“Physician Attendant Shen, I have already followed your instructions and completely sorted and isolated those refugees outside the city.”
“They have been properly settled in a royal estate not far from the outskirts of the Capital City. And as you requested, I have also dispatched physicians from the Huimin Hall to assist.”
Xiao Yue’s efficiency was high, and she did not simply isolate the refugees in any random place according to Shen Yu’s epidemic prevention methods.
Instead, she chose a royal estate.
This royal estate was no ordinary place; it was a royal estate for brewing wine, one of the major sources of income for the Private Imperial Treasury.
Located in a prosperous area near the Capital, with convenient transportation, it brought considerable revenue to the Private Imperial Treasury every year.
Xiao Yue had her reasons for choosing this location.
First, she unconditionally trusted Shen Yu.
Second, the estate’s location was not remote and was also important to the imperial family.
This was sending a signal to the outside world: the imperial family and the Imperial Court stood with the afflicted people.
Placing them in the royal estate for treatment demonstrated the Imperial Court’s confidence and carried a sense of decisive determination.
Amidst the noble families’ efforts to create public opinion that the Imperial Court was failing to control the Great Plague effectively, this move undoubtedly salvaged significant face for the Imperial Court.
But success still depended on Shen Yu’s ability.
“Also, I’ve found the cows you were looking for. That method for extracting that… what was it called… right, the vaccine. Are you really going to teach it to others unconditionally?”
Xiao Yue inquired uncertainly.
Even though she was a Grand Princess, she understood that some things couldn’t simply be taken or demanded outright, even by imperial relatives.
If this vaccine could truly prevent the Hundred-Year Sore, for Shen Yu, it would undoubtedly be an achievement worthy of being recorded in the annals of history.
It was also a rare business opportunity…
A life-saving miracle drug, even if sold for several hundred taels of silver, would attract countless people flocking to it.
“Yes. Not only will I teach it to others, but I also want to promote the methods of vaccine extraction and inoculation throughout the entire nation.”
Shen Yu’s expression and eyes were filled with determination, momentarily stunning Xiao Yue into speechlessness.
She was too upright, so upright that Xiao Yue didn’t dare lift her head to look at her directly.
Xiao Yue was still thinking of using Shen Yu’s efforts to create momentum, to salvage the Imperial Court’s reputation, to help the Imperial Court oppose the noble families.
But what Shen Yu was thinking about was simple, just three words: “Save the people!”
If everyone in the entire nation were like Shen Yu, how could the Empire not prosper?
But what Shen Yu said next completely overturned their perception of her…
“Miss Xiaoyue and Yun Wei, you two are different from me. You have backgrounds, you have capabilities. I have a secret remedy for the disease. I didn’t speak of it before because I was insignificant and powerless. Once I announce the vaccine…”
“Once it’s announced, it will quickly be monopolized and controlled by the noble families, becoming a tool for their profit.”
Before Shen Yu could finish, Yun Wei, standing beside her, blurted it out first.
She genuinely admired Shen Yu’s foresight.
To have thought this far ahead, the “Physician’s Benevolent Heart” Shen Yu spoke of had now become fully concrete in Yun Wei’s mind.
It even made Yun Wei secretly pleased; the person she had taken a liking to was indeed extraordinary.
Even though of humble origin, her vision was far-reaching.
“That’s right. With my ability, I cannot promote this vaccine throughout the nation, making it accessible to all the common people.”
“But you two are different. Behind Miss Xiaoyue are the noble families. Behind Yun Wei are the Military Nobles and Marquises. You are both pillars of the Empire. I, Shen Yu, haven’t really done anything remarkable. I merely found this one medicine that can save people. I was just lucky. So, I can only be limited to saving the people before my eyes…”
“But you! You can save everyone in the world, save the Empire that is being ravaged by the Great Plague and teetering on the brink.”
“To turn back the raging tide when it is about to fall, to prop up the great mansion when it is about to collapse.”
As soon as Shen Yu uttered these words, both Xiao Yue and Yun Wei were stunned.
Both of them unconsciously began to ponder the meaning behind Shen Yu’s words.
“To prop up the great mansion when it is about to collapse…”
At this moment, Xiao Yue and Yun Wei’s minds were filled with grand and magnificent scenes.
For a moment, they—young and full of vitality, watching the Empire decline day by day, yearning to achieve something great yet faced with a reality of only confusion and helplessness…
It seemed they had found direction at this very moment!
Shen Yu’s phrase, “To turn back the raging tide when it is about to fall, to prop up the great mansion when it is about to collapse,” undoubtedly voiced the deepest desires in their hearts.
Save the people!
Save the people!
Save the people!
These three words became increasingly clear in their hearts.
In this instant, those noble families no longer seemed like ferocious tigers, and those high officials in the Imperial Court no longer seemed like stumbling blocks on their path forward.
The confused youths had found their direction.
That unparalleled drive could even make mountains bow their heads and rivers change course!
“Physician Attendant Shen’s words, I have remembered them. Firmly remembered them.”
Xiao Yue now genuinely felt admiration for Shen Yu.
Clearly, Shen Yu had contributed the most, yet she remained neither arrogant nor impatient.
She had even unreservedly instilled her sincere conviction into them.
Undoubtedly, Xiao Yue now had to re-evaluate Shen Yu before her.
‘Indeed, someone I have taken a liking to must have exceptional qualities! It’s not just about having a pretty face.’
Xiao Yue muttered to herself softly.
Her brows, usually tense, unconsciously relaxed into a slight smile.
“By His Majesty’s oral decree, summon the eighth-rank Medical Attendant Shen Yu to enter the palace for an audience immediately. So ordered!”
Outside the Huimin Hall, the sound of urgent horse hooves echoed.
Eunuch Li’s figure hurriedly appeared at the entrance of the Huimin Hall.
Before Shen Yu could kneel to receive the decree, several palace maids rushed in and busily began to dress up Shen Yu and Yin Qiu.
“Physician Attendant Shen, His Majesty’s summons is urgent. I brought a few palace maids to help Physician Attendant Shen and your little apprentice tidy up. Meeting His Majesty is a major event; we cannot be careless. Please don’t take offense…”
“Oh, Miss Xiaoyue, Miss Yun, you two are here as well. This servant pays his respects to you both.”
When Eunuch Li saw Xiao Yue, the expression on his face changed immediately, but his reaction was swift, returning to calm almost instantly.
“His Majesty wants to see me?”
Shen Yu was completely bewildered.
She didn’t know why the Empress was looking for her.
She hadn’t done anything.
She had just been discussing epidemic prevention plans with Xiaoyue and Yun Wei.
How could that have prompted the Empress to summon her?
Could it be that her secretly cursing the Empress had been discovered?
No, that couldn’t be.
She had cursed in her heart.
Since arriving in the Capital, to prevent the Fenglin Guards’ spies from eavesdropping, Shen Yu had never once cursed the Empress out loud.
Could her identity have been exposed?
Impossible…
Yun Wei and Miss Xiaoyue hadn’t seen through her identity.
Logically, Grandpa and the others’ disguise should have been very thorough.
Shen Yu was mechanically manipulated by the palace maids, her mind already in complete chaos.
“Physician Attendant Shen, let’s go quickly. We mustn’t keep His Majesty waiting!”