The Empress's symptoms were milder, and her condition improved day by day after the vaccination. The imperial physician who was attending to her had tears in his eyes and wished he could kneel and kowtow three times and kowtow nine times to the person who found the smallpox to express his gratitude.
These past few days have been filled with fear and anxiety, lest something unexpected happen. It wouldn't matter if he lost his life, but it would endanger his entire family. Now, however, there is hope!
Next, the entire Imperial Medical Academy began developing skin-nourishing and beautifying ointments, because the nobles couldn't afford to have scars on their bodies.
After the Empress recovered, she learned that the Crown Prince was also recovering, and she burst into tears of joy.
"Your Majesty, you are not fully recovered yet, so you should not cry."
"This time I was being willful, and I don't know how tense things must be at home."
At this moment, the Empress thought of the Ouyang family. She was the daughter of the Ouyang family and had a responsibility to protect the glory of the Ouyang family. But she couldn't give up her child.
"Your Highness, please don't blame yourself. Didn't the household already send word? Just do what you want to do."
"Being born into the Ouyang family and being a daughter of the Ouyang family is my good fortune."
The Empress was grateful. Given her current position, it was difficult for her to be so willful. However, when the news of the Crown Prince contracting smallpox reached the Duke of Cheng'en's residence, the family only sent her this one sentence.
"I heard that the medicine was found by my elder brother's adopted son, the Li family. We must thank them properly once the Crown Prince recovers."
"I heard that the old lady from the Li family is also in the palace..."
Indeed, Pan Jinhua stayed in the palace for nearly half a month, a time that was extremely difficult to endure. Although she was served by others, it was practically no different from being imprisoned.
Only when news of the Empress and Crown Prince's improved health arrived did Pan Jinhua finally relax.
It's really awful. In just these few days, she feels like she's aged more than ten years, and a lot of her energy and spirit have been drained away.
When Zhou Daban came to announce the good news with a beaming smile, Pan Jinhua was still in shock and was startled by the heavy, gloomy aura emanating from him.
"What's wrong with the old lady? Is it because the palace servants aren't taking good care of her?!"
Zhou Daban's first sentence was full of concern, but the second sentence was stern. His hawk-like eyes swept around, and the palace servants hurriedly knelt down, not daring to beg for mercy.
The room was very quiet; if I begged for mercy now, I might be made an example of someone.
"No, Eunuch Zhou, the palace servants have done a very good job. It's just that the peasant woman has been away from home for many days and is a little homesick."
Pan Jinhua quickly spoke up to explain on behalf of everyone, saying that she had indeed not been mistreated, and if the palace servants had been beaten or scolded because of her, it would be an undeserved disaster.
Zhou Daban's anger turned to joy, and his tone softened considerably.
"We've come to inform the old lady of this joyous occasion. Everything is fine in the palace now, and we're quite busy. You may return home."
"Really?! Father-in-law even came in person to deliver the news. You've gone to so much trouble. Please don't refuse this small token of our appreciation."
Pan Jinhua tried to slip Zhou Daban some money, but Zhou Daban stopped her.
"Madam, you are too kind to us. We cannot accept such a gift without having done anything right."
Please rest assured, Madam. You are now a great hero. Please go home. The Emperor has decreed that, considering your advanced age, you have been granted a sedan chair.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings."
Pan Jinhua was overjoyed. This was truly a genuine gift, and her words of thanks were heartfelt and sincere.
"Eunuch Zhou, should the peasant woman go to the Emperor to express her gratitude?"
"No need. His Majesty is busy with state affairs. Madam, please return."
Zhou Daban was very satisfied with Pan Jinhua's attitude. The sedan chair had already been taken outside the door, so there was no need to make any further preparations.
Pan Jinhua got into the sedan chair, which was actually just a small sedan chair carried by four people. To be honest, as soon as it was lifted up, Pan Jinhua was very flustered, afraid that she would fall.
The four men were burly and strong, the palace's strongmen. But in palace dramas, it's a given that riding in a sedan chair always results in a fall.
"Madam, there will be a reward later."
Zhou Daban spoke these words very softly, just enough for Pan Jinhua to hear them. This was also a way for him to curry favor with Pan Jinhua. Although there was no official decree, he had served the emperor for so many years, and Pan Jinhua had made such great contributions. Given the emperor's temperament, it was impossible for him not to reward her handsomely.
"Thank you for your guidance, Eunuch."
After Pan Jinhua finished speaking, the sedan chair started moving. He had no mind to think about anything else, only his heart was in his throat, and he was watching the road, afraid that he might accidentally drop her and cause her any harm.
When Pan Jinhua arrived home, the Li family had not yet received the news, and they were overjoyed to see her.
Pan Jinhua had been under a lot of stress in the palace for many days, and when she got home, she was exhausted and just wanted to rest.
Although everyone was curious, they did not want to disturb her rest, and Mo Qiaoniang strictly forbade the children in the family from disturbing her.
"Mother must have suffered a lot on this trip. Look at how she looked when she returned home. She was exhausted and had no energy at all."
After arranging things at home and instructing Yao Niang to take good care of the place, Mo Qiaoniang finally had the mind to talk to Li Xushi.
"That's right, it's all for the sake of our Li family. That place is not a good place to stay. Our family is of low status, and there are many rules there. The old lady is used to being comfortable there."
Li Xushi was also heartbroken, feeling more and more aggrieved for his mother, and tears welled up in his eyes.
"Please take good care of things at home and give Mother some more time to recover."
"Don't worry, I know! Mother is back, so there shouldn't be any problems in the palace. But it's better to be cautious. These days, don't go out except for work."
"That's how it should be."
After discussing it, the two settled the matter.
Pan Jinhua slept soundly, but woke up in the middle of the night with a dry mouth and thirst, only to be discovered by Yao Niang that she had a fever.
“Yao Niang…”
"Madam, you have a fever. I'll go and fetch the Second Madam and the doctor."
"No!" Pan Jinhua quickly stopped her.
"You can't call a doctor. Go and have the second son's wife secretly brew some medicine and boil some water to wipe my body. This matter must not be publicized."
She developed a fever as soon as she left the palace. If word got out, people would think the palace was some kind of unlucky place. When the emperor heard this, he would think she did it on purpose.
It's best to keep it quiet and not make a fuss.
Although Yao Niang didn't understand, she had always done whatever the old lady told her to do over the years without ever making a mistake.
Only Mo Qiaoniang and Li Xushi knew about Pan Jinhua's fever. Yan Min also noticed something was wrong, since she had been helping to manage the Pan family's household. The rest of the family had been kept in the dark, and they only thought that Pan Jinhua hadn't rested well in the palace.
Pan Jinhua was actually just old. After living in the palace for so long without any familiar faces around her, and under a lot of psychological pressure, she relaxed for a moment and all the pent-up feelings came out, which is why she suddenly developed a fever.
After taking a few doses of medicine and resting well in his familiar environment for a few days, the illness quickly subsided.
A few days later, news spread that the Empress and the Crown Prince had recovered their health, and the entire capital city instantly came alive, filled with laughter and merriment.
However, there has been no news yet about the reward that Zhou Daban mentioned.
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