***
The next morning.
Deep within Yakryeong’s main residence.
A heavy tension hung over the grand conference hall connected to the Family Head’s office from early in the morning.
The grand conference hall was only opened when something important enough to require all the family’s key figures to gather was taking place.
Centuries-old blackwood pillars supported the high ceiling, and each pillar was intricately carved with blue medicinal herbs and an emblem symbolizing Yakryeong.
The family’s key figures filled both sides of the long conference table covered in red silk.
At the very back of the hall, on the raised platform, only the seats for the Family Head and Young Family Head remained empty.
Before long, the heavy doors of the grand conference hall opened to both sides.
“The Family Head and Young Family Head are entering.”
At the attendant’s announcement, Yeon Baekyu and Yeon Baekgang appeared side by side.
Everyone in the hall rose from their seats in unison.
“We greet the Family Head and Young Family Head.”
Yeon Baekyu raised a hand briefly in acknowledgment.
“Be seated.”
His low but authoritative voice echoed through the hall, and everyone sat down again.
Only the four elders seated to Yeon Baekyu’s right remained standing as they respectfully paid their respects.
“We also returned to the main family yesterday, so we wished to formally greet you like this.”
“How long has it been?”
Unable to hide his delight, Yeon Baekyu approached the four of them.
“You must all have had a difficult journey coming such a long way.”
“We greet the Family Head.”
The First Elder, Heo Unbaek, bowed his head on behalf of the others.
Yeon Baekgang also respectfully greeted the four people whom he had once regarded as his teachers.
“It’s been a long time, Elders. Have you all been well?”
“Have you been well too, Young Family Head?”
“Then please, sit comfortably.”
At Yeon Baekyu’s urging, the four elders took their seats.
The four elders of Yakryeong were each regarded as the greatest authorities in Cheonmyeong Kingdom in the fields of pulse diagnosis, pharmacognosy, acupuncture, and pharmaceutical preparation.
They traveled throughout the country treating patients with numerous disciples under their guidance, and whenever the Ip-gwan Examination held once every three years drew near, they returned to the main family to instruct the physician trainees for six months.
The First Elder, Heo Unbaek, slowly stroked his snow-white beard before speaking first.
“I heard from the senior physician trainees. Today’s meeting concerns Little Lady Ryeonghwa’s Ip-gwan Examination, does it not?”
“I heard that whether she will be allowed to take the examination will be decided based on the efficacy of the medicinal pill she made.”
Yeon Baekgang nodded.
A small wooden box sat in front of him.
The Fourth Elder, Ju Yeonseok, known as a master of pharmaceutical preparation, looked at the box and asked,
“Does it contain the medicinal pill that eased Little Lady’s condition?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Baekgang pushed the box toward the center of the table.
“I helped her from the side, but it was Ryeonghwa who came up with the formulation and method of preparation.”
Everyone’s eyes in the conference hall turned toward the small box.
Yeon Baekgang slowly opened the lid.
Inside lay the medicinal pills Ryeonghwa had made with him the previous day, neatly arranged.
The four elders examined the pills in turn, checking their scent, texture, and medicinal properties.
First, Dam Uhyeon, who was skilled in pharmacognosy, let out a low exclamation of admiration.
“The formulation is excellent.”
He examined the medicinal powder clinging to his fingertips and nodded.
“Without a precise understanding of the properties of each medicinal herb, it would be difficult to combine them like this. There are no medicinal properties that clash with one another, either.”
Ju Yeonseok also split a medicinal pill in half and examined the cross-section.
“The level of completion is impressive as well. It is difficult to believe this was made by a child on her first attempt.”
“More detailed verification is still necessary, but this medicinal pill will undoubtedly be effective in temporarily stabilizing Little Lady’s disrupted qi and blood.”
The Third Elder, Nam Jino, who was skilled in acupuncture, also gave a brief nod.
“Amazing. In the past, no matter what medicine we used, Little Lady’s condition never properly improved.”
The four elders had monitored Ryeonghwa’s condition and searched for a treatment since she was a child, yet they had never managed to discover a clear solution.
Yet this was a formulation even they had failed to find.
Low murmurs of admiration spread among the family’s key figures.
A faint look of relief crossed Yeon Baekgang’s face as well.
But Ju Yeonseok alone did not relax his stern expression to the end.
He put down the medicinal pill and asked,
“How long do the effects last?”
“……About half a day.”
As soon as Yeon Baekgang answered, the atmosphere in the conference hall instantly sank.
Ju Yeonseok let out a quiet breath as though he had expected as much.
“As I thought.”
“Is there a problem?”
Someone from one side of the conference table asked, and Ju Yeonseok answered.
“There is no question about her talent or the efficacy of the medicinal pill. However, taking this medicine for more than three consecutive days may damage the stomach.”
He pointed at the medicinal pill on the table.
“Once she becomes a physician trainee, there will be situations where she has to attend to patients for extended periods. If emergency patients were to arrive all at once, she might have to remain at their side for more than half a day.”
“If she has to take another pill every time that happens, eventually it will be Little Lady Ryeonghwa’s body that fails first.”
Heo Unbaek also looked toward Yeon Baekyu.
“Family Head. The authority to make the final decision regarding a physician trainee’s eligibility to take the Ip-gwan Examination rests with you.”
He slowly stroked his snow-white beard.
“But I do not see any reason why Little Lady Ryeonghwa needs to take the examination now.”
Dam Uhyeon also cautiously added,
“If you have found a clue toward alleviating her illness, I believe it would be better to continue with treatment and research first.”
“There is no need to wait until she has fully recovered before taking the Ip-gwan Examination three years from now. Rather, I believe that would be the better path for Little Lady.”
One by one, the key figures seated around the conference table nodded.
The atmosphere quickly began to turn against her taking the examination.
Then Yeon Baekgang slowly opened his mouth.
“I fully understand the Elders’ concerns.”
He continued as he looked at the medicinal pill on the table.
“But the Ip-gwan Examination is not a place where fully qualified physicians are selected. It is an examination to determine whether someone has the qualifications and potential to learn as a physician trainee.”
Heo Unbaek’s eyes narrowed.
“If she passes the examination, she will actually have to face patients.”
“The scope of her practical training can be limited.”
Yeon Baekgang did not back down.
“I am not saying that we should leave Ryeonghwa to handle patients on her own. She can learn beside a supervising physician during the times when her condition is stable.”
He added in a firm voice,
“A child who has never been properly taught anything discovered this formulation on her own. If that is the case, shouldn’t we make sure she receives proper instruction as soon as possible, even if only one day earlier?”
But Heo Unbaek quietly shook his head.
“The Ip-gwan Examination itself also requires considerable physical strength.”
“What if the effects of the medicine wear off during the examination and she collapses?”
He paused for a moment before adding,
“Furthermore, once she becomes a physician trainee, she will encounter unforeseen situations during practical training. A single medical mistake can cost a patient their life.”
It was just as Yeon Baekgang was about to say something again.
Creeeak.
The firmly closed doors of the grand conference hall slowly opened.
Everyone’s eyes turned toward the door at once.
Yeon Baekgang half-rose from his seat.
“Ryeonghwa, what are you doing here……”
Standing in front of the door was me, holding a small wooden box in my arms.
I slowly looked around the conference hall before speaking as clearly as I could.
“Grandfather, Father. And Elders.”
I raised the wooden box I was holding with both hands.
“I’m sorry for entering without permission. But there is something I really wanted to show you, so I came here myself.”
Just as Father was about to say something, Grandfather raised a hand to stop him.
“Come in and tell us.”
‘Thank goodness. At least I’ve been given a chance to speak.’
I slowly drew in a breath.
Dozens of pairs of eyes were fixed on me all at once.
The Family Head and Young Family Head.
And even the four elders known as the greatest physicians in Cheonmyeong Kingdom……
The wooden box in my arms suddenly felt several times heavier.
But I couldn’t back down here.
I had spent the entire night making medicinal pills for this very moment.
‘I can do this.’
I tightened my fingers and walked toward the center of the conference hall.
When I reached the table where the elders were seated, I carefully set down the wooden box.
“Before you reach a conclusion based only on the medicinal pill you saw a moment ago, I would like you to examine these as well.”
Heo Unbaek’s snow-white eyebrows lifted slightly.
“Are there medicinal pills inside that box as well?”
“Yes.”
I opened the lid with both hands.
Inside were the medicinal pills I had made with Yeoul the previous night, separated by type.
Their colors and sizes differed slightly, and thin dividers separated them so that they would not become mixed together.
The expressions of the elders changed all at once when they saw them.
Ju Yeonseok picked up one of the medicinal pills at the very front.
“These don’t appear to be all the same medicinal pill.”
He examined the pills separated into each compartment before asking,
“What is different about them?”
I picked up the medicinal pill on the far left.
“The proportions of the ingredients and the order in which they were prepared are all different.”
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