"Duke Dingguo, you yourself said you're not a doctor, you've only read some medical books. There are countless medical books in the world, and countless complex and difficult-to-treat diseases. Your ignorance of this method simply means you're unaware of it, not that such methods don't exist."
Su Ruojin's words were tantamount to an insult to the Duke of Dingguo, accusing him of being ignorant and telling him to shut up if he didn't understand.
The Duke of Dingguo's face turned pale and then red in an instant, unable to refute it for a moment.
After all, Su Ruojin does possess medical skills, so a doctor's words naturally carry more weight than his.
Upon hearing this, the ministers' discussions grew even louder.
In the past, the Great Chu had experienced epidemics, but most of them were localized. The most difficult ones were those that the imperial physicians could study for a period of time and always find a treatment method. There had never been an epidemic as severe as the Regent's Consort described.
"I've never heard of smallpox. The princess has never been to the epidemic area, so how could she know? And how can the princess be sure that getting vaccinated with this cowpox will protect her from smallpox?" The Duke of Dingguo composed himself and began to challenge him again.
"Duke Dingguo, just as I said, just because you haven't heard of it doesn't mean others haven't. Am I a doctor or are you a doctor? I haven't been to any places affected by the epidemic, so can't I make a judgment based on other people's descriptions?"
As for why I am certain that smallpox vaccination can protect against smallpox, it is because I am a doctor and I can be certain. Is this answer satisfactory to the Duke of Dingguo?
"If you, Duke Dingguo, do not believe me, you are free to forgo my method. You can find a cure for smallpox yourself and personally lead people to the plague-stricken areas to treat and save lives. If you can do this, you will surely become a hero praised by everyone in our Great Chu."
Su Ruojin would never indulge him.
The Duke of Dingguo was furious. He wasn't a doctor researching treatments, and even if he did, he wouldn't dare go to the epidemic area.
Unable to argue with Su Ruojin, he turned to Xiao Chenyi, "Your Majesty, the Princess's method is absolutely unacceptable. Inoculating people with cow disease could be fatal. Your Majesty, please reconsider."
From the moment Su Ruojin entered the hall, Xiao Chenyi kept looking at her, and all he saw on her face was confidence and certainty.
He hadn't seen Su Ruojin since she got married, and now she seemed to have gained even more maturity and charm.
But this makes her seem even further away from him.
Upon hearing what the Duke of Dingguo said, Xiao Chenyi did not immediately deny Su Ruojin like the Duke of Dingguo did.
He knew of Su Ruojin's medical skills. Judging from her appearance, she wouldn't have dared to say such things in the main hall if she didn't have some confidence.
"Princess Regent, how can you prove that the smallpox vaccination method is effective against the epidemic? Is it really safe to transfer smallpox to people?" Xiao Chenyi also had some doubts.
Su Ruojin understood Xiao Chenyi and the ministers' suspicions; this method was indeed somewhat incomprehensible to people today.
"Your Majesty, I was vaccinated against smallpox when I was eight years old, and I'm perfectly fine now."
The Duke of Dingguo snorted coldly, his face full of disbelief, "Princess Consort, whether you plant it or not, how can anyone else know besides yourself? Do you think you can tell just by your words?"
The Duke of Dingguo's words were tantamount to saying that Su Ruojin was lying. Getting vaccinated against smallpox at the age of eight? Who would believe that?
"Those who have been vaccinated against smallpox will have a mark on their left arm. Your Majesty can have the palace maids check if I have a mark on my left arm. Of course, according to the Duke of Dingguo's logic, he could also say that I got it from something else, but that's not important."
"I came to the palace today to explain to the Emperor that I wish to vaccinate the Regent, my father, and my brothers against smallpox. I also request that Your Majesty allow the imperial physicians to observe and learn from this, so that they can later be dispatched to the epidemic areas to treat the people."
This is the main reason why Su Ruojin entered the palace today.
Time was of the essence, so she decided to vaccinate Xiao Yanchu and his father and brothers with cowpox in the palace, which would serve as a demonstration for the imperial physicians and make it easier for them to be sent to the epidemic area as soon as possible.
The hall was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop. Everyone wore expressions of shock.
No one expected that the Regent's wife would actually use this method on the Regent and the Su family.
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