maidservant

Chapter 116 A Dream of Apricot Grove, A Healer's Benevolent Heart Endures
The year-end wind howled through the streets and alleys, but inside the Li residence, it was warm and cozy.

Yun Shan sat in the hall, her expression revealing a hint of determination and contemplation, and slowly said, "I plan to set up a clinic."

She frowned slightly, thought seriously, and continued, "It's just that my medical skills are not yet mature enough. I need to hire a doctor to practice on-site, and I can learn from him and assist him for a year or two."

Li Mao took a sip of tea and slowly replied, "I have a close friend who is much older than me. He was originally a physician in the palace. In his early years, because he was taking care of the late Empress Dowager's pregnancy, he was framed and implicated, losing his official position and becoming a commoner."

His voice was low and tinged with emotion, "His surname is Feng, have you ever heard of him?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Shan's eyes flashed with a light, and she answered respectfully and earnestly:

"I've heard a little about Physician Feng. He's a highly skilled and renowned physician. As for what happened back then, it's really hard to tell what's true and what's false. Physicians are caught up in the various factions within the palace, so it's indeed difficult for them to have enough power to fight against those injustices. Since he's my brother-in-law's good friend, he must be a trustworthy and excellent doctor."

“Alright, then I’ll invite him to the manor in a couple of days and have him work as a doctor at your clinic.” Li Mao readily agreed, laying a solid foundation for Yun Shan’s clinic.

"That's wonderful! With Doctor Feng's guidance, Ashan will surely make great progress in the future." Xiaoyue smiled gently at the two of them, her eyes full of expectation, her smile as warm as the spring sun.

"Auntie, do you have any ideas for the name of this clinic?"

"I haven't decided yet." Yun Shan shook her head, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.

As she spoke, she carefully took out the imperial inscription "Heroine of the Medical Profession," a blush rising to her face as she said with a touch of shyness, "This was personally inscribed by His Majesty; I'm afraid I'm unworthy of such a title. However, my original intention has always been to practice medicine for women. Brother-in-law, please help me choose a name!"

Looking at the powerful and vigorous calligraphy, Li Mao couldn't help but praise it repeatedly: "This is wonderful! A gift from the Emperor! We should have a rubbing made of this calligraphy, carved from rosewood, and hung in your clinic. It will definitely look impressive!"

He pondered for a moment, then said, "In that case, let's name our clinic 'Xinglin Chuntang' (杏林春堂). It means that our clinic is like springtime, bringing the vitality of blooming flowers to our female patients."

Everyone nodded in approval, as if they could already see the gleaming plaque hanging above the clinic.

On New Year's Eve, as the lanterns were lit, the Li residence was brightly decorated and bustling with activity. Yunshan finally met the imperial physician, Feng.

He was dressed in a simple blue cloth robe, the cut of which was simple yet neat, and the stitches at the hem and cuffs were fine, showing that it was carefully sewn.

His hair was neatly tied up on top of his head, with a few strands of silver interspersed, adding a touch of mature charm. His face was sharply defined, with a high nose bridge and thin lips that were slightly upturned, giving him a gentle air even when he wasn't smiling. His eyes were bright and deep, like twinkling stars in the night sky, revealing wisdom and a sharp insight into the world. His temperament was pure and elegant, like a secluded orchid in a valley, exuding a serene and otherworldly aura in this bustling mansion. Although he was over fifty, he was in excellent spirits.

After being introduced by Li Mao, Yun Shan chatted with him enthusiastically.

"Female doctors are rare, and it's commendable that Miss Song has such ambition."

Physician Feng's voice was gentle, tinged with appreciation. When Yun Shan mentioned the matter of seeing patients at the clinic, he readily agreed.

Yun Shan was extremely grateful and quickly brought up the matter of the monthly allowance. Upon hearing this, Physician Feng hurriedly waved his hand and declined.

"I am already extremely grateful that you are willing to hire me as a doctor despite my tarnished reputation. This month's salary is unnecessary. The pharmacy will not be easy to run at first, so I will treat it as an investment and split the profits and losses with you on a 30/70 basis."

Yun Shan was deeply moved upon hearing this. Such a magnanimous and responsible partner was truly a rare find.

The New Year's Eve dinner was a lively affair. Inside the spacious hall, a large table laden with delicacies sat on a vermilion lacquered wooden table, a dazzling array of dishes. The golden-brown roast suckling pig, with its crispy skin and tender meat, emitted an irresistible aroma; the succulent steamed sea bass, garnished with vibrant green scallions, exuded a rich and fresh fragrance; the soft, sweet eight-treasure rice, colorful and delicious, was a delight with every bite. The rich aroma of wine mingled with the fragrance of the dishes, creating a lingering and delightful ambiance.

Everyone sat around, laughing and chatting, clinking glasses and talking, warmth and happiness flowing freely in this rich New Year's atmosphere.

After the banquet, Xiaoyue, her face beaming with happiness, took out a red brocade pouch and handed it to Yunshan:

"Ah Shan, I'm so happy to have you with me on New Year's Eve this year. As your older sister, I must make you a New Year's blessing bag."

"Such a big bag!" Yun Shan said with a smile as she opened it. Besides loose silver and red dates, there was a baby hat inside.

She was puzzled for a moment, then immediately understood, her eyebrows curving into a smile, and asked in surprise, "Sister, are you pregnant?"

After saying that, Yunshan excitedly hugged Xiaoyue, then carefully let go of her and asked with concern, "How many months pregnant are you? Is the pregnancy stable?"

"It's not even been two months yet. My period has been delayed recently. I thought it was because I've been too tired from all the things that have been going on lately." Xiaoyue smiled happily.
"Today, Physician Feng came and saw that I looked tired. He took my pulse and then he realized what was wrong."

"Sister, I'm going to be an aunt!" Yunshan smiled, her eyes crinkling, as she lovingly kneaded the little hat.

"This little hat is made of extremely soft fabric, but it's rather plain," Yunshan said.

“This is what I prepared for my wedding. At that time, I didn’t have much money and didn’t want to use my husband’s family’s money, but I bought this plain baby hat for the sake of hope.”

Xiaoyue held Yunshan's hand, her eyes filled with tenderness.
“It’s not auspicious to open a pharmacy this spring. Why don’t you help your nephew with some embroidery?” Yun Shan looked at the hat with affection and nodded vigorously.

"Ah Shan, the prescriptions you wrote for me after taking my pulse were really helpful. You have a great talent for medicine, and your clinic will definitely be a success," Xiao Yue encouraged her.

"I'm thinking of first learning from Doctor Feng. Once I've mastered the skills, I'll set up a small room in the back of the pharmacy to examine women's private parts. I want them to speak out about their ailments, which are difficult to talk about. I also want to examine them and treat them properly."

"Ah Shan, I have a favor to ask." Xiao Yue looked into Yun Shan's eyes, hesitating to speak.

"Women in the Jiaofangsi (a type of entertainment institution) were never allowed to leave. When they were unwell, they could only seek medical help from doctors outside the Jiaofangsi. However, those doctors were prejudiced against those women and did not provide them with proper treatment."

"Sister, I'm willing to work at the brothel." Before Xiaoyue could finish speaking, Yunshan understood her meaning.
“Those women must be kind people. Their lives have been full of hardship and they have been bullied. They are already miserable, and they should not be left without medical treatment when they are sick.”

Just then, fireworks exploded outside, their colorful lights illuminating the night. Yunshan and her sister looked out the window together, the dazzling fireworks reflecting on their faces.

"Thousands of lights illuminate every home, a scene of good fortune," Yun Shan sighed softly.

“Yes,” Xiaoyue agreed, her eyes filled with anticipation for the future.

In this bustling world, Yunshan's dream of establishing a medical clinic is quietly taking flight, and her compassionate heart as a healer will shine brightly in the long river of time, bringing hope and warmth to more people, just like the fireworks on New Year's Eve, which, though brief, can illuminate the long night.

It was from this beginning that she started to make her mark. Decades later, she used her own strength to leave a warm trace in the world. The name of Xinglin Chuntang spread throughout Dali, and the light of female doctors dispelled the shadow of illness.