Another reason was that Feng Chuchen would definitely practice medicine in the future. With her excellent medical skills and youth, there was a very good chance she would be recruited into the palace as a female physician.
In this era, female physicians were managed by both the Imperial Medical Academy and the Imperial Household Department. They held official ranks—mostly eighth or ninth rank, with the highest being seventh rank.
Female physicians were usually trained from among palace maids, but commoner women with exceptional medical skills could also be recruited by exception.
They not only served the women of the imperial palace but also diagnosed and treated female relatives of the imperial clan and noble households.
Although their status could not compare to the imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy, they were still far better off than the medical women in the palaces of her previous life’s history.
Female physicians mainly treated gynecological illnesses, or assisted imperial physicians in treating gynecological illnesses. For example, when noblewomen had areas that were inconvenient for male imperial physicians to examine, the female physicians had to relay the information. When hands-on work was needed, it was also the female physicians who performed it.
Female physicians lived in the imperial palace and the Imperial Household Department, and could only marry after the age of twenty-five. After marriage, those with excellent medical skills who were willing to continue could keep working; most of these older female physicians worked as midwives.
As a modern person, Feng Chuchen was unwilling to enter the palace in service. Her movements would not be free, there would be too many constraints, and one misstep could result in being beaten with planks or beheaded.
The "political background checks" of ancient times were even stricter than those of modern times.
She had been imprisoned and had a criminal record, so she no longer qualified to be a government official.
Just like Medical Matron Feng, who was a descendant of the heinously criminal Fan family—no matter how excellent her medical and midwifery skills were, she could not become a female physician. She only served as a registered midwife with the government. While delivering babies among the common people, if the palace had need, she would be temporarily summoned to serve.
Before her death, Medical Matron Feng had left two instructions for the original owner: first, she was not allowed to become a midwife; second, she was not allowed to enter the palace as a female physician.
The first prohibition was because being a midwife was too bitter and exhausting; she did not want the original owner to end up like her.
The second prohibition was only said in passing, because as the descendant of a condemned woman, it was impossible for her to enter the palace as a female physician.
Medical Matron Feng could never have dreamed that after her death, she might be honored with a commendation, allowing Feng Chuchen and her younger brother to shed the label of being descendants of a condemned woman.
As for offending the clan members, Feng Chuchen was not afraid. A good family could provide shelter, but being stuck with a wicked family only meant being exploited.
Those clan members were all distant relatives beyond the three mourning degrees. Decades ago, after Fan Shi was arrested, the Feng clan had expelled her at the first opportunity.
Although the descendants of Fan Shi were not expelled from the clan, the clan had not helped them in the slightest and had even bullied them. Apart from that dilapidated courtyard, all family assets had been seized.
With the lingering goodwill of Medical Matron Feng, combined with Feng Chuchen’s own schemes, the siblings were not afraid of offending the clan members.
Of course, Feng Chuchen had also anticipated that during this special period when Medical Matron Feng was receiving unprecedented praise, even if she were imprisoned, she would receive the best care, and there would be people to plead on her behalf.
As expected, she was released after only three days.
Of course, this also had much to do with Auntie Wang pulling strings everywhere.
Baima Village was located in the western suburbs of the capital, about twenty-some li from Xihe Gate.
Late that afternoon, the group returned to Baima Village.
The Feng residence was a siheyuan located at the eastern end of the village. With its blue-brick walls and large tiled roof, it could be considered the second-best courtyard in Baima Village.
The best belonged to Squire Zhao of Baima Village.
From afar, one could see the large signboard standing before the gate of the Feng residence. On it were written several large characters: "Swift horse, light carriage; the Feng family receives birth."
The meaning was that the Child-Giving Goddess came with swift horses and light carriages, while the midwife was sharp-eyed and quick-handed.
Most midwives had this kind of signboard erected outside their doors, somewhat resembling modern advertising billboards.
With Madam Feng gone, Auntie Wang was still a midwife. Auntie Wang was a servant of the Feng family, so this signboard could still be used.
Feng Chuchen stood at the courtyard gate, waiting for Banxia to burn the fire pan; then she led her younger brother across it.
The house had no dedicated washroom; when it was time to bathe, they carried the large wooden tub to the kitchen.
After bathing, Feng Chuchen wiped her hair while facing a bronze mirror.
The girl in the mirror had willow-leaf eyebrows that slanted upward, almond eyes moist and bright, a pert nose, distinct lip corners, and a slightly square chin that still carried some childishness.
Her face was full of collagen, green and tender like an unopened flower bud.
This body had only turned fourteen on the sixth day of the eighth month this year.
Only her skin was slightly dark, and there were a few small red pimples on her forehead and the sides of her nose, which somewhat obscured the magnificence of this face.
If one overlooked those two minor flaws, she was absolutely a flawless beauty.
Coincidentally, between the eyebrows of this body grew a small red mole, only the size of a sesame seed.
In her previous life, there had also been such a small red mole in the same position, even the same size.
Her appearance and temperament were somewhat similar to her previous life as well, especially when she pursed her lips tightly.
In her previous life, her best friend had said she possessed both the delicacy of a woman and the heroic spirit of a man, somewhat resembling Lin XX—when she pursed her lips, even women would fall in love with her.
In her previous life, she had felt it was an exaggeration, but this face truly did possess a heroic spirit with a touch of pure elegance... Feng Chuchen was very satisfied with this image.
This body was tall and slender, roughly 1.65 meters by visual estimate. Although she had already started menstruating, she might still grow a bit more.
She hoped she wouldn't exceed 1.70 meters.
In ancient times, her current height was already considered on the taller side among women. Exceeding 1.70 meters would be too tall.
Her name was "Chuchen" (初晨). The characters were different from her previous life's "Chuchen" (出尘), but the pronunciation was the same.
This was fate.
If she took good care of herself in the future, her skin would whiten, she would fill out where she should, and without the acne, she would definitely be even more beautiful.
Before Feng Chuchen's hair was dry, Feng Buji entered the room and squeezed into her embrace.
"Big Sister, I miss Auntie."
His voice was choked with sobs.
The little one was much thinner and shorter than children his age. His small face was fair and delicate, his eyes slender with inner double eyelids, his little nose pert. If one overlooked the few scratches on his face, he was a very beautiful and refined little boy.
Feng Chuchen hugged him and comforted him, "You still have Big Sister. When Auntie left, she was most worried about Little Brother. You must live well and grow up healthy, so that Auntie and Father and Mother over there can rest assured."
Although the original owner was an adopted daughter, she had been very close to her aunt, adoptive parents, and younger brother. If she hadn't heard the villagers gossip, she would never have known she was a foundling.
When the five-year-old original owner heard the villagers' gossip and went home crying to ask Auntie, Auntie finally told her the truth.
In the middle of the eighth month that year, on a clear and bright morning, Auntie and Auntie Wang had returned from delivering a baby in a neighboring village. When they passed by a large boulder, they suddenly heard the cry of an infant...
Medical Matron Feng walked over and saw an infant lying beside the large rock.
The infant was wrapped in a piece of tattered cloth. When Medical Matron Feng picked her up, she immediately stopped crying and was very beautiful.
Inside the wrapping cloth was a slip of paper with a few crookedly written characters: Jianzhang fifth year, sixth day of the eighth month, two ke into the chen hour.
Medical Matron Feng guessed that the child's family could not afford to raise her and had abandoned her here. The slip of paper contained her birth date and time.
Medical Matron Feng liked this child very much. Thinking of her younger brother Feng Qiu'en, who was already twenty-six without any children, she brought the baby home.
Feng Qiu'en and his wife both liked the child and adopted her, hoping that she would bring them a younger brother.
Because she had been picked up in the morning, she was named Chuchen.
Under the care of Medical Matron Feng and the Feng Qiu'en couple, Feng Chuchen grew up healthily and happily.
When she was eight years old, her adoptive mother truly gave birth to a son. The child was born barely alive, but the whole family was still overjoyed and carefully raised him.
Hoping that he would be free of disaster and illness, they named him Buji.