Chapter 37: Sending Letters of Credence

As the morning light faintly brightened, ministers who attended the early imperial court had already arrived at the imperial palace. Though it was not the occasion of the Grand Court, there were still many court officials present, given that the triennial major examination was imminent.

The chief examiner had been decided, but there were still many matters to be negotiated.

However, when everyone arrived at the hall, they were not immediately summoned inside. It wasn't because the emperor had not yet arrived, but rather that the emperor was inside, deliberating over matters.

What could be more urgent than the major examination?

"Have you heard about what's happening at Guanghua Temple?" one of the court officials suddenly said in a low voice to the person beside him.

The others looked over, their expressions hesitant.

"Is it about the uncontrollable smallpox outbreak, the one that's been sensationalized to the point where it can't be reined in?" an official with a square jaw said, a clear displeasure across his brow, "Such a clamor for attention has blown up into a situation that can't be cleaned up."

But this time, no one agreed with him.

"Lord Guo, it's not that incident," the one who had spoken earlier said softly, "It's said that there's a medicine at Guanghua Temple that can prevent smallpox."

"Such claims are also sensationalist," Lord Guo frowned, "How can one believe them."

"But it is said that the imperial physicians have all tried it. Moreover, Duke of Chengguo's heir has sent several children from the traitorous Zhou Family to test the medicine, and they are all safe and unharmed," another person whispered, drawing closer.

This statement attracted more people to join in.

"Is that so? I heard about it too."

"Staying in that place, those children indeed did not contract any disease."

Everyone whispered among themselves.

"Who has seen it?" Lord Guo frowned, "These are all rumors."

As his voice faded, the doors to the great hall opened, and Lu Yunqi stepped out.

The murmuring of the court officials stopped at once. Though Lu Yunqi was a figure to be feared, capable of silencing crying children, it was not him that quieted these high officials. It was the sight of the five children following behind Yunqi.

The five children were not old, one of them still being carried in the arms of the eldest child. Seeing so many court officials outside, all five children lowered their heads and followed Yunqi's steps.

A eunuch hurried from behind.

"Lord Lu, the Empress Dowager wishes to see the Zhou children," he called out.

Lu Yunqi assented and led the children toward the harem.

Watching them leave, the court officials in front of the hall broke into lively discussion.

"Are those the children?"

"They indeed seem to be well."

"They have already been reported to His Majesty."

Everyone chatted amongst themselves, after all, smallpox did not discriminate between high or low, noble or humble, and they all had descendants threatened by the disease.

Lord Guo's face grew even more rigid.

A eunuch from inside the hall coughed loudly twice, and the ministers quieted down, entering the hall in order of their ranks.

However, everyone's thoughts were no longer on the impending examination but on the prevention and treatment of smallpox.

Leaving aside the discussions in the court, in the harem, the Empress Dowager examined the five children very carefully, over and over.

"Are these the pox marks?" the Empress Dowager asked, pointing at the spots on a child's arm.

The smallpox had scabbed over and fallen off, leaving only light spots behind.

The empress still felt some fear, subconsciously grasping the Empress Dowager's arm.

"Yes, I had quite a bit," Zhou Jing said.

"That's quite a bit?" the empress couldn't help but say, "I've seen children with smallpox in Shandong, covered from head to toe."

The Empress Dowager looked again at the pox scars on Zhou Jing's arm, then beckoned for the youngest child to come over.

"Has this child been vaccinated too?" she asked.

Before the eunuchs could reply, Zhou Maomao had already nodded, pointing to his neck.

"To answer Your Majesty, mine are here, only three," he said.

The Empress Dowager was amused to laughter, looked at the pox marks on his neck, and sat up straight.

"So they have all really used the medicine?" she inquired.

Lu Yunqi responded affirmatively.

"Has she really been with the children afflicted with smallpox all this time?" the Empress Dowager asked again.

Lu Yunqi affirmed once more.

"How exactly was it done?" the empress couldn't help but ask, "Give us the details."

"It's vaccination," Lu Yunqi said.

The Empress Dowager laughed.

"He's parsimonious with words. Asking him is as good as asking no one," she said, looking at Zhou Maomao, "You tell us, how did you vaccinate?"

Although young children can be taught by adults to lie and pretend, children of three or four years old are still just children, and they always give themselves away.

"The brothers and sisters had it placed in their noses," Zhou Maomao said without any restraint, gesturing and speaking in a childish voice, "My nose is too small to put anything in, so they cut a little hole in my arm and put it in."

The empress and the Empress Dowager were stunned.

"They even made a cut?" they asked.

Zhou Jing hastily pulled back Zhou Maomao's clothes to reveal his arm.

"It's not big, just a tiny cut, and it hardly bled," he said.

The empress and the Empress Dowager crowded around to look seriously at it.

"Erniu also had his arm cut," Zhou Maomao added.

"Who is Erniu?" the Empress Dowager asked.

"He's the son of a man who came seeking medical treatment but wasn't sick," Lu Yunqi replied.

"And he's also alright now?" the Empress Dowager inquired.

Lu Yunqi affirmed.

The Empress Dowager sat up straight, pondered for a moment, and waved her hand dismissively.

With a respectful bow, Lu Yunqi left with the five children. As soon as they left, the empress became somewhat impatient.

"Your Majesty, this is wonderful. If it's really safe, then we won't have to fear the princes and princesses catching the disease," she said, her voice trembling, "Your Majesty, you don't know, when we were in Shandong, the prince and I lost our eldest son to smallpox..."

She spoke, wiping away tears.

The Empress Dowager frowned and glared at her.

"What are you crying about? Show some composure," she said.

To avoid suspicion, Prince Qi had not married into a prominent noble family but had taken a wife from an ordinary household in Shandong. The woman, already overjoyed to become Princess Qi, had never dreamed of one day becoming the empress, and despite being personally tutored by the Empress Dowager, she was still unavoidably nervous and timid.

Being scolded by the Empress Dowager, the empress timidly lowered her head.

The Empress Dowager couldn't be bothered with her.

"If this truly is an effective remedy against smallpox, that would be..." the Empress Dowager muttered to herself, "a matter of immense importance."

She pondered for a moment, then motioned to the eunuch.

"Go and ask the emperor how he plans to handle this matter."

The eunuch obeyed and returned shortly afterward.

"The matter has already been discussed at the Grand Court. Given its significance, extreme caution is necessary. Senior officials will accompany the imperial physicians to verify," he said.

This was the expected procedure; the Empress Dowager scarcely paid attention and simply waved her hand dismissively.

"The verification by court officials will not yield anything. Tell His Majesty that for such a matter that could benefit all people, we should announce it to the public, allowing their children to be vaccinated and thus avoid the scourge of the epidemic," she said, her expression grave.

The eunuch and the empress shuddered at her words.

This meant that the children of the entire realm would be testing this medicine on behalf of the royal offspring.

The eunuch bowed deeply and assented.

...

As Guanghua Temple was under martial law and its inhabitants could not leave, the news was conveyed through the Jinyiwei.

Miss Jun came out, and according to the information she had obtained, she saw Zhu Zan sitting on a stone outside the temple.

She walked over with a smile.