"Yes. This is a great fortune for me, since I am willing to follow His Highness to a remote place and do a non-profit social treatment. This is the karma I've gained because of leaving the luxury of being a royal physician," Still smirking, Li Heng replied.
Physician Wang quickly felt insulted by Li Heng's words. Moreover, Li Heng continued in a sharp tone, "As a healer, we shouldn't too focus on worldly desires. It's true that we need money for living, but there are still so many things more important than that."
His answer immediately "punched" the royal physicians who had refused Li Heng's invitation to join with Zhu Su's team. Physician Wang, of course, belonged to that "punched" physicians.
"Physician Li, I heard that your team doesn't follow the official rules for selecting physicians as Imperial medical law declares? You have the guts to recruit five women, a disabled person, and a foreigner," Physician Wei, the chief doctor for the Lu Wang's family, joined in the conversation. "You have the nerve to do such a deviant thing. Who can guarantee that your books will have good content?"
Expecting that someone would throw such questions, Li Heng answered, "Our procedure in applying candidates is not based on outward appearance or aptitude. Our choice is based on their earnestness. Whoever has great passion and willing to devote themselves to this country, we will surely choose them."
"Earnestness is still not enough, Physician Li. Everybody has a great earnestness to be a royal physician, then can we accept all of them? Still, rules are rules. For which reason, your book is not worth publishing, let alone get distributed."
Li Heng glared at Physician Wei. Physician Wang, on the other hand, also shared his opinion, "I've read your book, and with great regret I have to say this; the book contains so many peculiarities. First, it's too simple! And more, you want the commoner to use this book for the purpose of treating their own illnesses by themselves? It appears that you are underrating medical science. You should know that commoner doesn't have any medical knowledge to diagnose diseases. If they choose the wrong prescription and do malpractice, what's your responsibility?"
"Besides, the medicinal plants you take are originated from Yunnan, aren't they only suitable for southern regions? It can't be distributed to Ming other areas."
Li Heng's smile faded. He began to get uncomfortable with those physicians who clearly tried to corner him.
"Well... if all of you feel that this book is so imperfect, then maybe you will create the refinement and by then write something better than this book?" Half defiantly, Li Heng asked them.
The tension began to rise. Physician Wang asked, "Hey, why are you talking like that?!"
"What's going on, the Honored Physicians?"
Zhu Su had figured out an unpleasant sign that should be reconciled immediately, so he approached the physicians, who soon bowed in respect.
"Please excuse us, Your Highness... we are just having a simple chat..." Physician Wang answered, faltering.
"Yes, Your Highness... we are only giving some advice to Physician Li, we hope it will help him to be better." Physician Wei added.
Zhu Su smiled. "Thank you very much for your attention to Xiu Zhen Fang. I admit that this book has many flaws for sure, as we are only humankind and then far from perfection. I am planning to make reviews for it, we will keep going on revising this book and making it better than before. If necessary, we will make a revised edition... or it might be better to write another book!"
All of them got startled as hearing the last sentence Zhu Su spoke. "Your Highness... you intend to write another medical book?..."
Zhu Di and the other princes had also joined with the crowd. Finding more and more people getting interested in his statement, Zhu Su raised his voice. "Yes, definitely, Xiu Zhen Fang is merely a little book, it also only contains very few of prescriptions, and thus too simple to be used for the purpose of medical science. I am planning to make a book that includes as many prescriptions as possible, and I hope, it will also include the prescriptions which have been missing from before the Yuan Dynasty. The Book of Universal Prescriptions!"
"The Book of Universal Prescriptions?! Which also includes missing prescriptions?!?..." All of them held their breaths.
Physician Wei murmured, "It's a very ambitious project... but if you succeed, you will create something shocking history, and your name will be remembered even until hundreds of years have passed..."
"Therefore, I need support from all of you. If you have any suggestions, or comments, please tell me, don't hesitate to do that! If it is beneficial for our progress, we won't reject it, and instead, we will thank you for that!"
Everyone stared straight at Zhu Su, being unexpected that the prince would say that he was open to all comments and criticisms. This trait was very different from his father's, since the Hongwu Emperor was infamous as a dictatorial emperor who could not tolerate any kinds of suggestions and criticisms, everyone dared speak up their minds would face severe punishments. Because of this, they just remained quiet, only looking at Zhu Su as if they could not believe with what they were hearing.