Chapter 242: Women and Children’s Hospital Completed
She could only enter the space when Gu Changxiao was reviewing memorials at night, and then come out at the right time. But what Jin Sui didn’t know was that Gu Changxiao was just coordinating with her schedule.
As long as she entered the study and closed the door, ordering no one to enter, Gu Changxiao would immediately go to review memorials. He would only return to his sleeping quarters to sleep after hearing that the Empress had come out.
Sometimes Jin Sui would look anxious at dinner, and Gu Changxiao would deliberately say that he had to review memorials late into the night and would sleep in the study, telling Jin Sui to go to bed early and not wait for him.
Then he would see Jin Sui agree with joy in her eyes, and that night, without a doubt, she would be busy in the study all night.
If he didn’t know what Jin Sui was busy with, Gu Changxiao would have been jealous. What was more important than accompanying her husband?
That night, Jin Sui was busy until midnight before returning to her bedroom. Hearing that Gu Changxiao had not yet returned, she went to sleep first.
When Gu Changxiao returned, he looked at Jin Sui’s tired sleeping face and felt heartbroken.
My Sui Sui, when will you be willing to tell me your secret?
Of course, if you don’t want to say it, I will never ask. But I really want to help you, so you don’t have to be so tired.
Unfortunately, no one could help Jin Sui. She had experimented before, and when she tried to bring Jin An into the space, Jin An couldn’t enter.
This meant that only she herself could enter the space. This made her wonder if the space would disappear when she died of old age.
Therefore, she had to research technology in the space more before she died of old age, and bring out more advanced crafts and technologies.
Hard work yielded results. In July, thanks to the information Jin Sui retrieved from the space and the improvements she made to the Ministry of Works’ crafts, the shipbuilding technology for warships advanced by leaps and bounds, progressing rapidly.
A fleet of warships was expected to set sail within two years. Once the navy was trained and ready, they could be immediately deployed in naval battles.
The more hope she saw, the more Jin Sui had to remind herself not to rush. Currently, the entire court was stirred up by her statement “Japan has silver mines,” and she was the one who was supposed to be applying the brakes.
She repeatedly told Gu Changxiao that intelligence was most important before the official declaration of war. The Yan Clan’s sea merchants had long had dealings with Japan, so Huo Zi’an could be recalled and sent to Japan first.
Under the guise of the Yan Clan’s merchant association, he could infiltrate and gather information in Japan. When our army launched its attack, it would play a crucial role.
Huo Zi’an and Han Xing had worked together seamlessly in Chang’an, and he was very skilled at controlling intelligence. Gu Changxiao agreed with her opinion, immediately recalled Huo Zi’an to the border city, and discussed with Yan Jiu the matter of sending spies to Japan in advance.
This was the first time Jin Sui had seen Yan Jiu since her marriage. She wasn’t sure if it was because they hadn’t seen each other for so long, but she felt that Yan Jiu’s demeanor had changed greatly. He had gone from being a cheerful young gentleman to someone a bit melancholic.
His eyes, which were once like a calm mountain lake, were now like the deep sea, rarely trodden by humans, filled with sorrow and restrained deep affection.
Jin Sui didn’t dare to meet his gaze and was so scared that she asked Yan Shiyi, “What’s wrong with your eldest brother?”
Yan Shiyi was very confused, “My eldest brother is fine! He’s been in much better spirits since Miss Yan returned home.
He’s just been a bit annoying lately, always urging me to get married. He’s not married himself, yet he’s urging me to get married!”
Jin Sui didn’t dare to inquire further. What if he had a white moonlight or a cinnabar mole? Knowing that the Empress was prying, he might worry about being bestowed a marriage.
That’s right, in this era, the Emperor and Empress practically arranged all the marriages for the children of the powerful and noble. Jin Sui wasn’t interested in being a matchmaker yet, so she decided to pretend she didn’t know.
She summoned Yan Jiu to the palace mainly to discuss matters concerning Japan, as she had a detailed map of Japan. Although the specific locations of cities and prefectures might differ, the mountains and rivers would not have significant errors.
With this map, it would be much easier for Huo Zi’an and Yan Jiu to arrange for people to infiltrate Japan.
Not only had Yan Jiu changed greatly, but Huo Zi’an had changed even more. Considering the workload he had in Chang’an, the Huo official before her looked completely like an overworked ox or horse.
He looked even more weathered than when he was truly an ox or horse plowing fields and carrying manure for the Tuntian Camp in the border city. Jin Sui seriously suspected that he had little hair left under his official hat.
Jin Sui didn’t dare to meet Yan Jiu’s gaze, while Huo Zi’an didn’t dare to look up at Jin Sui at all.
Perhaps it was because the dignified and elegant Empress before him was too different from the fake Li King who had made him work like an ox and horse back then, that he found it hard to believe.
Or perhaps, no matter how Jin Sui’s appearance changed, in Huo Zi’an’s heart, she already had a deeply ingrained image of a demon that could not be easily changed. In any case, he was more nervous in front of Jin Sui than in front of the Emperor.
Jin Sui didn’t make things difficult for the two of them. She made the map annotations more detailed, and explained the customs of Japan and precautions for communicating and interacting with the Japanese. Without holding a banquet, she let them leave the palace.
What Jin Sui didn’t expect was that they brought her gifts. Huo Zi’an brought an ancient artifact passed down for nearly a thousand years. He said he heard that the Empress was collecting ancient artifacts and had established a museum at the Academy, so he collected it from Chang’an and presented it to her. Jin Sui guessed that he and Han Xing had found it when they raided the homes of the powerful and noble in Chang’an.
Yan Jiu brought a batch of jewelry that had just returned from sea, including a very rare green gemstone as large as a baby’s fist.
Jin Sui felt pained. You should have given it as a New Year’s gift back then. But even if you give it to me when you visit the palace, it cannot be recorded in the national treasury as a gift from the Yan Clan Head.
When a minister offers a heavy gift, you, as Empress, cannot let them leave empty-handed! Logically, Jin Sui should have rewarded their wives, but since both of them were bachelors, she could only reward them personally.
For Huo Zi’an, she gave a set of maritime equipment: a telescope, a sextant, and a compass. All were produced in the space, quality guaranteed.
The return gift for Yan Jiu was troublesome. She really didn’t know what the Yan Clan Head lacked. Giving him a gift was more troublesome than giving one to Gu Changxiao.
The last time she gave him a set of Gongfu tea ware. This time, Jin Sui searched the space for a long time and finally chose a boxed set of fountain pens. She opened it and let Yan Jiu try it, casually writing two lines of text:
I am a gentleman of clear waters and mountains, Heaven has decreed me to be unrestrained. I have once signed wind and rain deeds, and repeatedly borrowed the moon’s chapter to hold back the clouds.
“A new type of pen, more convenient to use than a brush. Yan Clan Head, keep it for fun.”
Yan Jiu accepted it solemnly, “Thank you, Your Majesty. I will treasure it.” When he took the pen box, he also put in the piece of paper with the lines Jin Sui had just written.
Jin Sui felt a little embarrassed. What you gave me could buy a trainload of these pens. She waved her hand, “No need to treasure it, it’s just a new gadget. If it breaks, I’ll get you a new one.”
As the two left the palace, Huo Zi’an felt a bit awkward talking to the Yan Clan Head because the items the Empress gave him were clearly priceless treasures, yet she only gave the Yan Clan Head a pen!
It seems that regarding the matter of Japan, the Empress trusts me more!
This made Huo Zi’an feel a surge of pride. It wasn’t in vain that he had been a true ox and horse for the Empress in the past; at least he had gained her trust.
However, he didn’t know that Yan Jiu didn’t care at all. Even if Jin Sui had only returned a piece of paper, or nothing at all, as long as she accepted his gift, he would be happy.
What’s more, the Empress had written back a poem herself.
When Gu Changxiao returned, he asked Jin Sui how the meeting with Huo Zi’an and Yan Jiu had gone. Jin Sui didn’t mention that their attitudes were strange. In any case, she had given them the map and explained what needed to be explained.
She nodded and said, “The discussions went very well, but the specific implementation plan will require them to adapt to the situation in Japan.”
Jin Sui then showed Gu Changxiao the gifts the two had brought. “I want to put these ancient artifacts in the museum at the Academy.”
Gu Changxiao pretended to look them over and casually asked, “Does Sui Sui like these overseas gemstones?”
Jin Sui smiled and said, “It’s not about liking them or not. The Yan Clan Head’s kind intentions, I can’t just refuse, can I?”
Who doesn’t like gemstones! Especially such rare and unusual gemstones. She knew Gu Changxiao had reservations about Yan Jiu, so she naturally couldn’t show any particular fondness.
Gu Changxiao, as expected, didn’t notice and smiled, “What do you like, Sui Sui? I’ll give it to you! All the treasures in the world belong to Sui Sui.”
…
In the blink of an eye, it was August. All the people in the land began to busy themselves with the autumn harvest, and so did the Imperial Court. It was once again the most crucial autumn harvest season of the year. However, this year, the Ministry of Revenue was most confident about the grain tax from the autumn harvest.
Even if thirty percent of the regions had a poor harvest, the new crops planted in Yan land alone would be enough to compensate!
Even though they had seen it last year, seeing the bumper harvest of potatoes and sweet potatoes this year was still astonishing. They were too high-yield! The officials who recorded the high yields felt like they were bragging.
And next year will be even better, because female officials and Taoist Master Ling are promoting new crops in the Central Plains, as well as high-yield wheat, soybeans, and millet. The appearance of high-yield crops made the Imperial Court exceptionally lenient towards prefectures affected by natural disasters.
The Emperor decreed that the autumn grain tax for prefectures suffering from floods, insect infestations, and droughts would be waived. In the past, the Imperial Court would have argued for days, but this time, not a single official objected. They all said it was the Son of Heaven’s great benevolence, bestowing blessings upon the common people.
Even some rigid and stubborn censors didn’t say much, as their hometowns were also among those granted special tax exemptions.
Although they had been officials for many years, their early desire to seek blessings for their hometowns had long since faded amidst the ups and downs of officialdom. However, if the Emperor waived taxes for their hometowns, and they still objected, they would be cursed by their fellow villagers and would have no face to see their ancestors.
The reason why officials whose hometowns were not on the special exemption list did not object was that it was hard to guarantee that their own hometowns would not be in such a situation in the future. If you object this year, then next time it’s your own hometown’s turn, others will naturally object.
In any case, it was a special exemption from His Majesty. At the beginning of the year, there was a special examination; in the middle of the year, floods were managed; and in the autumn harvest, a portion of the grain tax was waived. Everyone in the land benefited, and everyone was happy. Who would oppose at such a time?
Gu Changxiao was busy with military and political affairs, while Jin Feng was busy with the completion of the hospital. In this era, there was no need to worry about formaldehyde. Houses built with wood, stone, and bricks as the main materials, and then coated with natural paint, could be occupied upon completion.
The hospital was the same. The Emperor and Empress were both urging the Ministry of Works, which dared not delay the progress. On the fifteenth day of August, the Mid-Autumn Festival, Jin Sui personally attended the opening ceremony of the Women and Children’s Hospital.
The first public hospital in the Capital City was officially completed. In addition to a group of female physicians who had graduated from the Academy, Jin Sui also invited some retired old Imperial Physicians out of seclusion, and a group of Imperial Physicians specializing in women and children’s health also joined.
Our Women and Children’s Hospital can be said to be the strongest on earth! The reason why the Imperial Physicians were willing to join was not only because they could receive double salaries but also because they had been too idle since the capital relocation!
The Imperial Academy of Medicine primarily treated the royal family and the powerful and noble. Of course, officials and gentry could also invite Imperial Physicians to their homes. However, after the capital relocation, the Emperor’s harem had only one Empress, making it difficult to replicate the past scene of Imperial Physicians frequently visiting the palaces of various concubines.
Jin Sui had once mused that when later generations adapted Gu Changxiao’s story into film and television dramas, without palace intrigue and domestic squabbles, and without the plot of Imperial Physicians cuckolding the Emperor, there would be too little to watch, and probably not many adaptations.
However, after marrying into the royal family, she realized how exaggerated those film and television dramas were! The situation of Imperial Physicians and guards cuckolding the Emperor was simply impossible.
Uh, back to the point, with fewer people in the harem, the Imperial Academy of Medicine was unprecedentedly idle. Not only could they receive an additional salary by invitation from the Empress, but they also gained prestige. Moreover, the Empress had many rare medical books to read, and they could discuss medicine with physicians from the Academy.
Why refuse? Therefore, as soon as the Women and Children’s Hospital was completed, the portraits of the physicians and the cases they specialized in treating were hung in the main hall. The scene was even more shocking than the seventy-two sages hanging in Confucius’s Hall.
On the first day the hospital opened, it was already overcrowded by the second day. It was said that some people from far away brought their children and rushed overnight, and the inns near the hospital were all full.
However, Jin Sui soon discovered a problem: there were many people bringing children for consultations. Those seeking gynecological treatment would cover themselves up with hats and bonnets, entering through side doors with their maidservants. There were also some patients.
But our obstetrics department had not a single patient!
Because the hospital did not make house calls, some families whose wives were about to give birth found the hospital. Upon hearing that the doctors did not make house calls, they turned to find midwives, and not a single one sent a woman in childbirth to the hospital to give birth.
Jin Sui sent people to investigate. Whether it was the powerful and noble officials or the gentry and common people, the answer was the same: how could they let their wives give birth outside? And not be seen by some doctor.
Even with repeated persuasion from the medical staff, that giving birth in the hospital was beneficial for both mother and child, and that complications during childbirth would receive timely treatment, they still could not persuade the women in childbirth.
Jin Sui could only comfort the obstetrics and gynecology staff, saying that this could not be rushed. In time, people would break through old notions and understand the benefits of giving birth in a hospital, and they would naturally come.
You cannot use your status as Empress to issue a forceful command for such matters; it would only make the common people more resistant.
What Jin Sui didn’t expect was that the first woman in childbirth to give birth at the hospital was Miss Yan.
Miss Yan was not rushed to the hospital due to premature labor or complications. It was she herself and Han Xing who were willing for her to give birth at the hospital.
After Han Xing returned from Chang’an, Jin Sui had hosted a banquet for them as a couple. Naturally, she had told them about the hospital. She didn’t expect that they hadn’t mentioned anything at the time, but had both decided to support the Empress with their actions.
Yan Jiu also agreed. Only Yan Shiyi felt it was inappropriate. If others were unwilling to come, why should my sister be the first one?
But after visiting the obstetrics department, he also agreed to let Miss Yan give birth at the hospital because he discovered that the medical equipment and medicinal materials prepared by the obstetrics department were much more comprehensive than what the Yan family had prepared.
For his sister’s childbirth, he had scoured the country for many precious medicinal materials and also invited the best midwives in Yan land.
But the hospital showed him the data of that midwife: she had delivered 120 infants, and only 98 pairs of mother and child were safe. For the remaining 22 pairs, either the child died young or the mother passed away.
And this was the best midwife in Yan land! In this era, a woman giving birth was like passing through the gates of hell, and it was not an exaggeration.
“But it’s different in the hospital. With famous doctors on duty, professional medical staff, and of course, assisting midwives, any difficult childbirth situation can be treated in a timely manner.”
“Furthermore, our hospital will establish files for newborns. During the confinement period, there will be home visits every seven days to examine the mother and infant, which can greatly reduce the incidence of puerperal fever.”
Yan Shiyi immediately agreed. Not only did he send the medicinal materials he had stockpiled to the hospital, but he also boldly declared that in the future, his wife would also give birth at the hospital.
Jin Sui chuckled. “You don’t even have a wife yet, and you’re already thinking about having children.”
