Chapter 2435 - 2409: Recommendation for Promotion

For Manbao, who has seen many patients and kept exceptionally detailed and good notes, it’s not difficult at all.

Over the years, she has filled two baskets with medical casebooks. They contain not only pulse records and prescriptions but also names, birthplaces, appearances at arrival, patient statements, even pulse conditions at follow-ups, post-medication records, etc. She could easily take excerpts and include them in a medical book without much effort in editing.

Her productivity is so high that even Imperial Doctor Liu, who came from a folk doctor background, feels embarrassed.

However, after seeing Zhou Man’s notes, everyone at the Imperial Hospital finds it unsurprising. Besides admiring her, the imperial doctors naturally try to learn from her.

But doing so is truly challenging. For a day or two, treating three to five, or seven to eight patients isn’t much. But writing so detailedly for thirty to fifty, or seventy to eighty patients over a month or two—let alone keeping it up for years, even decades—is quite daunting and frustrating.

The thought alone makes one’s vision go black.

In many cases, many people give up quietly before completing a ten-day span.

Could you record for decades how many pancakes, buns you ate, or the sips of water you drank in the morning, even noting if the pancakes were salty or sweet?

Many imperial doctors find it impossible. So, ultimately, everyone can only keep their admiration in their hearts, while watching Imperial Doctor Zhou add all sorts of overwhelming details to her pulse records every day.

The emperor, knowing Zhou Man to be smart and her position in the Imperial Hospital secure, was surprised to learn how many books she’d compiled. "No wonder I made her a fourth-rank editor, and Chongwen Pavilion didn’t say a word," he marveled.

Only heaven knew he was waiting all that time for some opposition from Chongwen Pavilion, even preparing reasons to rebuff them, but not a sound came, and now he understood why.

The empress gave him a glance.

The emperor mused aloud to her, "If she continues to perform meritoriously, I think we’ll have to promote her position at Chongwen Pavilion; the Imperial Hospital cannot offer more than a half-grade promotion."

The empress smiled and replied, "Why doesn’t Your Majesty consider raising the rank of the Imperial Hospital?"

The emperor, surprised, looked at his empress, as if the thought had not occurred to him.

She laughed, "In the past, the Imperial Hospital only had so few people, chiefly serving the palace and court officials. But now there’s the Medical Bureau with hundreds of students. Externally, it manages twelve local Medical Bureaus, which will only increase along with the personnel and matters involved. Why not elevate the Medical Bureau’s rank, allowing more people to be used accordingly?"

The emperor pondered this, then replied after some time, "Raising the Medical Bureau’s rank isn’t simple. It involves many aspects, and it would no longer belong under the Imperial Ministry of Rites."

The head of the Imperial Ministry of Rites is a genuine third rank. As for the Six Ministries and the other eight departments, they are also third rank, with distinctions between primary and secondary only.

However, Director Xiao of the Medical Bureau is a genuine fourth rank. If the whole bureau’s rank were elevated, it would equal the Imperial Ministry of Rites it reports to, which is undoubtedly impossible.

How could management proceed without hierarchical order?

Thus, to raise its rank, the Medical Bureau must become independent and form its own department.

The emperor hesitated, realizing the enormity of such a project, feeling dizzy just by contemplating it. Knowing how substantial the costs could be made his heart ache.

Yet, given that the smallpox vaccine is now developed and bound to be broadly promoted to eliminate smallpox, how could one not consider addressing other diseases as well?

All these thoughts flashed through the emperor’s mind as he sat cross-legged on the bed, lost in thought.

The empress, seeing this, did not disturb him, casually taking needlework from the nearby table.

When the emperor snapped back to reality, he leaned over and asked, "Who are you making those socks for?"

The empress smiled, "For Your Majesty."

The emperor, satisfied, pretentiously inspected them before nodding, "The empress’s handiwork is truly excellent."

Director Xiao, upon leaving the palace, knew not that his promotion lay within the emperor’s whims. He differed from other officials, be they civil or military. Having reached the pinnacle in one department, they could switch and continue, either rising to become regional lords or advancing to a minister, eventually earning titles of nobility...

But as a doctor, the pinnacle is his current position—Director of the fourth rank!

In case of significant merit, the emperor might bestow an honor upon him.

However, unlike the civil and military ministers, whose titles can be hereditary, medical honors are often cut short after one generation. If awarded an imperial plaque, it would serve as a family talisman for three generations.

The accomplished Director Xiao feared nothing but the potential removal from office.

Having achieved a great merit, Director Xiao allowed himself to be genuinely upset, angrily leaving the palace for home and, halfway through, feeling stifled, he tapped on his carriage wall and redirected, "To the imperial manor!"

Upon arrival, he asked Zhou Man, "Were you humiliated when visiting the State Duke Zhao’s residence for a consultation?"

Manbao had just changed clothing after leaving the infectious ward. Her half-dry hair looked a bit disheveled and unattractive. She appeared slightly stunned, "Was I humiliated?"

Director Xiao snorted, "Word reached the court, saying that as soon as you entered, servants brought clothes, shoes, and socks, requesting you to change, even suggesting you wash your hair before entering. If that’s not humiliation, then what is?"

Manbao was shocked, "Is the Zhao family foolish? I didn’t say anything outside. Why would they expose their shortcomings?"

"Who knows if they are foolish or tricked? That’s their business, not ours. Let me ask you, why didn’t you report this to the hospital?" Director Xiao fumed, "Did you think it concerned only you? It doesn’t. You faced humiliation yesterday; today, they could trample the entire Imperial Hospital, pointing fingers at all imperial doctors. Next time, anyone, whether in or outside the palace, could humiliate us at will."

Across the courtyard wall, Imperial Doctor Lu stood glaring at her.

Manbao: "...That’s not the case, is it? Seriously, do people lack sense? Treating others with courtesy is basic social etiquette. Who would foolishly follow such trends? What happened to their self-cultivation?"

Director Xiao paused, slightly calmer, but still remarked, "Regardless, the Imperial Hospital shouldn’t endure grievances in silence. Do you know what they said on the court? That after mingling with smallpox patients at the imperial manor, you’ve been coming and going freely."

Manbao responded immediately, "It’s by the empress’s decree that I see patients. Do they dare to blame the empress?"

"Of course, they won’t blame the empress. They referred to your visits to the Tang Residence."

"I had no issues when visiting the State Duke Zhao’s residence. Why would visiting the Tang Residence cause problems? Besides, I only venture out every three to five days. Don’t you all go daily? If they want to talk, it should be about you, right?"

Director Xiao couldn’t help but tap her, "Is this the time for internal strife?"

Manbao, feeling wronged, replied, "I’m refuting them, not starting an internal conflict!"

Though her earlier words did hint at internal discord, she quickly corrected herself, "Who’s been saying this about me? Tell me, and I’ll deal with them later."