“Let it be, Minister Sima is a rising star in Capital City, and they are just two inexperienced young fellows who haven’t even left their thatched huts yet. It’s good enough that they can e at all. To have them treat you, I’m afraid they might tremble,”
Sima Guang, however, just smiled faintly, “Minister Wen, please don’t impose such ideas on the children. First, if they tremble when treating someone with a higher official rank, what about when treating someone of a lower rank? Wouldn’t that mean they can be careless? I suggest that they should treat everyone equally. Second, it is often said that youth holds great potential. If you don’t give them a chance, how can they demonstrate their true talents?”
“Oh, Minister Sima makes a good point, just like the ideas of Old Master Pang. It is extremely rare to find such open-minded ministers like you. Very well, shall I let the two students have a look at you later?”
“…”
Tian Xiaobei was the last to consult. During the consultation, Minister Sima Guang’s wife also came out for a moment. She seemed very anxious about Sima Guang’s illness, and Sima Guang, not wishing to worry his wife, even cracked a few jokes specifically to lighten the mood.
…
After leaving the Sima Residence, Tian Xiaobei thought a lot and then went to learn more about Sima Guang from Imperial Physician Wen.
Imperial Physician Wen seemed to hold Sima Guang in high respect, which made Tian Xiaobei talk more about him, saying that Sima Guang was brimming with talent and had received a great deal of attention upon his arrival in the Capital City. Many people had wanted to recruit him, but he had remained firm in his stance, maintaining a neutral attitude without provoking anyone. As a result, he became even more popular, for his neutrality made every word he spoke seem credible, as he favored no sides.
Then Tian Xiaobei asked another question, “With such popularity, his wife must be the daughter of some minister in Capital City, right?”
He had just seen her. Minister Sima’s wife was neither a stunning beauty nor did she have an extraordinary figure, yet Sima Guang had gone through thick and thin with her for so many years. It must be because she came from a distinguished family, right?
But as soon as he asked, Imperial Physician Wen immediately refuted, “Not at all. His wife is not the daughter of a minister from Capital City. It is said that he found her while he was in Fujun, the daughter of one of his mentors. The two of them came to the Capital together and have been inseparable ever since. As you have just seen, though they have yet to have children, how affectionate are they?”
“…” Tian Xiaobei clenched his clothes tightly.
He felt as if invisible hands were fiercely slapping his own face.
And the intentions of Imperial Physician Wen were also very clear. If he could not understand by now, it would be his own fault for seeking misery.
He stopped talking, but the path ahead, which had been shrouded in mist, now seemed to clear all at once, being increasingly visible.
…
“Xiaobei…” At the entrance of the Imperial Medical Institute, Pang Yanyan was waiting for Tian Xiaobei.
Tian Xiaobei had just stepped out of the carriage when Imperial Physician Wen glanced at him, shook his head, and then went in with another student.
The actions of Imperial Physician Wen only deepened the shame in Tian Xiaobei’s heart.
“Xiaobei, people came looking for you yesterday, and you didn’t even reply to me. I was so worried about you,” Pang Yanyan didn’t know what Tian Xiaobei was thinking internally, so she remained confidently posed.
She thought that Tian Xiaobei must have had some issues and that her presence would surely make him happy.
“Yanyan, are you looking for me for something specific now?” Tian Xiaobei asked.
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