Volume One, Chapter 13: Aren't You Ashamed?
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Xie Qiqi went to wash her hands and changed her clothes. When she came out, she saw the royal physician Wang still scolding Wang Zhi.
“Although doctors should be impartial, Lingdang is different. She is a young lady of noble birth; if this gets out, her reputation will be ruined…”
“You may be unorthodox yourself, but don’t lead her astray…”
Eavesdropping was wrong, and Xie Qiqi originally intended to leave, but recalling her purpose for coming, she steeled herself and walked forward.
With a thud, she knelt down firmly and said, “Grandfather Wang, you worry too much. If I could save lives like Senior Uncle, I wouldn’t care about reputation.”
“Second Grandfather, please accept me as your disciple! I am willing to learn medicine from you!”
All medical knowledge aims to heal and save lives. Though vast and profound, the principles of herbs and medicine share much in common.
Royal physician Wang had too many reservations. Wang Zhi was unorthodox, but perhaps learning medicine from him was the right choice.
Wang the royal physician was stunned.
Wang Zhi, however, smiled so broadly his eyes nearly closed. The surgical techniques in the “Liu Juanzi’s Ghost Legacy Prescriptions” he studied required boldness, meticulousness, and deft hands.
Little Lingdang was very suitable!
He happily helped Xie Qiqi up, smiling warmly, “Then we’ll find a time for your formal apprenticeship…”
Wang the royal physician intended to stop him, but seeing Xie Qiqi’s frail body, he hesitated.
This girl didn’t have much time left; if giving her a goal could help her hold on a little longer, maybe it was worth it.
…
Before leaving, Wang Zhi gave Xie Qiqi a book on medicinal herbs, urging her to familiarize herself with their properties quickly.
Xie Qiqi treasured the herb book as if it were a precious gem, clutching it to her chest as she left Baicao Hall.
She touched the hairpin in her bosom and hurried toward the Baosheng Pawnshop at the end of the street.
This jade hairpin was a gift from her grandmother on her coming-of-age day. Yue Yue had said she liked it, but Xie Qiqi couldn’t bear to give it to her and had kept it instead.
Yue Yue had even been angry and ignored her for days because of that.
Xie Qiqi treated the jade hairpin as a pawn, a living pledge. It was her grandmother’s gift, and once she had money, she would redeem it.
Because it was a pawned item, the shopkeeper offered a low price. Although worth over a thousand taels, they gave only two hundred.
Xie Qiqi was already satisfied, took the silver note, and hurried to another pharmacy to buy her prescribed medicine and wound ointments, then went to the Ink Treasure Bookstore.
At five, Xie Qiqi had begun learning the “Three Character Classic” but was sent to the prison by her mother before finishing the “Thousand Character Text,” losing all further opportunities to learn literacy.
A year ago, after returning, her eldest brother Xie Wenyuan taught her to read and write because she was illiterate.
But not long after, Yue Yue deliberately spilled ink on her brother’s memorial and falsely accused her of doing it on purpose to avoid studying.
Her brother, angry, stopped teaching her characters.
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The rumors Wang the royal physician mentioned were true: Xie Qiqi had indeed not finished the “Thousand Character Text” yet.
Ink Treasure Bookstore was the largest in the capital, and with the imperial examinations approaching next year, customers were endless.
It was Xie Qiqi’s first time there, and she looked at the densely packed shelves, unsure where to find the book she wanted.
Summoning her courage, she said to the shop assistant, “Young sir, please get me a copy of the ‘Thousand Character Text.’”
The assistant looked at her strangely but turned to find the book.
Just as Xie Qiqi breathed a sigh of relief, laughter suddenly erupted behind her.
“Xie Qiqi, I heard you haven’t finished the ‘Thousand Character Text.’ I thought it was just gossip, but it’s true!”
The voice sounded familiar.
Xie Qiqi stiffened and turned around. There stood Lin Xiaojing, daughter of the Minister, whom she had met last time at Jiangxue Pavilion, along with Yue Yue and two unfamiliar young ladies.
Lin Xiaojing wore a disdainful expression, mocking her.
“Xie Qiqi, at your age, what use is it to still be learning the ‘Thousand Character Text’? You’d be better off studying the ‘Woman’s Code’ properly and stop embarrassing the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness’s mansion.”
Lin Xiaojing and Yue Yue had attended school together. They were about the same age and were among Yue Yue’s closest friends.
Lin Xiaojing had heard many stories from Yue Yue about Xie Qiqi causing trouble and had no goodwill toward her.
The surrounding customers overheard and began to gossip.
One said, “She’s already of age, yet hasn’t finished the ‘Thousand Character Text’? My son is only seven and has long finished it!”
Another said, “Even if you learn one character a day, you’d finish in three years. Could she be a simpleton, taking so long without finishing?”
Others mocked, “At her age, she should stop studying the ‘Thousand Character Text’ and get married soon to be a good wife and mother.”
Xie Qiqi blushed scarlet under their ridicule.
Did she have to explain herself to every person?
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to learn—it was that she never had the chance.
“Better to hear the Way in the morning and die at sunset! Even if this young lady can only live to sixty, she still has decades to learn. Can you guarantee she won’t surpass you in the future?”
A clear, crisp voice cut through the jeering.
Xie Qiqi looked up in surprise.
A tall, handsome man dressed in a pale purple brocade robe emerged from the crowd.
His smooth, fair face carried a hint of displeasure as he pointed a finger lightly.
“This young lady has a sincere heart to learn. You, all learned people, instead of encouraging her, arrogantly criticize her. Aren’t you ashamed?”
The onlookers grew awkward. Some who recognized the man quietly slipped away.
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He was Lin Zeming, eldest son of Minister Lin, a newly appointed censor and scholar. No one dared offend him lightly.
Lin Xiaojing saw Xie Qiqi staring at her elder brother and frowned, turning sideways to block Xie Qiqi’s view.
She coquettishly said, “Brother, you don’t even know who she is, so why defend her?”
“Do you know her character is corrupt and full of lies? She even framed Yue Yue at Jiangxue Pavilion before…”
Lin Zeming frowned and interrupted her, “Stop idle talk and gossip. Xiaojing, watch your words.”
No matter how weak the girl appeared, as a lady from a noble family, his sister should not publicly mock her.
Hearing her brother’s disbelief and reprimand, Lin Xiaojing angrily grabbed Yue Yue.
“Brother, if you don’t believe me, do you not believe Yue Yue? Yue Yue, tell him if what I said is true!”
Yue Yue looked troubled and whispered, “Xiaojing, the Crown Princess has already punished her. Stop talking. After all, she is my elder sister!”
Though her words seemed to defend Xie Qiqi, their implication confirmed Lin Xiaojing’s accusations.
Her voice was soft, but both Xie Qiqi and Lin Zeming heard it. He looked at Xie Qiqi with doubt.
Had he defended the wrong person?
Feeling embarrassed, Xie Qiqi lowered her head.
Her eldest and second brothers didn’t believe her; could she expect faith from this stranger?
For a moment, Xie Qiqi no longer wished to buy books and only wanted to flee.
Yue Yue seemed to notice and gently pulled her aside.
“Sister, I came to get medicine for Mother. You went out to play without lunch and didn’t inform Mother—she’s very worried about you!”
“Why do you want to buy the ‘Thousand Character Text’? You don’t like reading. Remember? You tore up the ‘Thousand Character Text’ that Brother gave you last time!”
The shop assistant had just brought the book but, hearing Yue Yue’s words, looked down on Xie Qiqi.
“Our Ink Treasure Bookstore does not sell books to those who do not cherish them!”
The assistant coldly put the book back.
The onlookers pointed at Xie Qiqi and whispered again.
“She has a sick mother but neglects her care to run out playing—what a beast!”
“Studying teaches reason. She doesn’t even understand basic filial piety. Why buy the ‘Thousand Character Text’? She’s just wasting books.”
Hearing the crowd’s jeers, Xie Qiqi’s face flushed deeply…