Volume 8, Chapter 16: Selection (1/2)

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(Surprisingly, I was okay with it.)

Maomao was going to speak out about her impressions, but she softly closed her mouth.

She washed her hands meticulously. She changed clothes.

Next, she will go to the public bathhouse her superior had treated her to. That was it.

She had dissected a human body for the first time. A cadaver of a robber who was executed by hanging; the body had been littered with cuts all over. People might believe that cutting a person up after their death, meant that they would go onto a different path in life.

(I have to wash my body thoroughly too.)

She sniffed her hand for any remaining stench. She thought that it would be fine if she imbued a faint incense onto her change of clothes, but–

That moment.

“Nyannyan.”

Maomao wondered if she should respond to that address. There was only one person who would call her this. She turned around. It was Tenyuu.

“….”

Her responding to him even though he had gotten her name wrong would mean that she was acknowledging it. That being said, she also had a problem with ignoring him.

(If you’re going to say something absurd, get a move on.)

However, he had a reason to call her to a stop. “Court Physician Ryuu has something to talk about now.”

“What about the bath?” she asked.

“Leave. It. Till. Later.” Tenyuu spoke like he was putting on airs, but he also seemed unhappy that he couldn’t take a bath either. He was sniffing the back of his hand.

She couldn’t complain since it wasn’t just her. Maomao decided to follow Tenyuu.

However, the other apprentice court physicians were leaving.

“What about the others?” she asked.

“They probably don’t know? It’s supplementary exams.”

Upon hearing supplementary exams, she understood. While the other apprentice court physicians could dissect animals without a problem, their hands shook when it came to humans.

Were Maomao and Tenyuu the only ones who could cut unfazed?

(So this guy too, huh. I wonder how many more times he saw the actual thing.)

Maomao sniffed her hand again.

In the room she was led to, there was Court Physician Ryuu, her dad Ruomen, and a couple more court physicians. There were chairs set out along a large table used for meetings, where the chief seat was right in the middle.

(All of them are high-ranking court physicians.)

They were all people with assured skill and had studied extensively.

Court physicians also have official rankings, but they are commonly referred to as high-ranking, middle-ranking, and apprentice.

Maomao found herself rubbing her eyes when she sighted a person among that group who was visibly merry.

The person was flapping his hands. He had round features and gentle eyes. Although the man was a eunuch, he had a moustache that resembled a loach.

“Court Physician…”

Of course, the court physician here had “inner palace” in front of his title.

It was the quack doctor.

(Why is he here? No, there can’t be a mistake in the personnel selection.)

Since he was working alone as a medical practitioner in the inner palace, even as a joke, it wouldn’t be strange for his ranking to be a high-ranking court physician, even if it’s just for show.

However, he was really frivolous.

Among the other court physicians who possess some outstanding ability, the absentminded, piglet-like quack doctor was sitting down quietly.

(Which reminds me…)

The quack doctor was scared of touching dead bodies.

(How did he graduate from an apprentice to a court physician?)

It was too much of a mystery.

While Maomao was deep in thought, someone clapped their hands.

“Looks like we have all gathered.” Court Physician Ryuu silenced the noisy room.

There were also a number of middle-ranking court physicians who had shown up before she realised. They looked at Maomao who was more out of place than the quack doctor.

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Even if her looks weren’t outstanding, a single female among male court physicians would invariably catch people’s eyes.

“Then, I’ll begin. Feel free to sit on any empty seat.”

(Even if you tell us to sit.)

The high-ranking court physicians sat down.

The middle-ranking court physicians started to move.

Tenyuu the apprentice remained standing.

Maomao also waited for everyone to sit down.

Even if he told them feel free to sit on any seat, in the end it was in the order of hierarchy. Emergencies aside, it was less discordant to sit in such a way in a situation like this.

Tenyuu took the lowest seat. Maomao sat on the empty seat.

(A delicate place.)

It looks like no one thought about sitting next to a high-ranking court physician, so the only empty seat was beside the quack doctor. Maomao sat beside the smiling quack doctor.

“Oh maaan, long time no see. Want to eat?” He was hiding sweets under the table.

“Not now,” she replied.

There was no way she could listen with a lolly in her mouth. Moreover, Court Physician Ryuu was scowling. The quack hadn’t noticed that he had been noticed.

Well then, Court Physician Ryuu spoke on about why they were summoned. It seems he left the quack, whose cheeks were rolling, alone for now. “I called you all to decide who among you will be going to the western capital.”

It was about what Jinshi had been discussing with Court Physician Ryuu.

About his wanting to bring court physicians along on an expedition. And how he wanted two—that matter.

Maomao had eagerly volunteered herself then. She had no idea if she was chosen in the end.

“Does anyone want to go to the western capital?”

Maomao’s hand was about to shoot up, but there was someone faster. “Before that, a question,” he said.

Upon his saying question, Maomao couldn’t raise her hand. She dejectedly lowered it.

“The prerequisites are too ambiguous. Why are we going to the western capital? Is this another way to say a demotion?”

It was a young man who was accomplished among the middle-ranking court physicians. She didn’t remember his name.

(Ahh, that’s true.)

Since she was told that Jinshi will be going to the western capital, Maomao naturally thought it was an expedition. However, for people who weren’t aware of the situation, it probably won’t be different from calling it a demotion.

(No, but could it actually be a demotion?)

Demotion, no, Jinshi would say that outright, and she didn’t think it was the case.

“Ehh, is it really a demotion?” The quack doctor panicked and nudged Maomao, whispering.

(Did you not hear about it?)

He should have gotten an explanation if he were a high-ranking court physician. No, he got left out since he’s a quack. Or else, did he miss out on hearing it when he was sucking on candy?