Chapter 128
[Ah, it seems that the Wu Yun Country Crown Prince succumbing to smallpox is an established plot point that cannot be easily changed.]
Xiao Chuchu shook her head in Wei Zhenghuai's embrace.
[Even if the eunuch who inadvertently brought smallpox into the palace is dealt with, the smallpox crisis will still occur on schedule.]
[Logically speaking, since the Khan of Wu Yun Country is not coming to Jing Country now, even if the Crown Prince contracts smallpox within thirty days, it should not be blamed on us in Jing Country.]
[It should not affect diplomatic relations between the two countries.]
Xiao Chuchu mused, but when she checked the broadcast from Wu Yun Country, she saw the meddlesome actions taken by Xiao Yunzhou's envoy.
[Ah, so it was the Father Emperor himself who went and talked about smallpox. No wonder, a month later when the Wu Yun Country Crown Prince falls ill with smallpox, the Khan will naturally vent his anger at Jing Country's loose lips.]
[This mission was brought upon us by the Father Emperor himself.]
"!"
Xiao Yunzhou's face flushed red.
He dared not move from where he stood.
"Your Majesty?" Head Imperial Physician Hu, who was reporting on the cowpox vaccine trials, grew nervous at the Emperor's sudden reaction. "Do you have any objections?"
Xiao Yunzhou closed his eyes; how could he dare object?
The reincarnated celestial maiden, his little imperial princess, said it, so he could only listen!
This smallpox crisis was indeed caused by his loose lips!
No matter, he would smooth things over with Wu Yun Country later once the research progressed.
For now, this had brought about a celestial trial.
He had indeed brought this upon himself.
Xiao Yunzhou coughed lightly, his face tense as he looked at Head Imperial Physician Hu.
"I'll give you ten more days. Can you guarantee complete success?"
"I wish to send an invitation to the Khan of Wu Yun Country to bring his princes and princesses to be inoculated. Will there be any issues?"
Head Imperial Physician Hu: "???"
[The Head Imperial Physician's face was frozen in utter shock—those few words were written all over it.]
Xiao Chuchu almost burst out laughing, but thinking of the impending death of the Wu Yun Country Crown Prince, she could not find it funny.
[Excellent, the Father Emperor is already on the path to complete the mission. I don't need to find a way to remind him.]
Necessary.
This father of hers must take the initiative.
Xiao Yunzhou picked up his tea cup and spoke gravely to Head Imperial Physician Hu, "The Khan of Wu Yun Country lost three elder brothers and two elder sisters to smallpox in his youth, and he also lost a young son."
"I empathize with his pain, and cannot bear to see our brother nation suffer the scourge of smallpox again."
Head Imperial Physician Hu was sweating on his forehead listening to this.
The first subjects for inoculation would be a neighboring country's royal prince?
"This must succeed, failure is not permitted." Xiao Yunzhou gave the Imperial Academy of Medicine a stern order.
[Indeed, Chu State has been waiting eagerly to form an alliance with Wu Yun Country, hoping that Wu Yun will have a falling out with our Jing Country.]
Xiao Chuchu thought to herself, [We cannot let Chu State succeed.]
[Moreover, human lives are at stake. The sooner we develop a successful cowpox inoculation method, the sooner we can prevent the deaths of more children.]
Truly befitting of her kind-hearted celestial maiden~
Xiao Yunzhou could not help himself and took his daughter from Wei Zheng's arms, hugging her adoringly.
He wished he could cuddle with his daughter all day, but alas, he still had state affairs to attend to.
"You may take your leave," Xiao Yunzhou gave Head Imperial Physician Hu a look, "I still have matters to attend to."
"..."
Head Imperial Physician Hu looked at the Emperor cuddling his daughter like a doting father, his lips twitching.
He quickly took his leave, but his mind was weighed down with worries.
Back at the Imperial Academy of Medicine, Head Imperial Physician Hu sighed heavily, feeling immense pressure.
"What's the matter? Is His Majesty unsatisfied with our progress?" The Imperial Physicians quickly gathered around him.
"No," Head Imperial Physician Hu did not know how to explain, "His Majesty has given us thirty days to develop a safe and flawless inoculation method."
It was too daunting to mention inoculating the Wu Yun Country Crown Prince, lest any of his colleagues refuse to come to work the next day.
But to Head Imperial Physician Hu's surprise, instead of protesting this unreasonable demand, his colleagues actually looked overjoyed.
"Thirty days? Did His Majesty really say that?"
"??"
"There's hope, Head Imperial Physician Hu!" The Imperial Physicians, with dark circles under their eyes, were delighted. "His Majesty has made accurate predictions time and again, from the plague to smallpox. This time, by stating thirty days, it must mean His Majesty believes we can definitely succeed!"
"We're saved! It seems we can manage it within thirty days!"
"??!" Head Imperial Physician Hu was speechless.
But strangely, he too felt a sense of reassurance.
Indeed, whenever he went to the Imperial Study, and encountered difficulties with the cowpox vaccine research, His Majesty always seemed to have a solution.
It was truly reassuring.
"Alright, let's give it our all! If it's thirty days, then thirty days it is!" Head Imperial Physician Hu found newfound courage and confidence. "Thirty days from now, not only the Wu Yun Country Crown Prince, we'll be ready to inoculate even the Khan himself with cowpox!"
"...Ah?"
"!"
"Let's do it!"
The entire Imperial Academy of Medicine was filled with a vibrant atmosphere.
Qianqiu, a palace maid attending to Consort Li, happened to be there to fetch medicine. Upon overhearing this, her expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly left.
*
"So there is truly a way to eradicate smallpox?"
In the Cining Palace, The Empress Dowager was conversing with The Empress and the Imperial Consorts.
Her question was directed mainly at Concubine Liu, not The Empress.
For Concubine Liu was the head official of the imperial harem, the only consort who could openly participate in state affairs!
"Has there been any progress?" The Empress Dowager was deeply concerned about the welfare of the people, and naturally took great interest in this significant matter of smallpox.
"The human inoculation method has shown some success," Concubine Liu was well-informed about this matter. While she was often busy organizing the production of quilted robes, whenever she returned to the palace, the little princess would relay the latest broadcasts from the Imperial Physicians through her inner voice.
"However, the human inoculation method is not yet absolutely safe, as a small number of cases still developed into severe illness. The Imperial Academy of Medicine is now attempting the more reliable cowpox inoculation method."
The Empress Dowager's brow furrowed at first, but then her expression brightened. "So you're saying the human inoculation method has already rendered many cases mild, and those inoculated will not be infected again?"
Concubine Liu nodded, "Yes, that's what the Imperial Physicians have been testing. Children who have recovered from the human inoculation, when exposed to the clothing of smallpox patients, did not contract the disease again."
The Empress Dowager's face beamed with delight. "Wonderful! Your little princess has made a great contribution. I've heard that His Majesty was moved by the little princess's tender age and decided to tackle the smallpox crisis."
Before Concubine Liu could modestly decline the praise, the snide Consort Li interrupted her.
"Concubine Liu, why are you only sharing the good news with The Empress Dowager and The Empress, and not mentioning the bad?" Consort Li sneered coldly.
Her attendant eunuch Quan Xing was involved in the outbreak that prompted this smallpox prevention effort.
How could the credit all go to a princess not even a year old?
"Today, my Qianqiu went to the Imperial Academy of Medicine to fetch medicine, but I overheard them mentioning that thirty days from now, they will be inoculating the Wu Yun Country Crown Prince against smallpox." Consort Li snorted at Concubine Liu, then turned to the Empress Dowager and the Empress with a worried expression.
"Concubine Liu, you concealed such an important matter. What if the inoculation fails and the Wu Yun Country Crown Prince falls gravely ill or dies? What then?"
"Concubine Liu, can you bear the responsibility if this leads to war between our two nations?"
Concubine Liu frowned.
The Empress Dowager and the Empress could not help but change their expressions upon hearing this.
Especially the Empress, thinking of her own eldest son's future ascension to the throne and inheriting the immense enmity of the Wu Yun Country, she grew furious. "Concubine Liu, is this true? For such a risky matter, why did you not advise the Emperor?!"
[Oh no, my mother is being scolded.]
In the Imperial Study.
Xiao Yunzhou, who was cradling and personally feeding water to Xiao Chuchu, froze for a moment.
Little Xiao Chuchu pouted, and her inner thoughts emerged, displeased. [The Empress wants my mother to manage Father Emperor? If she doesn't, she gets scolded.]
Xiao Yunzhou rolled his eyes.
Since taking control of state affairs, he disliked others trying to manage him the most!
In the past, even the Empress's own father managed him excessively.
[Really, Father Emperor is already so old,] Xiao Chuchu thought unhappily.
Indeed!
Xiao Yunzhou agreed with his beloved daughter's inner voice and stood up, looking at Wei Zheng. "What day is it today?"
"The thirtieth of the first month," Wei Zheng replied respectfully.
"You forgetful fool, you didn't even remind me!" Xiao Yunzhou said displeased as he walked out. "My mother instructed me just yesterday to visit her today!"
Wei Zheng: "???"
Ah? When did that happen? There was no such thing!