Being able to read and write doesn’t necessarily mean one can excel.

Chun Nuan had seen many who only talked on paper.

Some speak eloquently, yet cannot heal the sick.

Sticking to the script could lead to major failures.

Practice is the only way to gain true knowledge.

Chun Nuan had a lot of faith in these twenty-four girls from ordinary families. Although they started low, they knew how to strive, and with such a desire to learn and improve, their futures wouldn’t be bleak.

In just a month, they memorized two hundred and two medicinal songs, and went from not recognizing a single character to knowing all the words on the page. This required such determination and effort to achieve.

During the herbal examination, these girls also held a significant advantage.

"I only just realized that the phrase about being unable to differentiate grains and having unskilled limbs applies to us."

Zhong Xiuxiu had developed some admiration for these girls from poor families.

Poverty wasn’t their fault; they just weren’t born into good families or met good parents.

Reflecting honestly, they were raised in luxurious surroundings without relying on their own skills.

Over ten years, they became idle.

This time, when the family sent people to study medicine, none of the sisters were willing to go.

Zhong Xiuxiu was a concubine’s daughter and never sought to compete in the household.

Her mother, being honest, was sold into the household due to poverty and her modest beauty.

Becoming a concubine wasn’t her original intention, but she was smart enough to know not to fight or struggle, living a steady life.

After giving birth to a daughter, she was satisfied, even relieved: life for concubines who bore daughters was generally better. Those with sons different, always striving for their son’s success, making the main wife wary and resentful, living a more difficult life.

Zhong Xiuxiu thought that if she and her mother kept a low profile until she reached adulthood, the main wife would give her a decent marriage as a blessing.

Daughters of noble families were married off as sacrifices for the family, especially concubine daughters, who frequently became mere second wives or mistresses.

Her mother always told her, it’s better to be a wife of a poor family than a concubine of a rich family; a concubine is just a man’s plaything, and at the whim of the main wife, could be beaten, killed, or sold off at any moment.

Young Zhong Xiuxiu swore to herself to always be filial to the main wife, not to provoke the legitimate children, and quietly wait for the day she could be a wife of a small family.

Who would have thought, an edict from the Empress Dowager in the Capital sparked a trend for women to learn medicine.

Households from the upper classes all had to send a daughter to learn.

The Zhong family was no exception, but who of the proper daughters would willingly expose themselves to study medicine?

The legitimate daughters didn’t want to go, and even if a concubine’s daughter had a capable mother, they also didn’t want to go. In the end, all eyes fell on the always quiet Zhong Xiuxiu.

In fact, Zhong Xiuxiu had long been ready for this, but she knew the more eager she appeared, the less likely she could succeed.

So she waited for this opportunity to fall on her head.

Sure enough, when the stepmother asked for her opinion, Zhong Xiuxiu respectfully bowed and said, "Daughter will follow Mother’s instructions."

"You’re a good one. Learn some skills, and you’ll find a good family later."

"Yes, thank you, Mother, for considering your daughter."

Could she really learn skills and find a good family? Why didn’t the legitimate sisters go?

But, the stepmother was right about one thing, learning skills would be hers to keep.

So amidst the ridicule and mockery of the sisters, she packed her things and went to Chunshan Women’s College.

There, she met many young ladies, although many avoided her once they knew she was a concubine’s child.

It seemed being a concubine’s child inherently carried some sort of bad luck.

She didn’t mind!

Her only thought was: learn well!

Therefore, she studied diligently, remembered carefully, and made real connections with those who truly wanted to learn skills.

She quickly mingled well with a group of poor girls.

Zhong Xiuxiu’s words were overheard by Chun Nuan, who couldn’t help but give her a second look.

This girl has a clear self-awareness!

Afterward, Chun Nuan also watched and noted Zhong Xiuxiu’s performances: this was someone genuinely wanting to learn medicine.

Among the noble girls who stayed, eight left afterward.

Chun Nuan knew as soon as there was a slight loosening of ties with their families, they’d return.

The remaining ones either dared not return or didn’t want to return like Zhong Xiuxiu.

The fewer the students, the less difficult teaching became for Chun Nuan.

For some common illnesses like colds, she invited Doctor Chen, an experienced old doctor from the Capital, to lecture.

Chun Nuan focused on lecturing about women’s healthcare.

One day, Chun Nuan discussed why many women couldn’t conceive.

This topic made the young ladies blush with embarrassment.

Yet they knew this knowledge would be very useful.

At the very least, Zhong Xiuxiu knew that her legitimate elder sister had been married to the Fang family at the Minister’s Mansion for more than two years. The couple was loving, yet barren, so her mother-in-law had already placed two maidservants in her sister’s room.

Her legitimate sister returned to the mansion crying to the stepmother.

Of course, she only heard about these things, as she hadn’t seen them firsthand.

Until one day she returned to the mansion from college and heard a few concubine sisters whispering excitedly, learning the stepmother wanted to select one among them to serve her legitimate sister at the Fang Mansion.

Serving actually meant bearing children for the legitimate sister, and any children born would be under the sister’s name.

What was there to be excited about?

Because her brother-in-law was good-looking and from a well-off family, several concubine sisters had long had secret crushes.

So when they heard the news, they were ecstatic but dared not show it, enduring with difficulty.

Among them was also Zhong Xiuxiu.

The legitimate sister looked at their feigned innocence and was livid, yet helpless. Rather than let the mother-in-law choose concubines for her husband, she begged the stepmother to send a concubine sister she could control.

But seeing them today, she was truly unwilling.

Finally, she noticed the calm Zhong Xiuxiu.

"Fifth sister is also of age, right?"

Zhong Xiuxiu felt a jolt in her heart.

No way?

Could it be her?

Indeed, the other sisters were also unwilling.

"Elder sister, fifth sister is currently studying medicine at Chunshan Women’s College."

The fourth sister quickly spoke up, hinting that Zhong Xiuxiu should not be considered, preferring they consider her instead.

"Really? That’s good; knowing some medical principles is always beneficial." Miss Zhong said lightly, "Unlike us, simple-minded with well-developed limbs, understanding nothing."

Already thinking of marrying up!

She didn’t say it, but had made her stance clear.

This "us" didn’t actually include her.

The sisters weren’t foolish; they understood.

"Fifth sister, it’s been a while since we chatted. Come to my quarters for a visit, just right; you study medicine, take my pulse, and have a look."

Zhong Xiuxiu felt a headache hearing this.

But how could she ignore her elder sister’s words?

"Yes." Zhong Xiuxiu respectfully said, "But, elder sister, Xiuxiu is not knowledgeable, afraid I cannot ease your troubles. If it’s convenient, tomorrow I will ask my teacher at college and arrange a time for the teacher to take your pulse, is that acceptable?"