YIN XIAO CHUN

YIN XIAO CHUN

In the imperial palace of Zhao there is one piece of advice that goes. Amongst the lowest servants, to the ears of the very king of Zhao himself, known by every official, retired officer and passed onto the newest recruits that enter the palace: 

Do not anger imperial doctor Yin. 

It was a wisdom with a core of truth but that had slowly taken on its own life as it went running rampant with rumours, eventually gaining an almost mythical status. 

The first and most persistent rumour was because doctor Yin was a woman, and women were known to be petty emotional figures within the imperial court, where jealousy and intrigue were a daily subject. Palace maids whispered about the disfigured faces of fellow maidens that were relieved from their duties. They had spoken out of turn, or disrespected the doctor, one of her friends, or the queen. Maidens that felt especially haughty about their beauty and try to seduce the king were double accounted for. Doctor Yin was said to purposefully forget to clean a needle, or to mix manure within their ointments leading to an infection which was eventually followed by the disfiguration.

The second rumour was plausibly ridiculous for it suggested that doctor Yin even dares to talk back to the king. Everyone knows that an imperial doctor serves the king and that the doctor was just like the peasants outside just another subject to the king. Not to mention, doctor Yin was a woman and women always had less to say in court. Yet it was the second rumour that came closest to the truth for doctor Yin was just that great. It was this prestige and privilege that allowed doctor Yin to have a temper that even the king wouldn’t dare dismiss her. 

Yet the voices of the guards who put her knowledge and ability in question were heard louder. It was ironically through the gossip of men that the reputation of Doctor Yin was so dire and cruel. It also taught the guards to practice humility around doctor Yin, for those who questioned her based on gender suffered, as their treatment wasn’t only more painful but also longer than it should be, they also always resulted in a slow and painful recovery. 

Yet everyone sought out the imperial doctor Yin, for she was a prodigy that was born from a long line of imperial physicians. It was said that doctor Yin had picked up her first scalpel when she was barely three, assisting in the birth of the new prince and prescribing herbs to the new mother. She had only been ten when she entered apprenticeship under her father and she already surpassed his abilities at fifteen. The imperial doctor Yin was nothing short of formidable, but that was also what made her so arrogant. 

“Aah, gently! Please, doctor Yin,” the soldier groaned, curling up in pain as Yin Xiaochun- as the doctor was fully named -slapped on a mixture of herbs onto the burns. A glare was set on her face while rolling another slab of herbs and pat it down onto another burn, no more gentle than the first time. “Aaah, I beg of you, doctor,” the soldier gasped once more as he teared up. “I know I was wrong,” he continued with a small voice. 

Bristling the female dressed the wounds deft hands quickly working to tighten the bandage. “You better be,” she snipped as she made sure that nothing was exposed. “What fool runs right back into a burning shed?” she continued, her frown setting deeper. “Not to mention is was the munition shed!” Voice rising in annoyance it was clear how distraught the doctor was at the thought that a man would risk his own life like that. 

“Hehe, but doctor, I got off pretty well, didn’t I?” the soldier tried to calm down Xiaochun, a brotherly smile crossed his lips. “Besides, with your capable hands at our disposal I’m sure to survive, not?” the man continued which earned himself another slap over his back from the doctor. “Ah-ah-ah, I admit, I admit, I was a fool, please stop,” the man groaned.

“Come back tomorrow morning to redress your wounds and fetch the ointment. I have more pressing matters than to entertain you fools,” Xiaochun bit as she threw a prescription out . Getting up the female turned around, taking in a sharp breath as she stared at the many casualties that remained. 

Even with all of the doctors in the palace together Xiaochun suspected that it would take them the whole night attending to the wounded. Even if the palace maids helped and relieved the doctors by treating minor wounds there was little chance of anyone being able to rest before dawn broke. “Fools. All of these men. Fools,” the female sighed as she quickly knelt down next to another soldier with bad burns. Another casualty that Xiaochun didn’t look forward to. 

“Ahem-” 

A voice broke the doctor’s thoughts. Annoyed Xiaochun threw a glare over her shoulder before proceeding to ignore her caller. 

“Ahem-” the eunuch coughed again, which Xiaochun didn’t grace with any attention this time. Sighing the male bowed, proceeding to take out a scroll from his sleeve as he read the verdict. 

“Imperial doctor Yin Xiaochun, by order of her Majesty the Queen of the empire you are to take in her new lady-in-waiting as your apprentice.” The verdict read the eunuch rolled the parchment back before taking a step back and bowing once more. 

Freezing the female stopped with what she was doing as she turned around once more, her eyes piercing and her face set into hard lines. Taking in a deep breath Xiaochun threw down the bandages in her hands, her voice even and flat as she noticed another woman next to the eunuch.

“And this couldn’t wait until tomorrow?” her question came out slowly, her tone low as she appraised the woman that was taken to be introduced to her. Dressed in white she looked elegant and high born, but in no way did she look innocent. No, Yin Xiaochun could see a cunning wit within the stranger, even if the new lady-in-waiting tried to look humble and well-mannered. 

The eunuch bowed his head, hands clasping in front of him, though the doctor could see the sleazy smile on the man’s face. “To answer doctor Yin, no. You looked like you could use the help and her majesty had lady Li appointed on the spot.” 

“Very well.” Giving lady Li a glare Xiaochun turned around briskly, picking up her bandages once more as she continued her treatment. “Watch closely and don’t distract me,” the doctor spoke bluntly to which the woman quickly joined the doctor, her eyes wide and concerned, though Xiaochun could tell that she was observant. 

“I’m Li Haolan. Call me Haolan” the female introduced herself. Even amidst the chaos the new lady-in-waiting didn’t fail to follow all customs, bowing appropriately towards her new teacher. Xiaochun could almost hear the kind smile she wore around her lips, the tone of her voice and articulation. Noble-born and a perfect lady. All of which Xiaochun had no use of. 

“Don’t care. Watch and try not to faint,” Xiaochun brushed lady Li off as she picked up her kit and moved over to the next patient that was brought in. 

As predicted the night was indeed long, continuing on into the early morning hours as she prepared all of the medicine prescriptions that she had promised last night. Leaning against the wall Xiaochun watched the day growing brighter while her eyes felt heavier. She couldn’t sleep, however, not yet at least. In a while she would have to change the bandages of the guards who came in at the beginning of the night and she had to make sure that all of the prescriptions were handed correctly with the right instructions. There was still so much to do before Doctor Yin could allow to sign off. 

Hearing a gentle tap next to her Xiaochun turned her head, her eyes blaringly making out the form of lady Li who had set a cup of tea for the young doctor. 

“Please have a drink,” the woman spoke gently as she ushered Xiaochun to move over. Moving herself over Xiaochun found herself observing lady Li, finding that she was probably younger than lady Li, younger or the same age. It was difficult to discern as well-bred ladies such as Li Haolan often appeared more mature to Xiaochun who had always held little in common with the good graces and etiquette. 

“Xiaochun,” the doctor gruffly responded in gratitude as she took a sip. Though still exhausted the warm beverage at least gave her some stillness in mind while introducing vigour back into her body. “No need to be so formal,” the female continued never meeting lady Li’s eyes as she said the words before setting out to check her inventory. 

Haolan turned out to be somewhat useful despite her lack of background in medicine. She was a careful listener and observant, making the long night seem to pass all the smoother. As expected lady Li was indeed a noble-born, however she had fallen from grace and was brought into the palace as a dancer in the hopes of catching the emperor’s eyes. The queen had interfered, however by quickly claiming her as a lady-in-waiting whereupon after the queen had quickly figured out the cleverness of the young lady, thus sending her to Xiaochun’s side. 

The official claim was that the queen had heard that the imperial doctors where short in hands in which she believed that lady Li could provide in. Though her actual designs were clear. By placing Li Haolan under the apprenticeship of Yin Xiaochun she had elevated the new lady-in-waiting in thus a useful position that it could be said that the queen could not miss such a useful lady-in-waiting. This in turn would mean that the emperor would almost be obliged not to touch the lady-in-waiting no matter how much he yearned for her. For how could he take away such a precious person from his queen? The grounds upon which the arguments were built were amplified with the fact that it was doctor Yin herself who was personally watching over lady Li’s progress, which was an almost guarantee in the success of lady Li’s apprenticeship but mostly the queen’s scheme. 

Shortly put; Li Haolan was a troublesome woman. Not by her own design but because of the interest that she had already generated. Thus Yin Xiaochun could not afford herself to like lady Li, or hope to have a friend in the newcomer. It would be an invitation to more headaches to come. 

“Doctor Yin!” 

An apologetic voice forced Xiaochun out of her thoughts, returning to reality as she turned her attention to the soldier of last night. “You…” the female started before quickly recovering herself, remembering that she had told him to return for a change. Not expecting the obedience the female saw any chance for a nap dissipate as she saw more soldiers returning to her door, all equally apologetic at the venomous look on Xiaochun’s face. 

“Haolan, get me some new bandages!” the doctor called her apprentice briskly as she pushed herself up. The lady-in-waiting was quick to respond despite her own lack of sleep. The woman didn’t question Xiaochun’s decision to treat the patients, nor the need of sleep that was clear on her face as she quickly made her way out. A good thing for Yin Xiaochun was definitely not in the mood to explain why. 

That explanation was soon to come, however. 

While at the entrance of the doctor’s office a line of soldiers were still waiting for treatment a looming figure marched right past. Clad in black armour the man made an imposing figure as the soldiers threw themselves on their knees, forgetting all of their pains as they bowed the storm that had invited himself in. 

“Yin. Xiao. Chun!” the voice of general Gao thundered. The soldier that the doctor just happened to be treating started, shrinking into each other at the presence of his general. 

Gao Haoyang was a man of many virtues born from a military family. His father had been a celebrated general before rising up to become the minister of war for the Zhao state. A role and future that was Gao Haoyang was expected to follow. It was in their family lines that Haoyang and Xiaochun were similar, though that made them no bit friendlier with one another. 

“What is the meaning of this?” Haoyang demanded as he stood in front of Xiaochun. 

Doctor Yin rolled her eyes, continuing wrapping the bandage of the soldier. “I’m treating patients,” she responded cooly. “Are you blind, or dumb?” the doctor challenged. 

Heaving in a breath general Gao threw his arms behind his back, his chest growing wide before he released his breath to calm down. 

“Why are all of my soldiers sitting in front of your office, refusing to turn up for training?” the man tried kindly, though his tone was obviously faked and trying. He was reaching his patience, though Xiaochun had little to give for that. 

Pausing her work Doctor Yin rested her hands in her lap, carefully folded over each other as she beamed a smile at the general. “Why? I wonder as well. Have you tried asking them? I haven’t gotten a wink of sleep because of them and the explosion last night.” 

Though her tone was even Xiaochun was annoyed. Peeved as she was at the general barging in as he liked and demanding answers that she was asking herself. Irritated at the lack of sleep she had because of the accident and with a hundred reasons more to be unreasonable over the general who was merely missing some members of his troops. 

Flaring up the Haoyang was about to speak up again but got cut off.

“I thought the soldiers were all trained to perform small battle wounds and emergency treatments. Why is it that my line is twice as long as it was last night?” the female spat at the general Xiaochun’s lips pulling into one long line. “I believed that the army had their doctor, why must all of your soldiers come bother the imperial doctor when there is no direct emergency that their own cannot handle?” Xiaochun continued her grogginess overtaking as she continued to provoke the general. 

The soldier between the doctor and Haoyang shrunk even further, his jaw growing red in shame as he hoped to disappear. 

General Gao was left with utterly nothing left to say as he lifted his finger up at her. 

“Doctor Yin, you insolent little…” he breathed but didn’t go any further as Haolan returned with fresh bandages. Upon the entry of the new lady-in-waiting Haoyang’s nostrils flared up even wider as he turned to Xiaochun once more. 

“Fine, hand over the bandages. The army shall compensate you accordingly for the treatment and the medicine,” the man started before pointing an accusing finger towards lady Li. “Now that I have seen with what sort of people doctor Yin involves herself with I shall advise my soldiers accordingly,” he continued to bristle, paying no respect to the lady-in-waiting before he breezed out of the doctor’s office with the soldier scrambling after the general. 

Not soon after the order to return could be heard through Xiaochun’s courtyard and the sound of their march faded into the background, leaving Xiaochun alone with Haolan once more. 

“Don’t bother,” Xiaochun sighed at lady Li’s troubled face. “Gao Haoyang likes me as little as he likes you,” the doctor continued as she waved off the lady-in-waiting. It wasn’t surprising that the two knew each other, the circle of nobility was small after all. One always knew each other, even if it was only through name. Seeing the fame that doctor Yin’s new apprentice already acquired Xiaochun was not surprised that Haolan’s name had already reached Haoyang’s ears. Another headache to deal with, for it supposedly was reason enough to be disliked even more. 

Rolling out the mat she always kept in her little apothecary for emergencies like today Xiaochun rolled over onto her side and shut her eyes. Who knew how long peace was to remain inside of her little practice with Haolan around?