Chapter 2488 - 2462: Are You Going to Complain?

Imperial Doctor Lu said gloomily, "The data we’ve recorded and the entire process of our experiments are all documented in the archives of the Imperial Hospital. People from the Imperial Doctorate can learn them, and so can people from the Imperial Medical Department. In the future, there will only be more and more people mastering this skill. My descendants have already competed with the descendants of so many people; adding the descendants of folk doctors from outside won’t make much of a difference, will it?"

Manbao couldn’t help but say, "You just thought of this?"

Actually, she’d wanted to ask this long ago but felt it might sound like she was picking a fight. Given that she had a favor to ask, she held back from asking. Who knew that Imperial Doctor Lu hadn’t thought of this?

Imperial Doctor Lu merely cast her a glance and couldn’t help but snort heavily before getting up and returning to his room.

Manbao was taken aback. She immediately jumped up and chased after him, saying, "Imperial Doctor Lu, I didn’t mean that. I definitely don’t mean to belittle you..."

Seeing him angrily entering the room to close the door, Manbao quickly blocked the door, "Honestly, I really didn’t mean it like that. You’re quite bright, just didn’t think of this at the moment..."

Feeling that the more she explained, the worse it got, Manbao decisively gave up on explaining and directly said, "How about this, when the Imperial Medical Department opens a new department for vaccination, I’ll recommend you as the chief officer. How’s that?"

Imperial Doctor Lu’s door did not close.

Manbao let out a sigh of relief.

Although all Imperial Doctors in the Imperial Medical Department are teachers, their salaries differ due to different positions.

The director of the Imperial Medical Department naturally doubles as Director Xiao and receives the highest salary. Then come the chief officers of various departments like medicine and acupuncture, with Imperial Doctor Liu heading medicine and Zhou Man heading acupuncture.

Under medicine, there are subjects such as physiotherapy, wound care, pediatrics, with Imperial Doctors only responsible for courses and teaching in designated classes, not by subject.

Even though Zhou Man hasn’t taught at the Imperial Medical Department for nearly two years, she remains the chief officer of acupuncture, still receiving her salary.

This is because the acupuncture techniques taught at the Imperial Medical Department are compiled by her. This year, only one book was compiled.

Imperial Doctor Lu also teaches many classes, but he isn’t a chief officer, ranking lower than Zhou Man in the Imperial Medical Department.

Imperial Doctor Lu opened the half-closed door and asked Zhou Man, "The vaccination method is primarily credited to you, and you want to give the position of chief officer to me?"

Manbao: ... She’s not three-headed and six-armed; though getting paid well is nice, she doesn’t want to shoulder so many responsibilities.

Manbao genuinely didn’t mind a bit, but Imperial Doctor Lu didn’t believe it, so he treated her kindly for several days.

Even Director Xiao couldn’t help but glance sideways.

But he didn’t dare to ask; Imperial Doctor Lu finally agreed, and he dared not risk stirring up trouble again, lest it trigger his thoughts.

Manbao then asked about the department’s additional courses.

Director Xiao said, "This isn’t difficult. I’ll submit a request to the Imperial Ministry of Rites to set them up. Since it’s to teach vaccination, practical learning can’t happen within the Imperial Medical Department; it must take place at the royal estate, so it wouldn’t add much to the expenses."

Therefore, opening the department wasn’t difficult.

But the Imperial Ministry of Rites refused.

Director Xiao was shocked and speechless upon receiving the official rejection from the Imperial Ministry of Rites. He hadn’t requested much extra funding; how could they not agree?

Director Xiao was quite angry and went to find Zhou Man, bringing her to confront the Imperial Ministry of Rites for justice.

Manbao rarely visits the palace, as she’s busy running everywhere offering health assessments to the various palace ladies. When Director Xiao’s people came to find her, she was somewhat puzzled, asking, "Why are you taking me to the Imperial Ministry of Rites?"

"To find out the reason and argue our case."

Manbao was bewildered, "Shouldn’t you find Imperial Doctor Liu or Imperial Doctor Lu?"

Imperial Doctor Liu is the deputy, and Imperial Doctor Lu is the chief officer of the new department.

Director Xiao replied, "They don’t have your eloquence."

Upon hearing this, Manbao stopped in her tracks, and Director Xiao looked back at her, squinting slightly, "What, does Imperial Doctor Zhou not want to contribute to the Imperial Medical Department?"

"No," Manbao said, "How was the official reply worded?"

Director Xiao: "How else? They simply wrote that they don’t agree."

Manbao said, "Then what’s the point in arguing with them? Go see His Majesty."

She pulled Director Xiao and turned around to go the other way, saying, "The Imperial Ministry of Rites didn’t even provide a reason, clearly intending to hinder us from setting up the department. It’s futile to argue with them; let’s go see His Majesty."

The superior department to the Imperial Hospital is the Imperial Ministry of Rites, and Director Xiao habitually reports issues to them. Only matters concerning smallpox get regular attention from the Emperor, and that’ll prompt him to report achievements frequently. But, but...

For such issues, do they also need to go directly to the Emperor?

Moreover, to complain...

Director Xiao hadn’t fully gathered his thoughts when Manbao had already pulled him halfway up the path, looking up to see they were near Taiji Hall.

Unable to resist, Director Xiao took a deep breath and entered Taiji Hall with Zhou Man.

He knew deep down that Zhou Man was right. Seeking out the Imperial Ministry of Rites, even if effective, would require significant effort and time. It would be much easier to go directly to the Emperor.

Director Xiao, focused only on treating the Emperor and reluctantly set up the Imperial Medical Department, was doing such things for the first time, secretly prepared to lodge a complaint at the Emperor’s.

Secretly?

Absolutely not; Manbao openly lodged complaints.

Upon reaching outside Taiji Hall, Manbao informed the gatekeeper she wished to see the Emperor.

The Emperor had just finished a session of governance and was relaxing with his ministers, drinking afternoon tea and chatting.

Oh, and Prince Gong was present too—not qualified to participate in government affairs, but he was there presenting fruit platters and snacks to his dear father.

The Crown Prince was present as well, participating in governance, sitting in his seat chewing on melons.

Literally chewing on melons; it’s early autumn, and various melons and fruits are in harvest. The palace’s fruits are fresh daily with guaranteed varieties and quantities.

After speaking quite a bit earlier, his throat was a bit dry. Hearing Zhou Man seek an audience, he glanced at Bai Shan, seated with the secretary.

Just then, the Emperor’s laughter rang out, "Let them in."

Thus, Director Xiao and Zhou Man entered. After paying respects, they realized many were present; if these people agreed to set up courses, the Imperial Ministry of Rites’ objections would be invalid.

Manbao then gave Director Xiao a look of encouragement, not anticipating him to return it.

The two silently faced each other before looking away, concurrently lifting their heads to look at the Emperor.

The Emperor, seeing they hadn’t spoken for quite a while, began feeling restless. Upon looking at them, he asked, "What, is there an issue at Daming Palace?"

Indeed, Daming Palace is being prepared; the Emperor decided that after the Mid-Autumn Festival, the royal children and grandchildren suitable for vaccination would be brought to Daming Palace for the procedure. Before this, no new personnel would be introduced to the royal estate.

The Emperor asked the Imperial Hospital to oversee the renovation of Daming Palace; meanwhile, Director Xiao intended to seize this opportunity to establish new courses.