Chapter 193: The Trouble with Pox

"Good news, good news."

A shop assistant hurriedly ran inside, and Shopkeeper Liu furrowed his brows.

"Be careful, don't make such a fuss." he said displeasedly.

The young shop assistant quickly stood properly.

"There's no need for you all to make a fuss over at Miss Jun's place. Whether men come to get medicine or to consult, just stay focused," Shopkeeper Liu lectured, picking up the teapot to pour tea before asking, "What's the matter?"

"Shopkeeper, the Imperial Hospital has requested Miss Jun to treat Prince Huai," the assistant quickly said.

Shopkeeper Liu's hand trembled, and the steaming water from the teapot immediately spilled out, splashing all over him.

"Shopkeeper." The shop assistant hurriedly came forward to help.

Fortunately, since it was winter and he was wearing thick clothes, he was not scalded, only a bit disheveled. But now, Shopkeeper Liu couldn't care about that.

"What did you say?" he asked hurriedly, "Who is being treated?"

"Shopkeeper, do you remember? Initially, Imperial Physician Jiang at the Imperial Hospital had told Miss Jun that if he couldn't cure a disease, he would have Miss Jun treat it. Now, he really..." the assistant said excitedly.

Before he could finish, Shopkeeper Liu impatiently pushed him away.

"Go away, you can't even explain things clearly," he shouted. Without waiting for the young shop assistant to speak again, he had already rushed out.

"It's too much of a fuss, I haven't said anything yet," the shop assistant murmured unconvincedly, still perplexed.

When Shopkeeper Liu arrived at Jiuling Hall, the shop was busy packing the things Miss Jun needed to bring.

"Miss, can't I really go with you?" Liu'er said with a look of regret.

"That's smallpox. It can be contagious." Seventh Chen said from the side.

"I'm not afraid if my Miss isn't afraid," Liu'er glared back at him.

"Your Miss is really something," Seventh Chen chuckled, then looking at Miss Jun, "Once you come back from this, you'll be even more impressive."

Even more impressive, let's hope she comes back first.

"Miss Jun, that's smallpox," Shopkeeper Liu said, "That disease is not easy to treat."

Miss Jun hummed in acknowledgment.

"But I can treat it," she declared.

That's smallpox, how can you be so sure? Shopkeeper Liu didn't know what to say.

"Miss Jun, do you realize that it's Prince Huai..." he tried to say.

He was interrupted by Miss Jun before he could finish.

"I know," she said, "It doesn't matter who the sick person is. The Imperial Hospital couldn't treat it; I've said before that what they can't treat, I can. We are focusing on the disease, not the person."

Such a childish statement, Shopkeeper Liu by bitter smile.

If something goes wrong, it will be you they target.

Although Prince Huai's illness was a coincidence, the Imperial Hospital's recommendation of Miss Jun to treat him was certainly intentional. So the old saying is right: don't overeat and don't say too much.

Who would have thought such a dangerous disease would emerge, and the patient be such a dangerous individual.

"Miss, the car from the Imperial Hospital is here," the shop assistant said.

Miss Jun nodded, and stretched her hand to pick up the medicine box, while Liu'er was reluctant, and Fang Jinxiu was somewhat worried.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine," Miss Jun smiled.

That was her brother; the reason she came to the capital was to keep him safe.

Watching Miss Jun leave in the carriage, Shopkeeper Liu sighed again.

"Shopkeeper Liu, just stop worrying. If it's cured, that's a good thing," Seventh Chen said.

"What if it's not?" Shopkeeper Liu said irritably.

Seventh Chen chuckled.

"That's just smallpox. If it's not cured, what's so strange about that?" he said, "It's a gamble. If cured, you gain great fame and fortune. If not, no shame, as it's common for smallpox not to be cured."

Shopkeeper Liu snorted.

"Wins bring fame and fortune, but losing isn't just about losing face," he said.

Seventh Chen still smiled.

"But for us, it's that simple, because there's still the imperial decree," he said.

Shopkeeper Liu's expression softened slightly, yes, there was still the imperial decree. With it, if someone from the palace becomes unreasonably upset, it could be used in defense.

But this decree would probably be taken back soon, he thought with a pang of distress.

The stakes of this gamble were indeed high.

"Stop watching; we can't help with anything else now, let's just create a momentum," Seventh Chen said.

Shopkeeper Liu glanced at him, create momentum for what?

"Smallpox, how terrible it is," Seventh Chen said, "How difficult it is to treat."

............................

"The pox spreads to the face and body instantly, resembling fire blisters, all covered with white pus, breaking and forming rapidly, and those severely affected often die."

Ning Yunzhao read aloud, putting down the book in his hand with a sigh.

"The imperial physicians are in a tough position now."

Dressed in a casual robe, Ning Yan frowned.

"Smallpox is indeed difficult to treat; the imperial physicians should not be blamed," he said, observing the scrolls and books piled on the desk in front of Ning Yunzhao.

These were related records of smallpox that Ning Yunzhao had found in his study over the course of an afternoon.

Ning Yunzhao picked up another scroll to read.

"In the fourth year of Yonghui, this pox spread from the west to the east, prevalent in the seas, with no medicine to cure it," he read aloud.

Ning Yan nodded.

"A disease with no cure and contagious, that's an epidemic," he said, "Currently in the capital, there are already some people in panic, but fortunately, Prince Huai has not gone out, and the disease can still be controlled within Prince Huai's mansion."

He then looked at Ning Shiyi sitting beside him.

"Has the Five Cities Military Department already started to disperse lime throughout the city?"

Ning Shiyi nodded.

"It has already begun," he said, also pulling out a volume to glance at, "Elder Brother, why have you suddenly taken an interest in this? Weren't you focused on reading and not planning to go out before the New Year?"

Ning Yan looked over as well.

Ning Yunzhao put down the scroll in his hand.

"I was just, somewhat moved," he said, "Prince Huai has it tough."

Ning Yan's expression turned somewhat melancholic, while Ning Shiyi coughed lightly.

"Elder Brother, you shouldn't do this," he said, "How can a disciple of the saint make such lamentations?"

"Destiny also, and the times too, and these cannot be called a miserable fate," Ning Yan said, "Countless children in the world lose their parents, countless diseases are difficult to cure everywhere, how can you be moved to sadness just because he is Prince Huai?"

Ning Yunzhao stood solemnly to listen, bowing slightly in agreement.

Ning Shiyi too, stood up and listened attentively.

"This matter of illness, is just that, an illness, how can one lament destiny," Ning Yan said, "The doctors exhaust their efforts to treat the sick, so many people fall ill and can't even see a doctor, there is nothing there to lament."

Ning Yunzhao and Ning Shiyi both nodded in agreement again.

Ning Yan looked at them.

"Alright, you both may leave. There are plenty of matters beneficial to the nation and the people, don't indulge in such childish sentiments," he said.

Ning Yunzhao and Ning Shiyi responded and, offering their respects, left.

Once outside, Ning Shiyi exhaled deeply and playfully punched Ning Yunzhao.

"It's all your fault," he said, "Idling around and making unnecessary laments, causing me to be scolded too."

Ning Yunzhao smiled and waved his hand dismissively.

"Just bored from studying, just some random thoughts," he said.

Ning Shiyi kicked at him.

"If you're bored, go sing, play the zither, or drink," he said.

Laughing, the two left as Second Madam Ning arrived in the study with a pot of tea, seeing Ning Yan tidying up the scrolls.

"Why scold them again?" she chided.

Ning Yan shook his head.

"Bemoaning over a smallpox, indulging in sentimental sorrows like an ignorant woman," he said.

Second Madam Ning laughed.

"After all, Prince Huai is still a child, contracting such a disease, it's inevitable everyone feels pity, especially when the doctors say it's incurable," she said, then chuckled again, "But, they've just switched doctors, perhaps it can be cured."

Ning Yan paused, hearing her hesitant words, and looked at her.

"It's that Miss Jun," Second Madam Ning said.

Ning Yan frowned.

"Absurd," he said.

"Absurd what? It's clear the imperial physicians were cheating her," Second Madam Ning covered her mouth as she laughed, "Just wait until she fails to cure it, the emperor will penalize her."

Ning Yan placed the scrolls back on the desk.

"If the disease like smallpox can't be cured by the doctors, why penalize her?" he said, "Has the emperor turned into a tool for their scheming? It's disgraceful, I won't allow such a thing that tarnishes His Majesty's reputation."

He paused there.

What...

"What is it?" Second Madam Ning asked.

Was Yunzhao feeling for Prince Huai, or for this Miss Jun? Ning Yan furrowed his brow, perhaps he was overthinking.

"It's nothing," Ning Yan said, taking the tea and sipping it.

............

Having left the Ning Family's residence, Ning Yunzhao exhaled lightly, glanced momentarily in the direction of Prince Huai's mansion, then withdrew his gaze and slowly walked down the street.

Meanwhile, Miss Jun's carriage stopped in front of Prince Huai's mansion.

The grand doors of the Prince Huai's mansion were tightly closed, the area filled with a strong medicinal scent, and the street was eerily quiet, hardly a soul in sight.

An imperial physician, covering his face with a mask, stepped forward to knock on the door, which quickly opened as the gatekeeper who had received news let him in.

"Miss Jun, please," said the imperial physician, standing outside, "Would you need a..."

Before he could finish suggesting a mask, Miss Jun had already entered.

She gazed down the straight path paved with white jade, taking slow steps.

Jiurong, I have come, I am back.

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