People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 16, Establishing Authority, Xu Qing's Authority!

After leaving Mingzhu Palace, Xu Qing went straight back to the Imperial Hospital.

After greeting several familiar physicians, he returned to his room without looking back and closed the door behind him.

Looking at the jade disc and forty gold coins on the table, Xu Qing now understood that the so-called minor disturbance was not a misunderstanding with Hu Meiren, but a test by Chao Nu Yao.

At the same time, Xu Qing also experienced the blessings of the Evergreen Meridian from the last fortune-telling session.

If it weren't for the Evergreen Technique, Xu Qing felt he would never have been able to leave the Pearl Palace. As for this sixth-grade opportunity, it referred to the gold coins and jade discs he obtained.

"One's own strength is fundamental. One must become stronger in the shortest possible time, and at the very least, have the ability to protect oneself."

Thinking back to the perilous experience at Mingzhu Palace, Xu Qing felt a lingering fear, his heart filled with a desire to become stronger.

Although he possessed the top-tier martial art, Evergreen Skill, and could cultivate his internal energy at an extremely fast pace, it still took time, no matter how fast he cultivated it.

Aside from rigorous training, there seems to be only one way to quickly improve one's strength: to find elixirs and take them, using the characteristics of the Evergreen Technique to boost one's strength in a short period of time.

If a doctor practices martial arts but doesn't take drugs, can he still be called a doctor?
But he is currently just a minor imperial physician, powerless and without influence, so the possibility of him obtaining miraculous medicines is practically zero.

"Perhaps we could try our luck at the Hidden Dragon Hall outside the city, but money is another big problem."

Xu Qing felt a headache coming on. Including the rewards he received today, all he had left was fifty gold coins, various gifts from his colleagues, and two jade discs of unknown value.

Although he didn't know the exact value of the two jade discs bestowed upon him by the Tide Demoness, Xu Qing estimated that they would be enough to support a middle-class family in Xinzheng City for a lifetime.
But with this little money, it's not even enough to get into the Hidden Dragon Hall.

Just as Xu Qing was pondering how to improve his strength, a commotion came from outside the room, and a medical officer pushed open the door.

"Imperial Physician Xu, Eunuch Han has come with an imperial edict, summoning everyone to gather in the courtyard," the physician said. "It seems he has ill intentions."

Xu Qing was slightly taken aback, and couldn't help but think of the fortune she had drawn that morning.

[This is a very bad omen. Accepting the invitation to a medical consultation will undoubtedly lead to death; it is an extremely unlucky sign.]

"Okay, I'll come right away."

After tidying his clothes, Xu Qing got up and left the room.

The courtyard was filled with medical officers from the Imperial Medical Academy, led by the Imperial Physician Wang. The officers looked fearful and kept their heads down, not daring to speak.

Dozens of armored soldiers stood at the gates and along the corridors of the Imperial Medical Academy, their faces menacing, their swords subtly unsheathed.

Han, the eunuch, stood at the gate with a gloomy expression, but still nodded slightly when he saw Xu Qing.

Seeing this, Xu Qing felt much more at ease. The eunuch Han took the initiative to greet him, explaining that it wasn't his affair with Consort Hu that had been overlooked.

Xu Qing nodded in response and walked behind Physician Wang, standing side by side with the other two physicians.

"Doctor Wang, what has happened?" Xu Qing asked in a low voice.

The surrounding medical officers all looked at Physician Wang, the Imperial Physician Commander. Dozens of armored soldiers surrounded the Imperial Hospital. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought that someone in the Imperial Hospital had rebelled.

"I don't know either." Doctor Wang's expression was grave; he truly didn't know.

The other medical officers became even more apprehensive upon seeing this, and upon looking at the sharp swords in the hands of the armored soldiers around them, they couldn't help but shrink back.

Xu Qinghuan surveyed the scene. Almost all the physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy had arrived, except for Chen Yi, who was examining Lady Nanming's pulse. This further solidified her resolve to pursue her method.

He was just curious about what Chen Yi had done to cause such a commotion. Was it having an affair or plotting to harm his offspring?

Just as Xu Qing was lost in thought, Han, the eunuch at the door, waved to the armored soldiers beside him after seeing that everyone had arrived.

"Bring the people up!"

Two armored soldiers dragged the disheveled Chen Yi in from outside the door and threw him directly in front of the Imperial Hospital staff.

Everyone was both surprised and suspicious when they saw Chen Yi in such a disheveled state.

They had been thoroughly enjoying the fight between Xu Qing and Chen Yi this morning. They were all speculating about what would happen to the two of them in the future, but they never expected that Chen Yi would end up like this after only half a day's absence.

"This man plotted to murder the Crown Prince's heir by mixing poison into the pregnancy-preserving medicine. After Lady Nanming drank it, she and her unborn child died suddenly," said Eunuch Han with a grim expression.

Everyone in the Imperial Medical Academy, including Xu Qing, looked shocked.

"That can't be right. Why would Physician Chen do such a thing?"

"Isn't he trying to curry favor with Lady Nanming and compete with Physician Xu for the medicine storehouse?"

For a moment, the medical officers began to whisper among themselves.

Xu Qing looked at Chen Yi, a wave of fear washing over him. If it weren't for Qian Yun's warning, the blame for poisoning Lady Nanming would now fall on his shoulders. While relieved, Xu Qing couldn't help but wonder who had actually poisoned her; it certainly wasn't that unlucky Chen Yi, he was definitely a scapegoat.

After much thought, Xu Qing still couldn't come up with a definite answer.

Although Chao Nu Yao and Hu Meiren were the most favored concubines in the palace, there were so many concubines in the Han King's palace that any one of them could be the one to poison them.

"Injustice! Injustice! I didn't poison him! Someone framed me!" Chen Yi cried out. Chen Yi's words immediately drew everyone's attention. The eunuch Han looked coldly at Chen Yi and said...
"With witnesses and physical evidence all before you, how dare you still claim innocence? Men, beat her!"

Four armored soldiers stepped forward and held down Chen Yi's limbs, while two other soldiers swung their clubs to strike Chen Yi's back.

"Innocent! I didn't poison him!" Chen Yi suddenly looked up at Xu Qing in the crowd and shouted.

"It's him, it's Xu Qing! He must have framed me!"

Upon hearing Chen Yi's words, the armored soldier who had raised the wooden stick stopped and looked at Eunuch Han.

The imperial physicians also looked at Xu Qing in shock and subconsciously took a step back.

They had all witnessed the struggle between Xu Qing and Chen Yi this morning. Chen Yi had intended to use Madam Nanming's influence to compete with Xu Qing for the medicine storehouse. If Chen Yi claimed innocence, then Xu Qing was indeed the prime suspect.

Recalling Xu Qing's composure in the face of Chen Yi's harassment and provocation that morning, they couldn't help but wonder if it really was Xu Qing who did it, or if she was acting on Hu Meiren's orders.

"It must be him! This morning, Madam Nanming asked Xu Qing to take her pulse. He must have been worried that I would take over the management of his medicine storehouse, so he poisoned Madam Nanming." Chen Yi roared ferociously at Xu Qing, his limbs struggling on the ground. Fortunately, there were armored soldiers holding him down, otherwise he would have pounced on Xu Qing.

At this moment, Chen Yi was filled with extreme regret. If he had known about this earlier, he would never have competed with Xu Qing to take the pulse of Madam Nanming.

There's no going back in life. He personally prepared the medicine, so whoever poisoned him is to blame.

But he was unwilling to accept it. It was Xu Qing who should have died. He had only tried to take the pulse because he was provoked by Xu Qing. It was all Xu Qing's doing to frame him. If he hadn't provoked him, he would never have ended up like this.

Even if it means death, he will drag Xu Qing down with him.

Han, the eunuch, also looked at Xu Qing. Although he had some connection with Xu Qing, he couldn't protect him in front of everyone. Besides, with such a small connection, it wasn't worth him taking such a risk to protect Xu Qing.

"Doctor Xu, do you have anything to say?" asked Eunuch Han.

Everyone looked at Xu Qing, wanting to see how he would explain.

"Nonsense, it's just his desperate accusations as he faces death," Xu Qing said, stepping forward and looking at Chen Yi lying on the ground.

"Since you say I framed you, what evidence do you have? Did you see me touch the herbs or the decoction? Or did you say I brewed the decoction?"

Chen Yi was speechless. Looking at Xu Qing's triumphant demeanor, he felt increasingly resentful and shouted loudly...

“I have witnesses. Madam’s personal maid, Yingchun, saw him go to Nanming Palace. After you finished taking Consort Hu’s pulse, you did not return to the Imperial Hospital immediately. Your whereabouts are very suspicious.”

Everyone was shocked and looked at Xu Qing with disbelief.

Seeing Chen Yi still arbitrarily accusing others, Xu Qing couldn't help but laugh out loud, looking at Chen Yi with disdain and saying...
"You say that I disappeared after taking Hu Meiren's pulse, so I'm suspected of poisoning her. Do you know anything about that?"

"After I finished taking pulses, Madam Mingzhu called me away to take pulses as well."

Chen Yi's face froze instantly as he stared at Xu Qing in disbelief. He recalled the conversation between Yingchun and Madam Nanming during the pulse diagnosis, and suddenly felt as if the sky had fallen.

The others present also looked at Xu Qing in shock, they never expected that Xu Qing would have a relationship with Madam Mingzhu.

Xu Qing's ability to rise to the rank of imperial physician solely through his association with Consort Hu, coupled with his current connection with Lady Mingzhu, makes it unimaginable who in the Imperial Hospital would dare to provoke him in the future.

The two imperial physicians exchanged a glance and saw the apprehension in each other's eyes.

They originally wanted to join Chen Yi in dealing with Xu Qing, for no particular reason other than that they felt Xu Qing's rise to power was due to Hu Meiren, not their medical skills.

But now that Xu Qing has actually crossed paths with Madam Mingzhu, both of them have given up their thoughts of looking down on Xu Qing and dealing with him. Xu Qing is no longer someone they can afford to offend.

Han, the palace attendant, looked at Xu Qing with a meaningful gaze. There were countless concubines in the Han King's palace, but only two evergreen trees.

Xu Qing has connections with both trees, and judging from his expression and tone of voice, he has clearly gained the favor of Madam Mingzhu.

"Guards! Immediately beat this traitor to death!" Han, the eunuch, declared decisively. "Even on the verge of death, he still dares to make baseless accusations. Beat him to death on the spot!"

Upon receiving the order, the two armored soldiers immediately swung their wooden sticks and struck Chen Yi from behind.

The wooden stick struck Chen Yi on the back, instantly tearing his skin and causing him to cry out in pain.

"what!!"

The armored soldiers did not stop because of Chen Yi's shouts. Instead, they continued to swing their wooden sticks with all their might. After three blows, Chen Yi's back was stained red with blood.

Xu Qing coldly watched Chen Yi groan incessantly, then turned to look at the Imperial Hospital staff behind him.

Apart from Physician Wang, everyone else lowered their heads, not daring to meet Xu Qing's gaze, especially the two physicians who kept their heads very low.

Chen Yi's cries of agony echoed throughout the Imperial Hospital. The physicians, watching the falling clubs, felt as if the blows weren't striking Chen Yi's body, but rather their own hearts. From that moment on, any thoughts of underestimating Xu Qing because of his young age vanished from their minds.

Xu Qing claimed it had nothing to do with him, but who knew the truth? They dared not provoke Xu Qing again, fearing they would become the next Chen Yi.

Xu Qing didn't care what these people thought; he only knew that he had achieved his goal.

From now on, he could finally establish a firm foothold in the Imperial Medical Academy, and no one would dare to plot against him anymore, allowing him to continue his plans in peace.

(End of this chapter)