Chapter 44
Shi Weixu knew it was difficult to ask a child to persuade the Empress, but given the current situation, Shi Weixu could only place all his hopes on Li Jin.
Li Jin nodded, then led Ying Yuan, Zhiqiu, and the young eunuch who was trembling with fear out. However, halfway there, Li Jin suddenly left a message, "Physician Shi, have you ever considered using animals like white mice for verification? After all, your method of experimenting directly on yourself is too reckless. What if your experiment fails? Wouldn't your research be lost?"
"White mice... that's right... my master often used white mice before, how could I have forgotten?"
Li Jin's words were a wake-up call.
Shi Weixu had been wondering what to do about his next experiments after his body recovered. Now, reminded by Li Jin, he immediately thought of a solution. He promptly shouted towards the departing Li Jin, "Heir Apparent Li, thank you. I will always remember your great kindness."
____
On the road.
Seeing that Wang Quande had not returned even after their long discussion with Shi Weixu, Li Jin decided not to wait any longer. After persuading Ying Yuan and the others, they headed towards the Empress's palace.
Ying Yuan asked puzzledly, "Li Jin, why did you agree to help that Physician Shi? His words are too unbelievable."
Ying Yuan had been stunned by what Shi Weixu said earlier and was slow to react. Now that he had calmed down, he finally voiced the doubt in his heart.
Li Jin answered the question with another question, "Seventh Prince, when smallpox first appeared, who could have predicted the severe consequences it would bring?"
"This... that is indeed a point..."
Ying Yuan nodded.
"..."
Zhiqiu, who was nearby, was speechless, seemingly also stumped by Li Jin's counter-question.
Soon.
They finally returned to the Empress's palace.
"Your greetings to the Empress (Mother)." Upon seeing Gu Rushuang, Li Jin and the other two immediately paid their respects. After paying respects, Zhiqiu conscientiously stood behind Gu Rushuang.
"You may rise." Gu Rushuang smiled and waved his hand, signaling them to rise. "Why have you returned so quickly today?"
Li Jin bowed respectfully without being subservient. "Replying to Your Majesty, a minor incident occurred. However, the matter is of great importance. I must ask Your Majesty to dismiss the attendants on both sides."
Hearing this, Gu Rushuang immediately narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Li Jin for a good while before saying, "Yuan'er, Zhiqiu, you and the others withdraw for now. This Palace wishes to speak with the Heir Apparent alone."
"Yes, Your Majesty (Mother)."
Ying Yuan and the others acknowledged and withdrew.
"Jin'er, you may speak now?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Your Subject has discovered that Physician Shi from the Imperial Hospital is researching a cure for smallpox..."
Li Jin promptly informed Gu Rushuang about Physician Shi's matter, and he did so with great skill. He even briefly polished and relayed Physician Shi's theory to Gu Rushuang as well.
Although Gu Rushuang was confused about the theoretical aspect, he listened intently to the main point in Li Jin's words: that cowpox could cure smallpox. Furthermore, because of the theories Li Jin mentioned, Gu Rushuang inexplicably began to have a different perspective on Shi Weixu's research.
"Jin'er, what you are saying is all theoretical."
"Your Majesty, with Physician Shi's successful case, it is not merely theoretical. It just lacks further successful examples. Moreover, smallpox is not present now, but what about the future? Does Your Majesty dare to say that smallpox will never appear again?"
"This..."
"Your Majesty, Your Subject hopes you will give Physician Shi a chance to conduct his experiments, so that Physician Shi's gamble with his own life to test whether cowpox is truly feasible will not be in vain."
Gu Rushuang fell silent and did not answer immediately.
Cowpox certainly sounds unpleasant, but Jin'er has a point. The devastation of another smallpox outbreak is unthinkable. Compounding this, Da Xia is mired in endless wars, while the people suffer from relentless famines, floods, and locust plagues. With the national treasury empty and the common people in dire straits, perhaps a calculated risk is warranted.
"Your Majesty?"
Li Jin called out to Gu Rushuang, abruptly interrupting his contemplation.
Simultaneously.
It also helped Gu Rushuang reach a decision.
"Jin'er, This Palace agrees." Although Gu Rushuang remained within the inner palace and abstained from court politics, he still maintained connections with his maternal family, the Gu clan, outside the palace. He was therefore well aware of the current troubled state of Da Xia. "Later, This Palace will send people to guard that Physician Shi's residence and prevent anyone from approaching. I will also explain matters to His Majesty the Emperor. After all, such a major event occurring in the palace cannot be hidden from the Emperor. Furthermore, if Physician Shi fails, This Palace will immediately order the area and Physician Shi to be burned."
Li Jin bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consent. However, Your Subject believes that before Physician Shi truly succeeds, Your Majesty should keep it confidential and not let others know, to avoid causing panic."
"That goes without saying."
Gu Rushuang nodded.
Although Gu Rushuang agreed to allow Shi Weixu to research a cure for smallpox within the palace, he also knew that once this research was exposed, it would certainly cause panic in the palace. Therefore, his thoughts aligned with Li Jin's, and he chose to keep the matter secret.
Moreover, Gu Rushuang's earlier statement about informing Ying Zhengjing was not truly because he believed it couldn't be hidden from him, but rather to leave a path of retreat for himself. This was to prevent others with ulterior motives from using the exposure of Shi Weixu's smallpox research to target him.
Having largely finished discussing Shi Weixu's matter, Gu Rushuang originally intended to dismiss Li Jin. But remembering something he had learned not long ago, he immediately said, "Jin'er, there is something This Palace must tell you."
"Your Majesty, please speak."
"You must be careful of that Successor Princess Consort in the Prince of Dingbei's mansion. This Palace's spies have investigated and found that she has been associating very closely with the mother of Noble Lady Jin, the Third Lady of the Lan family, these past days."
"Thank you for the warning, Your Majesty. Your Subject will remember it."
After speaking.
Li Jin performed a bow to Gu Rushuang.
"Jin'er, your ability to deal with this matter calmly is very good." Seeing that Li Jin did not press for details and remained composed, Gu Rushuang nodded with satisfaction and reminded, "But you must still be vigilant. This Palace believes that these two families, who originally had no interaction, suddenly becoming entangled must have some underlying scheme that we are unaware of. You must guard against it."
"Yes."
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