Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 926

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 926
And so Jin Cheon-hee met with Ga Wan.
Ga Wan received him dressed not in casual robes but in official court garments—a clear and deliberate boundary marking this as an official meeting.
“I had no idea Gaju Ga Wan had become Yi Bu-sangeo.”
Ga Wan had previously served as Minister of another department, but this time she had been appointed to the Ministry of Personnel.
In other words, she controlled appointments and promotions.
The very nexus of power that manipulated official positions—a coveted post where one could pluck birds from the sky with a mere gesture.
The official robes Ga Wan wore before me appeared austere at first glance, adorned with not a single ornament, seemingly crafted from the bare minimum of silk.
Yet no one truly believed Ga Wan possessed genuine integrity.
That she wore such robes was merely because necessity demanded it.
‘She wears them for the sake of propriety.’
Even personal preference held no sway over her.
Ga Wan was a monster who protected the Gaju family.
A cold-blooded schemer who safeguarded the Geum Sega through the turbulent struggles for power.
She smiled softly.
“The previous Yi Bu-sangeo has retired. There were various circumstances involved, you understand.”
‘Among the Imperial Eight Families, the Mi Family was
麋
annihilated.’
The Emperor had drawn Jin Cheon-hee into the board of power, and my Master had played go, foreseeing my disciple’s next moves.
And the Imperial Eight Families had been purged.
Truly a watershed moment in history.
In that distant crossroads, the scales tipped toward the Emperor.
‘I’ve heard the previous Yi Bu-sangeo was close with the Hwaju Medical Institute and had connections to the Mi Family.’
Yet they cut his throat with ghostly precision and installed Ga Wan in his place.
Well, the moment the scales began to tip.
Gaju Ga Wan killed her emotions and sided with the Emperor.
“I see… That’s why the Emperor told me to meet with the Yi Bu-sangeo and discuss matters with her.”
Sip—
Ga Wan sipped her tea with practiced grace.
The smile she wore resembled that of a reptile.
Cold-blooded, like a creature whose blood runs chill. Why was that?
She bore a striking resemblance to such creatures.
Ga Wan spoke.
“Do you understand what the Yi Bu-sangeo does?”
“The Ministry of Personnel oversees the appointment and evaluation of officials, and manages promotions and demotions. The Yi Bu-sangeo directs all of these matters, does she not?”
As Ga Wan drained her cup, Jin Cheon-hee refilled it to the brim.
“In truth, there are two additional duties. Unofficial, but necessary ones.”
“What might those be?”
As Jin Cheon-hee set down the teapot, Ga Wan took another sip.
“It is inspection investigations and education. Do you understand why?”
“Inspection investigations are… conducted to examine a person before appointing them to office. But education? Isn’t it necessary to pass the civil service examination to enter the empire’s central administration?”
Ga Wan shook her head at my question.
“Of course that is true, but practical work is another matter entirely.”
“Ah. Because examinations and practical work are different things.”
“As expected of someone who leads Baek Rin. You grasped it immediately. How perceptive.”
“Not at all.”
I waved my hand dismissively. Ga Wan continued speaking.
“Yes, civil service examinations and practical work are indeed different. That is merely the foundation. How wonderful it would be if simply knowing the teachings of ancient sages were enough to administer well.”
Ga Wan lowered her eyelids and let out a sigh as if troubled, then continued.
“Therefore, our ministry teaches the work that must be done in each department before assigning personnel to those positions.”
“I see. So that is…”
“Yes. That is why we need your instruction, Prefect Jin. We wish to learn the administrative prowess that made Baek Rin the empire’s finest region.”
But that was surely only the surface reason.
There were political reasons beneath, though Ga Wan did not mention them explicitly.
So I too kept my silence.
If one cannot control fire, it is better to step back.
I answered brightly, deliberately feigning ignorance of anything deeper.
“That is certainly possible. But are you certain? My interfering in the ministry’s affairs…”
“…is the art of employing talent.”
Ga Wan smiled gently.
This person was a god for the Gaga Family, a demon, a parent, a child—someone who could cut down anything for them.
Yet the smile such a person wore seemed so benevolent it was hard to believe.
‘Perhaps the saying that one can discern character from a person’s face is nothing but a lie.’
What had seemed like a cold-blooded creature moments before—
With a single smile, the person looked so likeable.
‘Indeed, I am fundamentally incompatible with the imperial faction.’
I sighed quietly to myself.
Then I deliberately raised my voice tone.
“Then, shall we start with a check first?”
“A check?”
“Ah. It means an inspection.”
“As expected of the Jegallim Family, you still use peculiar words.”
At that, I could only laugh.
‘Will I be able to teach this properly?’
* * *
Outside the imperial palace.
A place where those studying to become officials in the imperial capital gathered.
An academy stood there.
The director of the academy was typically a high-ranking scholar who had belonged to the Hanlin Academy of the era and retired from the position of Hanlin Scholar.
The Hanlin Academy is a direct imperial institution, so it functions more as a research organization than a typical academy.
The imperial capital has several such academies.
And one of them isn’t a typical academy at all—it functions as a training institute managed by the imperial Ministry of Personnel to educate officials.
Its name is quite simple.
The Education Institute.
‘This Education Institute was built on the outskirts of the imperial capital.’
They say it was deliberately positioned there due to feng shui considerations.
As a result, some students commute while receiving education, while others live in dormitories.
Those from poor families typically live in dormitories, and here too, the talented from wealthy families and the talented from poor families are divided.
After all, those who pass the civil service examination and receive practical training would have started studying the Four Books and Three Classics and ritual studies from age five—they’d be prodigies renowned throughout their neighborhoods.
Whether talented from wealth or poverty, they share one common trait.
All of them possess absolutely tremendous pride!
It’s inevitable.
The wealthy would have everyone prostrating at their feet from infancy, so of course they’d be arrogant.
The poor—is it easy for a dragon to emerge from a stream?
From childhood prodigy to pillar of the household, they were their family’s savior destined to elevate their fortunes.
Such individuals eventually become smooth as river stones after being ground down beneath bureaucratic superiors.
But now, fresh from passing the examination, they’re at the height of their arrogance.
A spacious lecture hall in this Education Institute easily accommodates over a hundred people.
Dozens of newly appointed officials who were receiving training before their assignments to various departments had gathered.
They were all chattering loudly among themselves.
“I hear Magistrate Jin Cheon-hee is coming to teach us directly—I’m looking forward to it!”
“Magistrate Jin? The one who’s supposedly a disciple of the Jegallim Family?”
“That’s right. Exactly that person.”
However, it seemed they didn’t regard Jin Cheon-hee with respect or as a superior.
In fact, the position of magistrate was considerably higher than those gathered here.
Yet they were gossiping like this, which suggested considerable envy and jealousy toward him.
“He’s not even from the Imperial Eight Families, and the Jegallim Family is a declining house that nearly faced extermination, isn’t it?”
“Exactly! They’re only respected in Gangho circles. It’s not like they’ve held office for generations like us.”
Everyone applauded at those words.
These were prodigies from wealthy families.
But the prodigies from poor families were no different.
“Hmph! A martial artist from Gangho becoming a magistrate—it’s absurd! And I hear that fellow is a doctor too? How could a doctor possibly teach us such things?”
“They say his face is so mesmerizing that he bewitches any man who sees him! Surely the Emperor must have….”
And someone was openly spouting the ‘Emperor’s favorite concubine theory’ loudly.
Audacity beyond measure!
At that point, someone startled and elbowed them.
“Shh! Keep it down. What if the instructor hears such talk! This sort of thing should be discussed quietly later among ourselves at the tavern….”
As expected, a friendly official offered a warning.
Others’ attention also turned toward the one spreading the ‘Emperor’s favorite theory.’
“Hmph! I can look up to heaven without a shred of shame! I could even submit a memorial to the Emperor himself! If His Majesty were to be bewitched by such cunning and deceptive schemes, what would become of the realm’s governance?”
Even with an axe blade descending upon one’s neck, there are words that must be spoken!
The young official feared nothing.
But the same held true for the others.
As their hot blood seemed to boil over, the inexperienced officials each spoke their piece.
“Quite right! Absolutely right! Anyone who clouds the Emperor’s judgment must be decisively removed out of loyalty to the realm!”
Roaaaaar!
At the words “loyalty to the realm,” the other young men echoed their support.
In this very moment, it seemed they could offer remonstrance to the Emperor out of genuine devotion.
Even if that axe were to sever their necks.
Would it not be enough if their names were recorded in history as loyal subjects?
Truly, such passionate fervor was only possible in youth!
Everyone assured themselves it was not jealousy at all.
This was nothing but loyalty, they believed.
“However, his accomplishments are genuinely remarkable.”
At that moment, another scholar offered a counterargument.
“Was it not he who developed the cure for smallpox? And I’ve heard he made tremendous contributions to the advancement of Baek Rin as well.”
There was always someone who threw cold water on unanimous agreement.
Though displeasing, it was also a servant’s duty to refute flawed arguments.
That is what they believed.
“Hmph! Is that not merely the virtue of his master, Baek Rin-ui-seon? As the greatest genius of the Jegallim Family, such achievements are only natural!”
“So you’re saying he merely benefits from his master’s reputation?”
“Precisely. Moreover, consider his epithet—Cheonhailgwang, the greatest madman under heaven! It stands to reason that one so afflicted could never accomplish anything of substance!”
“Tsk, tsk. Perhaps you should visit the medical institute yourself? Your spirit seems depleted. You ought to take some medicine….”
“How dare you call me a quack! You….”
Thus they proceeded with their spirited (?) debate.
However.
Click.
As the lecture hall door opened, everyone fell silent and turned to look.
Soft, graceful steps.
Footfalls that made scarcely a sound.
A beauty that seemed almost inhuman.
Those who beheld it felt as though time itself had stopped.
“Is… is that person really that beautiful?”
“No wonder the Emperor….”
“Looking at that face alone, I’d think it was Song Ok or Ban An from the ancient tales.”
“There’s a certain masculine quality to the bearing, I must say. But that beauty… is this truly the beauty of a mortal?”
“I heard he even dresses in women’s clothing….”
“What? Once you see… ahem. No. No, that’s not it. I don’t have such tastes!”
Whisper, whisper.
Though quieter than before, the multiple voices still created considerable noise.
And finally, Prefect Jin Cheon-hee stepped onto the platform.
Despite clearly hearing all this commotion, the man wore a smile.
“Good morning everyone~ Ah, that’s not quite right, is it? Ahem, let me try again. Good morning, fellow scholars. Lovely weather we’re having today, isn’t it?”
Speaking such absurdities.
Yet smiling with beauty rivaling the heavens.
“Shall we open the windows? The air in here seems rather stale.”

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