Chapter 2490 - 2464: Rank Promotion

The Emperor continued, "Now, not only do you have control over the Imperial Hospital and the Taeyi Bureau, but also the medical administrations in various areas will fall under your management. In the future, local medical offices will only increase to facilitate vaccination programs. In this way, the rank of your Imperial Hospital seems somewhat insufficient."

After pondering for a moment, the Emperor said, "Draft an edict."

Bai Shan, who had been sitting with the secretary, immediately took the inkstone from the secretary’s right side, raised the brush, dipped it in ink, and waited.

The secretary glanced at him and, considering the bond they had formed over the months with Bai Shan assisting him frequently by grinding ink, said nothing.

The idea of separating the Imperial Hospital from the Imperial Ministry of Rites had been in the Emperor’s mind for four months. The senior officials at court were naturally aware and had discussed this matter with the Emperor, apart from Director Xiao. There were those who opposed, and naturally, there were those who supported it.

Various reasons were given, but it was undeniable that if the Imperial Hospital were to develop as depicted in the proposals by Zhou Man and Bai Shan, it could no longer operate under the Imperial Ministry of Rites.

Since the Imperial Ministry of Rites oversees temple rituals, ceremonial music, astronomy, numeracy, and attire, which have seen little change over the generations, they have their own scope.

If the Taeyi Bureau were to expand too greatly under its control, it would inevitably drain its resources and efforts, reducing the value of the Imperial Ministry of Rites. To prevent the tail from wagging the dog, stifling the Taeyi Bureau’s development would be the correct approach.

Therefore, to develop the Taeyi Bureau as depicted in the proposals by Zhou Man, Bai Shan, and Bai Cheng, not only would they need to train many medical personnel, but they also need to establish medical offices in every county of Great Jin, necessitating greater authority.

After four months of mental preparation, coupled with the remarkable achievements in vaccination by the Imperial Hospital during this period, the officials were already mentally prepared.

They were simply waiting for an opportunity.

The Emperor was also waiting.

Originally thinking they would wait until the vaccination reached ten thousand individuals and nationally promote the cowpox method, unexpectedly, the opportunity arrived swiftly.

The Emperor immediately decreed that the Imperial Hospital be separated from the Imperial Ministry of Rites, establishing the Taeyi Bureau at the same rank as the Six Ministries, with the Taeyi Bureau command as Grade Three, overseeing all medical offices nationwide.

Meanwhile, establish the Imperial Hospital within the palace under the jurisdiction of the Taeyi Bureau...

This reversed the current order, now making the Taeyi Bureau subordinate to the Imperial Hospital, with the Taeyi Bureau command being an unofficial title initially given pragmatically to Director Xiao, along with managing local medical offices...

He assumed this role just like Zhou Man and the other teachers, receiving only an extra stipend, nothing more.

But now, it is reversed, yet...

Director Xiao’s eyes suddenly reddened, overwhelmed with emotion, never expecting one day to be promoted to Grade Three; it seemed inconceivable. He hadn’t abandoned medicine for literacy and always thought reaching Grade Four would be his limit.

Director Xiao wanted to cry but lowered his head, knelt on the ground with a thud, and earnestly bowed to the Emperor, loudly proclaiming, "I will not betray Your Majesty’s trust."

After bowing, feeling the void beside him, he glanced slightly at Zhou Man with shining eyes and tugged at her, making her kneel too.

Manbao hesitated for a moment, then knelt down, imitating Director Xiao, loudly declaring, "I am willing to give my all to His Majesty, unto death."

Director Xiao paused briefly, enviously glancing at Zhou Man, realizing the benefit of studying with scholars, at least making their speech sound better.

The Emperor also found Zhou Man’s words pleasing, smiling broadly, raising a hand saying, "Stand up, this matter still needs to be reviewed by the Imperial Secretariat, you two should prepare now."

Promoting one person is already quite an undertaking, not to mention promoting an entire department.

Firstly, the Taeyi Bureau must have its office in the imperial city or another location, right?

All matters should no longer be amalgamated with the Imperial Ministry of Rites.

Moreover, after promoting the department, configurations of various officials and duties will change, naturally affecting their treatment.

However, these cannot be solved by the Emperor alone; they must be jointly discussed by the Central Secretariat and the Imperial Secretariat, and meticulously so.

Director Xiao joyfully bowed again as he departed, and Manbao also bowed, then rose intending to leave with Director Xiao. However, the Emperor stopped her, saying, "The Empress hasn’t seen you for a while and misses you; accompany me to see her for a moment."

Manbao was puzzled, having visited the Empress earlier in the morning for her peace pulse consultation. How could she not have seen her for a while?

Manbao returned to the palace, and due to some minor yet embarrassing ailments within the harem, the consorts were uneasy, thus summoning her for peace pulse consultations.

As it was for peace pulses, naturally, it began with the Empress, so in the morning, Manbao visited the Empress, checked the Crown Prince’s Consort, felt Mingda’s and Changyu’s pulse, then strolled through the harem’s entirety, entering each consort’s residence.

If Director Xiao hadn’t suddenly called for her, she intended to visit some chambers of esteemed consorts.

Therefore, it wasn’t as if she hadn’t seen the Empress for a while; she’d probably visited more recently than the Emperor himself.

Although internally she was ranting, Manbao said nothing, silently retreating aside.

The Emperor turned to the ministers, holding his tea to signal they may now retire.

All the while, Wei Zhi and others rose tactfully to take their leave.

Once they departed, Bai Shan took the prepared draft, approached the Emperor, and presented it.

The Emperor read it through, finding Bai Shan’s wording and phrasing to be much to his liking, and nodded slightly, saying, "Send this to the Central Secretariat."

Even though Bai Shan drafted the edict, the edict was substantial, inevitably only a draft, with the Central Secretariat needing further consideration, otherwise risking the Imperial Secretariat rejecting it.

Bai Shan accepted, took the draft, glanced upwards at Zhou Man, then lowered his gaze and retreated.

Then the Emperor led the Crown Prince, Prince Gong, and Zhou Man to the rear hall, and yes, along with the ever-present secretary who never left.

In the Empress’s chambers, it was bustling, coincidentally with the Crown Prince’s Consort, Princess Consort Gong, and several children present.

The secretary found his familiar corner, took out his small notebook and pen, crouched down, looking up with neither joy nor sadness at the Emperor’s family.

The Emperor invited Zhou Man to sit and asked her, "I’m thinking of entrusting Daming Palace’s affairs entirely to you; are you capable?"

Manbao was stunned and asked, "Shouldn’t Director Xiao manage this?"

The Emperor replied, "With the Taeyi Bureau promoting, Director Xiao will be undoubtedly busy. I believe you’re quite suitable."

Manbao: ... She’s busier, isn’t she?

Yet, within the Emperor’s mind, this round of the imperial family’s vaccination primarily involved princesses and royal descendants, naturally entrusted to a female physician, especially with Changyu involved. Though Director Xiao was commendable, being a man could mean he’d overlook a lady’s sentiments.