After returning from Su Cheng's place, Gu Qianying pondered for a long time. It wasn't until Duan Xifeng brought Xiao Yihao into the room that she snapped back to attention.
"What are you thinking about? Your eyes are glazed over." Having been with her sister for so long, Duan Xifeng had never seen her so lost in thought.
Gu Qianying shook her head, her tone filled with confusion.
"What kind of brainwashing must have occurred for all the men here to be so tolerant of women? Even someone like Su Cheng, who dared to resist once, couldn't escape such subservient thinking in the end."
Was gender equality so difficult to achieve? Or was it that under feudal etiquette, hierarchy was necessary for survival?
Seeing that she couldn't figure out such a matter, Duan Xifeng poured her a cup of tea and couldn't help but chuckle.
"What's so hard to understand about this? In other countries, men bear all responsibilities for production, livelihood, commerce, and politics, while women are confined to raising children at home. If men don't provide for them, they starve. Conversely, here, it's women who provide the means for men to live, hence the natural matriarchal society."
His words indeed analyzed the current situation of the era, but why were those life-sustaining skills exclusively for men?
Gu Qianying couldn't comprehend these things, yet she seemed to understand why this era had become this way.
She did not wish to argue with Duan Xifeng on this matter, but rather picked up her teacup and drank on her own.
"Sooner or later, there will be gender equality." Her words seemed like a soliloquy, yet also a reply to Duan Xifeng.
Xiao Yihao scratched his head.
"It seems I'm still a child. The grown-ups' words are too profound."
The two were discussing seriously, but upon hearing Xiao Yihao's words, they burst into laughter.
"Yes, why are we here pondering these profound matters? Instead of wasting time on useless things, let's take action and prepare for tomorrow's competition."
Gu Qianying had made up her mind; this time, she was determined to win the physician competition.
"Clang clang clang."
The Imperial Physician Competition officially began on the second day with the sound of gongs.
The Empress, due to her health, did not participate in the preliminary rounds. Instead, senior imperial physicians were present to monitor everyone's performance.
Gu Qianying and the others were led into the hall. The first task was not particularly difficult.
"Esteemed healers, to cure and save lives, one must prescribe the right medicine for the right ailment. Here are several medicinal herbs prepared for you. You only need to classify them and write down the names of the herbs and the ailments they treat on the paper beside you to pass. This stage will be cleared. I wish you all good luck."
After the physicians from the Imperial Medical Hall explained the rules, the competition officially commenced.
Looking at the pile of strangely shaped herbs on the table, Xiao Yihao felt a headache. Just as he wondered if his mother could do it, he looked up and saw that she had already quickly identified four herbs.
"Mother, what are these?"
It was rare to see her son in such a teachable mood. Gu Qianying picked up a brush, marking as she explained.
"These are herbs for treating the common cold. From left to right, they are Huangma, Guizhi, Shengjiang, and Xixin." She marked them and placed them in the first row.
"Wow, Mother is amazing! How can you find them among so many herbs?" Xiao Yihao tilted his small head, his face full of eager curiosity.
Gu Qianying casually picked one up and placed it under his nose. "Smell this. Does it have any distinct characteristics?"
Xiao Yihao obediently leaned closer. A pungent spiciness stimulated his sense of smell.
Seeing her son's pained expression, Gu Qianying dotingly ruffled his hair.
"Is it pungent and a bit acrid?"
What his mother said was exactly how he felt. Xiao Yihao nodded quickly.
"This is differentiation by smell. Besides that, shape, color, and taste can also be used to identify them. I will sort the remaining Chinese herbs, and you can listen and understand slowly."
After Gu Qianying finished explaining, she continued with the sorting.
Although her teacher was quite wicked, her medical skills were not in vain. Under his tutelage, Gu Qianying had become quite skilled in medicine, so sorting these simple herbs was not a problem.
"Dangshen, stir-fried Baizhu, Fuling, Chenpi, Fangfeng. These are for treating diarrhea."
"Chuanxiong, Baizhi, Baijizi, Baishao. These are for treating headaches."
Gu Qianying explained as she sorted all the herbs.
Watching his mother's speed, Xiao Yihao felt very proud. However, seeing that the three women from the Su family were even faster than his mother, he felt a little bit disappointed.
Gu Qianying didn't mind. She tugged his small hand and smiled, shaking her head.
The timed incense sticks had burned out. Everyone had finished sorting the herbs. Since this was only a basic test for the physicians, those who applied here naturally had some capability.
"Congratulations, everyone. All of you have passed this stage of the test and have sorted the herbs correctly."
The judges announced the results, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Next, they would prepare for the next task, and the physicians present could take a short rest.
Seeing Gu Qianying's slower speed, the three young ladies from the Su family provocatively sneered.
"Oh my, some people really don't know their own limits. With this level, they dare to treat the Empress? Truly ungrateful." Su Xiuer's mouth was always the quickest, and Su Zirong also chimed in.
"Isn't that right? I thought she had some great abilities, but it seems it was all just boasting."
Their incessant remarks made Xiao Yihao extremely displeased.
"That's because Master was explaining the herbs to me, which caused the delay. Otherwise, you wouldn't be the fastest."
He was naturally annoyed by their constant unpleasant words, but Gu Qianying paid them no mind.
"Let's just focus on ourselves. No need to pay attention to them."
Knowing that his mother was too lazy to deal with them, Xiao Yihao stuck out his tongue and returned to Gu Qianying's side.
Soon, the judges entered from outside again.
"Next is the second item of the first round of testing. This task will be a bit more challenging, so everyone must discern carefully."
After speaking, he ordered the palace maids to read out the rules.
"In this test, you will be judged in pairs. You need to find the person who is truly ill among the few who will appear shortly and identify their illness. The pair that is correct and fastest wins."
This task was indeed a bit challenging. The judges brought out a bamboo tube containing bamboo slips of different colors. The contestants stepped forward to draw them, and those who drew the same color would form a pair for the competition.
The contestants stepped forward in an orderly fashion and drew their chosen bamboo slips.
Xiao Yihao looked at the color his mother drew and quickly craned his neck to find the person with the same color. When he finally found them, he pouted.
"Why is it her!"