Chapter 37: Informing Yin'e of His Salted Fish Adventure

He closed his eyes and sighed softly, suddenly realizing that he was powerless and could do nothing.

With his chubby little white hands, he picked up the chess piece placed at the starting point and took a step forward. In a daze, he felt that the chess piece was exactly like him: he finally managed to roll a six to start his journey, but found that the road ahead was full of obstacles, and even taking the first step was very difficult.

So, should we give up? Should we do nothing and stand by and watch?

Should we wait until we're older and have more room to plan, and only when we reach the age for vaccination, try to contact the smallpox specialist and share our knowledge of hygiene and prevention and suggestions for improving the vaccination method with the physicians in the smallpox department?

Yin'e was momentarily confused. He knew he was just an ordinary person, and that hadn't changed even after being reborn.

He is not a savior, nor can he easily succeed at anything he desires. Perhaps all his efforts, his struggles, and his efforts will ultimately be in vain, merely a mirage, serving no purpose whatsoever.

Regarding the Sixth Prince's untimely death, Yin'e could only offer some assistance in suggesting the possibility that he had contracted smallpox. However, there were other possibilities for the Sixth Prince's death, so perhaps all his efforts were in vain.

Oh, it wasn't all for nothing. Promoting a more advanced smallpox vaccination method was also closely related to Yin'e's own safety.

But if he were a little more cold-blooded, he could have waited until he was old enough to be vaccinated before trying to reveal the direction of improvement of the vaccination technique to the imperial physicians in the smallpox department.

He wanted to save the Sixth Prince, and for that one-third chance, he was willing to risk doing this before the Sixth Prince turned six. He wanted the imperial physicians in the smallpox department to quickly produce cowpox vaccine, learn the water-based inoculation method, and conduct clinical trials as soon as possible to improve the success rate of the new inoculation method.

Although Yin'e was a prince in this life, he was too young and usually had no chance to go to the Imperial Hospital, let alone come into contact with the smallpox department that had been set up separately.

The only person he could turn to for help was the Imperial Concubine. Only with her intervention could this matter be handled properly, allowing the secrets of the new smallpox inoculation method to be passed on and enabling the cowpox and water-based inoculation methods to undergo clinical trials as quickly as possible.

—The Sixth Prince died at the age of six. If this six years old is calculated according to the traditional Chinese age reckoning, then the Sixth Prince might die as early as next year. If Yin'e wanted to save him, to do his part to help him live, then the time left for him was not long.

But Yin'e really couldn't make a decision easily.

How could he tell the imperial concubine about the new smallpox inoculation technique, and how could he make her believe him? He really didn't want to deceive her, let alone pretend to be a charlatan and make up a story about an ancestor appearing in a dream.

Moreover, within the palace, he and the Imperial Concubine should not stand out. With Imperial Concubine Tong present, it was best for the Imperial Concubine not to overshadow her; he was the Imperial Concubine's son, and his aunt was Empress Xiaozhao, so his status naturally made him a target of suspicion from the Crown Prince and Emperor Kangxi. He couldn't be too outstanding, and he really, really couldn't lie and say that Emperor Shunzhi had appeared to him in a dream.

—Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, Shunzhi’s birth mother, was still alive, and his own son, Emperor Kangxi, and his grandson, Crown Prince Yinreng, were all well and well. So why did Shunzhi appear to him in a dream?

If such a reason were to be fabricated, who knows what those cunning people in the palace would think behind the scenes.

Yin'e was very self-aware. In his previous life, he died right after graduating and before he even entered the workforce. He hadn't been toughened up by society and didn't have much cunning.

Compared to those shrewd and calculating people, he was only half-knowledgeable.

Moreover, after the new variolation technique was taught to the imperial physicians in the smallpox department, Emperor Kangxi would inevitably inquire about it, and might even privately investigate who improved the new variolation technique and whether there were sufficient experimental records to prove its advancement and safety.

The new smallpox inoculation technique was told to the Consort by Yin'e, and Niohuru would definitely not be able to produce any records related to the smallpox inoculation experiments. When Kangxi investigates, there will likely be flaws and loopholes everywhere, clearly indicating to Kangxi that there is something wrong with them, mother and son.

He closed his eyes and told himself to stop thinking about it. He and the Sixth Prince were not familiar with each other at all; they had only met once. He had no obligation to do anything for the Sixth Prince, nor was he responsible for saving him.

Compared to his estranged half-brothers, Yin'e cared more about the Imperial Concubine and himself.

He couldn't bring himself to risk teaching the new smallpox vaccination method so early just to save the Sixth Prince, nor could he implicate the Consort, causing her trouble and making her the target of Kangxi's suspicion and distrust.

One of the rules of the "salted fish" (a person who is content with a simple life): Self-preservation is paramount; don't meddle in things that aren't your business. No one is a savior, and no one can save everyone; you can only do your best to protect what you cherish.

Yin'e finally convinced himself. He shook his head, as if trying to shake all the thoughts in his mind out.

No longer distracted, Yin'e focused intently on the game of Ludo.

This time, he was no longer distracted, and the dice rolls he made were no longer so disastrous. His pieces on the chessboard finally caught up with Yinzhen's pieces, allowing Yinzhen to experience the joy of competing with others and enjoying the game.

While crushing opponents is fun, Ludo itself isn't very competitive; it mainly relies on luck (rolling dice) and decision-making (choosing which piece to move after rolling a number). If you could completely crush your opponent, it wouldn't be very interesting.

The winter solstice is just two or three days away, and the sun is setting earlier and earlier.

After seeing off Yinzhen, who was pouting and looking unhappy, especially reluctant to go out into the cold wind to return to Yikun Palace, Yinzhen ordered his wet nurse and others to stay in the side hall and not follow him. He then dashed into the main hall to the inner chamber where the Imperial Concubine usually lived.

...Maybe he's not quite a qualified salted fish yet.

The current Yin'e cannot lie down and do nothing with a clear conscience, disregarding the lives and deaths of others.

He wanted to try and change things, even if it was futile, even if he ultimately failed, at least he had tried and made an effort. Even if he still couldn't change the Sixth Prince's untimely death, at least he had a clear conscience and wouldn't regret not doing anything back then.

Seeing that Yin'e looked like he had something very important to tell her in private, the Consort raised her hand slightly, and Lanzhi and Luyi quietly led the other palace servants out of the inner room.

Lanzhi stayed behind to guard the entrance to the inner chamber, while Lvyi sent away the palace servants who had been serving in the inner hall, assigning them new tasks and preventing them from gathering together to gossip.

Standing with his head bowed in front of the Imperial Concubine, Yin'e's small face showed a hesitant expression, his handsome features, resembling the Imperial Concubine's, were full of struggle and hesitation.

Seeing Yin'e's appearance, the Imperial Concubine couldn't help but laugh.

She reached out and pulled Yin'e to sit down beside her, gently patting his head and softly asking, "Yin'e, is there something you want to say to your mother?"

Yin'e himself probably didn't realize that when he stood in front of her, his expression was timid and hesitant, like a prisoner about to be executed; or like a small animal forced to expose its soft belly, trembling with fear, with small, disordered sobs escaping its throat.

But Yin'e's gaze towards her was filled with extreme trust and reliance, as if no matter when or what happened, he believed without reservation that she would not hurt him and would protect him and stand by his side.

Faced with Yin'e's gaze, the Imperial Concubine's heart softened like spring water.

She gently patted Yin'e's head, her voice low but her tone calm and resolute: "Yin'e, if you have any difficulties, just tell your mother and let her handle them. Don't be afraid or worry too much; your mother will take care of everything for you."

The Niohuru clan was a top-tier noble family that rose to power through military merit. The Consort was of noble birth and was a beloved Manchu aunt. Her elder sister was Empress Xiaozhao, and her half-brother Faka inherited the title of Duke Guoyi. As a Consort herself, she had the confidence and authority to utter such "domineering" words.

Yin'e sensed the Consort's confidence. After hesitating for a long time, he closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and asked, "Smallpox vaccination...do I need to get smallpox vaccination too?"

The Imperial Concubine paused for a moment, not asking where Yin'e had heard about smallpox inoculation, but her brows furrowed slightly, her expression becoming serious, and she nodded solemnly, saying, "Yes, you must also be inoculated. Five years ago, His Majesty ordered the Imperial Hospital to establish a smallpox department and decreed that all the princes must be inoculated."

Smallpox vaccination carries significant risks and success cannot be guaranteed.

The Imperial Concubine was naturally unwilling for Yin'e to take the risk, but compared to the risk of vaccination, the chances of contracting smallpox and dying from it were much greater.

At least vaccination is carried out under adequate preparation, while smallpox is an uncontrollable epidemic.

No one knows when smallpox will spread again. Once you contract smallpox, the consequences are unimaginable. Even if you receive timely treatment, you may not be able to save your life.

Seeing that Yin'e was keeping his head down and not speaking, the Consort thought he was scared, so she hugged him and patted his back to comfort him gently, saying, "Yin'e, don't worry. After the establishment of the smallpox department, the success rate of vaccination has increased a lot and it is not as dangerous as before."

"Moreover, imperial physicians will be on-site to oversee the vaccination process, so nothing will happen."

Yin'e hesitated and dawdled for a long time, but still did not fully explain the new smallpox inoculation method to the Consort.

He was certain he would reveal the new inoculation method, because he also needed to be inoculated, and it concerned his own safety. But when to tell the Imperial Concubine, and what reasons to give to convince her—these were all problems.

After a short while, Yin'e, who had already brought up the topic of smallpox inoculation, hardened his heart and decided to go all out and not care about the gradual process. He took this opportunity to tell the Consort everything.

He'll have to tell us sooner or later anyway, so telling us a few years earlier will allow the new inoculation method to spread and be promoted throughout the country more quickly. This is a good thing that benefits the country and its people, so there shouldn't be any bad consequences if it gets out... right?

His plump, white arms, like lotus roots, reached out and wrapped around the Consort's fair and slender neck. Yin'e leaned close to the Consort's ear and whispered something in her ear.

As Yin'e recounted the story, the Imperial Concubine's expression shifted from gentle and serene to shocked and horrified, and finally to thoughtful. Her expression changed rapidly, and her eyes became as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

After explaining the scientific knowledge of hygiene and protection and the direction of improvement of the new smallpox vaccination method, Yin'e withdrew his hand and sat obediently next to the Consort, carefully curling up into a ball, feeling nervous and anxious.

He was afraid that the imperial concubine would ask him where he learned these things, and he didn't know whether he should answer truthfully or lie to cover it up.

But the Imperial Concubine did not ask these questions. She simply asked Yin'e in a low voice, "Did you say those words to anyone else just now?"

“No.” Yin’e shook his head vigorously, his tone very certain. “I only told Mother.”

The imperial concubine breathed a slight sigh of relief, but the deep thought that lingered in her beautiful eyes grew even more intense.

After a moment, the Imperial Concubine said in a low voice, "Don't tell anyone else about this. Your mother will handle this matter."

The Imperial Concubine didn't ask any further questions, which greatly relieved Yin'e. He nodded repeatedly, showing complete trust in the Imperial Concubine.

Compared to him, the Imperial Concubine certainly had more manpower and resources to accomplish this. Moreover, Yin'e trusted the Imperial Concubine's methods and believed that she would not act rashly.

After a moment of silence, the Imperial Concubine gently stroked Yin'e's head and whispered, "Yin'e, I will report to the Emperor about the new smallpox inoculation technique. But this matter will not be attributed to you, and you will have no way to gain fame or accumulate merit through the new inoculation technique. Are you willing to accept this?"

Yin'e was more than just willing; he was overjoyed and wept, nodding frantically and saying, "Yes, yes, I'm willing! This is wonderful!"

This allowed him to spread the new smallpox vaccination technique while remaining uninvolved in the controversy, which suited Yin'e perfectly.

If people were to find out that he was the one who improved the smallpox vaccination technique, he wouldn't be able to keep a low profile no matter how lazy he was. A tree that stands out in the forest will be felled by the wind; he didn't want to be put on the hot seat.

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Author's Note: The protagonist will gradually grow; he currently still has the core of a modern person, but as for the future... ￣ω￣=

Pass: I've made some minor revisions to the whole text. You can take a look at it again when you have time.

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