As early as when news spread that the Crown Prince had contracted smallpox, Pan Jinhua had Bai Sha lead the people in the mansion to buy cattle.

They even specified that they should find cattle that were infected with smallpox.

Bai Sha didn't know why the old lady wanted to buy this sick cow, but her attitude was very enthusiastic. After running around for several days, it was still difficult to find a cow in Kyoto; they had to go to the suburbs outside the city.

He went from village to village asking around, and eventually found a cow that had contracted smallpox.

It was a calf, lying in the cowshed, separated from the other cows.

"Sir, this is the sick cow you are looking for. It has a fever now and if it cannot be saved, it will die. It will also infect the other cows in my shed. If you really want to buy it, I can give you a discount."

Bai Sha immediately bargained with the farmer and bought the sick ox for half price, then took it back to the Pan residence.

When Li Xushi and the others returned to their residence that evening and heard about this, they all came to the main courtyard to inquire.

At this critical juncture, my mother/grandmother suddenly bought a sick cow. I just can't understand it. There must be something fishy going on.

Pan Jinhua hadn't expected everyone to think this way, but as they had guessed, she really did have something on her mind.

"Mother, please tell us, did you see something again?"

Li Xushi spoke the second half of the sentence furtively and in a very soft tone, so that no one else present heard it clearly.

Pan Jinhua didn't keep anyone in suspense and quickly revealed her plan.

"Have you ever noticed that cattle farmers rarely get smallpox?"

"I've never noticed that before. Mother is truly learned."

Li Xushi immediately flattered, his expression brightening. His mother had indeed spotted something new, and it was related to smallpox!

"Grandma, where did you hear that from?"

Li Qingyao looked puzzled. It wasn't that he didn't trust Pan Jinhua, but he had never seen or heard such a view before.

"I once heard my wet nurse say that when she was young, her grandfather was a cowherd. He had experienced smallpox when he was young. Many people in the village were infected and died, but he was fine. They said it was because they had a Bodhisattva statue in their house and the Bodhisattva protected him."

Now, judging from what my aunt is saying, is it because of the ox?

The speaker was Yan Min. Her wet nurse had indeed told her about this incident when she was young, and she remembered it very clearly at the time. When Pan Jinhua asked her about it, she recalled it and looked at her with a look of surprise.

Li Qingyao was speechless. Was there really such a strange thing?

"Why don't cattle herders get smallpox?"

Li Qingjun asked the question because he was genuinely curious.

Not only was he curious, but others were also very interested in this answer, as the way to save the prince might lie within it.

Who knows, if someone else gets smallpox in the future, they might be cured. That would be a great achievement.

Thinking of this, everyone's breathing became heavier.

Upon hearing the word "smallpox," Pan Jinhua immediately thought of cowpox. Her country had only recently eradicated the smallpox virus, and the cowpox vaccine was the most effective means of preventing smallpox.

Cattle farmers are less likely to contract smallpox than ordinary people, precisely because of cowpox.

Cowpox is a contagious virus found in cattle that can infect humans. This virus is structurally similar to the smallpox virus. Compared to the smallpox virus, cowpox is not as harmful to humans, only causing slight discomfort and no other side effects. If a person is infected with the cowpox virus, they can produce antibodies against smallpox after recovery.

Pan Jinhua sought out this sick cow specifically for the purpose of treating cowpox.

"It's because of cowpox; cowpox can cure smallpox."

Pan Jinhua reassured everyone, and Li Xushi's eyes reddened with excitement. He couldn't escape the credit for this incredible achievement!

His mother said that if it can be cured, then it definitely can be cured!

The others had the same expression. Although they didn't know how Pan Jinhua knew, their grandmother/aunt/great-aunt never spoke empty words, so this must be true.

"Grandmother, what should we do?"

This time it was Li Qingjing who spoke. He had been by Pan Jinhua's side for a long time and knew that when Pan Jinhua said this, she must be preparing to do it.

"Two options: either hand over the method directly, or try it ourselves and submit the results to the Ouyang family."

"Let's try!"

Everyone immediately chose the second option. If we're going to do it, it's always better to do it perfectly. Having a conclusion in hand is always better than a "guess" that's like a castle in the air.

They naturally trusted Pan Jinhua, but whether the Ouyang family trusted her, and whether the emperor trusted her, remains unknown.

"If that's the case, then let's do it properly. Let the people who try smallpox vaccination go by their own family. Who would be willing? Who would be willing to risk their life and contract smallpox?"

"Madam, I am willing to contract smallpox myself!"

Wang Jiao was the first to speak.

As soon as Pan Jinhua finished speaking, Wang Jiao immediately blurted out his reply.

If he contracts smallpox, he will be used as a test subject for the Crown Prince's medicine. Once the Crown Prince recovers, the issue of his identity will naturally be resolved.

Upon hearing his words, Yan Min and Li Qingyao looked over in surprise, only to see a resolute expression on his face.

"Aunt, since Wang Jiao is willing, let him go!"

They understood Wang Jiao's thoughts perfectly well, and naturally had no choice but to support him.

"Then I'll try getting vaccinated against smallpox."

Li Xushi stepped forward. Apart from the women, the family consisted of younger members, so he should step forward.

"Yes, we need more people."

Pan Jinhua only said that there weren't enough people, but when it comes to doing experiments, you can only do one group; one person isn't enough.

"I'll do it."

"Me too."

"Grandma chose me."

"I can."

Pan Jinhua needed several groups of people. One group would first try to inoculate the cowpox, and after they recovered, they would then be infected with smallpox to see if they would develop antibodies.

Another group of people, like the prince, were to contract smallpox directly and then be vaccinated with cowpox to see if they could recover.

The Li family was very proactive and quickly gathered everyone together.

Li Qingzhi, Mo Qiaoniang, and Li Qingjun were in the first team, where they planted the seeds first and then dyed them; Li Qingjing, Wang Jiao, and Li Xushi were in the second team, where they dyed the seeds first and then planted them.

Li Qingyao was responsible for observing the symptoms of these six people and making records, so he was not selected.

Gao Chuan did not participate. Although he was present and listened, he was, after all, a grandson-in-law, and it was not appropriate for him to share in the Li family's profits.

Gao Chuan didn't think there was anything wrong with Wang Jiao's involvement. Wang Jiao was different; he had no family and could only rely on the Li family. He also had genuine feelings for the Li family, and if he could succeed in the future, he could repay the Li family.

On the other hand, he was still somewhat afraid. After all, it was an epidemic, how could his grandmother make it sound so simple, and how could the entire Li family believe it? It was truly insane.

This was the first time Gao Chuan realized the old lady's prestige in the Li family. He had previously only thought of her as someone to be respected, but now it seemed to be more than just respect.

While the Li family was conducting experiments in earnest, news reached them that the Empress had also begun to show symptoms of smallpox.

Upon receiving this news, the Ouyang family spared no effort in collecting precious medicinal herbs and sent them to the palace like water.

"We need to hurry. Her Majesty is an adult, so she should be in better condition than the Crown Prince. I'm afraid the Crown Prince is in even worse shape."