Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 971: Chapter 72: Smallpox Outbreak in the Capital (Part 2)

After a careful investigation, the origin of this smallpox outbreak is in the Western Regions. Smallpox emerged there and then spread to the northwest of Great Zhou, and subsequently from the northwest to the capital. Fortunately, when it reached the capital, it was discovered in time and dealt with promptly, preventing the spread of smallpox beyond the capital.

In the Imperial Study, Doctor Lu was reporting yesterday’s smallpox situation in the capital to the Emperor.

In total, more than two hundred people contracted smallpox, and over thirty have died from the disease, which is not a large number. Additionally, the spread of smallpox has been contained, and there haven’t been many new infections in the past two days.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor’s tightly furrowed brows relaxed considerably, and his stern face softened a bit.

"This time, the Imperial Hospital did well to promptly control the spread of smallpox."

Doctor Lu respectfully said, "It was all thanks to Your Majesty’s timely decree to address the situation; otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to control it."

The Emperor asked, "Were any children infected with smallpox yesterday?"

"Yes, some children in the North Market contracted smallpox and have already been sent for quarantine." Those living in the North Market are impoverished, and their children mostly are not healthy enough for cowpox vaccination. Most of the unvaccinated children have contracted smallpox. Since the outbreak was discovered, seven or eight children have died from the disease.

The Emperor wished every child in the capital could get vaccinated, but that was impossible.

"Keep monitoring the situation."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Because Doctor Lu was specifically responsible for the Emperor, he did not participate in treating smallpox this time. However, he did pass along the treatment formula for smallpox to other imperial physicians.

"How is the situation at Prince Dai Mansion?"

"Prince Dai, Princess Consort Dai, the Princely Heir, and other royals are all safe." After smallpox broke out at Prince Dai Mansion, everyone in the mansion was quarantined within.

Upon hearing there was no issue at Prince Dai Mansion, the Emperor dismissed Doctor Lu.

Sun Kui bowed and entered, reporting the situation within the palace to the Emperor respectfully.

Previously, several eunuchs and palace maids in the palace contracted smallpox. Once discovered, they were removed from the Imperial Palace and quarantined at a burial ground in the outskirts of the capital. Afterwards, the entire imperial city underwent a thorough cleaning, followed by disinfection using lime and burning mugwort.

The Imperial Palace is now disinfected twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Aside from those few eunuchs and palace maids, no new infections have appeared in the palace.

Although none of the harem ladies have contracted smallpox, they were greatly frightened. These days, each one is staying obediently in her own quarters.

"Your Majesty, smallpox has been controlled now, so you don’t need to worry anymore."

"Thanks to little ten, otherwise who knows how many would have died this time." The Emperor felt very fortunate that his youngest son had come up with cowpox vaccination to prevent smallpox, otherwise who knows how many children would have died from the disease.

"Prince Han is truly remarkable." If Prince Han had not devised the cowpox vaccination method to prevent smallpox, surely many children would have died from the disease this time. "Previously, there were those who doubted cowpox could prevent smallpox, but now it’s confirmed that cowpox indeed can prevent it. Those skeptics should no longer doubt Prince Han."

"It would be nice if that rascal little ten could come up with a way to cure smallpox."

"Your Majesty, that’s unlikely, isn’t it? After all, smallpox has been a fatal disease since ancient times." Prince Han’s invention of cowpox vaccination is already an extraordinary accomplishment. If he could also figure out a cure for smallpox, he’d be not a person but a deity.

Hearing Sun Kui say this, the Emperor chuckled playfully, "Perhaps that rascal little ten will one day come up with a method to cure smallpox, turning it from a fatal disease into an ordinary illness."

If Zhao Yao, far away in Swamp Prefecture, knew that the Emperor held him in such high regard, he would surely think the Emperor had lost his mind.

Sun Kui felt it wasn’t entirely impossible. Prince Han always managed to do the unexpected; since he could devise cowpox vaccination, perhaps he could also come up with a treatment for smallpox someday.

"Your Majesty, you’ve been worrying about smallpox these past few days and haven’t rested well. Now that there’s no sign of worsening smallpox, you should hurry to rest."

"I am not tired." said the Emperor, and continued reading memorials.

Sun Kui dared not disturb the Emperor further and quietly withdrew, then made a trip to Kunde Hall.

Lady Liang, learning that the Emperor hadn’t rested properly, wrote a letter to him and had Sun Kui deliver it.

Receiving Lady Liang’s letter, the Emperor realized Sun Kui had gone to see her.

"Who told you to go find Xiao Xiao?"

"Your Majesty, you wouldn’t rest, so I had no choice but to go to Lady Liang."

The Emperor kicked Sun Kui lightly, then obediently went to rest warmly. Originally thinking he would wake up after a short nap, he unexpectedly slept until dusk.

Soon after waking up, Lady Liang sent someone over with the soup she had specially prepared for the Emperor.

As the smallpox in the capital hadn’t completely disappeared, and it was unsure if the palace would see new cases, for the sake of the Emperor’s health, he could temporarily not visit the harem. During these days, the Emperor’s activities were confined to Zichen Hall and the Imperial Study, without visiting other places.

After drinking the soup personally prepared by Lady Liang, the Emperor felt full of energy and eagerly returned to the Imperial Study to continue reviewing memorials.

At this moment, a Hidden Guard appeared in the Imperial Study, delivering a secret message from the Swamp Prefecture to the Emperor.

The secret message wasn’t written by Zhao Yao, but by a member of the Dark Guard near Zhao Yao.

The Dark Guard Alpha beside Zhao Yao had been continually reporting Zhao Yao’s situation to the Emperor. This time, the secret message was regarding Prince Han sending someone to Swamp Prefecture to discuss a business collaboration with Zhao Yao.

After reading the secret message, the Emperor’s lips curled into a smile full of deeper meaning: "Old Five couldn’t hold himself back."

Beside him, Sun Kui muttered internally: did Prince Han do something?