Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Li Ruoyue dragged her exhausted body and slowly walked back home from the Imperial Hospital. As she walked, she thought about the various illnesses and treatments she had encountered in the Imperial Hospital today. When she finally reached the door, she took a deep breath and gently pushed it open.

However, as soon as she entered the house, she immediately felt a strange, oppressive atmosphere. Her stepmother, Hua, and her stepsister, Li Ruoliu, were sitting in the living room, their eyes meeting, as if they had some kind of tacit understanding.

When Hua saw Li Ruoyue return, a hint of dissatisfaction crossed her face. She spoke first, her tone undeniable: "Ruoyue, you're a girl, and you're busy running around in the Imperial Hospital every day. How can that be? From ancient times to the present, women should be at home, taking care of the household, supporting their husbands and raising their children. Showing up in public is not a good thing."

Li Ruoyue felt helpless after hearing what Hua said. She knew her stepmother had always been critical of her work at the Imperial Hospital, but she truly loved medicine and couldn't give it up.

Li Ruoyue sighed softly, then raised her head, looking at her mistress with sincere and respectful eyes, and slowly said, "Madam, you are well aware of my passion for medicine. In the Imperial Hospital, I can put my knowledge to use and treat those suffering from pain. This is not only my wish, but also my value as a daughter. Moreover, I have never neglected the affairs of my family."

However, before Li Ruoyue finished her words, Li Ruoliu, who was standing beside her, snorted in disdain. She glanced at Li Ruoyue, a hint of sarcasm on her lips, and said, "Sister, stop making those far-fetched excuses for yourself. The world out there is complicated and full of people of all kinds. A weak woman like you, venturing out on your own, will inevitably attract rumors. If these rumors spread, not only will they damage your own reputation, but they will also bring shame to our Li family. The consequences will be disastrous. Don't let it be too late to regret it!"

Li Ruoyue remained unmoved by Li Ruoliu's sarcasm. She simply looked at her sister quietly, a hint of helplessness and tolerance in her eyes. She took a deep breath, then explained in a gentle yet firm tone, "Sister, I know you're worried about me, but I've always been very cautious and would never do anything that would bring shame upon our family. Everyone has their own ambitions and aspirations, and mine is to practice medicine and save lives, using my skills to help those in need. I hope you understand my sincere feelings."

Hua frowned and emphasized her tone, "Ruoyue, we are all doing this for your own good. The Imperial Hospital is full of experienced doctors. How capable can a young woman like you be? Don't offend them and harm yourself and your family."

Li Ruoyue's mind was as clear as a mirror. She knew very well that the reason her stepmother and stepsister were so opposed to her going to the Imperial Hospital was simply because they were jealous of her achievements there and wanted to use this opportunity to make her give up and give up her career.

However, Li Ruoyue's resolve was firm, and she wouldn't be easily swayed by others' words. She straightened her body, looked at her stepmother with a resolute gaze, and said firmly, "Don't worry, stepmother. I will be very careful with my words and actions at the Imperial Hospital and get along well with the doctors. I have every confidence in my medical skills. I believe that as long as I study hard, I will make a difference in the Imperial Hospital and bring honor to our Li family."

Upon hearing this, Li Ruoliu sneered and said sarcastically, "Humph, sister, you're so arrogant! With your limited medical skills, you still want to bring honor to the Li family? I think you're just dreaming!"

Hua Shi, standing by, quickly chimed in, "Ruoyue, stop being so stubborn. Listen to your stepmother, stay home and take care of your husband and children. Isn't that good enough? Why bother going to a place like the Imperial Hospital?"

Li Ruoyue took a deep breath and said, "Madam, sister, practicing medicine is my lifelong pursuit, and I will never give up. I hope my stepmother and sister can support me." After saying that, she really didn't want to continue this meaningless argument, so she bowed and took her leave and returned to her room.

Back in her room, Li Ruoyue sat by the bed, feeling helpless yet determined. But she knew she couldn't back down. She vowed silently to achieve something within the Imperial Hospital, prove her choice was the right one, and change her stepmother and stepsister's opinion of her.

However, she also knew that the road ahead would be full of thorns. Not only would she have to deal with the complex interpersonal relationships and medical problems at the Imperial Hospital, but she would also have to deal with conflicts at home. But Li Ruoyue was resilient by nature and was ready to face all challenges.

Li Ruoyue woke up bright and early the next day, happily rushing to the Imperial Hospital. Before she could even sit down, she noticed something was amiss. Upon asking around, she discovered that a distinguished guest had taken medicine prescribed by the hospital the previous day, and instead of getting better, their condition had worsened. The emperor was furious when he learned of this, and ordered the hospital to investigate thoroughly, lest they face serious consequences.

The court official was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, summoning all the imperial physicians to discuss a solution. Everyone chattered non-stop, but couldn't come up with a good idea. Li Ruoyue looked over the nobleman's medical records and prescriptions several times. Hey, she actually found nothing wrong with the prescription, but the choice of herbs seemed a bit strange.

She boldly speculated, "My Lords, in my opinion, the problem lies with the medicinal ingredients. You see, this medicine is produced in a completely different place than what we normally use, so its efficacy is naturally different. Furthermore, I've heard that the medicinal herb market is quite chaotic lately, with all sorts of counterfeit goods being passed off as genuine goods. So, I'm hazarding a guess that perhaps the herbs we purchased are of substandard quality."

However, before she could finish her words, she was refuted by an old imperial physician. He said with disdain, "Doctor Li, stop your nonsense! My Imperial Hospital has always been extremely cautious in purchasing medicinal materials, with every level of scrutiny. How could such a problem as you describe occur?"

Li Ruoyue didn't flinch in the face of the old imperial physician's questioning. She straightened her body and responded calmly, "Senior, I understand you have great confidence in the Imperial Hospital's procurement process. However, the situation is urgent now, and we can't afford to overlook any possibility. In my opinion, we should investigate according to my speculation, so that everyone can have a clearer understanding. If we do find any problems with the herbs, we can take timely measures to remedy them and avoid delaying the treatment. Don't you agree?"

The hospital official thought for a moment, then said, "What Doctor Li said makes sense. Let's investigate according to her advice."

After a thorough investigation, it was discovered that the purchased herbs had been counterfeited by unscrupulous drug dealers. Having identified the root cause, Li Ruoyue decisively adjusted the prescription and personally oversaw the decoction process. Thanks to her tireless efforts, the noble's condition gradually improved.

Li Ruoyue slowly opened the door and walked into the four-person room that belonged to her. As soon as she entered, she felt a sense of tranquility, but her heart felt like it had been ravaged by a storm and could not calm down.

She slowly walked to the window, staring at the scenery outside, thinking about what had just happened. She realized that she seemed to have found the root of the problem. However, this discovery did not bring her much joy, but instead made her feel a heavy pressure.

If she couldn't find the root of the problem and decided to unfollow him, it would not only implicate her father, but also have a serious impact on her position in the Imperial Hospital. She knew that in this environment full of competition and power struggles, she could lose everything if she wasn't careful.

Li Ruoyue secretly made up her mind to gain a firm foothold in the Imperial Hospital and establish her own spies and influence. Only in this way could she not easily shake her position and foundation because of a small matter when facing various challenges and difficulties.

She took a deep breath and told herself to stay calm and strong. No matter how many difficulties and obstacles she encountered, she must not give up and must persevere until she achieved her goal.

Even though he had spent his last life in the palace, lacking power or status, and his years had passed in vain, it didn't mean he was completely ignorant of what was going on there. In fact, he had heard a fair bit about the various happenings within the palace, as well as the gossip surrounding certain people.

After careful consideration, I decided to start with the inconspicuous and unpopular palace maids. These maids held low positions within the court and were often overlooked, yet they might possess crucial information or potential power. By establishing connections with them and gradually earning their trust, I could gradually infiltrate the inner circle of those in power.

Those who are high and mighty and always look down on the lower class often take these seemingly insignificant palace maids lightly because of their arrogance and underestimation of the enemy. However, it is this contempt that gives me an opportunity to take advantage of.

Among these palace maids, there are also some unrefined servants who do chores like cleaning, as well as eunuchs. Although they are of low status, they have their own ways of survival and interpersonal networks. If I can effectively recruit these people and make them work for me, my influence in the palace will gradually expand.

Now, let me think about it... Oh, right! Who was the tyrant's chief eunuch? It seems to be Eunuch Wang Xi. It's said that despite his ruthless nature, he was also known for his gratitude. It's said that a kind old palace maid once gave him a steamed bun when he was nearly starving. He always remembered this kindness, even personally caring for the old maid until her death when she was old and frail.