Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Zhang Jingwei walked out of the government office quickly and saw Sun Yaolang waiting anxiously at the door. He hurriedly went to greet him, "Godmother!"

Sun Yaolang's face was filled with rare excitement and hope. He grabbed Zhang Jingwei's arm, his voice trembling. "Jingwei! Ling'er might actually be saved this time! You...you actually invited my mentor here! He's a leading figure in the imperial medical field. In his youth, he was selected for the Imperial Hospital for his superb medical skills, and rose through the ranks to become the director. He's highly respected! The 'living dead' case was so difficult before, and I wrote to him several times, begging him to come, but he was always unable to come due to palace affairs or his advanced age. I didn't...I didn't expect that this time, you would actually persuade him!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jingwei was filled with ecstasy: "Oh? That's great! God bless Ling'er! Where is my mentor now? I must thank you in person!"

Sun Yaolang said quickly, "Master has just arrived at the county government office. Hearing that you were handling official business, he didn't let me wait for the announcement and went straight to the medical bureau to check."

Zhang Jingwei's face changed slightly when he heard this. He turned to Qian Ming behind him and said with a hint of reproach: "Qian Ming! Why didn't you inform me immediately when the superior from the capital arrived?!"

Qian Ming looked aggrieved and hurriedly explained, "Young Master, calm down! It was the old imperial physician who specifically ordered us to do this. He said that government affairs are the most important thing and that the county magistrate must not be disturbed because of him. I... I dare not disobey..."

Although Zhang Jingwei knew this, he was still worried about his wife and was extremely anxious. He scolded her, "You! If you delay the important task of treating my wife because of this, I will definitely take your head off!"

Qian Ming shrank back in fear: "I'm really going to die! I'm going to the pharmacy to ask for a doctor right now!"

"What invitations are there?" Zhang Jingwei flicked his sleeves. "Of course I'll go and visit him in person!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already lifted the hem of his official robe and walked quickly towards the Pharmacy, almost jogging.

Upon reaching the pharmacy, Zhang Jingwei paused, took a deep breath, and quickly straightened his appearance, which had become slightly disheveled from running. He straightened his black gauze hat and retied the jade belt around his waist, ensuring proper etiquette. Only then did he catch his breath and walk in with a respectful yet slightly hurried pace.

Seeing no one in the front hall, he felt puzzled and hurried through the hall to the backyard. The scene before him stunned him - the usually lively and even somewhat aggressive Jiu'er was now kneeling obediently before the statue of "Medical Ancestor Bian Sheng" enshrined in the courtyard, her hands still pitifully pulling at her ears.

An old man in a brocade robe, with an extraordinary demeanor and white hair and beard, was sitting upright on a stone bench in the courtyard. His face was calm and he looked majestic without being angry.

The old man didn't look at Zhang Jingwei, but continued to ask Jiuer: "Do you know your mistake?"

Jiu'er pouted, her face full of dissatisfaction but she didn't dare to contradict him. She whispered, "Grandson... I don't know where I'm wrong. Please tell me, grandfather."

The old man in brocade clothes spoke in a steady voice, yet with unquestionable authority: "What disease did the patient you just treated have?"

Jiu'er replied: "It's just a common cold."

The old man asked again: "What prescription did you prescribe?"

Jiuer repeated the common medicinal herbs she had just prescribed for treating colds.

The old man shook his head slightly. "The prescription itself, the main ingredient, the auxiliary ingredient, and the adjuvant, appear to be flawless. The fault isn't with the medicine, but with the doctor! You simply recited the prescription, completely disregarding the patient's suitability for the time and place!" His voice deepened as he began to list his faults. "Medicine is something that cures illnesses; it must be suited to the right time, place, and people. It's true that colds are common in the north during spring, but right now, the sun is scorching, and it's midday heat, and yet you're still using pungent, warm, and dispersing yang-invigorating herbs as the main ingredients. The patient, already dry-mouthed, and now fueled by internal heat, will inevitably feel a burning sensation in his heart and liver. He'll instinctively drink copious amounts of water to alleviate the symptoms, but this actually significantly diminishes the medicine's properties, rendering it only half as effective! This is completely contrary to the natural order!"

He paused and continued, "The temperature difference between day and night in the north is enormous, and the nighttime winds are already biting and piercing. The patient took your medicine, which caused internal heat in his body. He drank a lot of water, and late at night, the cold water in his stomach came into contact with the cold. The combination of heat and cold will surely cause unbearable abdominal pain. The old illness hasn't gone away, and new trouble has been added! This is contrary to the geographical advantages!"

The old man's eyes flashed as he looked at Jiu'er. "Furthermore, when the patient came in just now, he was pale, weak, and sweating profusely—a sign of Qi deficiency! You didn't see that his vital energy was already depleted, yet you still used the strong, diaphoretic ephedra as medicine. Isn't that just adding insult to injury, making his weakness even worse? This goes against the harmony of nature! The time, the place, and the people are all off. Your medicine may not be ineffective, but it's causing the patient so much suffering, which goes against the original intention of a doctor."

Zhang Jingwei, listening nearby, was horrified, a cold sweat pouring down his face! He had never imagined that a simple prescription for treating a cold could lead to such profound medical principles, involving the right time, right place, and right people! This was far beyond the scope of ordinary medical treatment and saving lives, bordering on the Dao!

At this moment, the old man in brocade clothes seemed to be aware of his presence. Without turning his head, he asked calmly, "Who is here?"

Zhang Jingwei immediately collected his thoughts, stepped forward quickly, and bowed deeply: "I am Zhang Jingwei, the Magistrate of Gaoyang County. I pay my respects to you, Your Excellency!"

The old man in brocade clothes then slowly turned his head, looked him over calmly, and said calmly, "I am just a doctor, and it is not appropriate to address me as 'Sir'. Please use another title."

Zhang Jingwei readily accepted the advice, his attitude becoming increasingly respectful. "Yes, Senior. I have just listened to your teachings and have benefited greatly! I never imagined that prescriptions for treating illnesses could be so profound and extensive, connecting the three elements of heaven, earth, and man. This is truly the realm of the great medical path. I admire you deeply!"

A subtle flicker of surprise crossed the old man's eyes, as if he hadn't expected the young magistrate to grasp and grasp this point. He nodded slightly, "Are you the Zhang Qi, Zhang Jingwei, the 'talented master of the universe,' that Prime Minister Zhao mentioned?"

Zhang Jingwei said modestly, "I am Zhang Jingwei. Prime Minister Zhao loves me, and I do not deserve your praise."

However, the old man suddenly changed the subject, his tone becoming sharper: "Prime Minister Zhao praised you to His Majesty as rare in the world. After seeing you today, I am afraid that you are not worthy of your reputation and are just a facade!"

Zhang Jingwei was stunned. He had not expected the other party to suddenly attack him. He said in confusion, "I am stupid. I don't know why you say that, senior."

The old man raised his hand, pointing at Jiu'er, who was still kneeling on the ground, and said in a suddenly stern voice, "As the head of a county and the official in charge of the people, you actually let such an ignorant, impetuous and reckless girl serve as the county's medical officer? In charge of the health and life and death of millions of people? Do you want Gaoyang County to be plagued by endless diseases and the people's livelihood to decline?!"

These words were extremely harsh! Jiuer felt extremely aggrieved when she heard them, and her eyes instantly turned red. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she bit her lips tightly and dared not cry out loud.

Zhang Jingwei was startled at first, then a surge of blood rushed to his heart. He took a deep breath, and instead of retreating in fear, he straightened his back, met the old man's sharp gaze, and retorted in a clear and firm voice:

"Senior, please forgive me for not agreeing with your words!"

He raised his hand and pointed at Jiu'er, his tone full of protection: "Miss Jiu'er is indeed young. She lacks the rich experience and profound knowledge of her predecessors. Her clinical experience may be insufficient. This is something I will never deny! But!"

He changed the subject, his voice suddenly rising, full of power: "But she treats every patient equally, regardless of their wealth, status, and class, with all her heart and soul! She never flatters the rich who seek treatment; she never turns away the poor who knock on her door! How many lonely elderly people with difficulty in going out, how many seriously ill patients are bedridden, it is she, a young woman, who, despite the filth and the hard work, personally visits them to treat them! She has been a medical officer in Gaoyang for less than half a year, and she has treated countless patients! Before she came, how many poor people had no money for medical treatment and could only wait to die at home! But now, what they are waiting for is not death, but hope! Jiuer is their hope!"

Zhang Jingwei grew increasingly excited as he spoke. He stepped forward, his eyes blazing as he spoke loudly, "Her monthly salary is only three strings of cash and six taels of silver, yet she often pays for medical expenses out of her own pocket for the poor who can't afford them, often leaving her penniless at the end of the month! I dare to ask you, senior—why can't someone with such a kind heart and such a compassionate spirit be my Gaoyang Medical Officer?! How can such a brave, kind girl, who has given life to countless people, not be worthy of being my Gaoyang Medical Officer?"

These words were so passionate and inspiring that they shocked everyone present. Not only were Sun Yaolang, Qian Ming and others stunned, but even the old man in brocade clothes was stunned by the barrage of rebuttals and was speechless for a moment.

The old man stared into Zhang Jingwei's eyes, which were full of sincerity and determination, without flinching. After a long while, he slowly spoke in an unfathomable tone, "Young man, you are so bold. You dare to speak to me like this? Aren't you afraid... that I will refuse to treat your wife in anger?"

Zhang Jingwei, unafraid, met his gaze calmly, speaking word for word, "If you, Senior, become displeased because I appointed a girl who cares about the people and offers medical treatment, and even vent your anger on me and refuse to help... then I would think that such a narrow-minded person, one who disregards the cares of a doctor, even if his medical skills are extraordinary, his medical ethics would not convince me! I, Zhang Jingwei, would not allow such a person to treat my wife!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire backyard of the pharmacy fell into a dead silence, a pin drop audible. Everyone held their breath, the air seemed to freeze. Sun Yaolang rubbed his hands anxiously, but he didn't dare to interrupt.

After several minutes, when the suffocating pressure was about to reach its peak, the old man in brocade clothes sitting upright suddenly burst into a loud and hearty laugh:

"Hahahaha... Great! Great! What a great Zhang Jingwei! What a great 'why'! What a great 'unwilling'!"

The laughter gradually died down, and the old man clapped his hands in admiration, his eyes filled with admiration: "As expected! As expected! That old fellow Zhao Mingcheng's vision is still so sharp! He really didn't make a mistake in choosing this person! This is a good material!"

At this moment, Zhang Jingwei, who had just been speaking with such vigour and vigor, felt his nerves suddenly loosen when he heard the old man's laughter. He almost collapsed. He had just harshly criticized the then-current director of the Imperial Hospital and a leading figure in the medical field. Now his calves felt a little weak...