As the year draws to a close, the weather in Beijing grows increasingly cold.
Several imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy, along with doctors from the capital, worked tirelessly day and night for a long time, and many felt that the matter of the epidemic should not be entirely believed.
Despite the significant investment of manpower and resources, it wasn't all for nothing. However, with two months without a break, the number of people complaining privately was steadily increasing.
If a medical system had been established in central Beijing, there would have been no need for such urgency, leaving so many people feeling overwhelmed.
Fortunately, Prince Chun and Imperial Physician Lu were able to keep the situation under control. By using both kindness and strictness, the people below accepted the hardship.
Looking at the medical records he had just compiled, Physician Lu had been spending two hours each day taking pulses of people who couldn't afford medical care these past few days.
Each of them was ragged, emaciated, and suffering from hunger and cold. One could tell almost anything just by observing their aura, without even needing to take their pulse.
How can someone who rarely gets a full meal throughout the year be healthy?
Even the palace maids who were punished in the laundry department, although they worked hard, were still able to live comfortably.
Not to mention those who served the master, in addition to their food, clothing and salary, each of them could also get a watermelon every day after the start of summer.
Because serving food so closely required careful attention, they never ate while on duty, instead smashing things together for fun during their free time. (According to an old palace maid who served Empress Dowager Cixi)
The difference between masters and servants is like an insurmountable chasm. Although these poor people are said to be free, they go hungry one day and have food the next; how can they be truly free?
Physician Lu chuckled softly, a hint of helplessness and mockery in his voice. If even the emperor and all the officials were overwhelmed with problems, what could a mere physician like himself possibly do?
It's just causing unnecessary worry!
After finishing this task, I still need to go outside for another inspection. Once I've done all that, I can finally get some rest earlier today.
When it doesn't bother him or his family, Physician Lu is willing to be a kind and benevolent person. But if it's asked to risk his life to speak up for the people, he doesn't have that noble sentiment.
Just as Physician Lu finished organizing and putting the items into the cabinet behind him, a man who looked to be about twenty years old rushed in.
Panting heavily, he cried out in a panic, "Something terrible has happened! Physician Lu, you must come quickly! There's an outbreak of plague at Aunt Wang's house in Xinghua Lane!"
"What did you say? It really is a plague!"
Physician Lu dropped his medical record to the ground. After the initial shock, he quickly calmed down. This day had finally come.
"Lead the way quickly. According to the method we discussed before, first send the people infected with this disease to a place for resettlement, and do not allow others to enter or leave without permission."
"People who have been in contact with them within the past five days but have not yet developed symptoms must also be quarantined and can only leave after being diagnosed as healthy."
As Physician Lu gave his instructions, he walked outside, with the man delivering the message following closely behind him. "Physician Lu, rest assured, Physician Wen immediately ordered this to be done as soon as he discovered it was an epidemic."
It was destined to be a sleepless night, not only for the imperial physicians who discovered the plague, but also for the fat orange-haired emperor who rushed to the palace to meet the emperor before the palace gates were locked, as well as for the well-informed commoners, officials, and the people in the harem.
Viruses don't care whether their hosts are noble or humble. They'll like any human being.
A month ago, the palace began cleaning the palace gardens daily, and all drinking water had to be boiled before it could be consumed.
Palace maids and eunuchs were required to wipe their bodies with hot water every day. The medicines prepared by the Imperial Hospital were distributed to each palace, and each palace made their own sachets to wear and prevent illness.
The news of the epidemic had barely reached the palace when mugwort began to be burned in the inner palace. Masks made using traditional methods were also distributed.
Although it's not as effective as medical surgery, it's still much more useful than tying a silk scarf to your face.
Yikun Palace
Consort Hua, Songzhi, and Zhou Ninghai all wore cotton gauze masks. Although it hasn't spread into the palace yet, Sun Miaoqing said that this disease has an incubation period.
Just like an undercover agent in a war between two armies, they don't show any reaction usually, but secretly they coordinate with all sides to accumulate strength, and by the time they strike, it's too late.
Consort Hua felt that her life was still very valuable, especially before the great cause was accomplished. If anything were to happen to her, she would die with her eyes wide open in disbelief!
Songzhi touched the mask on her face. The room was already stuffy with plenty of charcoal, and wearing this mask would make it even more uncomfortable.
"Is it really true that wearing this mask will prevent me from getting infected? I feel a little uncomfortable."
Consort Hua rolled her eyes; she wasn't feeling well either! But compared to catching the plague, this discomfort was insignificant.
"I am also in great pain, but it concerns my life and I have to set an example for others, so I can only endure it for a while."
"I wonder what the outside world is like now, and whether my brother and sister-in-law are ready."
Consort Hua was very worried. Only three days had passed since the first case was discovered, and hundreds of people had already fallen ill.
The number of others who are in the incubation period, or who have already shown symptoms but have not yet been diagnosed, is still unknown.
Even though the Imperial Medical Academy started preparations two months in advance, they are still in a state of chaos. Every day they fail to develop a prescription, dozens more corpses are collected.
As more and more people get infected, it's unknown how many will die.
If things turned out this way even with preparations, what would happen if there were no preparations at all? Would the capital city, which was once a peaceful place, become a living hell?
Zhou Ninghai reassured her, "Your Highness, please rest assured, the General listens to you the most. Even though he was unwilling, he still did as you asked him to feign illness and relinquish power."
"Although many people think this is nonsense, the fact that the Imperial Medical Academy is making such a big fuss about it has led many families to follow suit without being reminded, just to put their minds at ease."
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