When smallpox was mentioned, Shen Wan's voice trembled slightly.
That smallpox outbreak killed too many people.
Although she had instructed the Yun family to take many precautions, Shen Wan didn't know how effective they might be.
Seeing Shen Wan's worry, Xie Jingyan comforted her, saying, "Plagues are not like earthquakes or floods. They may not break out, but even if they do, we have done everything we can."
Shen Wan also hoped that there would be no smallpox plague in this life, but she still tried her best to take precautions.
A few days ago, Shen Wan ordered the servants in the mansion not to leave the mansion if they could avoid it. Now, she has to be even stricter and not allow the servants to enter or leave the mansion. If someone brings smallpox into the mansion, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Shen Wan hoped that no news of the plague would spread after three days, but before the third day even arrived, on the evening of the second day, Dong'er rushed into the room and reported, "Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Smallpox has broken out in the capital!"
This time, smallpox came a day earlier than in my previous life.
Actually, it wasn't early. On this day in my previous life, someone had already contracted smallpox. However, the doctor didn't suspect smallpox until more people were infected, at which point they dared to conclude it was a smallpox plague.
In this life, Xie Jingyan had already contacted the Imperial Medical Academy, instructing the physicians to research a cure for smallpox. The Imperial Medical Academy in the palace and the pharmacies outside the palace had some connections, and the news that Prince Ling had asked for a cure for smallpox had already spread throughout the major pharmacies in the capital.
In addition, the fact that the Yun family had opened several pharmacies in a grand manner and transported a lot of medicinal materials to the capital was also known to other pharmacies in the capital.
The Yun family has a powerful figure behind them who can foresee disasters that haven't happened yet, such as the Meizhou earthquake and the Xizhou dam breach.
Prince Ling ordered the search for a cure for smallpox. The Yun family opened pharmacies one after another. The imperial physicians and doctors had some suspicions in their hearts, wondering if a smallpox epidemic would break out this winter.
With this precaution, one will be alert when seeing a patient who looks very much like someone with smallpox.
The smallpox outbreak in this life didn't occur earlier than in the previous life, but rather the timing of the outbreak was confirmed earlier.
The smallpox epidemic, and the fact that it broke out in Kyoto, the capital of the country, caused widespread panic.
Inside the Imperial Study.
The emperor is reviewing memorials.
Xiao Xizi quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Right Chancellor requests an audience, saying he has important matters to report."
The Emperor closed the memorial and said, "Let the Right Chancellor in."
Xiao Xizi withdrew, and soon the Right Chancellor entered.
The Emperor picked up the memorial, glanced at the Right Chancellor, and seeing the Right Chancellor's pale face, asked, "What happened?"
The Right Chancellor said, "Your Majesty, a smallpox epidemic has broken out in the capital."
The emperor frowned.
Eunuch Yuan gasped, "Smallpox really broke out?"
The Right Chancellor quickly looked at Eunuch Yuan, "Eunuch Yuan, it seems you anticipated this?"
The Emperor also looked at Eunuch Yuan.
Eunuch Yuan hurriedly replied to the Emperor, "How could this servant have such ability? It was two months ago that Prince Ling asked Imperial Physician Zhao to study methods to treat smallpox. Xiao Xizi was with him at the time, and he told this servant about it when he came back..."
"This servant was afraid that Your Majesty would worry, and thought that Prince Ling would take responsibility, so I did not inform Your Majesty."
Knowing that Xie Jingyan had taken precautions, the Emperor and the Right Chancellor both breathed a sigh of relief.
The Emperor said, "Summon Chief Physician Zhao."
Shou Kang Palace.
The Empress Dowager leaned against a large pillow, and Zhao Yuan was taking her pulse.
The eldest prince stood aside, waiting for the chief physician Zhao to finish taking the pulse before asking, "How is the Empress Dowager?"
Zhao Yuanzheng said, "The Empress Dowager is too worried. The previous prescription is not effective. I will give the Empress Dowager a new prescription."
After a pause, Zhao Yuanzheng said, "Mental illness is difficult to cure. If the Empress Dowager cannot find peace of mind, medication alone will not be very effective."
It's easy to say "feel at ease," but incredibly difficult to do.
The Empress Dowager has been suffering from insomnia almost every night these days, and even when she does doze off during the day, she only lasts for half an hour at most. This is unbearable for a normal person, let alone the Empress Dowager, whose health is not very good to begin with.
Granny Zhao looked worried.
Zhao, the chief physician, got up to write a prescription. He had only taken a few steps when a young eunuch came in and said, "Chief Physician Zhao, the Emperor summons you to the Imperial Study."
Zhao, the Imperial Physician, said, "I will go to see the Emperor after I finish writing the prescription."
The Empress Dowager said, "Writing the prescription is not urgent. Let's go see the Emperor first."
These days, the Empress Dowager has changed countless prescriptions, but none of them have worked. It doesn't matter if it's sooner or later.
After the Empress Dowager spoke, Chief Physician Zhao took his medicine chest and left to see the Emperor in the Imperial Study.
Zhao Mama looked at the Empress Dowager and said, "The Emperor is looking for Chief Physician Zhao because he must be asking about your health, Your Majesty."
The Empress Dowager gave a bitter smile.
If the Emperor truly cared about her, the Empress Dowager, he would have come himself long ago, instead of summoning Imperial Physician Zhao to question her, and certainly not going to find her before Imperial Physician Zhao had even left Shou Kang Palace.
The Empress Dowager waved her hand and said, "Don't try to comfort me..."
Before the Empress Dowager could finish speaking, a palace maid rushed in, saying urgently, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! A smallpox epidemic has broken out in the capital!"
The word "plague" is like a raging flood or a ferocious beast.
No, it's more terrifying than floods and ferocious beasts.
There won't be floods or wild beasts breaking into the palace, but a plague is another matter.
The Empress Dowager's expression changed drastically.
Everyone in the bedchamber was filled with fear.
Once a disease like the plague is discovered, it's impossible to know how many people it will infect; it might even have spread to the palace.
The Empress Dowager looked at the eldest prince and instructed him, "Don't come to the palace to see me these days, and don't leave your residence unless necessary."
The eldest prince agreed.
As the eldest prince left Shou Kang Palace, he walked towards the outside of the palace. While walking along the winding corridor, he overheard two palace maids discussing smallpox.
"How could smallpox break out in Kyoto? Could it have spread to the palace?" one of the palace maids asked fearfully.
"I don't know if it will get into the palace, but the palace is definitely much safer than outside the palace."
"That's true..."
"I heard that Prince Ling had already instructed the Imperial Medical Academy to prepare for the smallpox epidemic, and he may already have a prescription to cure the epidemic."
"Fortunately, there was Prince Ling. He took precautions against the earthquake in Meizhou and the dam in Xizhou, saving many people."
"Now that Consort Chen's case has been overturned, I wonder whether the Emperor will choose the eldest prince or Prince Ling as the crown prince..."
The two palace maids walked further and further away, their voices growing fainter.
The eldest prince's eyes were gloomy.
The Emperor already favored Prince Ling, and he wanted Prince Ling to be credited with stopping the smallpox epidemic. In that case, the people would be on his side, and he would have no chance of becoming the Crown Prince.
The eldest prince turned and walked towards the imperial study.
From afar, the First Prince saw Zhao, the Imperial Physician, emerge from the Imperial Study. He slowed his pace and waited for Zhao to approach before asking, "Does the Imperial Medical Academy have a way to cure smallpox?"
Zhao, the Imperial Physician, shook his head. "Although Prince Ling had long ago instructed the Imperial Medical Academy to find a way to treat smallpox, I have searched through ancient books but have not found a cure. I have only drafted a few prescriptions, hoping they will be of some use."
They couldn't find a cure for smallpox.
Father Emperor wouldn't let Prince Ling be responsible for something so dangerous.
The eldest prince felt somewhat relieved.
Zhao, the chief physician, bowed and took his leave, carrying his medicine box back to the Imperial Hospital.
The eldest prince glanced at the imperial study, then turned and left the palace.
The eldest prince rode his horse back to the mansion. As he passed through Changping Street, he brushed past a carriage carrying silk.
The eldest prince tightened the reins and glanced back at the carriage.
Something flashed in his eyes.
Perhaps, this plague is not a bad thing for him.
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