In truth, the first batch of medical school students, as well as those selected to study physics and chemistry under Xuesheng, had already been meticulously screened and were considered talents. However, in the eyes of geniuses, these talents were still deemed utterly foolish.
But what else could be done? Her Highness had said to teach them patiently. Once they completed their studies, they would go on to teach others, allowing the geniuses to focus wholeheartedly on their own research interests.
To avoid teaching, the three took deep breaths and decided to refine their lesson plans further upon returning, hoping to teach more efficiently and escape this ordeal sooner.
Just as you were marveling at the new knowledge recently shared by Her Highness the Princess, a harmonious moment was suddenly shattered by a commotion downstairs in the tavern. The sound of a horse neighing was followed by a terrified scream, and then heart-wrenching cries filled the air.
The three exchanged glances and rushed to the window. To their horror, they saw that someone had recklessly ridden a horse through the street, colliding with a young girl who hadn’t been seen in time. The girl was kicked and sent flying by the horse’s hooves.
The rider, a young man of about eighteen or nineteen, dressed in luxurious attire and exuding an air of nobility, had not yet left. He stared in horror at the child on the ground, his face filled with anxiety. "I didn’t mean to—I was just in too much of a hurry—Is there a doctor? Please, someone take a look! I’ll pay, I’ll pay!"
The woman weeping over the child was dressed plainly, her face marked by a lifetime of hardship. She seemed the type to be meek and submissive, but today, all her pent-up emotions surged forth as she wailed, "Money is useless now! Her intestines are spilling out, they’re spilling out! My little radish—Little Radish, open your eyes and look at your mother one more time, look at your mother—"
Instantly, the crowd erupted into a chorus of murmurs.
"It’s true, there’s so much blood—I saw it clearly. Her belly must have been torn open, likely from hitting a sharp edge nearby."
"Even a divine healer would struggle to save her now."
"Oh, what a tragedy! How could this happen out of nowhere?"
"Shh—don’t say more. Look at that young man’s clothes—"
"Well, judging by his attitude earlier, he seems reasonable. Perhaps the old woman’s family will receive some compensation."
"What use is money when the person is gone?"
…
Imperial Physician Yu and Zhang Yushu descended as quickly as possible, each carrying the latest medical kits provided by Her Highness the Princess. Though compact, these kits, crafted by the Ministry of Works, were ingeniously designed with three layers and multiple compartments, making them highly portable.
Upon arriving, they gently moved the old woman aside. Imperial Physician Yu stepped forward to check the pulse while instructing Zhang Yushu, "Quick, stop the bleeding!"
Not only did they need to stop the bleeding, but they also had to perform on-site suturing immediately. Any movement could cost the child her life.
After administering Penicillin and applying Bone-Healing Powder, Imperial Physician Yu took out his long needles, while Zhang Yushu produced a scalpel and the suturing thread they had recently developed, specifically designed for use on the human body.
They began working with scissors, needles, and thread, their movements precise and coordinated. The atmosphere grew tense, and the onlookers fell silent, their eyes wide with awe.
Heavens! If this girl survived, the rescuers today would be nothing short of miracle workers reborn.
Whispers spread through the crowd. "Who are they? Their techniques look so skilled… especially the one with the scissors… What kind of medical art is this?"
Among the crowd, some recognized Imperial Physician Yu and remarked, "That's Imperial Physician Yu, the head of the Imperial Hospital. He once visited my master's residence when my master was ill. But I truly don’t recognize the person beside him. However, I can probably guess who it is."
Someone nearby urged, "Stop beating around the bush and just tell us!"
The person continued, "Her Highness the Princess has recently established a medical college, and it’s said they teach techniques like needle twisting…"
Upon hearing this, the listener gasped, "Don’t even mention needle twisting—it sounds terrifying."
At that moment, when someone ran to the yet-to-open medical clinic and had the people inside bring out a stretcher and a large carriage, the onlookers were even more astonished. However, the seamless coordination between the two physicians earlier had been so remarkable that by the time they left, the crowd hadn’t fully processed what had happened.
"Are they leaving already? Was the person saved?"
They had been so captivated by the medical skills on display that they momentarily forgot whether the patient had survived.
Fortunately, someone remembered and chimed in, "He’s alive, he’s alive! His hand just moved slightly—I was watching the expressions of the two physicians the whole time. When the hand moved a little, Imperial Physician Yu even smiled. He must have been saved."
That’s a relief—
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Then, someone noticed that the young man who had caused the accident was also gone and asked, "Where is he?"
"It seems he just followed them onto the carriage—that carriage is truly enormous."
Indeed, this was no ordinary carriage. Huang Youwei, who had just arrived, immediately began to explain, "That’s called an ambulance carriage."
An ambulance carriage? What’s that?
Huang Youwei elaborated, "It’s a carriage from the Wanmin Medical Clinic that Her Highness the Princess is about to open. It doesn’t appear often, but when it does, it means someone on board needs immediate medical attention. As you all know, when someone is injured, they shouldn’t be carelessly lifted or moved. Only a physician who knows what to do should handle such cases."
Right, that makes sense. And then?
"Then, this ambulance carriage is needed. Did everyone see the white stretcher? That was specially developed by the Ministry of Works for us—it’s shockproof. In situations like today, the patient must first be placed on the stretcher and carried onto the carriage by our physicians. If the medical clinic is far away, the ambulance carriage is used. That carriage has also been specially modified to be shockproof, minimizing harm to the patient."
With this explanation, the crowd finally formed a concrete impression of the Wanmin Medical Clinic.
It’s impressive.
It truly considers the patients’ needs.
This is Her Highness the Princess’s initiative, something she has thoughtfully provided for everyone.
Huang Youwei added, "The clinic will open soon. The physicians there are all apprentices trained by today’s Imperial Physician Yu and Doctor Zhang—they are truly exceptional. Everyone knows Imperial Physician Yu, right? He’s the head of the Imperial Hospital. But do you know who Doctor Zhang is?"
No one did.
It didn’t matter. Huang Youwei took the opportunity to explain on the spot, recounting how Doctor Zhang had been a prodigy since childhood, discovering that human skin could be sutured—sewing torn flesh together so people wouldn’t have to die.
He even fabricated a story about Doctor Zhang, saying that as a young man, he had witnessed someone die from a ruptured abdomen and, filled with compassion, vowed to find a way for people with such injuries to survive.
After more than a decade of practice and searching, with the help of Her Highness the Princess, he finally realized his ideals and ambitions, finding the thread that could be used for suturing and that pair of scissors.
The story itself was clichéd and not particularly captivating, but when narrated by Huang Youwei, it took on a unique persuasive quality. Some in the audience were deeply moved, and a few were even brought to tears.
Zhe Qing happened to be out today and, after seeing Huang Youwei’s speech in the crowd, suddenly felt that his words carried a certain degree of incitement, driven by a powerful purpose.
Sure enough, she soon heard Huang Youwei say, "So, the reason Doctor Zhang hasn’t succeeded all these years is simply because he lacked the suturing thread and hemostatic medicine. This thread was specially sought out by Her Highness the Princess—it’s different from ordinary thread, and this hemostatic medicine is also unlike any other—"
Before he could finish, someone questioned, "You speak as if it were true—how would you know?"
Huang Youwei smiled faintly. "How do I know? Because I am a student at the medical academy, a student of Doctor Zhang. Everyone, do you know the Huang Family Clinic in Willow Lane in Jing Du? That’s my family’s clinic."
"So, I dare not speak falsely."
Seeing that the crowd’s doubts had vanished, he immediately added, "Inside the Huang Family Clinic, we already have the medicines used today by Imperial Physician Yu and Doctor Zhang to treat patients. This is medicine that Mr. Zhang has specially authorized my family’s clinic to sell. Anyone who wishes to buy it can go and give it a try."
Someone in the crowd called out, "The Huang Family Clinic in Willow Lane, right? I’ll go right away."
Then, someone else remarked that if they went too late, it might be sold out, and the rest of the crowd quickly followed suit.
Zhe Qing: "…Another talented individual."
She instructed her guards to bring Huang Youwei to her later. "Tell him not to be afraid when he comes—it’s good news."
Huang Youwei trembled with fear as he was brought to the Princess’s residence.
"Your Highness—" he knelt, unable to fathom what he had done to warrant being summoned by Her Highness, especially with the reassurance that it was good news.
When he left, the eyes of everyone at the medical academy were red with envy.
Even Zhang Yushu looked at him with a hint of resentment, specifically advising him to change his clothes—in the hearts of those at the medical academy, the Princess was a goddess, and meeting a goddess required bathing and burning incense. Merely changing clothes was far too disrespectful to the Princess.
Thus, he knelt on the ground in his new clothes and received a piece of paper handed to him by Her Highness.
Written on it were several large characters: Silk Road Project Launch Document.
He looked up in confusion, only to hear Her Highness say, "Doctor Huang, I’ve looked into your background and found that you have remarkable insights into commerce."
She smiled warmly. "I believe you are better suited for business than medicine. So, if you’re willing, I’d like you to be one of the initiators of this Silk Road project. However, your life is your own to choose—I won’t force you."
Huang Youwei felt a stir in his heart and unconsciously flipped to the paper beneath the Silk Road document. He glanced casually at it: Supermarket.
What was a supermarket—he couldn’t help but be drawn in, and once he started reading, he became completely absorbed, even forgetting the goddess-like Princess.
Zhe Qing: "…"
She said, "Have the small kitchen prepare the barbecue. It's made with cumin and Sichuan peppercorns brought back from the Western Regions. Let Physician Huang try the flavor."