Chapter 13 No Need to Use It

What are you doing?

Do you want to raid the Imperial Hospital?

The Imperial Hospital isn't someone's home, there's nothing to raid.

The imperial physicians in the hall, who were still laughing a moment ago, suddenly saw the Jinyiwei officers rushing in and got frightened, unable to even speak a word as they were beaten and cast out.

It wasn't the first time the imperial physicians had seen the Jinyiwei behave like this, but it was the first time they had experienced it themselves.

Doctor Geng looked at the Jinyiwei officer in front of him. He had dealt with this same Jinyiwei officer a while ago when he had inquired about matters concerning Jiuling Hall; back then, his expression was cold, but his attitude was polite.

They would occasionally greet each other if they met on the road.

But today, he acted as if he didn't recognize Doctor Geng at all. As soon as Geng opened his mouth to call out "Brother Wen," he had been struck to the ground with the flat of a blade.

"Get going, get going."

Doctor Geng's vision swam with stars from the blow, and in disarray, he was picked up and shoved out clumsily.

These Jinyiwei officers indeed recognized neither kith nor kin and were merciless once they had turned against you.

A group of imperial physicians, chased out to the door, each wore expressions of fright and dishevelment.

Imperial Physician Jiang tried to maintain his dignity, glaring angrily at Lu Yunqi at the door.

"Lord Lu, what crime have we committed?" he asked.

"No crime," Lu Yunqi said indifferently. "Just asking you to do a job."

What?

The imperial physicians looked surprised.

Asking them to do a job?

They looked down at their own disheveled appearances. Was this how one asks for a favor?

But one shouldn't apply common reasoning to the Jinyiwei officers.

Imperial Physician Jiang took a deep breath.

"Lord Lu, what are your orders?" he asked, keeping his voice calm.

"Go treat smallpox outside the city," Lu Yunqi said flatly.

Imperial Physician Jiang was stunned for a moment, as were the other imperial physicians present; then, everyone turned their gaze in unison towards one direction.

That young girl was standing by the street at the doorway.

They had noticed her when they first came out, but hadn't paid attention, nor had they the capacity to care while unsure of their fate in the hands of the Jinyiwei—why would they think about what this girl was doing here?

Her presence here was nothing strange; most likely delighting in their misfortune.

But now, it seemed...

Imperial Physician Jiang struggled to maintain calm, his face full of surprise as he glanced between Lu Yunqi and Miss Jun.

So after being troubled and driven out by them, Miss Jun had sought help and reported to the Jinyiwei?

The imperial physicians also realized this, and they looked at Miss Jun's expression with sudden anger.

Imperial Physician Jiang was angry as well, but beyond the anger, he was also puzzled.

If it were said that Miss Jun, holding an imperial decree, had complained to some other office like the Army Department, it wouldn't be surprising, but to go to the Northern Administrative Court to find Lu Yunqi to lodge a complaint...

Never mind that aside from direct orders from the emperor, Lu Yunqi considered everyone else's words worthless, it's also noted that Lu Yunqi held a grudge against Miss Jun.

Miss Jun must be delusional to think that with the imperial decree in hand, she could direct Lu Yunqi as she pleased.

But why would Lu Yunqi actually listen to her and go out of his way to trouble these imperial physicians, given he was likely more eager to see Miss Jun fail her task?

Did he pity the children suffering from smallpox outside the city? Or feel grateful to Miss Jun for treating his nephew? What joke—Lu Yunqi wasn't mad.

So what exactly was going on here?

"Lord Lu, we're not refusing to go."

"We already have patients we are treating; surely we can't just abandon them?"

"If it really has to be that way, then would Miss Jun please discuss it?"

The imperial physicians, now knowing it wasn't due to a fault of their own, calmed down, expressing both anger and grievance.

Lu Yunqi waved his hand dismissively.

"Enough with your idle talk!" Hundred-man Commander Jiang scolded.

Following his rebuke, the Jinyiwei officers raised their swords and began hitting the imperial physicians furiously.

Truly, they hit whenever there's disagreement!

The imperial physicians cried out in pain and stopped talking.

Imperial Physician Jiang shook with rage, about to scold them, but a Jinyiwei officer beside him glared menacingly, his sword poised to strike.

Arguing with these lunatic beasts wouldn't make sense and would only add to his own disgrace.

Imperial Physician Jiang forcefully swallowed the words he wanted to say.

"Just do your job and stop this pointless whining," Hundred-man Commander Jiang scolded. "Who asked for your opinion?"

With a wave of his hand, he commanded,

"Go, follow Miss Jun's orders."

As he spoke, the Jinyiwei officers raised their swords again.

"Go," they ordered in unison.

Like they were herding sheep.

The imperial physicians didn't want to go, scared of being hit, and were a mix of anger and trepidation.

Miss Jun could no longer bear to watch.

"Enough," she said, looking at Lu Yunqi. "Thanks, Lord Lu, but I don't need these men."

Don't need them?

The room quieted down, and all eyes turned to her.

Lu Yunqi also stared at her.

The girl stood on the street corner, her expression calm, yet she couldn't hide the pride inherent in her bones.

No, it wasn't just pride, it was a defiant pride.

"You can use them," he said.

Miss Jun no longer looked at him, glancing over the imperial physicians who had been driven away.

"I have my own people to use," she said. "They are unnecessary."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Liu'er tossed her head and snorted at them.

"They are unnecessary," she repeated and turned to follow.

The front of the Imperial Hospital fell silent.

Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, watched Lu Yunqi.

Lu Yunqi's lips curved slightly as he lowered his gaze, turned, and mounted his horse.

"Let's go." Jiang suppressed the shock in his heart and gestured with his hand.

The Jinyiwei mounted their horses and, surrounding Lu Yunqi, galloped away like a gust of wind.

A dead silence fell in front of the Imperial Hospital; a group of wretched-looking imperial physicians stood rooted to the spot.

What had just happened?

Who am I?

Where am I now?

These thoughts dominated everyone's minds.

Was that just a nightmare?

"That really infuriates me," Imperial Physician Jiang suddenly shouted.

His shout jolted the other imperial physicians from their nightmare.

"This is absolutely outrageous!"

"I want to file an imperial complaint!"

"My back has been broken!"

"Heavens! Is there no law and order?"

Cries and sobs rose from the front of the Imperial Hospital as the clerks and disciples, who had been hiding, emerged trembling with fear.

"This Miss Jun has taken advantage of the imperial decree to act recklessly, seizing the opportunity to take private revenge and humiliate us," Imperial Physician Jiang said with a trembling voice.

"Does this mean she instructed the Jinyiwei?" one of the physicians asked, wiping his eyes.

"Of course," Imperial Physician Jiang replied.

Could it be that Lu Yunqi acted on his own to support her?

But it seemed somewhat likely...

"Thousand-Man Commander Lu was obviously instructed by the imperial decree," Imperial Physician Jiang said.

Only then would it demonstrate how arrogant this woman was, even commanding the Jinyiwei.

That must be the reason why Lu Yunqi behaved this way.

This would be even more effective if reported to the emperor.

It must be so.

"Then let's go and file a complaint against her right now," another physician said, covering his face, which had swelled up after being struck by a scabbard in the commotion.

If this was an act, the Jinyiwei were being too sincere.

"Not now—wait until she has finished treating the pox," Imperial Physician Jiang said, watching the young woman's receding figure in the street with a hateful flick of his sleeve.

We'll just wait and see!

..............

"Miss, do you really not need those imperial physicians?" Liu'er caught up with her and couldn't help but ask.

Miss Jun smiled.

"I never intended to use them," she said.

Liu'er emitted a sound of confusion, her face puzzled.

Then why bother asking for them?

Miss Jun looked at her and smiled.

"It was just to give them a chance to regret," she said.

A chance to regret?

Miss was getting naughtier.

"Then where shall we find people?" Liu'er asked. "Otherwise, you teach me."

Miss Jun laughed.

"In such a vast capital, there are plenty of doctors," she said. "For such a good cause, a good opportunity, there are plenty of people who would want it."

She spoke and stopped walking, looking in a certain direction. Liu'er also stopped and followed her gaze, seeing a shop sign across the street.

Hundred Herbs Hall.

Looking inside the door, an elderly man sat behind a desk, focused and seriously perusing a medical book.

***********************************************

Thanks to the Southern Ice, ?, Last Shot?, and md12 for rewarding with He's Bi.

Have a pleasant weekend (*^__^*)