As the sky began to pale with the first light of dawn, Qi Yue received word that the Emperor wished to see her.

So, the outcome of these past few days was finally coming to a head, wasn't it?

Qi Yue took a deep, steadying breath.

“Don’t fidget,” Madam Chen tapped her on the head gently as she spoke.

Qi Yue snapped back to the present, catching sight of herself in the mirror while A’Hao and an older maidservant meticulously worked on her elaborate coiffure.

“Aunt,” she managed a wry smile, “considering my current status—still under suspicion, you might say—is this level of dressing appropriate?”

Madam Chen had already moved to the other side of the room, selecting an outfit. Fortunately, the choice wasn't overly lavish; a simple, older, long chang'ao in crimson, embroidered with gold piping, opened at the front.

They hurried through the preparations, with no time even for breakfast. Madam Chen personally escorted her to the waiting carriage.

“I won’t accompany you,” Madam Chen said, steadying Cai Qing with a smile.

Qi Yue paused, turning to look intently at Madam Chen in the growing morning light, and reached out her hand.

Madam Chen, not understanding, assumed she was frightened and reached out to take it.

Qi Yue’s fingers settled lightly on Madam Chen’s wrist, checking her pulse.

“Hmph,” Madam Chen realized what she was doing, lightly slapped her hand away, and covered her mouth with a laugh. “What are you thinking? I know nothing untoward will happen once you enter the palace, that’s why I wasn’t going to accompany you. Very well, I’ll come with you then.”

Saying this, she made a move toward the carriage.

Qi Yue quickly laughed and intercepted her, swiftly climbing into the carriage herself.

As A’Ru and A’Hao busied themselves following with great care—they could not enter the palace but had to wait just outside the gates—the eunuchs sent from the palace, having received their instructions, offered polite bows to Madam Chen before turning the carriage horses around.

Madam Chen watched the direction the carriage had taken until even the faintest silhouette was gone, remaining motionless.

Cai Qing supported her, noticing the slight tremor running through Madam Chen, and her own eyes involuntarily stung with tears.

“Madam, let’s return inside,” she suggested softly.

Madam Chen finally seemed to return to herself.

“Yes, let’s go back. I can relax a little more now,” she said, a smile lingering on her face, yet her body was trembling violently. Eventually, her legs gave way, and she began to slide toward the ground.

Cai Qing cried out in alarm, summoning help. Servants and doorkeepers rushed over, collectively helping Madam Chen back inside. The door closed, and the quiet of early morning settled once more.

Before alighting at the palace gates, Qi Yue had, after all, removed all her jewelry.

“Lady Qi, this way, please,” a eunuch stated with a touch of indifference, then turned to lead the way without uttering another word.

Qi Yue kept her eyes down and followed, walking through winding corridors for a long time before finally stopping.

This was a different grand hall from the one she had visited previously; this one appeared slightly smaller.

“Lady Qi of Qianjin Hall pays her respects,” a eunuch standing guard outside announced her arrival.

There was no immediate reply, but the door opened softly.

The eunuch gestured toward Qi Yue.

Was this permission to enter?

Qi Yue quickly lowered her head and proceeded with small, quick steps, running straight into an acquaintance.

“Lady Qi,” Li Tong bowed his head slightly in greeting.

Was it appropriate to exchange greetings in the presence of the Emperor?

No one had instructed her on this matter. Qi Yue felt a faint ripple of panic, but she still managed a nod and a return bow, remaining silent.

Li Tong also said nothing more and walked past.

Qi Yue’s internal tension eased slightly because Li Tong had offered her a gentle smile and given an almost imperceptible nod.

“This humble subject pays respects to His Majesty,” after walking a few paces, she vaguely located the Emperor’s direction and knelt down.

The sound of rustling paper drifted through the air.

“…Why did you originally wish to go to the rear lines during the war?” the Emperor’s voice followed.

Qi Yue hesitated for a moment.

“Because… because of a bet,” she finally murmured softly.

A faint sound, like a chuckle, seemed to echo.

The Emperor slapped the ledger in his hand onto the desk, gently shook his head to ease the stiffness in his neck, and then looked upon the demure woman kneeling before him.

This gown seemed familiar.

“Was this the one you wore that day?” he asked casually.

Qi Yue was momentarily taken aback by the question.

“Ah?” she instinctively looked up to inquire, then saw the Emperor raise his hand and trace two small lines near the corner of her mouth.

“That… yes, I believe it was,” she quickly replied.

“Ah, how did you manage to cure Elder Li that day?” the Emperor asked, a hint of interest in his tone. “Wasn’t he considered beyond saving?”

“Well, Elder Li wasn’t actually that critical; he just had free-floating gas in his abdomen, which was relieved by draining it,” Qi Yue explained.

“How did you drain it?” the Emperor pressed.

“I just inserted a syringe,” Qi Yue said, instinctively raising her hand to demonstrate the motion.

The Emperor made an ‘oh’ sound.

“When you made that bet, did you never consider that you might lose?” he inquired.

Qi Yue paused again, startled.

“Which one?” she couldn’t help asking.

The Emperor laughed heartily.

Qi Yue was left feeling slightly flustered by his laughter.

“Your Majesty must know, I’ve made many bets with people,” she stated plainly.

The Emperor smiled and nodded.

“Were you so certain you would win every time?” he asked. “And if you lost?”

“We’d deal with it then,” Qi Yue replied.

The Emperor laughed heartily once more.

“Your Majesty, this subject is guilty; my actions this time were indeed rash,” Qi Yue lowered her head and kowtowed again.

“Then, will you dare to do it next time?” the Emperor asked.

“I would not dare,” Qi Yue answered readily, bowing low to the ground.

“Do you truly not dare, or will you decide when the time comes?” the Emperor probed.

This Emperor certainly had a strange way of speaking…

“This subject follows Your Majesty’s guidance,” Qi Yue stated decisively.

The Emperor smiled again, raising his hand.

A memorial document flew through the air, sliding to a stop right in front of Qi Yue.

“Take it,” he commanded.

Only then did Qi Yue lift her head, gazing at the stiffly bound volume sealed with the Imperial yellow.

“You spoke so flowery and grandly; let me see what these military doctors can truly achieve under your rules,” the Emperor stated.

Huh?

Qi Yue was shocked, then immediately overjoyed.

“Really?” she asked, looking up.

This woman!

The Emperor looked at her with an expression that was half-smile, half-scrutiny.

“How old are you this year?” he suddenly asked.

That was quite a leap in conversation…

Most people couldn’t keep up with that rhythm, but fortunately, she, Qi Yue, was not most people. Still, this Emperor seemed rather interesting.

“Your Majesty guessed correctly,” Qi Yue kowtowed again.

This made the Emperor pause momentarily. Had she guessed correctly? He had deliberately joked about her being around thirty. No, she clearly looked closer to twenty. What did she mean?

That noon was the Imperial Hospital’s routine monthly meeting for the handover of medical cases. As the Director of Medicine, responsible for the entire institution, he was required not only to review the recent treatments managed by the Imperial Physicians but also to inquire about drug and food supplies, as well as the instruction of the medical assistants.

This moment most clearly showcased the status of the Director of Medicine, and it was Cai Yiling’s favorite time.

When he entered, the room was already full of Imperial Physicians and the envoys responsible for the First Bureau and the First Storehouse. Seeing him enter, they all rose and greeted him respectfully.

“Thank you all for your hard work,” he greeted each one. “Has Old Madam Zuo’s chronic ailment flared up again? Physician, you must take extra care.”

As they were chatting pleasantly, the door was violently kicked open with a loud thump, startling everyone in the room. The shock deepened when they recognized the intruder.

“Lord Zhou!” several nearby physicians hurriedly bowed.

Zhou Maochun ignored them completely, walking straight toward Director Cai.

“Lord Zhou, you have arrived. I was just about to send someone to fetch you,” Director Cai managed a strained smile.

Before the words were fully out, Zhou Maochun spat contemptuously.

Director Cai’s face instantly turned ashen.

“Lord Zhou, what is the meaning of this?” he demanded sternly. Although Zhou Maochun held significant influence before the Emperor, he himself was a formally appointed Fifth-Rank Director of Medicine by the court. To be shown such blatant disrespect in public was utterly excessive!

Before his rebuke was finished, Zhou Maochun spat again, this time flecking saliva across Cai’s face.

“What is my meaning? I should be asking you what your meaning is!” Zhou Maochun shouted, pointing a finger at Director Cai. “Am I not an Imperial Physician?”

Director Cai’s face was dark.

“Of course, of course you are,” the surrounding Imperial Physicians hastily interjected to smooth things over.

“And are you the Director of Medicine?” Zhou Maochun asked again.

Nonsense!

“Lord Zhou has only just been released from prison; your mind is still unclear. You need more rest…” Cai said coldly.

“I think you’re the one who needs more rest,” Zhou Maochun roared. “Starting today, you no longer need to work. Go home and rest well.”

At these words, everyone in the room gasped in shock; Director Cai looked utterly disbelieving.

“Zhou Maochun, what do you mean?” he yelled.

“What I mean is, you are no longer the Director of Medicine,” Zhou Maochun stated in a deep, stern voice.

“On what grounds?” Director Cai shouted in terror.

“On the grounds that you are unfit,” Zhou Maochun replied coldly. “What does it mean to be the Director of Medicine? To make medicine the order, and the order the standard; to oversee all medical affairs and uphold the physician’s duty. When I, as an Imperial Physician, got into trouble, your first duty as Director was not to defend me, but instead, you conspired with those censors to impeach and accuse me. Before I had even admitted fault, you preemptively issued an apology in the name of the Imperial Hospital. Setting aside whether there was any evidence to prove I was actually wrong, even if I was wrong, anyone could criticize, scold, or impeach me—but you couldn't. The Imperial Hospital couldn't. This is like having your own child get into trouble, and as the parent, without discerning right from wrong, you immediately push your child out, not only refusing to protect them but actively sending them to their death. Are you still fit to be that parent? If you remain the Director of Medicine, who among us Imperial Physicians will dare to practice medicine?”

Director Cai’s face was ashen.

“You, you, you are speaking nonsense! What you say violates medical ethics. Are you suggesting that as long as I am the Director and you are an Imperial Physician, if someone says the excrement you produce smells sweet, I must agree that it is sweet?” he shrieked.

Zhou Maochun gave a cold snort.

“Though the words are harsh, that is the principle,” he said, lifting his head to look coldly at Director Cai. “Especially when my excrement is clearly fragrant, if you cannot say it is, then find someone who can say it to be the Director of Medicine.”

Saying this, he slapped a memorial document onto the desk.

“From this moment on, I am the Director of Medicine of the Imperial Hospital,” he announced.

Looking at the official document from the Ministry of Personnel, stamped with vibrant red, Director Cai finally had to accept the reality.

“I am not convinced! I want to see the Emperor!” he cried out.

Zhou Maochun raised a hand.

“Don’t rush to see the Emperor yet. The Censorate wishes to question you about a batch of medicine in the raw material storehouse. After you’ve addressed that, then you can seek out His Majesty,” he stated.

At these words, Director Cai’s face instantly turned utterly pale.

“My Lord, my Lord, please listen to me…” he suddenly reacted, reaching out to grab Zhou Maochun’s hand and pleading.

Zhou Maochun shook him off. The two bailiffs who had followed him forward immediately flanked Director Cai.

“Official Cai, you must come with us,” they said coldly.

At that very moment, Dong Lin rushed drunkenly into Liu Pucheng’s residence, throwing himself forward to embrace him and dissolving into sobs.

“Senior Brother, you must save me,” he cried out.

Too late, too late, my apologies. Total word count 3069. Advertisement is free of charge. I recommend a brilliant, satisfying doctor novel, hefty enough to binge-read. Auspicious Time for Medicine Arrives by Yun Ni, the new work following Prosperity and Noble Gates: Modern internal medicine doctor Yang Yu returns to her past life, destined to see her previously sorrowful life bloom into splendor and dazzling variety. Her unique modern experience ensures wealth and glory are within easy reach. (To be continued)