The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 360: Not Sick at All

The imperial physician’s face turned livid with anger. Where did this countryside quack come from? With no rules, no manners, and blind to the proper respect. Did he really think the people accompanied by the Prefectural Governor and Prefect were just ordinary old men?

They are imperial physicians, imperial physicians!

But upon arriving here, they were scolded by a wandering doctor?

He was so infuriated that his beard trembled: "You, insolent!"

Ying Feng cupped his hands and said, "I’m sorry, I forgot that you are imperial physicians. I forgot that we humble common folk cannot be rude to imperial physicians! Please forgive my ignorance, great physicians!"

His apology carried not a trace of sincerity, instead, it dripped with a hint of sarcasm, nearly causing the imperial physician to die of rage. Yet to argue would be pointless since an apology was indeed offered.

Xia Wenjin calmly explained, "Gentlemen, you may not be aware, but the Court’s relief silver has not yet arrived. All the necessary supplies here have been allocated by Lord Shang and the donations of kind-hearted people. The silver is primarily used for medicinal materials, and funds are limited, hence the simplicity of the place!"

The imperial physicians: "..."

Her explanation, coupled with a smile, left the imperial physicians speechless.

These imperial physicians, who resided in the Capital City, usually attended to wealthy or high-status patients, and were generously compensated. Sent here by the Emperor to treat the epidemic, they had hoped for little, but hadn’t expected the environment to be this rudimentary.

Xia Wenjin’s explanation made them swallow their discontent, realizing the truth that this was indeed a remote, impoverished village, which they had psychologically prepared for upon arrival.

The initial complaint about the simple environment was just a momentary outburst.

Didn’t even Luo Jia show a look of displeasure towards them?

The imperial physician awkwardly fell silent.

Subsequently, the three imperial physicians separately diagnosed each newly-arrived epidemic patient.

Four mild cases, just showing initial symptoms, with nothing special besides red spots on their chests, and those spots didn’t hurt or itch.

The three imperial physicians checked the pulse of each one, exchanged a glance, and then looked at Shang Jingwang with irritation. Why not Xia Wenjin? Because they believed this young girl was inserted here by Shang Jingwang’s connections.

She’s so young, and a woman too. What use could she possibly be?

Shang Jingwang, being a shrewd man, saw their displeasure instantly and quickly asked, "Gentlemen, is there anything wrong?"

The three imperial physicians ignored Shang Jingwang and addressed Luo Jia, "Mr. Luo, please have a look. We share the same opinion."

Luo Jia walked over and checked the pulses of the four mild cases in turn.

The one on the far right was a woman in her fifties, who, after having her pulse checked by the three imperial physicians and Luo Jia, could no longer hold back and said, "Doctor Xia, I’d feel more at ease if you treated me. We trust your medical skills!"

These words almost made the three imperial physicians curse. What did she mean? Trusting the little girl’s medical skills implied distrust in theirs. Luo Jia’s hand hesitated in pulse-taking, his face turning displeased.

Xia Wenjin approached to console her, "Aunt Lu, these are imperial physicians from the Capital City; their medical skills are also very good."

Aunt Lu clung to Xia Wenjin’s hand, a bit panicky, and said, "I don’t care about these jade or tile doctors. Doctor Xia, Aunt only believes in you!"

The imperial physicians: "..."

They were not jade or tile doctors! This ignorant country woman!

Xia Wenjin chuckled, "Aunt, imperial physicians are the doctors who treat people in the Imperial Palace, they’re very skilled."

Upon hearing that they treated people in the Imperial Palace, Aunt Lu glanced at Luo Jia and his group in awe. The Imperial Palace? Isn’t that the place of legends where gold paves the ground, silver forms the walls, and gemstones cover the roofs?

Her gaze towards Luo Jia and the others held newfound reverence.

This made Luo Jia and his group look a little more pleased.

This ignorant country woman hadn’t even heard of imperial physicians before. Now aware of their identity, she ought to be grateful. After all, not everyone in their lifetime is fortunate enough to be treated by an imperial physician. Especially for a woman from such a village, whose life had never taken her beyond it. The Imperial Palace, imperial physicians, were merely mythical figures in stories told by elders.

The youngest of the imperial physicians, who had checked Aunt Lu’s pulse first, cleared his throat, adopting a dignified posture. If Aunt Lu begged them, they wouldn’t hold a grudge.

After all, they also upheld medical ethics.

But contrary to their expectations—though aware these individuals treated the noble residents of the Imperial Palace—Aunt Lu still clutched Xia Wenjin, "Doctor Xia, please treat me! Everyone in the village agrees, as long as Doctor Xia agrees to treat them, King Yama won’t take them!"

Xia Wenjin: "..."

If she had such great ability, why didn’t she know it? She knew it was the villagers of Wangshan Town acknowledging her efforts.

Reflecting on when she initially discovered the epidemic and went door to door, only to be chased away by brooms, falsely accused of spreading dangerous lies, cursed, and narrowly escaped being beaten to death by villagers wielding hoes and rakes...

It wasn’t until more and more people fell ill, and Wang Bolao intervened, with Shang Jingwang himself eventually coming to oversee the situation, bringing the household soldiers of Wangshan Town, that through enforced action and the harsh reality of increasing patients and deaths, the situation began to shift.

The days of being treated like a rat hated by everyone, to be beaten on sight, finally passed.

Yet, those who reacted extremely, even wanting to kill her, were only a minority, mostly swayed or bribed by the treacherous doctor, Zhang Jiantang.

However, people are prone to herd mentality, especially when the term epidemic emerged, as the first instinct was denial, leading to more opposition, branding her as a malicious spreader of lies with ulterior motives.

Had it not been for her resolve to save these innocent lives, she might not have persevered through such hardships!

She hadn’t realized, in the eyes of the villagers of Wangshan Town, she had become someone who could negotiate with King Yan.

Is this what they call prestige? Trust?

It’s the fruit of her hard labor, the trust earned through wholly dedicating herself to treating the epidemic patients.

If initially, she had this level of prestige and trust from the villagers, perhaps she wouldn’t have suffered so greatly, bearing such a heavy burden.

The imperial physicians: "..."

Is this country woman mad?

Is there really anyone who can negotiate with King Yan?

Even as doctors, how can they guarantee to cure every illness?

What further vexed them were their earlier diagnostic results. The youngest imperial physician, at thirty plus, couldn’t help but say, "Negotiate with King Yan? That’s because you’re not actually sick!"