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Three months later, winter, Changsha Prefecture.
The publication of Medical Case Calculation caused a huge stir in the medical field. This book was completed by Wei Lan and Liu Mingyi, leading a group of students after three months of hard work. This time, they did not focus on drawing herbal illustrations, but concentrated their efforts on three key points of treating and saving lives:
The first chapter, “Insect Elimination Techniques,” was the opening piece of the book. Wei Lan used actual data to prove the effectiveness of alcohol disinfection: she treated ten farmers who had been injured by sickles, five of whom used alcohol to treat the wounds, with no cases of suppuration; the other five used traditional herbal treatments, but four of them had wounds that became smelly and suppurated.
The book listed in detail the preparation methods of alcohol and allicin and included diagrams showing the process of boiling gauze in a large pot and constructing a simple steamer for disinfection, making it clear to readers.
The anatomical diagrams in the second chapter once caused a stir, but have now become one of the highlights of the book. Wei Lan discovered that there were many errors in the ancient texts regarding the structure of the human body. Therefore, she led her students to dissect bodies and re-record the positions and functions of the human organs.
For example, ancient texts claimed that the heart was located in the center of the chest, but after dissection, it was found that the heart is actually shifted to the left. The Ling Shu stated that the lungs had twenty-four lobes, but in reality, the left lung has two lobes and the right lung has three.
Wei Lan had the students redraw the correct anatomical diagrams and provided detailed explanations in the book. “Anatomy is the foundation of surgery,” she emphasized in the book, “Only by truly understanding the structure of the human body can one make accurate diagnoses and treatments.”
The third chapter was the most detailed in outlining the rules for treating diseases. Wei Lan and Liu Mingyi sifted through a large number of medical cases to select the most effective treatment methods, including standardized treatments for ten common diseases, such as wind-cold and fractures.
The most sensational part was the public release of the Erba Fang bone-setting secret recipe. She explained in detail the amount of each herb and the preparation steps, and also published Dr. Lin’s Erba Fang in full, along with records of 230 successful bone-setting cases.
This move directly impacted the bone-setting market in Changsha. Zhou Dahua had monopolized the bone-setting business in Changsha for fifteen years, and when he saw the secret recipe being sold at the bookstall for just five pennies, he angrily tore up the book in the street, only to be hit on the head with rotten vegetable leaves by onlookers.
As the influence of Medical Case Calculation continued to grow, Wei Lan’s name became widely known in Changsha Prefecture. However, she knew this was only the beginning, and the road of medicine was still long.
Just as she was immersed in the anticipation of future medical developments, news arrived: Lord Ti Xuedao would personally appoint her as the head of the Medical Hall. This news made her feel both honored and a bit uneasy.
In the main hall of the Huimin Medical Hall, Ti Xuedao Lu Jingxing sat in the main seat of a sandalwood armchair. To his left sat Zhang Wenyuan, the Chief Physician of the Prefecture, and to his right sat Wei Lan and Liu Mingyi, with the remaining instructors seated according to rank.
Lu Jingxing blew gently on the foam in his tea cup and glanced at Wei Lan. He thought to himself: This person indeed has some ability, but unfortunately, she is a woman. He smiled and said, “The reason I’ve gathered everyone today is to discuss the appointment of the head of the Medical Hall.”
Zhang Wenyuan was about to stand and bow, but Lu Jingxing raised his hand to stop him: “Lord Zhang, you have to oversee both the Prefecture Medical Office and the Medical Hall, it’s really tiring.” He deliberately emphasized the words “Prefecture Medical Office,” and everyone immediately understood that Ti Xuedao wanted to relieve Zhang Wenyuan of his role overseeing the Medical Hall.
All eyes turned to Wei Lan. After all, many of the important decisions in the Medical Hall were led by Wei Lan. Her two books, the *Illustrated Version of the Compendium of Materia Medica and Medical Case Calculation, had caused a great stir in the medical community, and everyone was aware of their impact.
“I already have the best candidate in mind,” Lu Jingxing suddenly raised his voice, his eyes scanning Wei Lan and the others. “This person wrote the *Illustrated Version of the Compendium of Materia Medica, revolutionizing the identification of herbs; and wrote Medical Case Calculation, promoting disinfection techniques and anatomy, saving over a thousand patients. What’s more…” He paused deliberately, watching Wei Lan’s expectant expression, his lips curling up slightly. “This person comes from a three-generation family of doctors, her father, Dr. Liu, sat at the clinic for forty years, and she inherited the family business and adhered to the family’s teachings. Her father is still teaching in a private school. This inheritance of the Medical Hall is perfect.”
Wei Lan suddenly felt a tightening sensation in her scalp. She glanced at Liu Mingyi and found that he had stiffened too. The phrase “inherited the family business” felt like a thorn poking into her ear. Liu Mingyi’s lips moved, about to speak, but before he could, Lu Jingxing already opened the appointment document, covered in bright red seals, and announced, “Effective immediately, Liu Yan is appointed as the head of the Medical Hall, and Wei Lan will serve as the deputy head.”
Lu Jingxing felt pleased with himself. Women were of low status and should stay at home, raising children and supporting their husbands, not appearing in public, let alone holding power. He looked at Wei Lan with disdain and contempt but still kept a smile on his face.
Just as Lu Jingxing placed the tea cup down, Liu Mingyi suddenly stepped into the center of the hall. “Sir…”
“Lord Liu, please do not be modest,” Lu Jingxing interrupted with a smile, turning to Wei Lan and lazily clasping his hands, “Miss Wei is a woman who does not fall behind men. Please assist your elder brother well.”
However, Liu Mingyi refused to back down and insisted on clearing Wei Lan’s name: “Sir, allow me to explain! The *Illustrated Version of the Compendium of Materia Medica, from the selection of herbs to the illustrations, was all managed by Miss Wei. The medical cases in Medical Case Calculation were also all investigated by her and her students, one by one!”
He turned to the instructors on both sides and said loudly, “Everyone here has seen these things firsthand.”
Lu Jingxing smiled faintly and looked around the room. “Does anyone have anything to say about this appointment?”
Zhang Wenyuan suddenly began coughing violently, his face turning red, as though he had choked on tea. He lowered his head to hide his embarrassment, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of his tea cup. The other instructors looked at each other, some staring at the tips of their shoes, others exchanging glances, but no one dared to speak.
Wei Lan watched this scene with a sinking heart. The colleagues who had always been polite to her, including the seemingly kind-hearted Zhang Wenyuan, all chose to remain silent. She wondered whether they felt women should not hold high positions, or whether they were simply too afraid to speak out. If Liu Mingyi’s accomplishments were forcefully attributed to her, these people probably would have protested long ago.
Lu Jingxing dragged on his words, “In the previous dynasty, the empress dowager, Empress Wu, ruled as a regent and caused calamities for the country…” His words were clearly meant to say that women should not hold power.
Liu Mingyi immediately responded, “Sir, although there were unvirtuous women in the previous dynasty, there are also virtuous women in this dynasty. For example, Empress Ma, who assisted Emperor Taizu in unifying the country and even, while ill, advised the emperor to ‘be cautious with punishment and seek virtuous talents.’ The people still praise her to this day.” He deliberately mentioned the founding empress, a person whom even the emperor respected, and no one dared to refute it.
“That empress is the model for all women!” Lu Jingxing suddenly slapped the table, and his smile instantly disappeared, his tone growing stern. “Ordinary women should know their place and focus on supporting their husbands and teaching children!”
Wei Lan gripped her sleeves tightly, her nails nearly embedding into her palm. She knew very well that Lu Jingxing didn’t care about right or wrong—he was determined to use her gender to suppress her. No matter how many patients she saved or how great her medical books were, as long as she was a woman, her achievements would have to be given to a man.
“The medical way knows no rank,” Liu Mingyi said firmly and calmly, enunciating each word. “Seventy percent of the content in Medical Case Calculation comes from Miss Wei. If such achievements are not enough, then I, Liu, have no face to take the headmaster’s position.”
“Doctor Liu and Miss Wei indeed share a close bond,” Lu Jingxing suddenly changed his tone, his eyes flashing with some curiosity. “But I’ve recently reviewed the family records of Liu’s three generations of doctors…” He walked over to Liu Mingyi’s side, lowering his voice slightly, his tone filled with suspicion, “But why can’t I find any record of this ‘younger sister’?”
Wei Lan’s heart tightened, and she quickly spoke, “I was adopted by…”
“I’m talking to Dr. Liu,” Lu Jingxing’s eyes were sharp as he coldly swept past Wei Lan, then quickly shifted back to a smile.
The room fell silent, and Lu Jingxing paced back to his seat. His gaze slowly swept across everyone’s faces. He remembered a line in a confidential letter from Lord Ji Wang that said, “This woman’s background is suspicious.” The smile on his face deepened, mixed with a hint of sarcasm. “During the reign of the previous dynasty, a village woman impersonated a noble family member, causing trouble and was eventually caught by the authorities. She was punished with eighty lashes and exiled three thousand miles, never to hold a position again.”
The words were like a cold splash of water, instantly making the hairs on the back of Wei Lan’s neck stand up. A year ago, when she first traveled here, she did indeed assume the identity of the Liu family’s youngest daughter, and her so-called adoptive parents were fabricated. She cursed inwardly but forced herself to stay calm.
“Sir, allow me to explain!” Liu Mingyi stepped in front of Wei Lan, his voice firm and urgent. “After my younger sister went missing, she was adopted by a wandering doctor named Wei. She hasn’t had a chance to be entered into the family registry.”
“Good, a wandering doctor!” Lu Jingxing sneered, his gaze sharp as a knife. “There hasn’t been a doctor named Wei in Changsha Prefecture for ten years!”
Wei Lan suddenly found it a bit amusing. If anyone were to investigate the original body’s background, she’d be thankful to them to save her from fabricating lies every day. Just as this absurd thought crossed her mind, she heard Lu Jingxing ominously add, “A single man and woman alone together, according to the Great Ming Code…” He deliberately raised his voice, “If an unrelated man and woman spend the night together under the same roof, they are to be punished with eighty lashes. If they are siblings…” He deliberately dragged the tone out, his gaze flicking between them.
Wei Lan finally understood the hidden meaning. This corrupt official didn’t care about the truth; he just wanted to smear them. Let alone becoming head of the Medical Hall, they might even lose their medical licenses.
The room filled with gasps, the atmosphere oppressive to the point of suffocation.
“Sir, be careful with your words!” Liu Mingyi’s neck bulged with veins, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, his voice filled with suppressed anger. “I am clean with Miss Wei…”
“I didn’t say you two had anything!” Lu Jingxing suddenly threw back his sleeve and laughed, his voice laced with sarcasm. “Just making a joke!” He stepped back, adjusted his official robes, his voice turning cold as ice. “This appointment is not only to uphold the proper conduct in education but also to protect your reputation. In the future, Deputy Head Wei, be mindful of the proprieties between men and women, and never be alone with Dr. Liu. People talk, you know!”
Wei Lan watched Lu Jingxing walk out the door, her heart burning with anger, but she had to force herself to endure. She knew very well that this move was not only to suppress them but to warn everyone that no one could act freely under his watch.