RWNEFE -Chapter 490 Wei Dongzhu’s Dilemma

If too many people learned medicine, wouldn’t that ruin the livelihoods of apothecaries and physicians?

Shen Lanxi said, “I want the people of Great Zhou to never be troubled by the difficulty of getting medical care. I want doctors to be respected like scholars in the academies, to have students everywhere, and to be revered by the world. This isn’t urgent—you should all think it over carefully first.”

After she left, the physicians of the Imperial Hospital immediately gathered together to discuss.

“One master can only take one or two apprentices. Whether they will ever truly graduate is uncertain. And now they want to open a school and teach students? What could they possibly learn?”

“This will hurt our profession. If everyone learns medicine, who will go to apothecaries for medicine? Won’t the attending doctors starve? No, this won’t do!”

“Just because she says to open a medical school, do the officials have to comply? Even if it really opens, where will all the students come from?”

Families with some wealth will send their children to general schools. Only those from families with a medical lineage will genuinely study medicine.

“Will the medical school charge tuition? If they have money, the commoners would send their children to study elsewhere.”

“This won’t work. Many doctors have secret family recipes they won’t reveal. No one would be willing to teach them!”

Not a single person thought it was a good idea.

“I have a junior disciple who, due to a misdiagnosis, had his legs amputated and was expelled from the Imperial Hospital,” said the head of the hospital, and the others fell silent.

It wasn’t really a misdiagnosis—it was the imperial consorts framing them, dumping the blame onto the Imperial Hospital.

“You mean recommending your junior to that disaster-bringer?”

“Shh, quietly.” If Shen Lanxi heard them calling her that, she would surely execute them all!

The warned physicians quickly covered their mouths in fear.

“Even though your junior was innocent, everyone outside still believes it was a misdiagnosis.” If Shen Lanxi knew the head had recommended him, it would be fatal.

The hospital head sighed and waved the matter off.

Two days later, when he went out of the city to pay respects, seeing his junior disciple’s family living in misery by the gravesite, his heart softened. Upon returning, he immediately drafted a list—his junior’s name was at the top.

…

Ban Sicao stayed at the Zhen Nan Prince’s residence until the moon was high before reporting back to Zhou Ruyuan.

“Your Highness, the first poison on the young master came from his bedding. The clothing was coated with something to trigger an allergic reaction in the young master. If I’m not mistaken, it should be almond powder.”

Zhou Ruyuan had silently accompanied Ban Sicao this whole time. Upon hearing the cause was found, he refocused.

“Almond powder?” Aren’t almonds a food? Can they really poison someone?

Ban Sicao explained, “For anyone else, it would be harmless. But the young master is allergic to almonds. Combined with his weak stomach and the recent use of very hot tonic medicines and meals, it worsened his condition and caused the fever.”

Zhou Ruyuan quietly observed Ban Sicao.

He continued, “I’ve asked everyone who knew about the young master’s allergy: his wet nurse, four personal maids, two male attendants, the staff of the small kitchen, and Shen Yuantang.”

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes darkened, and he immediately interrogated the small kitchen staff.

“Has the kitchen recently purchased almonds?”

The kitchen staff were terrified and begged for mercy.

“Your Highness, we are innocent. Everyone knows the young master cannot eat almonds. We didn’t buy any; you can check the records. Not a single almond was purchased, and we don’t even eat them ourselves.”

Ban Sicao said, “I’ve already checked the small kitchen. No almond powder was found. Since it was applied to clothing, I asked the women and maids who handled his clothing—they are all here.”

Dozens of kneeling maids and attendants trembled.

Zhou Ruyuan glared coldly at them, scanning the group before focusing on one maid.

He seemed to have seen her beside Bai Qingling before.

Recalling Bai Qingling’s changes, Zhou Ruyuan’s heart sank.

“It’s late. Ban Sicao, you may return to rest. Please convey my thanks to the Regent for assisting with the investigation.”

Ban Sicao cupped his hands: “I will not disturb Your Highness further with household matters.”

No matter who it was, they were ultimately staff of the Zhen Nan Prince’s residence and had nothing to do with him!

After Ban Sicao left, Zhou Ruyuan pointed at the maid and said coldly, “Dare to harm your master? Drag her away and execute her!”

The maid was terrified, and upon realizing what he said, immediately tried to plead.

“Your Highness, mercy—I—”

“Shut her mouth! Still trying to blame the Prince’s household on your death? You’re reckless!” Zhou Ruyuan roared. After seeing the maid executed, he immediately went to find Bai Qingling.

What did he ever do to her? Why harm his child?

Because of her, his reputation was ruined, his military achievements gone, and even his mother called him foolish. If not for her, the events of his wedding night would never have happened, and he would not have fallen to this state.

When Bai Qingling saw Zhou Ruyuan gather all the household staff, she had a bad feeling.

“No way… I’ve cleaned everything up. The Prince won’t find out.”

She had nothing to fear.

Just as she anxiously paced in the room, the door was kicked open with a loud crash.

Zhou Ruyuan’s bloodshot eyes met Bai Qingling’s, and her heart sank to the bottom of her stomach.

…

When Ban Sicao returned to report, Shen Lanxi was still handling official business.

“Your Highness hasn’t slept yet?”

Shen Lanxi blinked, a little tired, and smiled: “Has the Zhen Nan Prince’s residence matter been resolved?”

Ban Sicao, recalling Zhou Ruyuan’s demeanor, said, “Zhou Ruyuan should know who did it.”

Shen Lanxi: “Then it’s Bai Qingling.”

Ban Sicao smirked slightly: “The Prince knows the Zhen Nan Prince well indeed.”

Shen Lanxi: “To deal with opponents, you must know yourself and your enemy to never lose a battle.”

Ban Sicao thought for a moment: “Zhou Ruyuan has imprisoned Shen Yuantang, claiming she went mad.”

Shen Lanxi: “He will leave tomorrow. She won’t be locked up long.”

Ban Sicao curiously asked, “The Prince Regent doesn’t seem curious at all about who did it? Could it be you already know?”

Shen Lanxi replied calmly: “What’s there to be curious about? It’s simply about redirecting blame and stirring conflict between me and Zhou Ruyuan. I already know who did it.”

“Who?” Ban Sicao asked.

Shen Lanxi: “My enemy, the one who doesn’t want me to sit on this throne, the one trying to remove me!”

Ban Sicao joked, “That’s a wide range.”

Shen Lanxi: “Rather than searching blindly, strengthen yourself. A rat is still a rat. As long as they remain a rat, they won’t dare come out from the shadows. What is there to fear?”