The Yao Emperor and His Human Doctor.

Chapter 15 - A New Calling.

"Here! See?! He ripped off some patient's skin and kept it like a trophy!" Ren Shyu showed what looked like an extensive strip of translucent, iridescent white skin.
"Huh? But this is the skin of my last molt!" An Shu turned red up to his ears in embarrassment.
"Ah! Did you still have the skin? An Shu, how much do you want for it?" Madam Ren got so close to the snake's face that he felt more smoke coming out of its head.

"Hmm... Madam Ren, there's no need to pay. I had forgotten about this skin, you can keep it for yourself..."
"A-Loo! Don't you know that snakes have a habit of giving their last change of skin to the person they love!" The Empress exclaimed in embarrassment. How could mother and son have such a rude face to act like that around the house?

"Is that snake skin? It looks so thin..." Ren Shyu threw it to his mother suddenly in disgust.
An Shu: ".............." I think I'll strangle this pest!
"I'm sorry, An Shu, do you have any suitors?" Madam Ren asked with bright eyes as she smoothed and folded the skin under her lap.

"N-no, I was kicked out of my Clan, it's been over a hundred years since I've seen a snake... Like I said if Madam  Ren has a good use for her skin, feel free to use it." An Shu didn't know where to hide. What a ridiculous situation.
"I am very grateful!" Madam Ren squeezed the snake's two hands tightly. "In return, I have many things that may be of interest to you, I will show you..."

Just correct your son!
An Shu whined inwardly.
The Empress swallowed her tea to see if the shame would go down with it. If Dr. Su hadn't taken such good care of her stomach, she would have had a heartburn attack. Ren Shyu sat foaming with rage and also shame at having been so grossly mistaken.
Sensing the Empress's tension, Su Ning invited her to visit the clinic, which she readily and happily agreed to.

They walked through the straight corridors, showing the rooms, the office they had already seen, the operating room, the lake of medicinal water that was heated thanks to a matrix drawn on the stones.
"It looks so good..." She sighed in delight, touching the hot water.
"Come one day just to take a shower. It's very good even if you're not sick." Su Ning encouraged her even though she knew her private bathtub was just as good.

Then he showed the pharmacy. Even though Ren Shyu searched everything, he didn't destroy or make a mess of the place. Su Ning had the herbs and medicines methodically stored away. They were all recorded in writing, their name and their role, in a way that anyone could understand. Behind the pharmacy was the vegetable garden and herb garden, where three flower fairies could be seen idly chatting amongst themselves and drinking mead from small flower chalices.

Upon seeing the doctor, they flew towards him buzzing at the same time.
"Yes, yes, it's fine. I'll arrange it." Su Ning nodded with a smile
"What did they say?" Madam Ren and Qiang Ling asked in unison. Ren Loo added, scratching his head, "I can't understand what the little ones say very well, hehe."

"There's frost in the forecast tonight. Then I need to cover the garden with a tarp."
"Aaah...! It must be cold here at night. Wouldn't you prefer a warmer place, doctor?" Mademe Ren asked. Fire dragons did not tolerate cold well.
"I use the heating arrays in the rooms, so it's really comfortable. And then I like the mountains, it's quiet and spacious." Su Ning responded promptly. In fact, he seemed very comfortable in that place.

The Empress kept this in mind, the doctor liked silence and space. The fortress where he lived was very large, but it certainly wasn't silent at all, especially when Ren Loo was there.
"And this is my room. That's An Shu's." Su Ning preferred to respect the snake's privacy after what happened by only showing his bedroom.

The Empress was going to say that she didn't need to show it but her curiosity was stronger and it only got worse when she saw the bookshelf. Without thinking, she entered, fascinated, heading straight for it.
"Are they all human books?"
"Yes, most are medicine, but these are literature, philosophy and poetry."
The Empress picked one up to leaf through carefully. Ren Shyu preferred to stay outside, near the garden as he had already seen everything that could be seen in the clinic in all possible details.

And Madam Ren just observed the small room consisting of the bed and simple furniture. Anyone who saw it would never think that person was a cultivator, except for the contents of the bookshelf. She smiled inwardly, this couldn't be more exciting. Su Ning didn't show it but it was obvious that this cultivator was skilled. He knew good defense techniques.

It's sad that he got rid of the spiritual weapon, she would like to test him, but as Qiang Yong warned her before, the doctor's temperament was very peaceful co and tolerant. She would have to observe him more to draw her conclusions although it was clear he was no simple doctor. He was someone who could be dangerous at some point and with him being so close to his mother...

"What a shame, I don't know the human language. Otherwise I would like to borrow it from you."
"But Qian Young and I know how to read, and even Ren Shyu knows! If the doctor lends you, we can teach you and read to you too." Madame Ren approached, seeing the book over Dr. Su's shoulder.

Another detail that was impossible for her not to forget was that the doctor was very handsome! She expected to find an old and washed-up human, not a young man with such an ethereal and soft appearance. Her hand tickled with the desire to touch the hair he wore loose in such a careless way. The thing is, human hair was thin and fragile, it had no use whatsoever, otherwise she would be able to ask for a lock of those blue-black strands. Who knows, maybe she could keep it as a souvenir? Plus, they smelled so good like pine!

"Of course the Empress can borrow it. I really like this one." Su Ning suggested a green-covered book.
"Doctor is always so kind! I-I feel like you're a son to me." Qiang Ling took the copy affectionately.
"Hehe, Dr. Su, I think it's better to call it a day. Qiang Yong will be worried about the delay. We are very lax with our mother and you will end up stealing her from us." Ren Loo smiled, also approving the choice of book.

The doctor laughed. "That's for sure Madam Ren doesn't need to worry. I disagree that you and the Emperor are remiss. They are certainly the most attentive children I've ever met."
Madam Ren stared at him for a while before speaking again. "Either way I wouldn't mind having him as a human brother."

"Better not say that to the Emperor, I don't want him to die of his heart." The doctor laughed, following them back to the room. The Empress was saying goodbye with regret.
"It was a very pleasant day and it was great to see you again. Once again, thank you for lending the book. I promise to take good care of it!"
"I thank you for your visit. And I also thank you for the tea. It was a wonderful gift. And it was a pleasure to meet you, Madam Ren and Ren Shyu."

Madam Ren wasn't so sure what the doctor thought of her son, but upon hearing his concern a little earlier about Qiang Yong,  she realized that there was no sign of hostility coming from him. Therefore, it was the same with Ren Shyu. The latter, by the way, still looked at him with deep enmity and didn't even speak to him. The Empress was then going to draw the matrix to return to the Fortress when violent knocks were heard at the outer gate. "DR. SU!DR. SU!"
The Empress Dowager stopped the drawing, impressed, who could this person be so alarmed at this hour?

Author's Note

There, there, Ren Shyu is awesome. The Dowager Empress almost spat blood with her grandson and daughter, what an exquisite education these two had! 😅 Su Ning is very patient, now An Shu was almost a saint in this chapter. Let's see what's coming next...