Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 41 Imperial Medical Academy

If Yan Shifan were here, he would surely be deeply impressed by this scholar named Chen Yingda.

It was precisely because Chen Yingda regarded the imperial examination as the only proper way to select talent that he resolutely opposed the court's policy of using all three paths simultaneously.

This is why, when Yan Shifan was writing the essays for Yan Maoqing's selection of candidates for the imperial examinations, he was not only ordered by Yan Song to rewrite them more than a dozen times, but also slapped on the back of the head several times. In the end, he could only tearfully try his best to cater to Chen Yingda's political views in the essays.

It's no wonder that when reviewing the selected articles, Chen Yingda marked the most circles on "Yan Maoqing's Selected Articles".

This led to him being ridiculed and mocked by several sarcastic colleagues after Yan Maoqing's palace examination paper was exposed...

“Master, what I said is absolutely true. The Embroidered Uniform Guard outside the West Garden Gate and the Golden Guard under the Zhengyang Gate can both testify to this.”

Faced with Chen Yingda's slightly exaggerated expression of astonishment, Yan Maoqing remained calm and composed, and in an instant, he also dragged the Jinwu Guards into the fray as witnesses, effectively putting one foot in the other's shoes.

"Cough cough!"

Chen Yingda realized he had lost his composure, so he cleared his throat to regain his composure and, adopting a gentlemanly demeanor, asked casually:

"If that's really the case, then it's not impossible to approve this fake old man."

"However, you must first explain to me why the Emperor summoned you to the West Garden today, and how you offended the Emperor, which resulted in you being flogged in court. I will make my own judgment after hearing your explanation."

curious!

I'm so curious!
A newly appointed scholar is so favored by the emperor, yet he turns this great opportunity into a disaster. This melon is guaranteed to be ripe, fragrant and sweet. You are not worthy of being a disciple of Confucius if you don't take a bite!
Moreover, compiling books and writing history, and recording facts in writing, were among the duties of the Hanlin Academy. Such a fresh piece of gossip...

Bah! How can we not ask about such a fresh record of daily life? Otherwise, wouldn't we be seen as dereliction of duty and a licentious official?
"Please forgive me, teacher. It's not that I'm unwilling to speak, but that I dare not speak. Otherwise, if it reaches the Emperor's ears, it might implicate you."

Yan Maoqing bowed and said.

"This……"

Chen Yingda agreed with this, hesitated for a moment, and then said...
"Then let's pick some trivial details to talk about. Otherwise, how can I judge the importance of things, and how can I allow you to miss such an important opening ceremony?"

Yan Maoqing, however, stopped responding and began to change the subject:
"The students did not intentionally miss the opening ceremony. It's just that after this incident, the students are now unable to sit, kneel, or stand. If they force themselves to participate, it would be disrespectful to Confucius and all the teachers. Please forgive them."

"Then tell me about your experience in the West Garden. I am the only one here, and I know what is important and will not tell anyone else."

Chen Yingda's gaze grew increasingly intense as he patiently and persuasively spoke.

"Let's forget it... The student doesn't want to involve the teachers."

Yan Maoqing shook his head, still looking troubled.

"I am not afraid of being implicated!"

Chen Yingda glared at him, exerting pressure as his superior.

“If you don’t explain yourself clearly, I absolutely cannot approve this fake old man. If you are absent from the opening ceremony tomorrow without a valid reason, you should consider the consequences yourself!”

Okay, that's exactly what I wanted to hear!
Being absent without cause and being absent without cause after being denied leave are two completely different things.

The former might still have room for maneuver, but the latter is a foregone conclusion that shows disrespect for teachers and elders and disregard for rules, making it easier to incur resentment. The Hanlin Academy will definitely be able to justify their actions if they seize the opportunity to make a fuss about it later.

Given the negative impact of his examination paper, Yan Maoqing felt there was a high possibility that the Hanlin Academy would use this as a pretext to remove him from the ranks of probationary officials.

That was precisely his true purpose.

In fact, he had foreseen this long ago, because his answer to the palace examination had already drawn hostility from Grand Secretary Xia Yan and other officials, including Grand Secretary Zhai Luan, even before the official announcement of the results.

Now that his answer sheet has been exposed again, there must be many "wise men" among the Hanlin Academy officials and other probationary scholars who are hostile to him.

His days at the Hanlin Academy will certainly not be easy from now on; he may even find himself without a foothold.

Rather than obediently entering the Hanlin Academy and suffering the humiliation of these people, it would be better to give them a legitimate reason to expel me as soon as possible, let them off the hook, and let myself off the hook too. Wouldn't that be better for both of us? Thinking these thoughts to myself.

Yan Maoqing immediately dropped his pretense, raised his head, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly:

"I have said what I needed to say. This fake student must be reported. If the teachers and elders absolutely refuse, there is nothing I can do. Farewell."

As he spoke, Yan Maoqing turned and limped away.

"What's your attitude?!"

Then came Chen Yingda's furious voice from behind.

"You come back here right now! I haven't granted you leave, do you hear me? I haven't approved it, come back!"

"I will not grant you leave tomorrow; otherwise, your absence from the Hanlin Academy will no longer tolerate you!"

"Stop right there, you old man!!!"

Yan Maoqing ignored him and walked away, finding the old scholar quite amusing.

No wonder he remained a scholar at the Hanlin Academy until his age, and no wonder the saying "No one who has not passed the imperial examination can enter the Hanlin Academy, and no one who has not entered the Hanlin Academy can enter the Grand Secretariat" had nothing to do with him.

With his personality and emotional intelligence, he can't help but ask around. If he had actually managed to get into the cabinet, the grass on his grave would probably be over a meter tall by now.
……

After leaving the Hanlin Academy, Yan Maoqing went to the Imperial Hospital, which was only about 500 steps away.

"What do you take this place for? Even if you were a high-ranking official, let alone a junior scholar, how could the Imperial Hospital treat you without the Emperor's decree? Please come in."

Before he could even enter the door, Yan Maoqing was stopped by a physician who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

The Imperial Medical Academy was also one of the emperor's exclusive domains. Under normal circumstances, no one except the emperor and his relatives was qualified to ask them for treatment, otherwise it would be suspected of forming close ties with his ministers.

When the emperor issued an edict ordering the Imperial Medical Academy to send someone to treat a certain minister, it was considered a special favor and reward.

However, nothing is absolute.

Even when these imperial physicians were not on duty, many people would still secretly take on private jobs, or even have their family members open clinics outside the palace, partly to expand their network and partly to earn some extra money.

The emperor usually turned a blind eye to this and rarely made a big deal out of it.

This should also be a way of managing people. Just as the emperor knew that many ministers were openly or secretly embezzling money, the salary in the Ming Dynasty was only so much. Without money, even the emperor would find it difficult to make people willing to work hard...

Only in the Imperial Hospital.

Yan Maoqing did not publicize that he had just been summoned to the West Garden by the Emperor, received a beating in court, and was driven out, because if he did, it would be even less likely that he would see the imperial physician.

Finding a physician who could issue him a sick leave certificate as soon as possible was also an important part of his retirement and return to his hometown.

"Shangguan misunderstands. Without His Majesty's decree, I would not dare to seek treatment from the Imperial Medical Academy."

Yan Maoqing smiled ingratiatingly.

"I have unfortunately injured my waist and hip, and I have no choice but to ask the Imperial Hospital to issue me a medical certificate so that I can ask the Hanlin Academy for a few days of leave to recuperate."

"Show symptoms?"

The physician sized him up, clearly familiar with the temperaments of those Hanlin Academy scholars.

"If I remember correctly, tomorrow is the opening day of the Hanlin Academy. How dare you ask for leave and not go on such an important day?"

(End of this chapter)