Chapter Forty-Three
Li Heng stayed in the palace for more than ten days.
These days, the entire city is under martial law. The gates of the capital are closed, and people outside cannot enter, while those inside cannot leave.
The Emperor informed several high-ranking officials, who were responsible for guarding the entrances and exits of various markets and wards.
Within the capital, if anyone in a household had a fever or developed a rash, they would be taken away by someone who had survived smallpox and sent to a special care center where they would be treated by an old female doctor who had also had smallpox.
*
Gu Leyao has been at the hospital these past few days. She was the first to get vaccinated against smallpox, and she asked someone to lock her in a separate empty room.
After a brief fever, she developed a rash. A few days later, the rash dried up and fell off, and she knew that she was getting better.
Everyone in the medical department cheered with joy. When Gu Leyao first did this, Zhang Xiugu thought that Gu Leyao was doomed, but unexpectedly, after only ten days, Gu Leyao actually recovered.
These past few days, Zhang Xiugu has been the one delivering meals and clothes to Gu Leyao. She felt that the Princess Consort was risking her life, and this time she was likely to die, so there was a possibility of infection from delivering things to the Princess Consort. She thought that since the Princess Consort had saved her life, she might as well die if she did.
Unexpectedly, the Princess Consort actually came up with a cure for smallpox!
This is an unprecedented feat!
Previously, Zhang Xiugu hadn't told Gu Leyao about the martial law outside, because Gu Leyao had been running a fever these past few days, and eight out of ten times when Zhang Xiugu went to see her, Gu Leyao was unconscious.
Now that Gu Leyao has fully recovered, Zhang Xiugu quickly told her about the city-wide martial law. "I heard from Chuntao that the prince has been staying in the palace these days. All the gates of the markets outside are closed, and anyone in the household with a fever or a rash will be taken to a guard post."
Although Gu Leyao also had a fever and developed a rash, she was a princess, so no one could see her, and even if they did, they wouldn't dare to touch her.
Gu Leyao had just left the courtyard when she heard the news. She was shocked. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry into the palace. I'll go and tell Aheng that we've found a way to cure smallpox. By the way, Xiugu, please follow my method from that day and arrange for all the doctors in our medical department to receive cowpox treatment."
After hearing Gu Leyao's instructions, Zhang Xiugu took her son, Tang Fu, and her students to do the work.
Gu Leyao then led her people toward the palace.
She has now developed a cure for smallpox, and she herself is proof of that!
*
The Hall of Diligent Governance.
Li Heng and the Emperor were discussing the prevention and control of the epidemic. Smallpox patients were appearing one after another in the capital. The Imperial Medical Bureau had assigned some old imperial physicians who had survived smallpox to go to the nursing homes to take care of the patients.
People with smallpox were still being found in the capital, sometimes more, sometimes less, causing the Emperor and Li Heng's hearts to rise and fall accordingly.
Just then, Gu Leyao came in from outside.
Li Heng was surprised to see Le Yao. He frowned instinctively and said, "Le Yao, why are you here? It's dangerous outside!"
Having contracted smallpox meant a near-death experience.
Gu Leyao ran over, still panting, "I've found a way to cure smallpox!"
Li Heng and the Emperor thought they were hallucinating because they were too tired these past few days.
"Sister-in-law, this is smallpox, not an ordinary epidemic." The Emperor's voice was hoarse.
Li Heng didn't speak, but he looked at Gu Leyao.
Gu Leyao stretched out her hand, gesturing for them to look at her forearm. "Look, these are the pimple marks left after the rashes dried up. I know a way to inoculate people with smallpox beforehand, so that people won't have to worry about the spread of smallpox. This method of inoculation can almost prevent people from dying from smallpox."
The Emperor and Li Heng stared intently at the faint red acne marks on Gu Leyao's fair wrist.
"Sister-in-law, is what you say true?" The Emperor felt that Gu Leyao had no reason to lie to him with such words, and judging from the acne scars, it should be true.
His voice trembled, "Is this true?"
Gu Leyao nodded vigorously at the Emperor and Li Heng, "It's true! If you don't believe me, you can test it first!"
The Emperor said excitedly, "Then let's find people to test it. Let's start by using death row inmates in the capital prison. If they can survive, then we'll promote it in the capital."
The Emperor quickly ordered the Imperial Secretary to draft an edict; the capital was saved!
Gu Leyao stood to one side, her lips moving silently. "Use death row inmates..."
Li Heng held her hand, and Gu Leyao felt the warmth and comfort of his palm. For some reason, she felt much more at ease.
"Next time, don't experiment on your own body!" Li Heng said in a low voice.
Gu Leyao stared into his eyes, "But I heard that you were always at the forefront on the battlefield."
Helpless, Li Heng tapped Gu Leyao's head with his finger.
"You! You!"
Gu Leyao smiled, revealing a small tiger tooth that was usually hard to notice.
*
The death row inmates were vaccinated with smallpox, and within a day or two, they developed a fever. Soon after, a rash appeared, and ten days later, their fevers subsided, and the rashes scabbed over and fell off.
The emperor was overjoyed upon hearing the result. The smallpox epidemic was going to end during his reign, and he would be remembered for thousands of years to come.
Later generations will say that during the reign of Emperor Zhao of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the smallpox epidemic was completely eradicated, and the people of the world no longer had to suffer from the smallpox epidemic!
The Emperor was overjoyed. He even said to Gu Leyao with delight, "Sister-in-law, you have done a great service this time! What do you want? I will give you anything I can!"
Gu Leyao wasn't overwhelmed by this huge surprise; in fact, she was a little taken aback. "The rapid suppression of the smallpox epidemic wasn't solely my achievement..."
In Gu Leyao's era, countless doctors fought bravely against smallpox, gradually figuring out how to treat it, and some even lost their lives in the process.
Gu Leyao just happened to read a book and memorized the method for eradicating smallpox.
This is a groundbreaking event in medical history, and this great achievement should not be attributed to Gu Leyao alone.
Gu Leyao tried to explain to the Emperor and Li Heng, "The method of smallpox treatment was taught to me by someone before, it's not something I knew by myself. Besides, there are so many people involved in the treatment this time, so why not give the credit to them? I am now the Princess of Great Zhou, I have wealth and status. Such a great achievement as eradicating smallpox is icing on the cake for me, it's better to have it, but it won't be worse if I don't. But for ordinary doctors, they have nothing. If there is a reward, it would be a timely help for them."
"If Your Majesty is pleased, why not reward a few physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau with money or official positions? They don't need to be high-ranking officials; a seventh or eighth-rank official would be enough to make them happy," Li Heng suggested.
The Emperor pondered this carefully and agreed, "Sister-in-law is truly a person of noble character. It is a blessing that the Earl of Zhongqin, a mediocre man, is fortunate enough to have a daughter like you!"
Gu Leyao's smiling face suddenly fell.
His face clearly said, 'I'm not happy.'
The Emperor realized his mistake, "It's a pity he wasn't lucky enough to have such good fortune. He mistook a pearl for a fish eye; he really didn't know what was good for him!"
Gu Leyao Le.
Li Heng smiled helplessly.
*
Zhongqin Bofu.
When Marquis Zhongqin heard that Gu Leyao had led the physicians of the Imperial Medical Bureau to conquer smallpox, he was overjoyed. "Tsk tsk tsk, I knew it! Like father, like daughter! Look, look, my daughter actually cured smallpox! Hahahaha, this is a great achievement! I think the Emperor will reward her handsomely. Madam, go find our daughter and tell her not to ask the Emperor for those useless things, but for something more practical!"
The Earl of Zhongqin stroked his beard, pondered for a moment with a cheerful expression, and said, “Our Earl’s family is already in its third generation. I think we should have Yueyao petition the Emperor to elevate our Earl’s family to the rank of Marquis! The name Zhongqin Marquis’s Mansion sounds so pleasant!”
After a while, he spoke again, "It's fine if he doesn't get promoted to marquis, but at least Ronghua of our family should inherit the title. He deserves such a great reward from the emperor for eradicating smallpox, right?"
The Earl of Zhongqin was lost in his fantasies. He had already figured out how to maximize Gu Leyao's credit, but he hadn't considered whether Gu Leyao would agree.
Lady Bo recalled Gu Leyao's previous rejections and felt that Gu Leyao would not agree to work for the Bo family this time either!
That girl was an ingrate. She lived off her family and drank their food, but after getting married, she disappeared without a trace.
He refused to help his brother earn a title and watched helplessly as his own brother had no future!
Madam Bo thought to herself, Gu Leyao is an ungrateful wretch!
“Madam, go to the Dingbei Prince’s residence. Le Yao is usually too busy to come home. You are a free person with nothing to do, so go to the Dingbei Prince’s residence to see the child and have a good talk with her about asking for a title for Ronghua.”
The aunt smirked. She knew it; if there was trouble, she would rush to the front lines, but otherwise, she was just a decoration in the aunt's mansion!
But she didn't intend to argue with Uncle Zhongqin. Now that her family had declined, she was the best daughter her family had married, and her nephews and nieces were all counting on her, their aunt, for help!
Gu Ronghua kept her head down and refused to look up.
He felt extremely embarrassed. He had always looked down on Gu Leyao, his sister, and he had never even acknowledged that Gu Leyao was his biological sister.
He only recognized Baozhu as his younger sister before.
But now, he has to bow down to Gu Leyao.
The thought of having to compromise and speak softly to Gu Leyao for the sake of a title made Gu Ronghua blush.
But... the title is really tempting...
If he can inherit the title, then from now on, the entire Earl's Mansion will be under his control, Gu Ronghua's!
He could bring Baozhu home and stop her from suffering Gao Wenchang's awfulness! Baozhu, such a gentle, lovely, delicate girl, has been tormented beyond recognition by Gao Wenchang, and Gu Ronghua is heartbroken.
When Gu Ronghua thought of Baozhu, his former principles and his proud pride that he had never bowed down seemed insignificant.
Gu Ronghua thought that he would humble himself before Gu Leyao this once, after all, he was her brother and the only brother in her family.
What's wrong with a brother bowing his head to his sister once? They're family.
If a woman gets married and is bullied by her husband, won't her family stand up for her?
Gu Ronghua comforted himself, thinking that he was just giving Gu Leyao a way out.
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