Doctor Li was very surprised. Seeing Qin Yuan seemed to have made a decision, he asked, "Mistress, have you thought it through? This is smallpox; if anything goes wrong..."
Hong Ye hurriedly tugged at Qin Yuan’s sleeve, exclaiming, "Miss."
Even Cui Ming showed an expression of panic.
Qin Yuan said solemnly, "Not to keep it from Master, I’ve read the medical books left by my grandfather in private, but knowledge from books is always shallow; practice is essential. Now is the opportunity, following behind you allows me to observe and learn more."
"Mistress," Doctor Li advised earnestly, "studying medicine is a hard path. If you were as young as Xiao Dong, I wouldn’t stop you, but now you are the Marchioness, having to manage the household, and in the future, bear children, manage social affairs, where will you find the time for such demanding study? Learning some health maintenance, gynecological prescriptions, and basic medical principles is enough for everyday life. Later, when the time comes, you can slowly learn; you will eventually master it and can pass the Chen family’s medical skills on to an heir, which would honor your ancestors. Why take this risk?"
Although he accepted Qin Yuan as a disciple, Doctor Li never intended for her to inherit his career in treating and saving people.
Hong Ye quickly added, "Indeed, Miss, you are already the Dingbei Marquis’s wife, you should prioritize the Dingbei Marquis Mansion. Learning medicine is not accomplished overnight, don’t risk your life. Moreover... not many Imperial Physicians or doctors in the Capital City dare to treat smallpox."
Cui Ming also said, "Miss, reconsider."
Qin Yuan ignored them and only spoke to Doctor Li, "Master, you’ve come to the mansion, did you notice the benefits of my medicinal incense? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have asked me to teach Xiao Dong, right?"
Doctor Li nodded.
Qin Yuan said proudly, "This was formulated according to the ancestral incense recipe with adjustments."
"Oh?" Doctor Li opened his mouth wide in surprise, displaying a mixture of emotions: admiration, annoyance, regret, envy, and lament.
"Mistress, I know you are intelligent, how can you be so intelligent?"
Doctor Li rubbed his hands repeatedly, anyone could see his emotions were turbulent.
Qin Yuan shamelessly boasted, "I usually memorize things at a glance, but my mother advised not to reveal it easily, so few are aware. When my mother taught me these medical books and incense recipes, I only needed to read them once to remember. I watched her make incense, and gradually learned it, so when there was smallpox at the mansion, I knew how to formulate the incense."
Doctor Li stomped his foot and lamented to the heavens, "Good heavens, Mistress, you will make us mediocre people die of envy; so many studying medicine can’t learn incense formulation, so many incense masters don’t understand medical principles, yet you learned just by reading. This talent will make many jealous."
Qin Yuan lowered her eyelids.
This... this...
It’s not actually that quick.
After all, she has lived another lifetime, but she can’t say that.
Doctor Li pulled Xiao Dong over and irritably said, "I assumed you used the Chen family’s incense recipes, that’s why I suggested you teach Xiao Dong, I..."
Qin Yuan raised her eyes, halting Doctor Li’s words.
Qin Yuan suddenly laughed and asked, "Master, what are you saying? My incense recipe is based on ancestral recipes through adjustments. Why can Xiao Dong learn the Chen family’s incense recipes, but not mine?"
"...This..." Doctor Li stammered, "That’s naturally different; there are principles involved, which I can’t explain instantly. With your perceptiveness, you likely have memorized the Chen family’s medical books and understood quite a bit of medical theory?"
Qin Yuan did not continue the argument, responding to his lead, "Yes, I’ve understood quite a bit of medical theory, but many aspects remain unclear. After all, learning from medical books is different from treating patients directly."
In her past life, the medical books and texts left by Doctor Li contained many mysteries, but as Madam Lin Xiang, she consulted with Imperial Physicians who explained thoroughly, eventually getting a rough understanding.
Nothing compares to learning directly from Doctor Li.
After all, there were as many as eight major schools, each with sub-schools, and the Imperial Hospital had countless factions, each with strengths and weaknesses.
Doctor Li pondered and said, "If that’s the case, you can follow along, but you mustn’t stay too long or overexert yourself. Protective measures must be thorough, and caution is essential everywhere."
Qin Yuan replied, "Thank you, Master, for allowing it. Rest assured, I will prepare properly."
Doctor Li sat in the room sipping tea, while Qin Yuan went to the inner room to change clothes. Xiao Dong sat quietly, his eyes fixed on the door of the inner room, waiting for Qin Yuan to emerge.