Chapter 974: Outline

Hu Ying, however, was concerned about another point: "Do we also need to write down the processing methods for medicinal herbs?"

Pan Yun: "Of course. Since we're giving out the prescriptions, we must clearly state the processing methods. One herb can have completely opposite effects when raw versus processed—if we don't clarify, won't we endanger lives?"

The others deeply agreed.

The Zhou Wang grew troubled: "The workload would be enormous. The Zhou Wangfu alone cannot possibly complete this."

His face flushed faintly, yet he whispered: "The Zhou Wangfu is not what it once was—there are far fewer physicians now."

This was not the fault of the current Zhou Wang, but of his predecessor.

The former Zhou Wang, though he continued managing the medical bureau left by his father, was more obsessed with theater, so many of the physicians who had gathered during his father's reign dispersed.

By the time the Zhou Wang ascended and took over, the王府's medicinal trade had shrunk, and most of the physicians had left; only in recent years, as the Zhou Wang sought to follow his grandfather's passion for medicine, did medical talent begin to gather again.

Miao He immediately raised her hand, excitedly saying: "Me me me, I'll help you!"

Tao Yanbai stood nearby, equally excited, eyes gleaming, yet he didn't move.

Miao He glanced at him, grabbed his hand, and lifted it up: "And my senior brother!"

Hu Yuanjie looked between the two, then at the Zhou Wang, and suddenly clapped her hands and laughed: "What a brilliant idea! Daoist physicians have one advantage no folk physician can match."

Miao He asked curiously: "What's that?"

"Pills," Hu Yuanjie said. "Daoist physicians make the best pills of all kinds. If we record the effects and manufacturing methods of these pills in this book, ordinary people could prepare them for emergencies."

Miao He thought for a moment, then nodded: "That's a good idea—but only suitable for common pills, like digestive pills, stomach-strengthening pills; diarrhea-stopping pills, yang-restoring pills."

Tao Yanbai: "Besides pills, our Daoist medicinal wines are superior to common folk formulas—excellent for treating bruises and trauma, warming and tonifying qi and blood, strengthening tendons and bones—but…"

Hu Yuanjie, seeing him hesitate, urged: "But what?"

Tao Yanbai scratched his head, glanced at Pan Yun, then said: "But some herbs require extremely careful processing—if done improperly, the medicinal wine could turn poisonous."

Pan Yun: "Then remove the medicinal wines with high risks."

Hu Yuanjie, delighted that Pan Yun didn't oppose providing prescriptions, immediately said: "I also have several secret prescriptions for treating illnesses—all verified. I originally planned to include them in my 'Simple and Accessible Hygiene Formulas,' but since the Zhou Wangfu is compiling a new Thousand Gold Formulas, I shall offer them."

Pan Yun immediately raised her hand: "Hey, you can record yours here, and you can write yours too. Even if the knowledge overlaps, repetition helps memory."

The Zhou Wang, stirred by their enthusiasm, rolled up his sleeves: "Then let's draft a new outline."

The group talked until sunset, only realizing how late it was when lanterns lit up inside the palace.

The Zhou Wang panicked: "Will the palace gates be locked? Will we be trapped inside?"

Pan Yun said: "The Imperial Astronomical Bureau and the inner palace are separate. This is the outer court—what's there to fear?"

She added: "There are sleeping quarters inside the Bureau, though they're modest. Seeing Miao Zhen, arrange two beds. The heir will sleep tonight with Tao Yanbai."

The Zhou Wang opened his mouth: "But—but we're supposed to return home tomorrow. If we don't leave the palace, how will we make it in time?"

Pan Yun glanced at the outline just beginning to take shape, then turned and suggested: "Why not stay in Jingcheng?"

The Zhou Wang's mouth dropped open.

The next day, Pan Yun went to see the Emperor.

That same day, the Emperor personally urged the Zhou Wang to stay, appointed him as an advisor to the Imperial Medical Bureau, and ordered him to revise the former Zhou Wang's 'Herbs for Famine Relief' and compile a new 'Universal Aid Formulas.'

The Zhou Wang and his father remained in Jingcheng. This drew the attention of other princes preparing to depart, who began speculating: "Is this truly about compiling books, or is it merely an excuse? The Emperor's Consort Hang is pregnant—she's due to give birth soon, isn't she?"

"Even if the imperial consorts are temporarily childless, what does it matter? The Emperor is still young."

Suppressing the speculation that the Emperor might adopt an heir, all suspicions remained unverifiable—further thought was futile.

Pan Yun also placed Miao He and Tao Yanbai into the Imperial Medical Bureau, assigning them to assist the Zhou Wang in compiling the book and to learn from the imperial physicians.

"Besides studying medicine, you can also learn how they process herbs, and familiarize yourselves with the Imperial Medical Bureau's medical academy."

Miao He and Tao Yanbai exchanged glances and cheerfully agreed.

"Little Master Uncle, will we one day be able to achieve as much as you have in the Imperial Medical Bureau?"

Pan Yun: "With your talent and effort, absolutely!"

Miao He and Tao Yanbai ran off happily.

Both the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and the Imperial Medical Bureau were inside the palace, though one lay at one end and the other at the other—still far more convenient than being outside.

Every morning, Miao He and Tao Yanbai went to the Imperial Medical Bureau, while Seeing Miao Zhen studied Daoist cultivation within the Astronomical Bureau, and Pan Yun tightly scheduled her own time.

Nighttime lamp-lighting harmed eyesight, so she cultivated for two hours after dark before sleeping.

By day, she immersed herself in work.

Half her time was spent copying blueprints from the Spirit Realm's records; the other half, she went to the Ministry of Works.

Five days later, Pan Yun brought a large box filled with a whole stack of paper to the Ministry of Works.

Besides Hu Cheng, she summoned Yu Qian, Chen Xun, and Hu Ying; the five held a meeting.

Pan Yun opened the box, laid out the bound blueprints, and handed them her proposal.

The proposal existed only as her handwritten copy; Yu Qian read it first, and his expression grew increasingly animated.

The others hadn't seen such liveliness on his face in a long time—they couldn't help leaning in to look.

One glance, and they couldn't look away.

After they finished reading the proposal, Pan Yun paused briefly, then pointed at Hu Ying, Chen Xun, and Hu Cheng: "Talent, money, and implementation—none can be missing."

Chen Xun's eyes gleamed; ideas flooded his mind.

Yu Qian, uncertain, asked: "Are the things described in this book truly functional as stated?"

Pan Yun: "Naturally."

Yu Qian frowned: "Railways, trains, locomotives powered by petroleum that haul dozens of tons—just this one item—you realize how profoundly it will transform the empire?"

Pan Yun leaned forward, gripping the table, and fixed him with a gaze: "Reform isn't meant to bring profound change?"

Chen Xun trusted Pan Yun completely—after all, she could fly. What in the world was impossible?

He could only lament: "Why didn't you bring this forward sooner? Had I known there were so many ways to make money, why would Lord Yu have submitted his petition to survey land? You don't know—the memorials denouncing Lord Yu are already piling up on the Emperor's desk."

Pan Yun dismissed it: "If land surveying can be implemented, its benefits outweigh its drawbacks. Since it's begun, let it proceed."