Travels of a Female Physician in the Ming Dynasty

Although Zhu Yuan's "sports health plan" ended in a miserable failure, his innate ability of "self-promotion" made him unexpectedly become the "running coach" of the ladies.

This news spread throughout the entire harem, and even in the imperial garden, there were more and more teams jogging every morning, which became a fitness trend in the palace.

One morning, I just walked into the Imperial Garden and saw Zhu Yuan standing on a big rock from afar. He was holding a branch he had picked up from somewhere and was "directing" a group of concubines and palace maids to run with a serious face.

He stood straight, chanting out of tune: "One, two, one, two! Keep your steps in step! Breathe evenly! Smile brightly! Run as lightly as the wind."

Then he stood there motionless, waving the branch in his hand vigorously.

I stood aside and couldn't believe my eyes: this guy actually became a "running coach" and looked so "professional".

What surprised me even more was that the ladies who were running were actually quite serious. They followed behind me breathlessly, and seemed to be enjoying the fun of this sport.

"Zhu Yuan, you seem to be standing quite comfortably." I walked forward and couldn't help teasing.

Zhu Yuan heard my voice and immediately jumped off the rock with a smile on his face: "Miss Yang, you've come just in time! I'm doing a serious morning jog!"

I glanced at the group of ladies who were running seriously and couldn't help laughing: "You didn't run much yourself, so why are you standing there directing others?"

Zhu Yuan chuckled and lowered his voice, "Well, as a coach, of course I have to 'observe' the overall situation of the team. I can't just do things rashly."

"Observing the team?" I laughed so hard I could barely stand up straight. "You're probably observing yourself slacking off, aren't you?"

Zhu Yuan waved his hand seriously. "No, no, as a coach, my responsibility is to make them run healthily and happily. My own running is not important."

I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt, and thought to myself: This guy really knows how to make excuses for himself.

However, Zhu Yuan's coaching career was not as smooth as I imagined.

The next day, I was sorting herbs in the pharmacy when I heard hurried footsteps outside. Then, Zhu Yuan rushed in like a gust of wind, his face full of panic.

"Miss Yang! Help!" He shouted and gasped, looking extremely miserable.

I was startled. "What's wrong with you? What's going on again?"

Zhu Yuan sat down on the chair and waved his hands repeatedly: "Ladies...Ladies are going to rebel!"

"Rebellion?" I was stunned. "What did you do?"

Zhu Yuan looked aggrieved. "How would I know?! When we were running today, I wanted to make it a little more challenging, so I had them do some simple jumping exercises after a few laps. But... they all just refused to do it, surrounding me and saying things like, 'Master Zhu, you're plotting to murder me,' and 'Master Zhu, you're trying to tire us out.' I didn't even have a chance to explain before they were kicked out!"

I couldn't help but laugh out loud. "You really have the nerve to make them do jumping exercises? Do you think this is military training?"

Zhu Yuan's face was full of innocence: "I am doing this to help them strengthen their bodies, who knew they were so 'fragile'..."

I shook my head and said with a smile, "You, the ladies in the palace are used to an elegant life. They definitely won't be able to handle all this dancing around. You should just take it easy and stop doing these 'difficult' moves."

Zhu Yuan nodded helplessly: "It seems that I am still too eager for quick success..."

However, Zhu Yuan obviously did not learn his lesson.

A few days later, he made a new joke.

That day, I was preparing to go to the Imperial Garden to deliver some medicinal food to the Queen for her health. When I passed by, I suddenly heard a strange slogan, and even a few screams.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Ladies, come on! Do it again!" Zhu Yuan's voice echoed in the imperial garden.

I hurried over, but when I got there, I almost fell to the ground laughing—

Zhu Yuan actually let the ladies play "Kicking Shuttlecock"!

That’s right, in the imperial garden, several ladies dressed in gorgeous clothes were kicking shuttlecocks with all their might, while Zhu Yuan was standing by, holding the branch and waving it to cheer them on.

"Kick higher! Don't be afraid! Kicking shuttlecock is the best exercise for the lower limbs! Come, Queen, try it!" Zhu Yuan handed a shuttlecock to the Queen with great interest.

The Queen looked at him helplessly, as if she had given up struggling. She just kicked the shuttlecock lightly, and it flew far away and landed in the flowers.

I almost couldn't stop laughing. The scene was so funny - the Queen Mother was playing shuttlecock, which was really unprecedented.

When Zhu Yuan saw me, he immediately ran over to me with a proud look on his face: "Miss Yang, look, this is an innovation! Kicking shuttlecock is both a good exercise and fun!"

"You're quite the talent." I smiled and shook my head, "But the ladies don't seem to be taking it well."

"Take it slow. Health preservation requires a gradual approach." Zhu Yuan said seriously, completely ignoring the worried expressions of the ladies behind him.

Although Zhu Yuan's "exercise and health" methods are full of strange ones, people in the palace seem to be increasingly accepting of this novel way of activity.

Every morning, many concubines and palace maids could be seen in the imperial garden, jogging, playing shuttlecock, and even a few brave palace maids started to try skipping rope.

The atmosphere in the palace became much more relaxed as a result. Everyone seemed to find happiness in these activities. Even the Queen would come to the Imperial Garden for a walk from time to time, and occasionally chat with everyone about her recent sports experiences.

Although Zhu Yuan made a lot of jokes, his optimistic spirit also infected many people.

He always mingled with everyone with a smile and led everyone in exercising, as if he was the "spiritual leader" of the Imperial Garden.

One night, it suddenly rained lightly in the palace, and the morning jogging activity in the imperial garden had to be suspended.

I was sitting by the window sorting medicinal herbs when I suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside.

After a while, Zhu Yuan rushed in, dripping wet, with his familiar smirk on his face.

"Miss Yang, I have good news to tell you." He chuckled while shaking off the rain on his body.

I looked up at him and said, "What good news? What are you up to?"

Zhu Yuan said proudly, "Do you remember the 'Gold Medal Special Training Class' I mentioned earlier? The ladies have been asking me when the class will start! They said they want to learn some more interesting sports!"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Are you planning to set up some kind of 'Palace Fitness Club'?"

Zhu Yuan nodded seriously, "That's right! I've already thought about it. Next, I'm going to introduce 'shuttlecock fighting'! It's two people holding bamboo paddles and hitting the shuttlecock back and forth. I heard that people outside are playing this. It's both elegant and fun, and it's perfect for ladies!"

I almost burst out laughing: "You even got a 'badminton racket'? Are you planning to turn the palace into a sports field?"

Zhu Yuan was very proud: "Yes, Badminton is a good name. Once our 'Palace Badminton Team' is established, maybe I can organize a few matches with the ladies!"

"Competition?" I was so amused that I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Your idea is too wild."

Zhu Yuan laughed heartily: "Of course! My dreams have never been small!"

I smiled helplessly and thought to myself: This guy always has new ideas.

A few days later, Zhu Yuan really started to arrange "badminton training".

Several simple pillars were erected in the imperial garden, and thin ropes were hung on them as a "net". The palace maids gathered around to watch the fun.

"Come on, today we are going to learn 'Palace Badminton', everyone pay attention!" Zhu Yuan stood in the middle of the court, holding a pair of bamboo rackets in his hands, looking proud.

I stood aside, looking at his serious expression, and couldn't help laughing out loud.

This palace "running coach" has actually come up with some new tricks.

However, looking at the ladies and palace maids chasing badminton with smiles on their faces, I couldn't help but feel warm in my heart: perhaps, this relaxed and happy atmosphere was the ray of sunshine that Zhu Yuan brought to the palace.