A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

Every doctor who accompanied the thousands of doctors in the fight against the epidemic was filled with excitement.

Looking at the plaque and at the upright figure of Dr. Qian, they secretly rejoiced at their decision to grit their teeth and rush to the epidemic area.

They had witnessed Dr. Qian's skills and character. If they humbly sought his medical advice, Dr. Qian would guide them without reservation, showing his open-mindedness and willingness to help.

To be able to fight alongside such an upright and skilled physician, to contribute to the safety of the people, and to receive such a grand commendation from the provincial governor's office—this honor is something they will remember for a lifetime, and what a glorious past they will tell their descendants.

Those doctors who didn't go to fight the epidemic back then are now crowded at the back of the crowd, filled with regret and envy, their faces burning with embarrassment.

Someone whispered an attempt to salvage the situation: "Well, back then, I was just worried about my young children at home."

“If I didn’t have an elderly mother who was bedridden and needed to be taken care of, I would definitely have gone.”

But there was also a straightforward doctor who said in a deep voice, "What's the use of saying all this now? In the end, it was just that we were scared back then, afraid of contracting the virus and losing our lives."

After he finished speaking, the doctors around him fell silent. Yes, no amount of excuses could hide their initial hesitation.

Wang Shouren lived among the common people, watching all this with indescribable feelings in his heart.

He initially led the charge in saying that these people were overestimating themselves, but as it turned out, he was short-sighted.

Zhang Tuo then approached Doctor Qian, handed him an exquisite brocade box, and said with a smile, "Doctor Qian, this is an extra reward from the Capital Medical Association."

He slowly explained, "After Lord Jiang returned to the capital, he recommended you to the Xuanhu Medical Association, reporting your medical skills and anti-epidemic efforts. I heard that several well-known doctors in the provincial capital's medical community, including Granny Huang, also jointly wrote a letter to vouch for you and apply for your medical practitioner evaluation. When I came to present the award, I also brought this three-star medical practitioner badge from the Xuanhu Medical Association."

Nie Qianqian took the brocade box, gently stroked the dark patterns on its surface with her fingertips, and slowly opened it.

The box was lined with a layer of smooth, light green velvet, and a small badge lay quietly in the center.

The badge is engraved with three round and plump gourds, with vines winding around them. The lines are delicate and smooth, and the style is exactly the same as the two-star badge of Director Zhang's Hanging Medicine Association, except that there is an extra gourd. The workmanship is more exquisite, and it has a slightly cool touch with a delicate jade-like texture.

A thought suddenly struck her—wasn't this badge equivalent to the official certification of doctors in this era?

With this, one can avoid many unnecessary obstacles in the medical field in the future.

Just like last time at the Zhao residence, even though I was in a hurry to save people, I was subjected to a lot of gossip and obstruction because of my unclear identity and lack of trust. This wasted my time and caused a lot of trouble.

Now that we have this three-star physician badge, we have the best confidence, and others will no longer dare to underestimate or question us.

Nie Qianqian picked up the badge with her fingertips, examined it carefully for a moment, then put it away. She raised her eyes and bowed to Zhang Tuo in thanks: "Thank you for delivering it, Lord Zhang. Please also thank Lord Jiang and all those who recommended me."

Her actions drew envious glances from the doctors at Jishetang.

Ordinary people may not know the significance of the Medical Association, but those in the profession know it all too well.

The evaluation criteria of this medical association are extremely stringent. Even doctors with superb medical skills and a small reputation in the area can only be rated as one star. Two-star doctors are already considered to be able to stand alone and manage the overall situation of the medical clinic. Only someone like Director Zhang can achieve this.

A three-star healer? That's something they wouldn't even dare to dream of!

In the entire Fulin County, and even in the surrounding prefectures and counties, there has never been a single three-star doctor.

They had only heard that doctors of this caliber were usually the directors of large medical clinics in the provincial capital, and that ordinary doctors would find it difficult to even meet them.

And Dr. Qian actually became a legendary three-star doctor!

As everyone watched Nie Qianqian's retreating figure, they were filled with admiration and a sense of indescribable pride.

This three-star doctor comes from Jishetang in Fulin County!

After the ceremony, the people dispersed, but the events of the day had become the center of discussion throughout the city.

In teahouses and taverns throughout the streets and alleys, everyone was talking about the grand event; even the peddlers who carried their wares on shoulder poles would gather together to admire it while taking a break.

"Your efforts to stand in front of everyone today were worthwhile! Didn't you see the imposing presence of Lord Zhang from the provincial capital? Dressed in a scarlet official robe, just standing there exuding authority, it was truly an eye-opener!" The shopkeeper slapped his thigh, his face beaming with excitement.

"Indeed! Especially when Lord Zhang handed the vermilion award certificate to Doctor Qian with both hands, my heart skipped a beat, and then it felt so warm! The scene was so solemn that no one dared to utter a sound. Doctor Qian deserves this honor; he is truly a living bodhisattva of our Fulin County!"

"Speaking of which, what exactly is this 'Three-Star Physician of the Suspended Pot Medical Association'? It sounds incredibly impressive!"

"You young man, you don't even know about the Medical Association? That association was established during the reign of the late emperor. It only recognizes medical skills, not status! Those who can get certification from the association are all renowned national experts. Three-star physicians are the best of the best. For a thousand doctors to get it is an extremely rare honor!"

Everyone listened with amazement, their gazes toward Jishetang filled with admiration and pride.

Inside Jishetang, Lord Zhang secretly summoned all the doctors from Jishetang.

After everyone was seated, he smiled and said, "Gentlemen, after Lord Jiang Zheng'an returned from fighting the epidemic with you, he reported this matter to His Majesty. His Majesty heard that you were fearless in the face of danger and saved the people from suffering, and he praised you highly. However, because His Majesty has been busy with state affairs recently, he has not been able to issue an imperial decree to commend you personally, but he specifically instructed the governor to make sure that you are well rewarded to recognize your merits."

"What? The Emperor knows?" someone couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.

The crowd erupted in excitement, their faces filled with disbelief and elation.

That was the Emperor, the supreme ruler, who sat in the capital city and knew about the trivial matters of these doctors fighting the epidemic, and even praised them personally!

This was an immense honor, more worthy of a blessing from one's ancestors, and it excited them more than any reward. For a moment, the room was filled with uncontrollable sighs and emotions.

Lord Zhang raised his hand to quell the displeasure, and continued, "You may keep His Majesty's praise to yourselves, but there's no need to publicize it. However, you should know that the court remembers your heroic deeds, and the people remember them too." The crowd quickly nodded in agreement, their excitement lingering.

Nie Qianqian stood aside, but unlike the others, she was not excited. She thought that this matter was not a big deal to the Emperor.

What she didn't know was that during this time the Emperor was focused on studying some celestial changes, and his mind was mostly on it. He hadn't really paid much attention to the memorials submitted by the local authorities.

Zhang Tuo gave everyone another word of encouragement, then took Doctor Qian to a separate room. "Doctor Qian, besides the awards, there's something else I've come here for that Lord Jiang Zheng'an asked me to tell you."