Volume 3, Chapter 12: Clinic (2/2)

However, there was one point of concern.

The smell of medicine was non-existent. Could it have been erased by the smell of alcohol?

No, or could it be.

Maomao walked, stroking her chin as she contemplated, and bumped into something. Did I hit a pillar? She thought, but for some reason, there was the face of a celestial maiden that was dazzling like a sun above her head.

Dont mutter to yourself as you walk. Youll trip.

What are you talking about?

Jinshi sighed tremendously and spread both of his hands, shaking his head. At his expression of disappointment, Maomao inadvertently became sullen, and her eyes were like she was looking at a swollen earthworm in a puddle of water, but then she politely met eyes with Gaoshun, who was overflowing with the expression of a bodhisattva. For now, she forced her narrowed eyes wide open.

Where did you go?

The clinic. To think there was such a place huh.

It was mentioned to court ladies when they were first shown around, could it have been omitted?

No, I dont think so.

Looking at Jinshi who had a somewhat strangely serious expression. Maomao thought, What should I do? Occasionally, does this eunuch have no confidence in his own work? He has so much confidence normally.

Jinshi slowly veered off to a path that led to a place with few people. The beautiful eunuch, him just standing here will become a hindrance to work, so it would be a welcome decision.

It was a place that was more established that I thought, so I was surprised. Rather, it would be better if the medical officer was there.

No, if it was like that, the quack doctors head will fly. If it was like this, the places where Maomao can slack off will decrease, so it was troubling.

I really should have corrected what I said just then, she thought, when Jinshi lowered his brows again.

If there was a medical officer there? Wouldnt that be a hardship if that was done?

What do you mean?

Only males can be medical officers, you know.

Maomao tilted her head, and Gaoshun explained instead.

Fundamentally, only medical officers can boil medicine. For the treatment of wounds too. Scratches aside, the treatment of serious injuries was impossible. It was banned.

(Was that how it is?)

Maomao understood. The reason why there wasnt the smell of medicine, must be due to that.

However, if that was the case.

What about me?

Maomao felt that she boiled medicine as she pleased. Of course, she couldnt bring in ingredients from outside, but she used the plants that grew within the inner palace and the medical offices medicines.

You can say our eyes are closed. Among consorts, there arent few people who know a lot about medicines placed as maids. Though, when it becomes such a case, conversely, their presence becomes too distinct and cant provide medicines then.

From Jinshis phrasing, Im involved in some complicated situation, Maomao thought. Like the inner palace court lady wage system, an incomprehensible system and law might exist, but Maomao had not much interest in it so she had absolutely no idea.

Even if medicine was not allowed, you can use alcohol to disinfect then it could be utilised by applying that devising.

By just resting in a clean place, illnesses can be easily cured. In the case where the condition is severe, there was also the means to return to their family.

(What a bother.)

However, it would be more of a bother to overturn the system that was once decided. In this world, there are many people who chose to immobilise.

Even for the future, it would be good if we can supply more figures that are different to medical officers.

Jinshi also couldnt speak about Maomao. Like he was making a speech, that was a monologue.

So we can do it even if there arent eunuchs.

(Eunuch huh.)

Within the inner palace, eunuchs make up about half of all the people. Compared to court ladies, since they arent often replaced, their average age was considerably high.

(That saying, there arent many young eunuchs huh.)

She was pretty sure she heard that a couple of years ago, the surgery to become a eunuch was banned. If she remembered correctly, wasnt it the time when the emperor was replaced by the current one?

Maomao didnt know when Jinshi became a eunuch. However, considering Jinshis age, it could only be just before it was banned.

(Poor thing. If only you waited a little.)

Involuntarily, her gaze dropped. She looked at Jinshis crotch. Since the eunuchs surgery removed it all by the roots, it becomes flat. Since she knew what happened to her foster fathers area, she could pretty much imagine it.

(Smooth and flat.)

Maomao slowly raised her head, locking eyes with Jinshi.

Jinshi was making a somewhat complicated expression. His lips were shut in a zigzag shape; he was staring back at Maomao.

(Dont tell me, did I say it out loud again?)

Not good, she thought, holding her mouth and averting her eyes, this time meeting eyes with Gaoshun. His bodhisattva expression had crumbled; it seems he was looking towards Jinshi with the same sympathetic smile as Maomao. Being fellows that had the same flatness, could they have a connection?

Gaoshun slowly shook his head,

Jinshi-sama, our work is being held up.

And said a behest.

Okay. Thats right. Tell them that I will be heading to the Jade Palace afterwards.

So Jinshi said, and left with an elegant retreating figure.

Maomao released her hands that she clamped over her mouth,

(If I make a medicine that can grow it, could it be profitable?)

She considered imprudent things along those lines.