Volume One, Chapter 11: Xie Yihe Realizes That She No Longer Cares About Him

Jiang Yutang turned his head and saw an old acquaintance—Jiang Huaian!

“Why aren’t you going inside for the assessment? Why are you just standing here like a fool?”

Jiang Huaian was dressed in a crimson brocade robe, his black hair tied high, his handsome face creased with puzzlement.

Then realization dawned on him. The smile on his thin lips stiffened as he looked toward the medical officer. “What’s going on here?”

“Master Jiang…”

The medical officer was taken aback.

He hadn’t expected that Jiang Yutang would actually know Jiang Huaian, the fifth-rank official in charge of the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Jiang Huaian had been Jiang Yutang’s childhood friend; they had grown up playing together. After Jiang Yutang married, their relationship gradually drifted apart. It was only yesterday, when Jiang Yutang came to register, that they had reunited.

The medical officer felt uneasy but forced himself to answer.

“This young lady’s name does not appear on the registration list; according to regulations, she cannot be admitted…”

“I personally registered her yesterday. If her name isn’t on the list, isn’t that your mistake?”

Jiang Huaian furrowed his brow, immediately grasping the key issue.

He turned to Jiang Yutang. “You go ahead and take the assessment. I’ll handle this here.”

“Thank you.”

Jiang Yutang nodded gratefully.

Jiang Huaian gazed at Jiang Yutang’s delicate features, still as refined as before, yet lacking the vibrant smile he remembered.

He recalled just now seeing Xie Yi escort another woman, ignoring Jiang Yutang, and a dull ache settled in his chest—an uncomfortable feeling.

“I know your talent. If you truly want to thank me, then come back with first place. Tangtang, good luck. Pass the assessment!”

Jiang Huaian’s eyes sparkled as he smiled proudly.

The Imperial Medical Bureau was filled with sycophants and opportunists; they needed true medical talents like Jiang Yutang.

“All right.”

Encouraged, Jiang Yutang silently cheered herself on.

The medical officer dared not block her again.

Finally, Jiang Yutang entered the examination hall without issue.

Inside, the examiners were astonished to see her step in.

Hadn’t her name been erased already?

How did she get in?

Orders from above forbade Jiang Yutang from staying at the Imperial Medical Bureau, and forbade her from appearing before Miss Yun…

This was a disaster.

They had left no backup plan; there was no time to prepare.

But…

They had heard that Jiang Yutang was a narrow-minded woman, jealous and petty, utterly ignorant of medicine, and would surely fail the assessment!

Thinking this, the examiners relaxed somewhat.

This Jiang Yutang, unable to stand Miss Yun, scheming in the inner chambers was one thing, but to jealously follow her to the Imperial Medical Bureau to compete was truly absurd…

No wonder Lord Xie disliked her so much.

Anyone with such a wife would be ashamed.

The Imperial Medical Bureau assessment consisted of two parts: a theoretical written test and a practical diagnosis.

Today was the theoretical test.

All candidates took their seats in the vast hall. The examiners began distributing the exam papers, laying them on the desks. The topic concerned the differentiation and treatment methods of stroke as discussed in the Treatise on Cold Damage.

Jiang Yutang looked at the topic, memories of past study resurfacing. She picked up her pen, carefully considering how to answer.

The air was silent.

Only the rustling wind outside the window could be heard.

The examiners, wary that Jiang Yutang might cheat, focused all their attention on her, pacing and watching. But to their shock—

Jiang Yutang’s paper was blank; she hadn’t written a single word!

They were stunned.

Other candidates had filled more than half a page…

Jiang Yutang hadn’t even started.

That made sense.

Someone with no medical knowledge, even if they tried to fabricate answers, wouldn’t be able to write anything.

They had assumed this ignorant woman would at least scribble a couple of words, but she revealed her true colors so quickly?

Rotten mud is rotten mud—how could she possibly compare to Miss Yun?

Looking over at Miss Yun’s paper, it was filled with elegant and ample writing, nearly completed.

The examiners shook their heads.

Only after some time did Jiang Yutang begin to write.

Time passed quietly.

Candidates finished one by one and left.

The hall emptied, and after Miss Yun departed, only a few remained inside. The examiners, watching Jiang Yutang write furiously, grew increasingly contemptuous and began to speak freely.

“The admission standards at the Imperial Medical Bureau are really getting lower. With connections, anyone—no matter how insignificant—can get in…”

“Exactly. Some of these empty-headed, uneducated people are here too. I wonder what ridiculous papers we’ll get to see later? They might as well hand theirs in early and leave.”

“Some people have long lost all sense of dignity or shame. How could they care about this?”

“…”

Their words were clearly pointed, their eyes falling on Jiang Yutang as if to say the very person they spoke of was her.

Other candidates frowned and looked over.

Jiang Yutang suddenly stopped writing and looked up.

The examiner was unafraid. “Candidate, is there something you want to say? Could it be you’re taking our words personally?”

“Is this your place for idle gossip?”

Jiang Yutang’s gaze was cold. “It’s wrong for you to disturb us with your idle chatter.”

So they thought they were disturbing Jiang Yutang?

How laughable.

Jiang Yutang had flipped through several medical texts and dared to speak so boldly here.

Who knows what nonsense they thought she was scribbling now?

The examiner sneered, about to retort when another candidate protested indignantly.

“You’re disturbing my concentration…”

“Yeah, can we even take the exam like this?”

“…”

The two examiners’ faces darkened; they had no choice but to clench their teeth and fall silent.

They wanted to see what Jiang Yutang could produce.

Their eyes remained fixed on her.

At last!

Jiang Yutang finished writing.

She rose gracefully, took her paper, and placed it on the desk before the examiners. Looking at them, she said, “You said just now that the Imperial Medical Bureau accepts anyone—cats or dogs alike…”

Her eyes were sharp yet clear, laced with sarcasm, as if mocking their narrow-mindedness and superficiality. The examiner immediately bristled in anger.

“You!”

Suddenly, someone beside him tugged his arm. “Look at what she wrote first.”

“What, did she write nonsense or insult us…”

The examiner turned to Jiang Yutang’s paper. Upon reading it, he froze on the spot.

Both were dumbfounded, disbelief shining in their eyes.

Was this really Jiang Yutang’s work?

Every diagnosis was incisive, hitting the mark precisely. The treatment methods proposed were unprecedentedly innovative, dazzling and admirable.

Undoubtedly, it was the best paper among all candidates.

Even…

Miss Yun’s was eclipsed!