Chapter 42 Old Acquaintance Idle Inquiry

Of course, that was no longer the case now.

Miss Jun smiled.

"You are a Doctor, and this is you practicing medicine," she said.

Doctor Feng sighed, looking at the towering palace gate before him.

This was the imperial palace, and in a moment he would meet the Emperor, the sovereign of the realm, the most revered person in the world.

"Miss Jun, in fact, I am merely an orthopedic Doctor," he said, "In the capital, I make a living with this one skill, and those in need of bone-setting are mostly poor laborers. In the eyes of those in the profession, we bone-setters don't even count as real Doctors."

He never thought that one day, a Doctor not even considered as such, would have the chance to meet the Emperor.

How did he get this far? What exactly did he do to reach this step? Doctor Feng felt momentarily dazed, as if he hadn't done much at all.

"Alright, Doctor Feng, if you keep getting this nervous, you might offend the Emperor, and then you really won't be able to be a Doctor anymore," Miss Jun said with a smile, reaching out to take back her medicine chest and placing it on the carriage, "None of us need to bring medicine chests, the palace has everything, we just need to bring the smallpox vaccine."

This chatter helped Doctor Feng calm his mind quite a bit as he gave Miss Jun a sheepish smile, and remained silent.

At the palace gate, an eunuch with a beaming smile verified their identities and waved them over. Miss Jun, leading Doctor Feng, walked toward him.

When they arrived in the Empress Dowager's palace, it seemed as though the entirety of the imperial palace had gathered there.

Compared to the concubines and children she had seen during the New Year's greetings, there was one more.

Miss Jun looked at the middle-aged man in the dragon robe sitting in the center and knelt with her eyes lowered.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," she said.

As a child, she had no impression of this Imperial Uncle, since there had been no interaction, but the practical New Year's gifts from Shandong were always the most substantial. Unlike the gold and silk offered by other nobles, Prince Qi's gifts were simply edibles and usable produce from Shandong.

When she accompanied her father to see the Imperial Ancestor, she once heard officials praising Prince Qi for adhering to his duties while maintaining familial affection.

Though she didn't fully comprehend their conclusions, she still liked the New Year's presents from the Imperial Uncle, especially the pickled meat which was delicious.

In her memory, the Imperial Uncle was like the smiling, round-cheeked peddler on the New Year's pictures.

Later, when her parents were no longer there, she did meet this Imperial Uncle, and he was just as she had imagined with a plump figure and an amiable demeanor. Only, he wasn't smiling amiably, rather, he had a worried frown and would often cry.

He lamented that he felt as though he were being roasted over a fire, unable to endure, wishing to return to Shandong, but by returning, he would be unfilial; staying meant being disloyal. He grieved at making himself into a person neither loyal nor filial.

Back then, Miss Jun did feel sorry for him. Compared to being an Emperor surrounded by accusing ministers and kneeling in a tumult, it would have been better to be Prince Qi, free and at ease in Shandong.

When Prince Qi finally ascended to the throne to become the Emperor, they moved to Prince Huai's mansion, and from then on she knew life would be different. She also knew that, whether Prince Qi wished it or not, their existence as a family was not a pleasant fact for an Emperor. Thus, Prince Huai's mansion was isolated, watched, and forgotten. She held no resentment and never doubted anything.

Looking back now, she realized how foolish she was.

Her whole family had been foolish.

Her father had been foolish.

With a heart full of sincerity towards others, yet unaware of their hidden malicious ambitions.

"How did my father die? How did my mother die?"

At that time, she knelt before the Emperor, and when he looked at her with his usual benevolent expression, asking her if she had something to say, she suddenly drew her sword and accused him.

It was a soft sword, one of the few items she kept for self-defense. Only this sword remained because it was beautifully crafted by her master. It had two layers; the scabbard was ordinarily used as a belt and was difficult to detect.

The eunuchs lunged, inkstones, brush racks flew at her, tables overturned, guards rushed in, and slashing blades descended.

She had not yet received an answer.

How did my father die? How did my mother die?

"Stand," came the smooth voice of the Emperor from above.

Miss Jun and Doctor Feng rose to their feet in gratitude.

The Empress Dowager was impatient and beckoned Miss Jun over to inquire about the details of vaccination, its success rate, and the number of incidents occurring from it—though in truth, the Jinyiwei had already thoroughly collected and reported all the details.

Miss Jun answered each question, then the Empress Dowager looked towards the Emperor.

"Your Majesty?" she said, with a hint of seeking approval.

The Emperor nodded.

"Then please, Miss Jun, proceed with vaccinating the princes and princesses," he said.

Miss Jun acknowledged the command and turned to summon Doctor Feng.

Although Doctor Feng couldn't hide his nervousness, he stepped forward as instructed.

"Why is it not Miss Jun who is performing the vaccination?" the empress couldn't help but ask.

"Your Majesty, I have never been vaccinated myself, I only prepare the medicine. The actual inoculations are conducted by Doctor Feng and the like," Miss Jun replied.

The Empress Dowager also knew this and raised no further objections upon hearing the news.

Doctor Feng, trembling with anxiety, vaccinated the princes and princesses. Although the princes and princesses cried and fussed, the process was successfully completed, but they could not leave immediately after being vaccinated.

"Stay in the palace for now, just in case," the emperor said.

This was expected and reasonable. Miss Jun and Doctor Feng readily agreed.

The empress, with the concubines and children, took their leave, and Miss Jun and Doctor Feng followed. Only the emperor and the Empress Dowager were left in the hall.

The emperor's gaze fell upon the retreating figure of Miss Jun, and his previously warm expression dissipated into something more somber.

"Everything is good," he suddenly said, "but this name is not good."

The Empress Dowager's expression was indifferent.

"Everything is good; what's in a name?" she said. "If one does not want to appreciate what is good, they can simply erase it. If a person does not cherish their own blessings, who can they blame?"

Saying this, she smiled at the emperor.

"You, Emperor, are indeed blessed. Smallpox has been eradicated, and peace reigns throughout the lands, by the grace of Heaven."

The emperor rose and bowed to the Empress Dowager.

"Thank you, mother," he said sincerely.

As night fell, lights illuminated the majestic palace, giving it a softer appearance.

Doctor Feng, upon hearing the sound at the door, immediately stood up in nervousness, only to see Miss Jun walking in.

"It's alright. I just came to tell you to rest. I'll keep watch tonight," she said with a smile.

Doctor Feng nodded and wiped the slight sweat from his forehead.

"Good, good. It's better for you to keep watch," he said.

Miss Jun said no more and left; the little palace maid carrying a lamp guided her towards another palace.

The princes and princesses did not return to their respective dwellings but were all accommodated in one palace for easier care.

The lanterns under the eaves swayed, intersecting with the light carried by the little palace maid, casting an elongated shadow of Miss Jun.

Suddenly, Miss Jun stumbled, and the little palace maid, with quick reflexes, steadied her.

"Miss Jun, are you alright?" she asked with concern.

Miss Jun shook her head.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," she said, with a hint of embarrassment. "It's my first time staying overnight in the palace."

This was the imperial palace, after all, where even the married princesses could not stay overnight. To spend a night here was to be touched by the highest distinction, so it was normal for Miss Jun to feel anxious and excited.

The little palace maid couldn't help but smile.

"Are you from the Empress Dowager's palace?" Miss Jun asked.

Perhaps the slip had closed the distance between them, or maybe it was the night that made them more inclined to talk.

The little palace maid hummed in acknowledgment.

"I didn't see you the last time," Miss Jun said.

That reminded the little palace maid of Miss Jun's summons during the first month.

"I would never have the rank to serve in the main hall," the little palace maid said, a shy smile on her face.

While her status was low, admitting this to a stranger took much courage and kindness.

"Does your family have any children who need to be vaccinated?" Miss Jun suddenly asked.

The little palace maid's eyes brightened as she gripped the lantern tightly.

"Yes, yes," she eagerly nodded.

Although she had not seen it for herself, she had heard how hard it was to obtain the smallpox vaccine.

"Write down your address for me later," Miss Jun said with a smile.

The little palace maid nodded vigorously.

"Oh, and last time in the main hall, there was a sister named Bing'er or something who served me wine," Miss Jun remembered something else and looked at the little palace maid. "I wonder if her family has any children who need vaccination."

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