“It’s not about using people as medicinal ingredients. Let me give you an example. If your hand is cut by something sharp, doesn’t it slowly heal on its own? If you catch a mild cold, can’t you recover slowly even without medicine?”
“These are actually instances of your body healing itself, just at a very slow pace.”
Shen Yu’s explanation had Xiao Yue nodding repeatedly.
It was exactly as Shen Yu said… something so commonplace that almost everyone knew, yet no one had ever studied it like Shen Yu did.
“Then, if the body can heal itself, why does the Hundred-Year Sore still kill people?”
Yun Wei, standing to the side, cautiously asked.
“Because the body’s self-recovery requires time. Just like a cold won’t be cured within an hour, a small cut on the hand takes several days to fully heal.”
“The only drawback of the body’s healing ability is that it’s too slow. So, if we can alleviate the patient’s suffering, preserve their life, and give the body more time, there’s a high probability of recovery from most diseases.”
Shen Yu wasn’t blindly trusting the immune system’s capabilities.
While powerful, it also has significant flaws.
However, the medical conditions of this era were too backward.
Although medicinal herbs were more potent and varied, researching them would take an inordinate amount of time.
Coupled with the rigid hierarchy of traditional medicine that was difficult to overturn, it was understandable for Shen Yu’s treatment plan to rely on the human immune system as its core.
It was a last resort, treating a dead horse as if it were still alive.
“So, this little pill is the key to alleviating the patient’s suffering? I’ve heard that those afflicted with the Hundred-Year Sore often die from the excruciating pain of the sores or from the fever burning them to death. If this little pill can achieve pain relief and fever reduction, it could indeed save many lives.”
Xiao Yue grew more excited the more she looked at the small pill in her hand, even tempted to pop it into her own mouth to taste it first.
After all, in her view, as the Crown Prince, if she took the medicine and was fine, it could then be safely distributed to the suffering people.
But before she could put the pill in her mouth, Shen Yu anticipated her action and grabbed her wrist.
“Miss Xiaoyue, all medicine has some toxicity; you mustn’t take it recklessly.”
Shen Yu’s quick reaction wasn’t just instinct.
Back in Qingfeng Village, many patients’ family members, upon hearing the effects of the prescribed medicine, would instinctively taste it first.
If a healthy person takes medicine randomly, they’ll develop problems even if they had none.
So, Shen Yu had developed a habit of subconsciously guarding against those around her to prevent them from testing the medicine.
“The key isn’t this pill. The key lies in vaccination.”
Shen Yu pointed at the bandage wrapped around Xiao Yue’s arm, her expression serious.
“Ah? That… that would probably be quite difficult to implement, right? After all, cutting open the arms of healthy people and smearing them with something squeezed from cows… ordinary people would find it very hard to accept.”
As the Crown Prince, Xiao Yue had a deeper understanding of the common people and the political situation at court.
The feasibility of Shen Yu’s method was still unknown.
And from what she understood…
Shen Yu wanted to vaccinate the entire nation’s population with this cow, cowpox… whatever vaccine.
If it really worked, it would indeed be a great benefit for the country and its people.
But what Xiao Yue saw wasn’t just the act of saving people and eradicating the Hundred-Year Sore itself.
Rather, she saw a national policy to be implemented across the entire country.
Would the lords at court agree?
Would the noble families agree?
Would the feudal lords agree?
Even if it passed all these hurdles and was truly implemented, after layers of exploitation, how much would actually reach the common people?
How much silver would this cost?
A hundred thousand taels… might just be a drop in the bucket.
Incomplete prevention is no prevention at all.
The Hundred-Year Sore isn’t a natural disaster like a breached dike, a flood, or a drought, where the death toll is confined to one region.
If the Hundred-Year Sore isn’t strictly controlled, countless people will die unseen.
The Imperial Court is anxious, but some are not.
Once Shen Yu’s vaccine is introduced, it would become an absolute “miracle drug.”
Countless people would eye the profits involved, not its life-saving essence.
“But this is a necessary step to cure the Hundred-Year Sore. Every measure I’ve written must be strictly followed.”
While talking with Xiao Yue and the others, Shen Yu had written a lengthy list of prevention and control measures, similar to the epidemic prevention methods she had previously sent to Marquis Dingyuan and Marquis Wuding, but this plan was more suitable for nationwide promotion.
“Sigh, to be honest, we are people of little influence. Court affairs are incredibly complex. As you said, Miss Xiaoyue, even the Emperor can’t bypass the noble families. This epidemic prevention probably sounds like a fantasy.”
“For us, focusing on properly managing the refugees outside the city is the top priority.”
As Shen Yu finished writing the prevention measures, the Fenglin Guards nearby had secretly recorded everything.
What Shen Yu said, what she did, the details of the prevention methods, their effectiveness—all of it was now being covertly investigated by the Fenglin Guards.
In less time than it takes for an incense stick to burn, the epidemic prevention plan Shen Yu had written was already lying on the Empress’s desk.
BANG!
Inside the Imperial Study, the Empress was furious.
Her charming face, bearing a mature allure, was clouded with anger.
Her delicate hand tightly clenched the report presented by the Fenglin Guards, torn between wanting to tear it apart and being reluctant to do so.
Finally, this lofty Empress, in a fit of rage, raged for a moment.
Her ample bosom heaved continuously, the phoenix pattern on her chest seemingly swelling a size larger before settling back to normal as she took a deep breath.
“Oh dear, Your Majesty, please calm your anger. What does Physician Attendant Shen know? She’s just a twenty-year-old brat. Consider her words childish nonsense. What she said…”
Eunuch Li, standing nearby, hurriedly offered the Empress a cup of calming hot tea.
His words trailed off, stuck, because what Shen Yu said was the truth.
The reason Her Majesty was so angry was because Shen Yu had touched a sore spot.
The noble families… the Emperor truly didn’t have a great way to deal with them.
“You are the Son of Heaven, the supreme ruler whose word is law. Epidemic prevention is a great benefit for the country and its people. The Fenglin Guards have investigated Physician Attendant Shen’s method, and this servant has also had people test it. It truly has its uses.”
“Physician Attendant Shen is a rare talent. You mustn’t hold it against her. Keeping her would be of great use to the court.”
Eunuch Li pleaded earnestly, fearing the Empress might order Shen Yu’s execution in her anger.
But the Empress, her face stern, was intently studying the report in her hand, paying no heed to Eunuch Li.
“This Shen Yu indeed has ideas. No wonder she caught Yue’er’s eye. I truly never expected that a remote farming family could produce such a prodigy.”
As the Empress spoke these words, she instinctively glanced at Yao Huan, the Thousand Household of the Fenglin Guards kneeling before her with bowed head.
Yao Huan didn’t dare look up, feeling cold sweat pouring down her back.
“Your Majesty’s imperial grace is vast and mighty. Under the Emperor’s feet, even humble places shine, producing a few geniuses is not strange.”
Yao Huan cautiously flattered the Empress.
“Hmm, this thing called a vaccine… I am curious. To make all those not yet afflicted with the Hundred-Year Sore forever free from its threat… isn’t that the legendary miracle drug?”
“If that’s truly the case, I would like to lead by example and test it for the people’s sake.”
“Absolutely not!”
Eunuch Li and Yao Huan immediately kowtowed.
“Your Majesty, your priceless body must not…”
“I said… summon that Shen Yu to the palace. Have her perform her miraculous technique on me as well.”
The Empress’s expression instantly darkened, her imposing pressure making everyone present feel suffocated…