Imperial Husband Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Li Jin's voice came suddenly from behind Shi Weixu, giving Shi Weixu a fright.

"Child?" Shi Weixu immediately turned to look at the source of the voice, was instantly startled by Li Jin's appearance, and then also noticed the young eunuch. He angrily said, "Why have you brought a child here? Didn't I say long ago that no one is allowed to set foot past this point?"

"Physician Shi, I... I had no choice..."

The young eunuch was greatly alarmed by Shi Weixu's flustered and exasperated manner.

He was even more surprised and doubtful, muttering to himself.

Wasn't Physician Shi always the most amiable? Why is he like this today?

Shi Weixu issued an order to leave, "Quickly take this child away. In the future, without my permission, you are not allowed to bring anyone here again, do you understand?"

"Uh... But..."

The young eunuch was momentarily at a loss and instinctively looked towards Li Jin.

"But what? Hurry up and do as I said." Shi Weixu was furious with the young eunuch. He had instructed him from the beginning not to let anyone near his residence, let alone bring people inside.

Li Jin looked at Shi Weixu and asked again, unhurriedly, "Physician Shi, you haven't answered me yet. Did you test the cowpox on yourself?"

"Uh... You... how do you know about cowpox?"

Just now, Shi Weixu was startled by Li Jin's sudden appearance and hadn't paid attention to the question Li Jin initially asked. So now, hearing Li Jin's question, he was stunned.

Li Jin responded with a smile, "Didn't you, Physician Shi, say so yourself? And, what you have on you, isn't that smallpox?"

"Sma... smallpox... ah..."

Upon hearing these two words, the young eunuch was immediately so frightened his legs went weak, and he screamed.

"Li Jin, did he do something to you? Is that... smallpox?" 

With this scream from the young eunuch, Ying Yuan, who was outside, instantly narrowed his pupils and rushed in quickly. Before Ying Yuan could confront Shi Weixu, he was shocked by the pustules on his face.

Because some time ago in the imperial palace, a palace maid had contracted smallpox and infected quite a few others, Ying Yuan was familiar with the pustules on Shi Weixu's face.

"Your Highness?"

Shi Weixu recognized the prince's robes worn by Ying Yuan at a glance, and felt utterly desperate.

He was just secretly testing the cowpox inoculation method in the palace. It was a catastrophe that a member of the imperial family had become involved. If the young prince were to contract smallpox from this encounter, he would be guilty of a crime deserving ten thousand deaths.

Zhiqiu, who followed closely behind, also said in terror, "Seventh Prince, Heir Li, let's leave quickly. The reappearance of smallpox in the palace is a major event. This servant must immediately report this matter to His Majesty the Empress to prevent the spread of smallpox."

"Ah, no, please don't. I was just testing it, it definitely won't spread."

Hearing that Zhiqiu wanted to inform the Empress, Shi Weixu hurriedly tried to stop him.

"Zhiqiu, no need to rush yet. We will be fine if we don't get close to him." Li Jin suddenly spoke up to stop him, "Also, look, the pustules on his face have already flattened, and some are even scabbing over. It seems he is in the recovery stage. If I'm not mistaken, it must be that the cowpox inoculation method he mentioned earlier has taken effect."

"Ah? Your Highness... are these words true?"

Zhiqiu swallowed hard, finding it hard to believe.

"What he said is correct..."

Seeing that things had reached this point, Shi Weixu felt he could no longer hide it and truthfully explained the whole story.

Originally, Shi Weixu enjoyed researching difficult and complicated illnesses. Ever since learning about the smallpox outbreak in the palace years ago, he had been secretly studying it. Until recent years, he finally found a way to use cowpox to cure smallpox.

Unfortunately, he couldn't find anyone to test it on, especially since this was the imperial palace. If someone were found to have smallpox, that person and all their belongings would be burned immediately. Shi Weixu had no choice but to test it on himself.

Precisely because of this, Shi Weixu had repeatedly instructed the young eunuch before starting the experiment. Who would have thought the young eunuch would still bring people in, and even brought a child first, followed by a young prince. It was truly misfortune never came singly.

Zhiqiu asked warily, "Physician Shi, have you tested this cowpox on anyone else?"

"Never."

Physician Shi shook his head awkwardly.

Hearing this, Zhiqiu immediately frowned and looked at Li Jin, "Your Highness, the smallpox on Physician Shi is real. That cowpox can cure smallpox is currently only his claim. This servant will still report it to His Majesty the Empress and let His Majesty decide."

If this matter was handled poorly, the implications were too great. As the Empress's person, Zhiqiu could not conceal it and fail to report.

"Zhiqiu, I will explain it to His Majesty the Empress myself later."

Li Jin hoped Physician Shi's cowpox inoculation method would succeed.

However, since Zhiqiu already knew, Li Jin didn't think this matter could be hidden from Gu Rushuang. What he said earlier was just his intention to explain it to Gu Rushuang personally.

"Yes."

Hearing that Li Jin would personally explain it to Gu Rushuang, Zhiqiu nodded in assent and agreed.

After getting Zhiqiu's agreement, Li Jin turned to look at Shi Weixu and said calmly, "Physician Shi, please explain the cowpox inoculation method in detail so that I can report back to His Majesty the Empress."

Physician Shi swallowed nervously. "If I provide a full explanation," he asked, "can you guarantee my cowpox inoculation research will be allowed to continue?"

Shi Weixu, who was obsessed with all kinds of strange diseases, cared nothing for his own life, nor did he have any interest in power or status. His only concern was whether his cowpox inoculation method would be preserved, and whether it would prove as effective on others as it appeared to be in his current experiment.

Li Jin nodded, "If Physician Shi's answers satisfy me, then yes."

"Good, I believe you."

Though Shi Weixu was consumed by his medical research, he still possessed enough political awareness to recognize the significance of Zhiqiu addressing the boy as "Heir Li', otherwise he wouldn't have been able to stay safely in the Imperial Hospital for so long, or conduct such dangerous experiments without anyone discovering.

The other party was a young child. Shi Weixu knew this was a gamble, but he had no other choice.

Having decided, Shi Weixu began to explain in detail the cowpox inoculation method he had developed.

Ying Yuan, who hadn't spoken since earlier, kept his hand firmly gripping Li Jin's right hand, as if ready to take Li Jin and run at the slightest unusual movement from Physician Shi.

Li Jin naturally noticed Ying Yuan tightly holding his hand, but he did not pull away. Instead, he gently patted the back of Ying Yuan's hand, signaling him to relax.

Shi Weixu's explanation continued for a long while, occupying the better part of the day.

During this, Zhiqiu watched Shi Weixu with great vigilance, not allowing him to get close to Li Jin and the others.

"That's all there is to it."

After saying his last sentence, Shi Weixu picked up a bowl of water nearby and drank.

"Thank you, Physician Shi, for being willing to tell me."

"Heir Li, everything is in your hands now. You must successfully persuade His Majesty the Empress." Shi Weixu stopped drinking and stared intently at Li Jin, full of expectation.