Chapter 30: Being Used Like Oxen and Horses

“Thank you for clearing my doubts, Eunuch Li.”

There were some things that didn’t need to be said outright; Shen Yu could basically guess the gist of it.

This Medical Recruitment Exam seemed like a farce, gathering doctors from all over the country in the Capital City.

However, the Empress knew exactly who had real talent and who was a wandering fraud.

Essentially, every doctor who entered the Capital had been secretly investigated.

After the detailed data was filtered, it was sent to the Empress.

In just a few days, 100 qualified doctors had been selected from the countless candidates.

The efficiency was startling.

Even more surprising was that all of this had been conducted in secret, without a single leak of information.

At this moment, Shen Yu felt as if there was an invisible, untouchable eye in the background, looking down on every move within the Capital City with an air of arrogance.

‘So this is the majesty of a ruler? Even though I’ve never met her, I can still feel the immense pressure.’

“Shen Yu will certainly not fail the Imperial grace. I will give my heart and soul!”

While speaking honeyed words, Shen Yu slipped ten silver coins into Eunuch Li’s hand.

“Oh, Miss Shen! You will surely have a meteoric rise. His Majesty’s New Imperial Selection is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Perhaps in the future, I will have to rely on Miss Shen’s care.”

Eunuch Li looked at Shen Yu with a smile.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he mounted his tall, chestnut-red horse and led the group of soldiers in light armor away.

The quiet street soon returned to its previous bustle, and Shen Yu let out a soft sigh of relief.

‘Huimin Hall?’

Shen Yu looked at the Imperial Decree in her hand, feeling the delicate texture of the luxurious, bright yellow silk.

Shen Yu knew a bit about Huimin Hall.

It was essentially an auxiliary branch of the Imperial Academy of Medicine.

The Imperial Court provided a portion of the funding so that physicians assigned from the Imperial Academy of Medicine could hold consultations and treat the common people.

There were branches of the Imperial Academy of Medicine throughout the Two Capitals and Sixteen Prefectures, but they were limited to the most prosperous areas.

Their fees were similar to ordinary clinics, but because they had the backing of the Imperial Court, the people trusted Huimin Hall more.

The Huimin Hall Shen Yu was assigned to was in the Capital City, right next to the Imperial Palace and the Imperial Academy of Medicine.

To say it was at the foot of the Son of Heaven was an understatement; it was practically right under the Emperor’s nose.

‘I have to start work at 5:00 AM? 6:00 AM? There might even be night shifts… Not only do I have to treat the commoners, but I also have to be on call for the Imperial family. And the salary is only thirty silver coins a year?’

Shen Yu did a quick calculation.

The twenty silver coins she had used to bribe Eunuch Li alone would take over half a year of work to earn back.

The cost of living in the Capital City was high, and since she didn’t own a house here, she could only stay in an inn for the time being.

Otherwise, she would have to rent a place in a remote area dozens of miles away.

Just the daily expenses for food, clothing, and transportation would come to about three or four silver coins.

Earning only thirty silver coins a year—wasn’t this basically working while in debt?

She had to be up at 6:00 AM and had no idea when she would get to sleep.

Rotating every day like a machine—she was just like a beast of burden.

Looking at this picture, Shen Yu felt it seemed somewhat familiar…

‘Wait, I transmigrated, yet I’m still being used as Standardized Training Cattle?’

However, there were benefits.

Although Shen Yu was only a minor official of the Follow 9th Rank, she was a Capital Official appointed by the Empress herself.

Even if a 7th Rank official from the provinces arrived, they would still have to cup their hands and greet her as “Lord Shen.”

Furthermore, Shen Yu was allowed to take on apprentices to help her with the work.

The Imperial Court placed no restrictions on this, as long as it wasn’t too excessive.

After all, everyone knew that life as Standardized Training Cattle was difficult.

If they truly pushed someone to the point of quitting, who would look after the Imperial family’s health in the future?

The only catch was that Shen Yu had to pay the apprentices’ wages and manage them herself; the Imperial Court was not responsible for those expenses.

In reality, if a Capital Medical Officer wanted to take on an apprentice, there were plenty of people who would be desperate to pay for the privilege of sending their children to her.

The reason was simple: Shen Yu’s distance from the current Empress was no greater than that of the high-ranking ministers in the court.

The Huimin Hall in the Capital was directly under the Imperial Academy of Medicine, and above the Academy was His Majesty.

With the Medical Recruitment Exam in full swing, it was no exaggeration to say that Shen Yu was currently a person of great importance.

After all, out of the thousands upon thousands of healers who had entered the Capital, a mere 100 people had stood out.