Three weeks passed in a blink.
While Lu Yan spend her mornings and afternoons absorbing everything the doctor taught her, the snow melted slowly, the clouds grew thinner, and it became possible to travel again.
This morning, a carriage was slowly making its way from the little village towards the city.
Inside, Lu Yan was warming her hands using a hand warmer her master had Gu Sheng bring for her.
She was dressed as a little boy. As was Luizhu beside her.
Sitting across from her, the doctor was leaning back with his eyes closed as he asked, "Tell me, what does yang nature represent?"
"Movement, light, warmth, heaven, the exterior of the body, upward and outward," Lu Yan rattled off quickly.
"Yin nature?"
"Stillness, darkness, coolness, earth, the interior of the body, downward and inward."
"What are the properties governing yin-yang?"
"Opposition, interdependence, mutual consumption and inter transformation."
"Hmm, describe each of these for me with examples."
Lu Yan talked rapidly.
At some point, the doctor opened his eyes, and looked at her animated expression through half-open eyes.
Wearing the boy's clothes Gu Sheng had procured for her, her small face and neck and shoulders were more visible than usual.
Normally, she looked smaller than her age because she had never been given enough to eat.
Now, with her hair tied up, she looked even smaller and more fragile than she usually did.
When she was finished, he praised, "Well done! You're working hard and learning well. You're a good student and in a few years, you'll be a good physician."
Lu Yan felt a rush of pleasure and shyness as she always did when the master praised her.
"Do you remember your cover story?" he asked.
"Yes," she cupped her hands in greeting, "My name is Ayan, and I'm master's disciple. This is my medicine boy Azu."
"And what are you supposed to do?"
"Follow master. Watch and learn."
He nodded, then took a packet of savory spinach pastries from his pocket and handed them to her.
She handed a piece of Luizhu, then took one herself and bit in joyfully.
He closed his eyes again.
The village and the military camp were both on the outskirts of the city. The camp was closer to the city though.
They soon reached their destination.
The doctor climbed down from the carriage first. Then Luizhu jumped down, and helped Lu Yan climb down.
Lu Yan looked up at the entrance of the camp. A huge banner was hung up on a wooden gate. The banner was black and simply said 'Jin' in thick crimson.
Soldiers in uniform were everywhere, creating a cacophony of noises: metal clanging, many men shouting, arrows whistling, and animal skins drumming.
Seeing the doctor, the head of the guards at the door bowed, calling out respectfully, "Young Master Jin is here."
The doctor nodded curtly in response and moved straight through the door. Gu Sheng stayed behind to talk to head guard.
The doctor lead them directly to a large hall. It was one of the medical halls. Inside, a large table was covered with scrolls. Beds, filled with soldiers sleeping, talking, laughing or playing games, were lined up along the walls.
Seeing the doctor, all the physicians bowed. The soldiers called out greetings.
The master strode directly to the main seat, and said to an old physician, "Tell me."
Lu Yan followed him, and cautiously sat behind him. Everyone glanced at her, but no one said anything.
"Young master, here are the scrolls for the patients you were looking after. I've handled everything according to your previous instructions."
They spoke for a long time, looking over the scrolls and talking about schedules, treatments, side-effects...
Lu Yan couldn't keep concentrating on them. Her attention drifted, and she looked over the soldiers and physicians around them.
The uniforms of the Jin army were the same crimson and black as the banner. Physicians had a yellow band on their biceps.
When the head physician finished reporting, the doctor abruptly stood to leave the treatment tent. Lu Yan and Luizhu followed.
Halfway towards the door, he stopped suddenly, and turned around.
He gestured at Lu Yan, "This is my disciple, Ayan."
Lu Yan and Luizhu bowed in greeting to everyone.
Immediately, there were exclamations of surprise from the physicians and surrounding soldiers. Everyone gathered around the doctor, Lu Yan and Luizhu in a circle.
"The Army Physician finally took a disciple!"
Someone exclaimed, "He's so young!"
"And so cute!"
Lu Yan looked up, wide-eyed at the sudden attention.
A soldier slapped Lu Yan's shoulder, "Ayan is so lucky! You don't know how many young boys in the military want Young Master Jin to take them as disciples."
Lu Yan, uncomfortable with the contact, moved closer to the doctor.
"Alright. That's enough," the doctor said mildly.
Everyone immediately moved away, leaving the path to the exit open.
Lu Yan and Luizhu bowed and, feeling the weight of all the staring eyes, hurried after the doctor.
Outside, the doctor said, "That was the treatment hall. Most injured soldiers are placed there. This way is the medical quarter where the medical officers, physicians, assistants and orderlies live."
He lead the way towards one of the larger buildings, "This is my residence. I'm here or at the treatment hall most of the time."
This main hall contained a large table, and many seats.
Inside, he took off his outer robes, and soon servants brought in tea, and a brazier.
He gestured to a smaller table at the side, and said, "Practice your calligraphy here. I'll take care of my duties. Later, I'll ask Gu Sheng to show you around the camp."
Lu Yan and Luizhu made preparations. Luizhu ground the ink, Lu Yan began to practice the basic calligraphy strokes the doctor had taught her.
A steady queue of senior physicians and medical assistants came in to report. Two aides were present throughout, taking notes, and providing scrolls as the doctor requested.
Everyone was extremely respectful of the doctor. Lu Yan noticed that he was very impatient and harsh with his subordinates.
Suddenly, she felt thankful for his kindness and patience towards her, and resolved to work even harder to please him.
Gu Sheng reappeared. The doctor gestured, and Lu Yan and Luizhu obediently followed after Gu Sheng to familiarize themselves with the camp layout.