Then the sow came out... wouldn't that mean she died from exhaustion?

"Alright, alright, Wan'er, stop teasing your husband. They were just joking."

Seeing that Sun Jian's expression was somewhat unpleasant, Chu Qingcheng quickly nudged Zhou Wan'er, warning her to stop talking.

"oh!"

Zhou Wan'er pursed her lips and then fell silent.

Gu Zijian also comforted him from the side: "Husband, don't be angry. Why bother arguing with those who talk nonsense? Few people believe those words."

Chu Qingcheng chimed in, "Yes, my husband!"

"We don't need to take it to heart."

Sun Jian sighed softly and nodded.

In ancient times, communication was very limited.

If one's name and portrait circulate in the public eye simultaneously, many rumors will be easily dispelled.

It is precisely because everyone has heard of his name, but few people actually know him, that so many rumors and gossip have arisen.

But Sun Jian also understood that although his deeds and name were known and praised by the vast majority of people, he was, after all, a court official and a general who held military power. His portrait was a secret and could not be circulated among the people, which led to this result.

Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore.

When the grand court assembly arrives in a few months, his name and portrait will likely be circulated throughout the world, and these rumors will naturally dissipate.

The most pressing issue right now is the locust plague.

Judging from the timing, the locust plague will probably start in the next few days.

The court had adopted all of Sun Jian's previous suggestions, and Yao Tianzheng, who was in charge of controlling the locust plague, added many new measures to his work.

After walking around for a while, Sun Jian also discovered that many hotels and pharmacies were already buying locusts.

Judging from the timeline, it should have been quite some time ago.

The news that locust plagues could be used as medicine, food, and even exchanged for money and grain at designated places by the imperial court had probably already spread throughout all the prefectures, counties, and districts of Daqian.

Thinking of this, Sun Jian directly asked the three women if they had heard anything about locusts being used in medicine and that they could be exchanged for money or grain.

The three women nodded in agreement, saying that they had heard about it four or five days ago, and that it was Tie Zhu, the gatekeeper of the Sun residence, who told them the news.

This answer further confirmed Sun Jian's suspicions.

It should be noted that the three women rarely leave their homes, and even they heard about this matter four or five days ago, which means that almost everyone knows about it.

"My lord, I think the claim that locusts can be used in medicine is probably true, right? But isn't it a bit... a bit much that they can be eaten?"

Chu Qingcheng offered her opinion from the side.

"Yes! I don't really believe in using locusts as medicine either, but I've heard that the imperial court has produced ancient medical texts in various places to support this claim, so it should be true."

"But isn't it a little... weird to eat?"

Zhou Wan'er also raised questions.

Gu Zijian was more open-minded than the others, saying, "Who cares? Anyway, the government is buying up large quantities, and it's said that government officials have been tasting the food all along, so that statement is probably true."

"What haven't people eaten during famine years? Grass roots, tree bark, and locusts eat those things too. They can't be poisonous, can they?"

Listening to the three women's discussion, Sun Jian roughly understood the situation.

It's not hard to see that in this era, people didn't question the use of locusts in medicine, but they had some reservations about eating them. Of course, if the imperial court had increased its efforts in this regard and had the government eat them in public beforehand to set the record straight, it probably wouldn't have been so difficult for people to accept them.

It seems that dealing with the locust plague shouldn't be too difficult.

"My lord, Sister Qingcheng is asking you a question."

"You are a divine physician descended from heaven, even more authoritative than Lord Yao! Answer me quickly..."

Seeing that Sun Jian was somewhat lost in thought, Zhou Wan'er nudged him.

Sun Jian quickly confirmed, "That's right, the court is not speaking recklessly. These locusts can indeed be used in medicine and are also edible!"

"I see!"

Upon hearing Sun Jian's words, the three women all corrected any doubts they might have had.

Zhou Wan'er nodded, looking smug: "I knew it! If it can be used in medicine, then it must be edible!"

"No, Wan'er, you can't think like that."

Not everything that can be used as medicine can be eaten.

Sun Jian quickly corrected him.

Although he did not understand medicine and was hailed as a miracle doctor, he came from a later era and had basic common sense.

Using it for medicinal purposes and using it for food are two completely different things!

They're completely incomparable!

Take realgar, for example. It can be used in medicine, but would you try consuming it? You'd get arsenic poisoning!

There's also aconite, which can only be used in medicine after special processing. It cannot be eaten whether you fry it or cook it.

Perhaps fewer people have heard of the first two, but surely some people have heard of arsenic and cinnabar?

Arsenic can cure skin diseases and vitiligo in medicine, but can it be ingested?

There are too many examples like raw Pinellia ternata, Strychnos nux-vomica, Aconitum carmichaelii, and blister beetle to list them all.

After hearing Sun Jian's words, the three women nodded as if they had just woken up from a dream.

Do you know why the government is making such a big fuss about the locust plague?

Sun Jian asked the three women with great interest.

Zhou Wan'er and Gu Zijian both shook their heads in confusion, while only Chu Qingcheng fell into deep thought.

A moment later, a glint of light flashed in her beautiful eyes.

"My... my husband, could it be... that a locust plague is coming?"

Upon hearing this, both Zhou Wan'er and Gu Zijian were taken aback, and their expressions visibly turned serious.

this!

Locust plague?

Sun Jian pinched Chu Qingcheng's soft cheek. "Qingcheng is right, the locust plague is coming, and I estimate it will be in the next few days!"

Oh my god!

It's really true?

Seeing Sun Jian's affirmation, the three women were shocked and even felt a little scared.

"Moreover, according to my estimation, it should be a locust plague that is rare in the world, a once-in-a-century event. If it is not handled properly, not only will the Great Zhou, the Great Xia, and the Great Song be affected."

Sun Jian spoke frankly to the three women.

He had kept quiet about it before because the court wanted to keep it a secret, but now that the locust plague was about to arrive, it was a matter of the moment, so there was no need for him to hide it from his three wives.

hiss!

The three women gasped in unison.

This news was like a bombshell, exploding in the hearts of the three of them.

Throughout history, locust plagues have sometimes been more terrifying than other natural disasters.

Earthquakes, floods, and droughts may only affect a small area, but locust plagues can affect several states or even several countries!

Seeing the three women's expressions turn terrified and complicated, Sun Jian smiled and recounted how he and Gu Hu had discovered the insect eggs, and how he, Yao Tianzheng, and others had offered advice to the Taiji Hall.

Combining their previous discussion about using locusts for food and medicine, the three women finally understood.

My heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was finally at ease!