Chapter 59
After praising Cheng Qian, the fifth prince, the emperor summoned the imperial physician to see him.
Before long, the ministers who were still in the Imperial Cabinet heard about this.
"Is the emperor feeling unwell?"
"Has he been angered by Minister Jiang?"
"If the emperor is sick, should the examination for us court officials be postponed?"
The ministers in the Imperial Cabinet pondered and started discussing.
Soon, they saw four or five imperial physicians hurrying in with medicine boxes into the inner hall.
At this moment, the expressions of the ministers became serious.
If the emperor's health was compromised, it would be a major issue concerning the country!
Some bold court officials had already left the Imperial Cabinet's front hall where they handled political affairs, to inquire with the eunuchs.
"Why are so many imperial physicians entering the palace?"
The young eunuch, after receiving some money, glanced around.
It wasn't really a secret that needed to be kept, so he didn't hide anything.
"The emperor said that the imperial physician is researching a prescription."
The ministers were shocked and speechless.
The emperor was still researching longevity prescriptions?
Not taking elixirs but wanting to take medicine instead?
This was neglecting his duties!
"Fucha, should we advise the emperor?"
Chancellor Fu Cha was also conflicted, "Let's wait a few days, the emperor is in a bad mood."
Today, Jiang Yixu had made things difficult for them, a group of high-ranking officials.
When the emperor was angry, he would test their abilities.
Three days later, he would have them examined in the great hall.
The emperor's intentions were clear, those who didn't pass the exam, lacked knowledge, and were not qualified to advise him as the emperor!
Fu Cha thought to himself and looked at the group of high-ranking officials, "You all have duty shifts in the next few days, remember to review your books."
The faces of several officials turned red and black.
They were all in their forties and fifties!
Many of their grandchildren had already passed their exams, but at their age, they had to go back and review books like children?
"We hold high positions, not to mention having the level of a top scholar, but at least for this examination by the emperor, we must answer at the level of a new imperial scholar."
Fu Cha frowned, "Otherwise, when it comes to the New Year's examination, do you have the face to preside over it?"
Several officials immediately felt distressed.
Three days later, when the emperor tested them, if they didn't pass, they would lose face publicly at Zhengyang Gate!
Like Jiang Yixu, they would never have the face to call themselves scholars in the future!
"Chancellor is right. I will take my shift today and go home to study."
"I will also go back, oh, I'll ask my grandson for a set of the past ten years' examination compilations."
"Chancellor, may I take a three-day leave?"
Fu Cha's mouth twitched.
A group of freeloaders!
They don't usually read books but now they have to take sudden leave to catch up!
He sighed heavily, "Go on, all of you."
Looking towards the direction of the emperor's sleeping palace, Chancellor Fu Cha felt heavy-hearted.
The emperor was becoming less like his former self.
It seemed like he was gradually slipping out of their control in the Imperial Cabinet.
After this examination of the ministers, he must find a way to show the emperor who's in charge.
"Long Duo, you were once the top scholar, you will surely pass the examination in three days."
Chancellor Fu Cha thought to himself and said, "Write a memorial today, asking the emperor not to indulge in longevity medications and to focus on his duties with the Imperial Physicians."
"After the examination results of the ministers are out in three days, and you are among the top, immediately submit the memorial with advice."
Imperial Censor Long Duo promptly agreed.
Chancellor Fu Cha nodded.
The emperor was dissatisfied with the people who scolded him for lacking skill, so he found a top scholar to criticize the emperor instead.
In this way, the emperor should have no objections, right?
Shouldn't he behave well now?
*
Emperor's study.
A group of princes witnessed Xiao Yunzhou's face change from a tense expression to a joyful one.
"Good, Cheng Qian, your article on the plague is excellent."
"You have searched through ancient books to find ways to isolate high temperatures and bury the dead quickly. I will immediately send a letter to the county magistrate in the Yellow River basin to take action!"
Emperor Xiao Yunzhou greatly appreciated it.
Several princes looked at Fifth Prince Cheng Qian in astonishment, envy, or jealousy.
Cheng Qian remained expressionless, still having that mature look of a young adult, "Father, your praise is undeserved. I only heard about the historical floods from the teachers in the study and was worried, so I went to look up some books."
"But I didn't find many methods to deal with the plague."
As he spoke, he gratefully looked at the swaddle in the emperor's arms during the pause in the emperor's writing.
It was his sister's reminder that prompted him to start researching.
That day, his sister mentioned that she had drawn three books, one of which was about the plague.
But at that time, his sister was called away by the empress to work on winter clothes, only mentioning improvements in weaving and not the plague.
Cheng Qian regretted it at the time and later thought about teasing his sister to speak up again, but the prince's studies were heavy, and when he went to see his sister after dark, she was often asleep.
He never found the opportunity to hear about the secret remedy for the plague from his sister.
Cheng Qian thought it would be better to write an article to make the emperor take notice.
It was better than doing nothing at all.
Unexpectedly, Chu Chu happened to be awake that day and was brought over, and she was very alert.
She lay in the emperor's arms, sneakily reading the article on the plague.
Her heart couldn't stop beating.
"In addition to the high-temperature disinfection of patient's equipment and isolation that my brother mentioned, there is also a method of timely burial of the dead."
"Furthermore, there is a prescription for the Dispel Plague Decoction: three grams of wormwood, five grams of gypsum, three grams of honeysuckle pollen, one gram of licorice... decocted in water."
The emperor perked up, his eyes brightening.
Fifth Prince Cheng Qian was also overjoyed.
Even if there was a risk of him hearing his sister's thoughts, he felt it was worth mentioning the plague to the emperor.
If he could save one hundred thousand people from the suffering of the plague, what did it matter if he, a prince, was feared by his father?
Cheng Qian lowered his head, extremely happy, and even the corners of his straight mouth couldn't help but curve up.
Emperor Xiao Yunzhou quickly memorized the prescription and looked up to see a faint smile on his fifth son's lips, which left him stunned.
The Fifth Prince had always been mature, keeping his emotions in check.
He had always thought that this son was the most unfeeling.
Who would have thought that now, a single compliment from him, the emperor, would make this Fifth Prince unable to contain his smile.
Xiao Yunzhou was shaken, realizing that his son ultimately yearned for his father's praise and attention.
For a moment, Xiao Yunzhou, who usually focused on his cultivation and had a distant relationship with his family, felt a rare sense of fatherly affection.
It had nothing to do with imperial power or wealth, but was simple and reminiscent of common households, where a child being praised by the father would show a little pride and joy.
Truly heartwarming.
Emperor Xiao Yunzhou had been given a divine remedy and also received the affection between father and son, making him overjoyed.
"Your Majesty, the imperial physicians have arrived."
Upon hearing the report from the young eunuch, Xiao Yunzhou nodded, immediately concealing his smile and instructing his sons to go study.
"Today, reward the Fifth Prince with a bowl of green rice."
"If the rest of you brothers, like Cheng Qian, work for the benefit of the people, with concerns for the safety of the nation, then I will reward you in the future as well."
The Crown Prince and the Third Prince's expressions changed.
After the children left, the imperial physicians entered, and the Emperor got straight to the point.
"After the water disaster, there will surely be an epidemic. I want you to immediately discuss and come up with an effective remedy for the epidemic."
The imperial physicians widened their eyes upon hearing this. "Your Majesty, epidemics have never been child's play since ancient times. At this moment, when the symptoms are still unknown, how can we research a remedy?"
"How can we develop a remedy?"
Xiao Yunzhou glared at them.
He was about to get angry but felt a weight on his arm.
Lowering his head, he saw his precious daughter sleeping soundly in his arms, her little head resting peacefully on his right arm, looking extremely well-behaved and adorable.
Xiao Yunzhou immediately suppressed his anger, lowering his voice, afraid of waking his dear daughter Chu Chu.
The imperial physicians continued to protest, "Your Majesty, different trades have different skills. Developing a remedy for the epidemic is not as easy as you say."
The Emperor of Jing Country had always been very gentle, and Xiao Yunzhou was a cultivator who emphasized self-cultivation and refrained from doing evil to seek longevity.
Therefore, the imperial physicians were quite bold, knowing that the Emperor would not severely punish them, and they spared no effort to argue against Xiao Yunzhou.
"In any case, this matter is difficult. There is still no effective remedy. I hope Your Majesty understands," the chief imperial physician said proudly.
Xiao Yunzhou's eye twitched.
But he quickly looked down at the table, where he had written down the remedy for the epidemic based on his daughter's recent words.
He glanced at his daughter's sleeping face and shamelessly recited, "By consulting ancient texts, one can know that epidemics, since ancient times, are often caused by the excessive heat of the lungs and stomach."
"We should use Jingjie to dispel pathogenic factors, then use gypsum and scutellaria to clear the heat..."
Xiao Yunzhou's words were smooth and catchy.
The chief imperial physician, who was standing with folded arms and a skeptical expression, listened and gradually changed his expression.
As Emperor Xiao Yunzhou continued to recite, "You are unable, but I am considering the safety of the people, and I stayed up all night to come up with a remedy."
"Three qian of Jingjie, five qian of fuling..."
"This remedy, I name it Dispel Plague Decoction."
"What do you think, hmm?"
In an instant, all the imperial physicians opened their mouths and looked up.
They looked at Emperor Xiao Yunzhou as if they didn't recognize him anymore!
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute...
What did the Emperor say?
He didn't just talk nonsense, but came up with an accurate remedy?!
The imperial physicians were so shocked that they couldn't speak.
The Emperor, who managed the affairs of the country day in and day out, why... why was he also so precise in developing a remedy?!