The Eldest Grand Princess wished to recommend Zhu Qingyu for the position of Director of the Huiyi Bureau, and after some maneuvering at court this time, she had essentially encountered no real resistance.
The first reason was the particular nature of the position itself. To become Director of the Huiyi Bureau, one first had to be a physician, and the foremost physicians in the realm naturally came from the Imperial Medical Institute.
The former Director and Deputy Director of the Imperial Medical Institute had both died in succession due to a plague outbreak. Now, at the head of the Imperial Medical Institute, only the two Deputy Directors were competitive candidates.
Comparing the two—one was in the capital city, completely at a loss when faced with the emperor's illness that had kept him bedridden for days.
The other was in the northern frontier, having not only previously earned merit for saving the emperor's life but now having even brought the plague under control. Eradicating the epidemic would be only a matter of time.
Whose medical skills were superior, and who was more deserving of the title, was clear at a glance.
The second reason was the independence of the Huiyi Bureau. The Huiyi Bureau had no entanglements with other court departments, and therefore no conflicts of interest.
And since people eat the five grains and fall ill—even the Son of Heaven being no exception—no one in this world could be without physicians. The founding of this Huiyi Bureau would benefit not only the common folk but also the officials of the capital. Previously, most households in the capital had sought treatment from Doctor Zhu. Who wouldn't want to see someone with genuine talent and trustworthiness placed in that position?
After all, should one fall ill oneself or have a sick friend or relative someday, no one wanted to run into the likes of Administrator Liu again.
So when the grand secretaries held their minor deliberation that day to settle on the candidate for Director of the Huiyi Bureau, most felt it would simply be a formality with no objections expected. Yet, to everyone's surprise, the Empress Dowager, who never voiced opinions, spoke up.
Since the Empress Dowager asked in this manner, it certainly meant she disapproved. The grand secretaries immediately sought her guidance:
"Yes, we believe that in the current court, there is indeed no one more suitable than Doctor Zhu. If there is any impropriety, please enlighten us, Your Majesty."
The Empress Dowager had had a very uneasy New Year this year.
Consort Tan had been infected with the plague, and because it was discovered too late, there was no saving her. Mother and child, two lives lost together—she withered away just like that.
With her departure, she had nearly taken the emperor's life along with her.
They say the imperial family is the most heartless of all, but the Empress Dowager truly could not understand why, in her generation, whether it was her husband, her son, or even her nephew, all of them were such hopeless romantics, willing to throw away their lives for love.
The Empress Dowager had no objection to appointing Doctor Zhu as Director of the Huiyi Bureau—it was something she had earned. But the Empress Dowager simply did not want her to remain in the capital any longer.
More than anything, she did not want Gu Zhao to continue entangling himself with a married woman, causing him to walk down the same path as the emperor.
When feelings are at their most intimate and passionate, the only way to break free from the bonds of love is through time, distance, and estrangement.
The Empress Dowager asked:
"Do we have a finalized decision on the Director of the Huiyi Bureau now? Has the Huiyi Bureau in the capital been constructed?"
The Minister of Works quickly replied:
"No, not yet. The groundwork began before the New Year, and construction is estimated to be complete by the end of this year."
Another grand secretary added:
"Though the Huiyi Bureau is not yet built, recruiting and training physicians must begin in advance. Our original plan was to have the Imperial Academy set aside a plot of land. Once the Director of the Huiyi Bureau is decided, we would first recruit and train physicians, and by the end of the year, it would coincide perfectly."
The Empress Dowager's tone remained calm and indifferent:
"Since all the ministers agree that Doctor Zhu is the right choice, then Doctor Zhu it shall be. But I have observed that in the countryside, doctors who take on apprentices teach them while seeing patients—no one learns medicine purely from reading books. Since the Imperial Medical Academy in the capital is not yet built, is there somewhere else suitable? The Imperial Medical Academy is meant to benefit all the people of the realm, and in the future, its clinics will spread across the land, north and south. There's no need to limit it to the capital. The prosperous regions of Jiangnan must have many readily available sites. The Ministry of Works should find an existing residence for Lord Zhu to use, and the Imperial Medical Academy will begin its trials in Jiangnan."
...
Entering the second month, all things revived. The number of sick in the military camp dwindled day by day, and Gu Zhao's wounds healed more with each passing day. And then, from the capital, guests arrived in the northern frontier.
Xie Ze rushed over to find Zhu Qingyu, brimming with excitement:
"Hurry, hurry, come quick! Madame Zhu! An imperial envoy from the capital has arrived to deliver an edict—at the Eldest Grand Princess's estate!"
Xie Ze had every reason to be so delighted, for his dear mother had accompanied the imperial envoy.
Zhu Qingyu hadn't expected it to happen so fast—she could hardly believe it:
"An imperial envoy? For me?"
Gu Zhao was quicker to react. He grabbed her hand and pulled her along:
"Sooner than I expected. It seems the Eldest Grand Princess really pulled some strings. Come on, don't keep the envoy waiting."
The one delivering the edict turned out to be an old acquaintance of Zhu Qingyu's—Lord Shao from the Hanlin Academy.
Back when she had been on good terms with Madame Shao, Zhu Qingyu had attended several banquets with her, and Madame Shao had introduced them. Seeing Lord Shao's beaming smile, she knew it wasn't bad news.
Zhu Qingyu knelt to hear the edict, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. Could it be what she thought? Was she about to become a third-rank official? Was it really that easy? So easy it seemed unreal.
A long string of phrases at the beginning—presumably words of praise for her—went over her head entirely, perhaps because Lord Shao was too eloquent. She didn't catch a single word.
Until she heard the key phrase: appointed as Chief of the Imperial Medical Academy. Only then did her tense, floating heart settle down.
It was real, after all. She really had become a third-rank official.
After hearing the edict, Zhu Qingyu knelt and received the imperial decree. Lord Shao remained all smiles:
"Lord Zhu, congratulations. My wife specifically asked me to bring you a gift. She said since she couldn't personally see you off to Jiangning, I was to make sure you got it."
With the imperial decree in her hands, Zhu Qingyu was still a bit dazed. Lord Shao's words slipped past her ears, and she replied automatically:
"Do give her my thanks. It's so far—she went out of her way to send me something."
Wait. Something seemed off.
Zhu Qingyu finally caught it:
"Jiangning?"
Lord Shao laughed:
"Exactly. First, the Imperial Medical Academy in the capital isn't built yet. Second, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, in her great compassion, took into consideration how hard it is for you and Lord Zhang—a married couple serving in two different places—and so issued this decree: the Imperial Medical Academy will begin its trials in Jiangning."
Zhu Qingyu froze for a moment, then smiled as well:
"I see. The Empress Dowager's kindness is deeply appreciated. This humble minister is forever grateful."
On the way back to the military camp with the imperial decree in hand, Gu Zhao said nothing the whole way. Once back in camp, he immediately started packing.
Zhu Qingyu leaned against the doorframe, watching him pack, and asked:
"Leaving already?"
Gu Zhao kept packing, head down:
"In a hurry."
Zhu Qingyu studied his expression and said:
"Not angry?"
Gu Zhao walked over to her, wrapped his arms around her, rested his head on her shoulder, and said in a muffled voice:
"One thing, the Empress Dowager's intention was expected. I've said it before—whatever difficulties we must overcome, whatever price we must pay, it's all on me. I'll return to the capital and settle things as quickly as possible. But when you go to Jiangning, you must go through with the divorce from him. Don't be soft-hearted—don't let his sadness sway you. I truly can't stand hearing anyone else refer to you two as husband and wife; it drives me mad just listening. Once I've taken care of matters in the capital, I'll come to pick you up."
