Chapter 35: The Believer Believes in Themselves

"What did you say? It can prevent smallpox?"

Eldest Madam Ning put down her prayer beads and asked.

"Yes, it's all over the city, said to be absolutely true," the maidservant hurriedly said.

Eldest Madam Ning gave a faint smile.

"What absolutely true," she said, "Previously they said she had cured Prince Huai's smallpox, and that was also spread as absolutely true. What is the reality, others may not know, but do we not?"

Although Prince Huai was a taboo that everyone avoided discussing, Ning Yan still mentioned in his letter from home that the prince's illness was serious. The imperial physicians were at their wits' end, even claiming it was an incurable smallpox.

This use of the word "claim" clearly indicated that what Prince Huai had was not smallpox.

It was just a matter of everyone seeing through it but not saying it out loud.

So, when Miss Jun later went to treat Prince Huai's illness, and the cure caused a big commotion, the Ning Family did not believe she could truly cure smallpox.

A medical hall with a heritage of a hundred years having a few secret prescriptions for difficult and miscellaneous diseases was not surprising, just that with smallpox...

"Who is spreading it? Is it someone from the Fang Family again?" asked Eldest Madam Ning with a hint of a cold sneer, "The Fang Family has been flying high this year, haven't they? They're just short of declaring themselves reincarnations of immortals."

The maidservant was sheepish.

"But quite a few people believe it, and some gentry are planning to band together to go to the capital to ask Miss Jun to return and vaccinate the children of Yangcheng," she said.

Eldest Madam Ning laughed again and picked up her teacup.

"The travel expenses to the capital are provided by the Fang Family, right?" she said with a subtle smile.

"I was saying the same thing, how can smallpox be prevented? The disease has always been treated, I've never heard of it being prevented," the maidservant said with a forced laugh, "I don't know what's true or false, but it's causing unrest among the people in the city."

"Let them spread it if they wish. Making grand claims, deceiving and deluding the public, going to the capital—at that time, even if there is an imperial decree, the dynasty will not let them off lightly," said Eldest Madam Ning, taking a sip of her tea without any outsiders present, her eyes undisguised with disgust, "Such vulgar families should learn their lesson."

At the same time, within the residence of the Yangcheng Fang Family, Old Lady Fang and Lady Fang hurried along with their heads bowed, maids and servants following behind them in a tense atmosphere.

Fang Chengyu, however, was not in the courtyard, and Old Lady Fang didn't send the girls to call for him; she went straight to the practice field.

Fang Chengyu was practicing archery under the guidance of several masters. On seeing his grandmother and mother, he quickly wiped his sweat to greet them.

"Is it you who had people announce that Zhenzhen can prevent and treat smallpox?" Old Lady Fang asked directly.

Fang Chengyu made a sound of acknowledgment and nodded.

"Yes, a letter from the capital mentioned it; my cousin has already found a way," he said with a smile, "This is great news for all people."

"How can a letter from the capital be taken at face value like that?" Lady Fang frowned and said, "We've inquired already. The news from the capital says that smallpox cannot be cured, and now they are starting to say if it can't be cured, it can be prevented. First, a group of doctors tried the medicine themselves, and then it was tested on death-row inmates. There's still no consensus on whether it works or not. Why are you promoting it so heavily?"

"Do I even need to explain?" Fang Chengyu laughed.

"Whatever she says is correct, is that it?" Lady Fang impatiently snapped, "Do you even have a brain? Can you think this through for a moment? Is this something that can be taken so lightly?"

"Mother," Fang Chengyu said, taking her arm with a smile, "I have thought about it, I've thought about it seriously."

"What have you thought about?" Lady Fang said irritably, trying to shake off his arm.

Fang Chengyu had been practicing archery, and his arms had become strong—Lady Fang couldn't shake him off.

"I have thought about it; my cousin is someone who speaks and acts with purpose," Fang Chengyu said smilingly, "Since she has said and done it, then surely there is no problem."

Lady Fang, frustrated with talking to him, glared.

"Can't you just—can't you—" she reached out to poke Fang Chengyu's forehead, at a loss for words, "You've riled up the people of Yangcheng to go to the capital, and what if there is nothing there, how will you handle it!"

Fang Chengyu tilted his head to dodge.

"That won't happen," he said with a smile, "Jiuling won't disappoint everyone."

Lady Fang was about to say more when Old Lady Fang gestured for her to stop and looked at Fang Chengyu, then in the direction of the capital.

"You lot," she finally said, "are really playing with your lives."

"Because we don't want to die," Fang Chengyu said earnestly, "If you want to live, you have to be brave enough to take risks."

If you don't want to die, you have to be daring enough to play.

And if you don't dare to play, the only option left is death.

Old Lady Fang fell silent for a moment before patting him on the shoulder.

"Go ahead, but don't go overboard. Don't take too many people with you—be capable of advancing or retreating," she said.

Fang Chengyu made an acknowledging sound.

"Actually, Grandmother, I'm just conveying to everyone what Jiuling has achieved in the capital. As for the rest, it's all about her influence," he said.

Lady Fang's expression changed slightly.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked.

"What I mean is, I don't know how many will head to the capital once they hear this news," Fang Chengyu replied, counting on his fingers with childlike unease, "After all, Jiuling is so impressive."

The sound of gongs and drums suddenly resonated through the streets of Runan, creating a commotion that startled the townspeople.

What's happening? Has the Jurchen people invaded?

Their faces turned pale as they poured out onto the streets, looking at the person raising the gong and striking it.

Hu Gui?

"Hu Gui, what are you doing?" they shouted somewhat irritated.

"Big news, big news," Hu Gui called out loudly to the gathering crowd, "Our children from Runan are in for a treat."

Children?

The crowd was utterly confused.

"Do you know what smallpox is?" Hu Gui shouted.

Smallpox?

The people's faces blanched and they collectively retreated.

Was there an outbreak of smallpox in the city? That would be terrifying; those with children at home needed to quickly find somewhere to hide.

"Smallpox!" Hu Gui declared with excitement, raising his gong high, "Our Jiuling Hall, our Miss Jun, has found a way to prevent people from catching smallpox."

The retreating crowd paused, then burst into uproar.

"Really?"

Everyone spoke in unison.

"Really, when has Miss Jun ever lied to us?" Hu Gui exclaimed, "People from Yangcheng are already en route to the capital, saying they want Miss Jun to return to Yangcheng."

The crowd erupted once again upon hearing this.

"Why should she go to Yangcheng?"

"Miss Jun is one of our people from Runan!"

"Let's bring Miss Jun back!"

"To the capital!"

"To the capital!"

Without any further questions or even asking for details, everyone believed unquestioningly, fixated on a single thought.

In the early days of February, on the chill of an early spring road, there seemed to be many more people and horses overnight.

There were men and women, some on horseback, some in carriages, converging from all directions, making the main roads increasingly bustling.

This bustling mix of people, of different genders, ages, and statuses, all had one destination in mind: the capital.