor and allowed him to learn something useful, and fulfilled his wish, getting to truly experience vicissitudes of life so that he no longer had to live with regrets.

“Then are you willing to teach the medical skills you have learned to others, so that more people can become true doctors and so the casualties sustained in war can be reduced due to the existence of these new healers?” Even if Yun Tailing had not come to find her, she would have gone to find him. She and Long Xizhao had discussed this matter at length. Through this war, it had been discovered that there was a shortage of medical personnel in the military and it was necessary to replenish them in large quantities if they wanted to provide the soldiers the minimum medical guarantee. As such, they decided to set up a medical academy so that more people could study medicine. Although there were many physicians unwilling to reveal and teach their medical skills to others, and the conditions for choosing disciples were very strict, but, she was the Empress, so it was not too difficult to find a few physicians to teach medical skills. But she hoped to find people that were willing, only in this way could they nurture and raise new physicians. In her opinion, Yun Tailing was one of the best candidates for the job.

“Empress, does your majesty intend for this concubine to teach people the art of medicine? This…Of course the concubine is willing, but the concubine’s experience is shallow. How can this concubine be so open and accept disciples? Furthermore, as a man, the ministers in the Imperial court will never agree to this. Moreover, this concubine is the descendant of the Yun family after all and does not know what my Mother would think about this matter, whether or not I would be allowed to pass on these medical skills…”

A man was not allowed to show his face in public and as a concubine in the harem, this was even more the case. But, the Empress did not seem to value this kind of principle very much. Otherwise, he would not have been allowed to serve as a military doctor. But such a major event like opening a medical academy and accepting disciples? Even if he really wanted to, how could everyone in court and the relatives of the Yun family agree?

“Zhen only asks you, if you are willing or not. I will take care of the rest, you do not need to overthink.”

Yun Tailing seriously pondered over the matter again and then cautiously nodded, “This concubine is willing!”

“Very well, tidy everything up, zhen will arrange for you to take office at any time.”

“Understood, this concubine will prepare herself.” Currently, his mood was a bit nervous, but most of it was uncontrollable excitement. His life was changing and he suddenly had come to understand this.

Qianhe Liyou nodded and took in Yun Tailing’s expression radiating in his eyes. Feeling satisfied, she ordered, “Brew zhen a cup of tea.”

“Yes.” Yun Tailing was a bit stunned, but he quickly rose to brew the tea. There was no one waiting on the Empress, but the tea in the teapot was still warm. Yun Tailing hesitated for a moment and then bowed before walking out.

After a while, Yun Tailing walked in with a freshly brewed cup of tea. The fragrance of the tea contained a light medicinal fragrance, which was right up Qianhe Liyou’s alley.

Yun Tailing calmly poured a cup of tea for Qianhe Liyou. Qianhe Liyou took a sip and nodded in satisfaction, “If there is nothing to do, come over and make zhen tea once in a while, zhen likes it.”

Sang Zixin had just been detoxified and was recovering and she had asked Fengying to arrange a new residence for him. It was a relatively quiet and small courtyard, and she hoped that he could live a quiet, new life in the palace. Therefore, there was no one waiting upon her except for the increasingly incomprehensible Anhui.

Yun Tailing’s calm expression turned restless at the Empress’s words. He wondered what the Empress’s words meant, but no matter the meaning, he only had one answer, “Yes, this concubine obeys.”

“This is not an order. If you have time, you should go and visit the Enchanting guifei[2] more often.” This was only one of the reasons why she kept Yun Tailing in the palace. If he stayed in the palace, he could take care of the Enchanting guifei.

Yun Tailing was slightly surprised, but then he showed a soft smile. He was happy seeing the Empress’ concern. He knew that the Empress was not such a merciless and heartless person and still cared about the Enchanting guifei. If one were to tell the Enchanting guifei, what the Empress just said, he would most definitely be happy. That man, all he did was just devote his heart and mind wholeheartedly to the Empress, but the Empress really did not seem to be like the previous Empress she used to be. The current Empress was calm and introverted, calm and composed. Her elegant demeanor carved deeply into her gestures, a true monarch and her words were full of wisdom. Moreover, for the people in the palace, the biggest change was the way the Empress treated them. Maybe it wasn’t as good as he thought, but it was definitely better than before. This change made them all feel good, or at least it was for him.

“This concubine will do so.”

Upon hearing Yun Tailing’s answer, Qianhe Liyou merely nodded and continued savoring the tea, no longer saying anything. Yun Tailing hesitated for a moment, not wanting to retire just yet. Instead, he stood quietly on the side and waited. After the Empress finished drinking a cup of tea, he filled it up again. Qianhe Liyou did not concern herself over him and continued to read her book.

Just after noon, Long Xizhao came to visit her. After being announced in, she was surprised to see Yun guiren[3]standing on the side. After the initial surprise, she knelt down in greetings.

“This minister greets the Empress.”

“Something the matter?”

“This minister has heard that the Empress’s beloved horse contracted some unknown illness and passed away. As such, this minister has already ordered people to find two famous horses and wanted to invite the Empress to have a look together. If the Empress likes them, then this minister can forsake my own chance and let the Empress have the first pick.”

“Horse? Giving zhen the first choice?”Qianhe Liyou’s expression was a little weird. It seemed surprising but also seemed a little amused, because she knew exactly what kind of illness that the late “beloved horse” had contracted.

Long Xizhao was unaware of this, but she still nodded, “Empress, is there anything inappropriate with this, or do you want both horses? If your Majesty likes it, then this minister will reluctantly give up both of them.”

As Long Zixhao said this, she deliberately made a bitter face like she had just eaten bitter melon, causing Yun Tailing to smile.

“Where are the horses?” She did not really like horses because horses did not like her very much either. Qianhe Liyou recalled that the last time they went out of the palace, she had ridden horses with Long Xizhao. That horse had been so afraid of her aura that it could barely stand, extremely unsteady. If she had not injected a trace of her own mana into the horse’s bloodstream, it could be estimated that the horse would have been scared to death by herself. But returning to the palace, the horse became sick and soon died.

“This minister has instructed servants to send the horses to the small hunting grounds, and the Empress can go at any time if your Majesty is free.”

“If that is the case, let us go and see now.” She had always known that there was a small hunting ground within the palace, but she had never visited and since there were no other matters, she decided to go take a look.

“Yes, the famous horse that this minister found this time will definitely not let down your Majesty.”

“Let us hope so.”

Footnotes