Xiuying

Xiuying knows there won't be another chance. That's why she stole her brother's identification stone and hurriedly went to the imperial palace to take the exams.

She walked towards the palace entrance. There was a crowd of people who were presenting their identification stones at the registration hall. She thought about the strange dream she had last night while she was in line waiting for her turn.

“Hóu (monkey)! Wait for me!” In her dreams, she was chasing a monkey. They were in the middle of a grass field. The air was dry and the moon shone brightly. There were fireflies illuminating her path. The monkey looked like the one she treated that night.

“Is your leg okay?” It stopped and when Xiuying held her arms out, it climbed up to her shoulder and whispered something in her ear but she couldn't remember it.

The monkey suddenly transformed into God of Medicine right before her eyes. She felt an intense light surrounding her as he gifted her with the power of ultimate healing.

“Be careful of the half-beast. He will be here soon.” it said before Xiuying woke up.

Xiuying shook her head and told herself to focus. Her hand trembled at the thought of being caught disguising herself as a man. She held her breath when she felt that the royal physician and the prince were watching her closely.

“Did they notice?” she thought.

She closed her eyes and focused on the statue in front of her. She couldn't believe it until she started inserting the acupuncture needles on the wooden statue. She knew that one wrong movement could mean failure.

She felt an immense warmth enveloping her and when she touched the needle, she just couldn't stop. The golden sap that represented the Qi was flowing freely. The royal physicians watched in awe. They've never seen anyone perform acupuncture with immense accuracy and precision. Though she never held a needle before, Xiuying did a wonderful job.

She felt the other examinees staring at her. One was a young man with eyes like a falcon. He overheard earlier that his name is Jin Hai. The other one was a huge man with a scar on his face. They locked eyes and stared at each other for a minute.

“I've seen him before! He's the doctor who treated Baobao!” her eyes were wide. “What if he recognizes me?” she thought. She ducked her head under the silk hat she's wearing and tried to avoid the eyes of the man with a scar on his right cheek.

“Time to announce the examinees who passed and will proceed to the final exams. Please stay if your names are called.” said the host.

“Cheng Du, Jin Hai, and Jianyu. Please step forward and receive your decrees. You are now part of the court of the imperial physicians. One of you will be assisting me to treat the emperor and that will be determined by the final exam. Best of luck to the three of you.” Liu Hong, the chief royal physician, said.

They three of them prostrated uniformly before receiving their decrees. Xiuying couldn't believe it. Her heart was beating fast. She smiled happily and she noticed that the prince was looking at her.

“Prince Shao Hao, forgive me for interrupting. Your presence is requested at the emperor's royal chamber.”

A eunuch whispered something into the Prince's ear. His face went pale and immediately stormed out of the east reception hall. The chief royal physician and other court officers followed the prince.

“What's happening?” Jin Hai asked Xiuying.

“I don't know. But I'm guessing it's urgent.” Xiuying tried her best to deepen her voice. She peeked at Cheng Du, the huge man with a scarred cheek. He was looking at her.

“I think I've seen you before. I just—” Cheng Du said.

“I don't think so. I have a very common face. It's the first time we saw each other.” Xiuying rambled. Her face grew warm. She could feel her heart pounding. She avoided his gaze and pretended to study the scroll she received.

Cheng Du moved closer to Xiuying and forcibly grabbed her shoulder to take a better look at her.

“I don't think I am mistaken. Let me see your face clearly.”

“What are you doing? Take your hands off me!” Xiuying growled at him with a deep voice.

“Hey, man! What is wrong with you? Calm down! He said he doesn't know you.” Jin Hai butted in to break off the tension between Xiuying and Cheng Du.

One of the royal physician's assistants comes back to the reception hall. Cheng Du went back to his place while eyeing Xiuying while she glared back with seething eyes. She smoothed her brother's white tunic.

“Are you okay?” Jin Hai mouthed at Xiuying and she nodded.

“The last part of the exam will be announced by the prince. Right now all three of you are summoned to the central wing.” The assistant informed the three.

“What are we gonna do in the central wing?” Jin Hai asked the physician.

“You will be observing the emperor.”

“And then what?” asked Cheng Du.

“You'll be expected to come up with a cure.” The assistant said.

“What if we can't?” Xiuying asked.

“Then Prince Tian Huang will have your heads on a stake.” The assistant said flatly.

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