Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 717

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 717
Ga Jun-hwa came rushing out in his bare feet.
“Welcome, Soggakju!”
“The shop is… a huge success?”
“Once word spread that these are traditional dumplings from the Jegallim Family, people flocked here like clouds.”
“Ah, I see?”
“The Sega has sold dumplings at the inns we’ve owned for some time, but this is the first time we’ve openly promoted them under our family name.”
Truly, Master Zhuge Liang’s influence.
His name alone was enough to draw crowds like this.
“We even enshrine Guan Yu as a guardian deity. And isn’t it well-known that Zhuge Liang ascended to immortality? When people hear that these are dumplings personally created by such a legendary figure—secret recipes passed down through generations—of course they flock here.”
“Ah, I see.”
I could hear the sound of money accumulating.
I’d expected success, but not to this degree.
My eyes sparkled with delight.
Ga Jun-hwa rubbed his hands together as he spoke to me.
“Isn’t that precisely why Kong Bu Family Wine sells so well?”
Kong Bu Family Wine.
Confucius—one of the four sages revered throughout history.
Kong Bu Family Wine refers to the ceremonial wine used by Confucius’s own household.
This wine, actually brewed by the Kong family, became so renowned that in the world I came from, it established itself as a specialty product of Qufu in Shandong Province, Confucius’s birthplace.
However, there are countless counterfeits, making it difficult to obtain genuine bottles.
And was it even truly brewed that way?
There are debates about its authenticity, but the properly made versions are said to taste extraordinary.
‘In this world too, Kong Bu Family Wine is recognized as a fine wine, isn’t it?’
Wine from the household of Confucius.
Here, there’s no controversy—the descendants and villagers brew it together at the distillery.
And of course… there are counterfeits here too.
Even the smallpox vaccine has fakes; why would wine be any different?
‘Of course the wine is genuinely fine, but it sells even better because of the Confucius name attached to it.’
When I was making Thousand Day Wine, I tasted genuine Kong Bu Family Wine as a test, and I was surprised by its deep aroma.
‘Come to think of it, Master could have prospered far more by using the Jegallim Family name all along, yet he never did. He’s not someone who wouldn’t know that…’
Master had resented the Jegallim Family all this time.
But then something changed his heart, and he began teaching me the dumplings one by one, and teaching me their spirit.
‘Using the Jegallim Family name to sell dumplings would have been unthinkable originally.’
Not Jegallim Medical Guild, but Baekrin Medical Guild.
He didn’t seem fond of even mentioning the Sega.
‘If I had a father, would it feel like this?’
Though we weren’t bound by blood, perhaps that made my gratitude run even deeper.
He was the one who taught me what family truly meant.
“By the way, what brings you all to the imperial capital?”
“An order came from the imperial palace for me to enter the court. For now… yes… since I’m a Magistrate…”
“Ah, I see it’s imperial business. Then you intend to rest here at the Baekhaengnu first before entering the palace?”
“Yes. I need to wash and prepare my official robes before presenting myself.”
“I shall make the arrangements, Soggakju.”
“Then I would be grateful if…”
At that moment, a group of armed men approached.
“Is the Magistrate of Baekrin County, Lord Jin Cheon-hee, present?”
The Embroidered Uniform Guard!
The Embroidered Uniform Guard was different from the Eastern Bureau.
While the Eastern Bureau primarily handled intelligence and surveillance, the Embroidered Uniform Guard served as the imperial palace’s security force.
‘Wow, each one of them radiates such an overwhelming presence.’
I’d heard that even becoming the lowest-ranking member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard required exceptional training, and one’s martial prowess had to exceed first-rate level. Their aura certainly matched that reputation.
“I am Jin Cheon-hee, but…”
“His Majesty commands you to enter the palace at once.”
“Ah… but I haven’t even prepared my robes yet.”
“His Majesty has ordered that to be done within the palace.”
This was frightening.
‘What, are these thugs?’
I was utterly dumbfounded.
“Ah. Yes.”
I barely managed to greet the staff at Baekhaengnu before being dragged off to the imperial palace.
* * *
When I was dragged through the rear gate of the palace, eunuchs were waiting for me.
“Oh my! We’ve been waiting for you~”
The grip of these beardless eunuchs was so strong that I was simply dragged along, bathed, had my robes arranged, dressed in official court garments, and then escorted to the main gate to formally enter the palace.
‘My human rights… are gone.’
I never imagined that this Emperor and his lackeys would seize someone like this just because they didn’t want to wait.
I longed for the voting system.
If they had been elected by popular vote, these bastards would never have treated people this way.
‘Even so, I’m responsible for managing roughly a hundred votes, aren’t I?’
But in this martial world, human life was worth no more than a fly’s, and human rights existed somewhere beneath the bloodline pyramid.
‘No matter how I look at it, the Yellow Turban Rebellion should have succeeded. If they’d brought the guillotine and severed the Emperor’s head, this martial world would have received a democracy patch.’
My face bore the expression of a traitor contemplating rebellion.
In any case, as I entered the palace with such thoughts, all the heads of the Six Ministries were seated, and the Emperor himself sat in the great hall.
‘What… this is an imperial court conference? They’ve been quiet until now, but now they’re summoning people to an imperial court conference?’
I swore I would scrape every last bit of tartar from these bastards’ teeth.
Still, I walked as I had been taught and paid my respects.
“Your humble servant, Magistrate Jin Cheon-hee, greets Your Majesty. Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”
“Rise, Magistrate Jin.”
“I am deeply grateful for your grace.”
I glanced upward discreetly, careful not to let my expression show.
The face visible beneath the curtain—I couldn’t tell if it was Emperor Geum-wang or Eun Wang-ya.
Either way, that arrogant expression befitting an emperor was enough to spoil my appetite.
“Today, I have summoned you to commend Magistrate Jin’s achievements.”
Ooooh!
At those words, the various officials murmured in response.
“Quite different from the Gangho style of encouragement, this.”
When Kang Ho-in gave encouragement, I wondered if such words were even appropriate—though they tended to include some… profanity.
Since dealing with people was their trade, the street-level heterodox factions all had a habit of… cursing casually.
Especially when expressing surprise, it was even more pronounced.
In modern terms, it would translate to something like “Damn… what the hell…”
But here before the Emperor, no one dared curse, instead offering their encouragement with refined language.
I felt the refined dignity of the imperial palace.
Not from the golden roofs of the palace or the healthy complexions of the distinguished officials, or the noble golden dragon robes flowing with elegance.
Rather, I felt it from their proper use of language…
Even I found it strange, but that was how it was.
“Eunuch General. Speak of Magistrate Jin’s achievements.”
“Yes, sire~ Magistrate Jin has eliminated corruption in the county, suppressed plague, and restored order to the region’s discipline…”
And with that, he began reciting them one after another.
Each time, the officials offered encouragement: “Indeed!”, “Quite right!”, “A reputation well-earned!”
It was strange.
‘I’m certain that before, when they saw me spending taxes extravagantly, they cursed me out thoroughly. Why are they being so kind to me now?’
Suddenly, my eyes met Han Yi-jeong’s.
‘Ah…’
And Ga Wan’s as well.
‘Oh…’
That was it.
General Yuk Heon, the Sun General, truly had no interest in politics and devoted himself entirely to martial arts, but Han Yi-jeong and Ga Wan were different.
After the Eunuch General had dutifully commended each of my achievements,
the final proclamation came forth.
“Therefore, for saving mothers, preserving newborns, and greatly relieving the suffering of the people afflicted by disease, I hereby elevate Magistrate Jin Cheon-hee to the rank of Grand Commandant.”
Grand Commandant?!
My eyes widened involuntarily at those words.
‘Insane—Grand Commandant?’
Grand Commandant was a rank above Magistrate.
The Hua Empire divides regions into provinces, commanderies, and counties.
The area where I lived could be called Jiangsu Province, Changlu Commandery, Baekrin County.
Jiangsu Province corresponds to what would be Gyeongsang Province in Korea.
A Provincial Governor is essentially a provincial administrator.
Baekrin County technically belongs to Changlu Commandery, but as a fief granted to the Medical Duke, it held a degree of autonomy.
Of course.
The entire population of Changyeo County does exceed that of Baekrin County.
Typically, a county is formed when three to five districts are combined.
Currently, Changyeo County has approximately 120,000 households by count, excluding Baekrin County.
‘If one considers that Baekrin County has recently swollen by absorbing displaced populations as well….’
Chills ran down my spine.
Meanwhile, the great and lesser officials harbored different thoughts.
‘So that cunning fox finally ascends to magistrate with the Emperor’s favor!’
‘A mere doctor who never even took the civil service examination, and yet the Emperor elevates him so highly just for accumulating merit in war! How could His Majesty!’
‘Looking at that pretty face of his, it seems the rumors are true—that he seduced Ga Wan and Han Yi-jeong to secure his position!’
Though they showed no outward expression, their bodies trembled with jealousy.
Meanwhile, I was alarmed for an entirely different reason.
‘No way!? Are they dumping Changyeo County on me too! Is that cursed Emperor trying to saddle me with the entire county?!’
Unaware of my inner anguish, the officials finally could restrain themselves no longer and spoke up.
Han Yi-jeong was Han Yi-jeong, and Ga Wan was Ga Wan.
Though they knew the Imperial Eight Families were formidable, there were those among them who had become enemies of mine, were there not?
Yi Bu-sangeo opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty, please reconsider. Magistrate Jin Cheon-hee is still young and inexperienced—the position of county governor is beyond his capacity.”
I could not stand by and watch such a mad promotion.
The Emperor answered indifferently.
“Is that so?”
“Indeed, Your Majesty! Moreover, he is the magistrate of Baekrin County, which is the fief of the Medical Duke. Should you elevate him to governor, overseeing the county’s administration, he would have to serve concurrently as the military commander of Changyeo County. This would violate the protocols of the imperial household, Your Majesty!”
‘Well done. Well done!’
I silently cheered for Yi Bu-sangeo. If this opposition held and the matter was reduced… please….
I cannot live like this.
You heartless Emperor twins!
At those words, the Emperor spoke.
“How strange. I never said I would make him governor of Changyeo County, did I?”
Gasp!
The sound of the court officials holding their breath echoed through the hall.
‘Wow, this is entertaining.’
Seemingly chaotic yet perfectly coordinated.
‘Perhaps it’s because these are people raised in comfort.’
If they were provincial officials elsewhere, it would be difficult to reach such a level of deference before the Emperor, no matter how capable. One needed backing.
There had to be a hill to lean against.
A gathering of those raised in comfort—they possessed a unique atmosphere.
The Emperor mocked them and spoke.
“Listen.”
His voice resonated throughout the great hall.
The court officials closed their mouths and prostrated themselves before the Emperor’s majestic voice.
“Baekrin County has now reached sixty thousand households. This clearly demonstrates that the other magistrates fall short of Magistrate Jin, indicating that Magistrate Jin’s achievements are far superior.”
“….”
“Therefore, I hereby promote Baekrin County to Baekrin Commandery and appoint Jin Cheon-hee as its Governor. Yi Bu-sangeo, do you have any objections?”
So he was raising my title without granting additional territory!
“Your Majesty’s wisdom reaches the heavens!”
This Yi Bu-sangeo fellow seemed satisfied with this much.
‘You fools! Keep arguing! I’m descending on this parachute right now—shoot more objections my way!’

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————