Chapter 272: Chapter 239: Ten Thousand Cases Fulfilled

"Mr. Lin, once you finish seeing the next patient, you’ll have completed the trial tasks of ten thousand cases," Guan Biyun came over to remind Lin Miao.

"Oh, I got it, thanks, Master Guan."

"What are your plans next? Do you intend to stay at the diagnosis point and continue providing affordable healthcare to patients?" Guan Biyun asked.

"Master Guan, am I now eligible to diagnose independently?"

"Not yet. You’ll need another year to obtain your ’Medical Practitioner’s Order’. This is a requirement of the ’Path to Saint’ trial; even those who pass must complete this year," Guan Biyun shook her head.

"Then I’ll just continue, it’s only a few months anyway, everything remains unchanged."

"Although you limit the number of diagnoses each day, this past half-year has been tough for clinics in Dongshan City. Their patient visitations have decreased by at least ten percent compared to the same period last year," Guan Biyun said. "So, do you understand why the Dongshan medical community isn’t very welcoming to you?"

"I understand, I’m blocking their financial path, aren’t I?" Lin Miao laughed awkwardly. He naturally understood this; his Convenient Medical Diagnosis Point only charged ten coins per visit, while even the lowest grade physician charged seventy to eighty coins.

The price difference is at least seven to eight times.

If the physician is more highly ranked or renowned, the consultation fee paid by a patient would be even more expensive. These over ten thousand cases have reduced the Dongshan City’s physicians’ income by at least fifty thousand taels of silver just in consultation fees. This doesn’t even account for medicine costs. If a patient visits multiple times, these expenses become incalculable.

Anyway, once his Convenient Medical Diagnosis Point opened, profits in the Dongshan medical community have decreased by at least ten percent this year.

This is why the medical community doesn’t favor those going through the ’Path to Saint’ trial—not only due to jealousy over someone’s talents—but also due to real financial losses.

You’re gaining fame and fortune, but what about them?

So unless you have a strong backing to subsidize more income, people won’t just let it go. Anyway, it’s only a year. Once it’s over, you won’t continue and people will endure it.

Lin Miao has no backing, nor subsidizes everyone, so it’s no wonder he’s resented. This is why, despite him facing unfairness from Ye Shengyuan’s suppression, few people stood up to speak in support, and most remained silent.

From a patient’s perspective, Lin Miao did nothing wrong; ordinary people naturally favor good physicians who are skilled and affordable.

But his peers? There’s no way they’d speak positively of him.

When might things change?

It will change when Lin Miao is appointed by the imperial court as an ’Assistant Physician’, at which point even if there is great dissatisfaction in the Dongshan medical community, they dare not oppose the court.

Anyway, he can only cause trouble for a year. After a year, if he stays in Dongshan, consultation fees must be raised.

Unless you don’t plan on staying here, then you must adhere to the guild’s rules, right?

You can’t disrupt the entire medical system of Dongshan; if you only care about yourself and crush everyone’s livelihoods, you’ll infuriate the masses.

At least now, you’re operating within the rules, and people have no recourse against you.

"As long as you understand, Mr. Lin, I know you wholeheartedly aim to treat and save lives, with no desire for fame or fortune. But you have to be aware that the world isn’t isolated. You don’t need to adapt completely, but at the very least, leave some room for others."

"Thank you for your teachings, Master Guan," Lin Miao sincerely expressed his gratitude. These nuances, without guidance from elders, must be understood on one’s own. However, he had long grasped this concept; those willing to teach you always have your best interests at heart, deserving of respect and gratitude.

Suddenly, Lien Yurou rushed in from outside sounding urgent.

"Mr. Lin, an emergency, spitting blood..."

"Alright, senior sister, grab the medicine box and come with me," Lin Miao quickly instructed, during the day Xia Zhu is mostly at Yongning Hall, now at the diagnosis point it’s mostly Sun Youwei.

Sun Youwei also needs to accumulate diagnostic experience for her upcoming Medical Practitioner exam.

The patient has a fish bone stuck in his throat, but he didn’t mention it, and his family was unaware. It was delayed for several days leading to inflammation, swelling, and pus that prevented eating, gradually worsening until finally causing him to spit blood!

In reality, it was pus and blood he was spitting, but without removing the fish bone stuck in the throat, it could become life-threatening.

Lin Miao first administered Mafeisan, removed the fish bone, concocted a throat spray, and prescribed a herbal decoction. Originally, removing the fish bone and spraying a bit of medicine would suffice, but it turned into a major illness.

The patient not only suffered but also incurred higher expenses.

Fortunately, it could still be treated; had it ulcerated beyond repair, it would have been truly regrettable—a lesson learned at cost.

And thus, Lin Miao’s ten-thousandth case reached fruition with such a small fish bone.

...

Mr. Xie returned from Li Hen City, bringing back a Medical Practitioner’s Order, though it wasn’t that of Lin Miao’s master Sun Simiao.

It was another "Sun" named practitioner’s.

Heaven-Dominating Tower deliberately didn’t disclose the ownership of the ’Medical Practitioner’s Order’ to the bidders. They knew a regular practitioner’s order wasn’t valuable; if they revealed everyone’s names, it might go unnoticed. To avoid a failed auction, they used this strategy to attract some bidders.

This had a bit of a gambling element; betting wisely increases value, while betting poorly results in losses.

This ’Sun’ named practitioner’s order was bought for nearly two thousand taels of silver—indeed a loss, considering a regular practitioner’s order at most is worth four to five hundred taels of silver, unless increased by the owner’s reputation; then it’s different.

For example, if it were a former imperial physician’s order, forget two thousand taels, even twenty thousand, people would buy it for collecting!

Regarding his master’s order, its value has risen now, thanks to him.

Due to Mr. Xie’s circumstances, he cannot confront ’Yuanheng’ directly for the trouble. He can only investigate his master’s order’s whereabouts through his own efforts.

More than half a year has passed, and the longer it lasts, the more remote the hope of finding this medicinal symbol becomes. He truly regrets having pawned it.

But back then, if he hadn’t pawned it, he and his senior sister wouldn’t have been able to escape from Qingping Town. In truth, the medical hut wasn’t that important.

However, he couldn’t swallow this grievance; why should he be at the mercy of others?

This is also where he feels he let his senior sister down.

Therefore, no matter what, he must retrieve this medicinal symbol at all costs.

...

Li Jing·Ganlu Temple.

"Your Majesty, you look quite well today." Fu Qingzhu dutifully followed behind Emperor Zhao Rui, offering a compliment with a smile.

"In the pure land of Buddhism, there aren’t so many troubles; my mood has improved a lot." Zhao Rui laughed heartily, "However, the prescription you gave me, Mr. Fu, is quite beneficial."

"If Your Majesty finds it effective, then you should continue with it."

"Hmm, this time I came to Ganlu Temple to escape the summer heat and left court affairs to the Crown Prince. Is there any word from the court?"

"Your Majesty, this old minister is just a physician and does not understand state affairs; you are asking the wrong person." Fu Qingzhu quickly replied.

"I instructed you to speak; stop maintaining an aloof attitude as if it doesn’t concern you. As long as I’m here, you’re fine, but once I’m gone, will the new ruler tolerate you?" Zhao Rui said.

"Your Majesty, there’s a saying among the common people about sticking to one spouse. This old minister isn’t young anymore and should retire and enjoy his remaining years."

"Can you bear to leave those students and apprentices of yours at the Imperial Academy of Medicine?"

"Each generation has its own blessings; this old minister can’t take care of them forever. Serving Your Majesty alone has been enough in this lifetime."

"Don’t you want me to bestow upon you the title of a Grand Physician?"

"A Grand Physician is too difficult a title to earn. This old minister humbly admits his skills lack the necessary prestige." Fu Qingzhu said.

"Mr. Fu, you are too modest. If I live another five years, I will certainly grant you the title of Grand Physician." Zhao Rui said.

Fu Qingzhu was momentarily tempted, but his mind was clear; based on the current condition of the Emperor’s health, he had at most one or two years left.

Who doesn’t wish to live a few more years, but human effort has its limits.

When longevity reaches its end, you must leave, as no one can defy the forces of nature.

"With Your Majesty’s great kindness, this old minister is obliged to exert every effort."

"If only the Crown Prince could give me a grandson, it would ease my worries." Zhao Rui sighed deeply.

That topic was one Fu Qingzhu couldn’t continue; this was a major issue of royal succession. Whether personal or state affairs, such matters were beyond a physician’s involvement.

"Why are you silent, Mr. Fu?"

"This old minister is listening."

"I want you to speak, not just listen." Zhao Rui said, "You are a master; is there a way for my Crown Prince to have a grandson?"

"This old minister is not skilled in this area; I beg Your Majesty’s pardon." Fu Qingzhu immediately bowed to ask for forgiveness.

"I understand. Matters of birth are governed by heavenly laws, not human intervention. But our royal lineage has been weak, which threatens the stability of the nation. How can I face the ancestors like this?"

"Now I can only hope for Yuanchun to grow up soon. Once he comes of age, I will arrange a marriage for him. If he can produce a grandson, I would... cough cough..."

"Your Majesty?"

"I’m fine, leave us." Zhao Rui pushed away the attendant eunuch, "I’m speaking with Mr. Fu; who allowed you to come over?"

"The slave was worried about Your Majesty’s health..."

"Fu Qingzhu is by my side; do you think you, an eunuch, are more familiar with these matters than him?" Zhao Rui shot a fierce glare, "Get out of here."

"Yes, the slave takes his leave." The middle-aged eunuch quickly bowed and withdrew.

"Your Majesty, perhaps we should return. It’s cool here, but the humidity is heavy, which isn’t good for staying long." Fu Qingzhu advised.

"You are right, Mr. Fu, I am also a bit weary. Let’s return." Zhao Rui nodded lightly in response.

Although Fu Qingzhu didn’t interfere in the palace’s affairs, he was aware of the people and matters around the Emperor. Over the years, to serve by the Emperor’s side and earn his trust required more than just medical expertise.

He was very clear about his standing, knew what he could and couldn’t touch, what he could and couldn’t say, and strictly adhered to his duties without crossing the line.

Otherwise, why would the Emperor discuss matters of life and death with him?

The Emperor’s mind was inscrutable and sharper than anyone else’s. He wouldn’t let careless words slip but had deliberately let the eunuch overhear the conversation.

Take the matter of temperance; the Emperor understood he lacked the will but also knew some things were beyond his control.