After the cannon fodder father and daughter married into the family, the whole family regretted it

Fang Nanzhi gave him a strange look.

"Of course not."

“Even the Imperial Academy has to take exams and charge tuition fees to admit students. And if the students have successful careers in the future, they will turn around and support the Imperial Academy.”

"If the Imperial Medical Academy trains military doctors, it's equivalent to bestowing favors upon the Ministry of War. Then, the matters to be handled by Physician Xing and his colleagues will be taken care of from now on."

Physician Xing couldn't help but roll his eyes inwardly.

How exactly did Master Zhou teach his apprentice? Look at how self-righteous and shameless he is when he speaks.

It wasn't his idea to train military doctors, so how did it become his business?

This child didn't give anyone anything to gossip about, addressing the "Imperial Medical Academy" to the "Ministry of War" when he spoke.

In other words, the Imperial Medical Academy trained military doctors, while doctors in other pharmacies naturally did not need to make any contributions.

He was very clever in not offending anyone and even shifted the blame onto them.

"Dear seniors, we doctors take it as our duty to heal the sick and save lives."

"Human life is important to the country, the family, and oneself. We are doing things to save people and the country, but there are always people who belittle and despise us. Why is that?"

Fang Nanzhi had a serious expression on her face.

"Are we born lowly?"

"Is the art of Qihuang (a form of traditional Chinese medicine) considered lowly? Yet the art of Qihuang originated from the Yellow Emperor, the ancestor of Chinese civilization. Isn't the legacy he left behind invaluable?"

"In a true comparison, the theories, ideas, and significance of my medical school are no less than those of Confucianism."

Fang Nanzhi spoke with righteous indignation.

No matter how great Confucius was, in terms of status, he could not surpass the Yellow Emperor.

"But why is it that my family of doctors has long been looked down upon?"

"Because of our heritage, more people haven't been able to see it."

"The Confucianists, the military strategists, the Legalists... are well-known because they made outstanding contributions to the court and the people."

"If we physicians could do the same, would anyone dare to call us mere craftsmen?"

His words were so powerful that they left all the doctors speechless.

Even the imperial physicians were dumbfounded.

These words are too inflammatory; if outsiders knew about them, Fang Nanzhi would be criticized by scholars all over the world.

They are from the gentry class; wouldn't it be an insult to compare them to doctors?

But who among those present would spread the word? Whether they had considered this before or not, they were all healers.

No one wants to not elevate the status of doctors.

Even if they believe they are not capable of succeeding, they will not stop ambitious people.

"Medical expert" sounds much better than "medical craftsman".

Physician Xing sighed again, wondering what Old Master Zhou intended to do by teaching such a disciple.

To be so young, yet possess such insight and perspective...

Physician Xing had very complicated feelings, so complicated that he didn't want Fang Nanzhi to continue.

That's enough for today. If this kid tries to show off any more, it'll be too much.

Even a pearl cannot be fully revealed all at once.

"Alright, Dr. Fang has lofty aspirations. Hmm, young people are indeed full of drive."

Physician Xing's praise was very perfunctory.

Others couldn't help but think that Physician Xing hadn't taken these words to heart, and they felt both regret and relief.

The two emotions were intertwined, making it really difficult.

Fang Nanzhi was actually still not finished; she had only read half of the paper she had prepared.

But when she met Physician Xing's unquestionable gaze, she could only obediently sit down.

After that, no one spoke up easily, afraid that if they said a few words, Fang Nanzhi would seize the opportunity to utter some shocking remarks.

Physician Xing didn't make things difficult for them. After thinking for a moment, they discussed the matter of promoting basic medical knowledge in the army.

Other things, once done, have far-reaching consequences and require investment.

The Imperial Medical Academy lacked sufficient manpower, material resources, and financial resources; the only thing they could do was to spread the word.

Of course, one cannot speak carelessly. Fang Nanzhi suggested publishing a manual to record emergency treatment methods for common diseases.

A manual? If Physician Xing asked a few more questions, he would know it was a book.

A book published by the Imperial Medical Academy—isn't that like Confucian books, which were also used for spreading the Way?

Physician Xing felt a surge of excitement and anticipation, almost unable to contain it.

"The manual should be simple and clear, with easy-to-remember and catchy content. If it is too complicated, I'm afraid the soldiers won't be able to remember it."

Fang Nanzhi added.

Physician Xing narrowed his eyes slightly: "After that, while you are at the free clinic, why don't you think about the manual? Give it to Physician Xing in ten days, and he will submit it to the Imperial Hospital."

“Any handbook selected by the Imperial Medical Academy will be richly rewarded.”

This reward, of course, came from the Imperial Medical Academy.

The doctors were suddenly eager to participate. Wasn't their free clinic precisely to accumulate experience so they could later join the Imperial Hospital?

Now an opportunity is presented to them. If they do well, they will gain the favor of the adults, and it will not be impossible for them to enter the Imperial Hospital in the future.

After the doctors left, Physician Xing specially kept Fang Nanzhi behind.

Of course, Xing Yun didn't leave either.

"Dr. Fang, may I take a look at what you've written down?"

Physician Xing noticed that the little girl had written several pages and hadn't finished speaking yet.

Fang Nanzhi was very generous; she turned it out and presented it to him.

Physician Xing skimmed through the text, taking only a short while.

His face remained calm and composed, but Xing Yun lacked that composure.

Occasionally, when he came across a couple of "horrifying" ideas, his heart would involuntarily beat a little faster.

He wasn't wrong about it these days.

Fang Nanzhi is a girl who appears to be well-behaved and honest, but in reality, she can cause all sorts of trouble.

Physician Xing carefully put away the papers and returned them.

"Did Dr. Fang receive guidance from Elder Zhou when writing these?"

Fang Nanzhi scratched his head and honestly said, "I haven't finished writing it yet, so I haven't shown it to my master."

Physician Xing then realized that all the solutions here were the young girl's ideas.

"Dr. Fang, some things, if you make drastic changes, will only have the opposite effect."

He thought for a moment and carefully offered his advice.

Physician Xing and Old Master Zhou didn't get along, but looking at Fang Nanzhi now, he had a different feeling.

It's like fearing that a tree that stands out too much in the forest will harm a good seedling.

Fang Nanzhi gave him a sweet smile.

"I know that. Historically, how many reformers have had a good ending? The more radical they were, the more miserable their deaths were."

"The path that the Imperial Medical Academy is about to take, though not yet so perilous, is still subject to the same principle: haste makes waste."

"However, someone always needs to make a bold suggestion, and then the person in charge decides how to proceed."

This is a compliment to Physician Xing, implying he is the true leader and that he is also pulling people onto his own side.

As for her bold suggestion, it can be understood as a family going shopping for clothes, one person boldly bargaining, which displeases the merchant, while the other person tries to smooth things over.

Finally, choose a price that is neither too high nor too low, between the low price and the original price of the product.

Physician Xing understood all the underlying principles.

He chuckled and stroked his beard.

"I remember that Doctor Fang had the right to enter and leave the palace at any time?"

Fang Nanzhi said seriously, "No, the palace is a sacred place, how can people come and go as they please? I can only enter the palace to pay my respects when I have something to do."

hypocritical!

Physician Xing scoffed inwardly, wondering how this girl, at such a young age, could switch so effortlessly between honesty and cunning.

That sounds quite true.

You can only enter the palace if you have something to do. In all the world, how many people can enter the palace just because they have something to do?

Physician Xing knew many inside stories, such as the Crown Prince's first stirrings of love, how he fell ill with lovesickness during the New Year, finding fault with everyone, and how, once the New Year was over, he racked his brains to devise a peacock display...

Who was that girl? The Crown Prince didn't say, but after getting to know her better, Physician Xing guessed it almost effortlessly.

In other words, Fang Nanzhi might actually start to regard the palace as her "home" in the future.

Thinking of this, Physician Xing forced a "kind" smile.

"Regarding the free clinic organized by the Imperial Medical Academy, we need to report to His Majesty in a month. I wonder if Physician Fang would be willing to help me write a memorial?"

Fang Nanzhi blinked. She wrote a memorial? She was just an ordinary citizen.

She's not stupid; she has many ideas that others might find unconventional.

She could just talk about it privately in front of the doctors; bringing it up in the imperial court would only make her more hated.

She's just a young girl, she can't handle it. But Physician Xing is the head of the Imperial Hospital. What's wrong with him carrying a little more weight?

Just as she was about to politely decline, Physician Xing continued with a smile, "Why don't you, Young Physician Fang, go and ask Elder Zhou what he thinks?"

Fang Nanzhi swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

She nodded.

After leaving the Xing residence, Fang Nanzhi patted her stomach and got into the car: "Let's go quickly, Mr. Deng's cook is making noodles with soybean paste today."

The coachman chuckled and cracked his whip, and the carriage started moving.

In the study, Physician Xing and his son sat quietly for a long time.

Only then did I truly digest what Fang Nanzhi had said.

"Father, what Dr. Fang said is too risky."

"In this world, benefits are always accompanied by risks, and the greater the benefit, the greater the risk."

Xing Yun remained expressionless.

"When I was in this position, Mr. Zhou could see the heads of doctors at a glance, so the descendants of the Zhou family abandoned medicine and pursued literature."

"Does this mean that my Xing family must also bury what our ancestors left behind?"

"Fang Nanzhi is right about one thing: the traditions of our medical lineage are no less important than those of Confucianism and Taoism."

Physician Xing straightened his back, his chest filled with confidence and pride.

He had never had this idea before, but today, Fang Nanzhi's explanation made it clear to him.

Xing Yun was also shocked by those words, but he hesitated.

"Father, you are already the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, why take such a risk?"

The Xing family's status and wealth were already sufficient.

Their plan was always to pass this position down, which is why Xing Yun came into being.

But now, doing that unnecessary thing will introduce unforeseen circumstances.

“Yun’er, I have always taught you to prioritize composure, but I don’t mean to let you lose the pride that comes with being a doctor.”

"Someone always has to be on the front lines to get what we want."

Physician Xing felt a surge of excitement, as if he had returned to his teenage years, a time of boundless ambition.

Xing Yun hadn't expected his father to be so interested.

"father……"

Physician Xing waved his hand: "Yun'er, I know what you want to say. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down."

“Your father is an old man, I know what I’m doing.”

Xing Yun pursed his lips, feeling that his father had been greatly fooled by Fang Nanzhi and had no sense of propriety at all.

Fang Nanzhi's words eventually spread. Don't misunderstand, it wasn't intentional.

Even after the doctors went home, they tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and couldn't help but mention it to their spouses and children.

Then someone spread the word... and eventually it reached the ears of important people.

Most people wouldn't care; she's just a little girl, thirteen years old, a time when she's full of imagination and high spirits.

When she grows up a bit more, things will be different. Her edges will be smoothed out by worldly affairs and reality, and she will naturally stop talking nonsense.

But there are always petty people who like to nitpick at other people's minor flaws, or people who have a grudge against Fang Yin.

They saw this as an opportunity to unite with the censors and impeach Fang Tong for failing to properly educate his daughter.

However, the memorial was suppressed by the senior officials of the Censorate.

The old man thought they were just nitpicking because they had nothing better to do.

"What? A young girl, not an official of the imperial court, is going to be impeached just because she talks to a doctor a few times?"

"It's just a discussion about medical techniques, not politics. You're just trying to find fault with us, but that's far-fetched."

His subordinates also had their reasons and evidence.

"My lord, Fang Nanzhi is the daughter of an official. If her words and actions are inappropriate, I fear the common people will follow suit..."

The old man chuckled and said, "A few days ago, the young princes got into a fight. Why don't we ask Imperial Censor Wang to go and advise them on how to behave properly?"

The Censorate viewed the brawls of those spoiled brats as childish mischief and did not participate.

These days, a young girl can influence the people of Beijing with just a few words? Nonsense!

Censor Wang's face turned red, and he was speechless.

When he steps down, someone else will take his place.

"But Fang Nanzhi's words implied a disdain for Confucianism. Isn't that disrespecting us?"

"Imperial Censor Wu, you really like to invite trouble for yourself." The old man lifted his eyelids and glanced at him.

He was in charge of the Censorate for many years, and his eloquence was impeccable, able to debate with a group of scholars without a single flaw.

"Dr. Fang is wrong? The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic comes from the Yellow Emperor. Which of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors is not more esteemed than Confucius?"

The subordinate stared wide-eyed. What did this mean? Did the Confucianists not compare to the medical practitioners?

"Even if her words were indeed inappropriate, so what?" The old doctor certainly wouldn't agree with Fang Nanzhi, but he wouldn't criticize her either.

"The monks in the temple also believe that Buddhism is Mahayana Buddhism and do not respect Confucianism."

"And the Taoist priests worship Laozi day and night, but it's not a statue of Confucius."

"Fang Nanzhi is a doctor, and she thinks being a doctor is good. Is there a problem with that?"

The old doctor's few words left the people below completely bewildered.

Hearing it this way, it really does make sense.

"If any of you bring up such trivial matters again and try to make a fuss about them, don't blame me for being impolite."

The old doctor left a message, flicked his sleeves, and walked away.

In a corner, Imperial Censor Zhou also quietly left.

He couldn't show his face, since everyone in the Censorate knew that his Zhou family had a close relationship with Fang Nanzhi.

However, once Imperial Censor Zhou learned of this, his father also received the news.

After thinking about it for a while, Old Zhou strolled over to the Deng residence in the afternoon, saying he wanted to try the cooking of the Deng family's cook and come for a free meal.

Mr. Deng would definitely agree.

So when Fang Nanzhi returned from her free clinic and saw the three doctors, she felt completely overwhelmed.

These past few days, Mr. Deng and Mr. Zheng have been teaching together. It's been going well; they each take half an hour, then half an hour.

Within two days, the two started arguing.

The reason is that Mr. Deng did not agree with one point Mr. Zheng made in his explanation.

After that incident, the two gentlemen would argue every few days, and they liked to have Fang Nanzhi act as a mediator.

Being a middleman is not easy; you need to be fair and have a solid academic background...