Chapter 159 – Teaching the Doctors to Treat Smallpox

Qi Yanzhou trusted Ye Chutang completely, so he naturally let his guard down around her.

He nodded. “Of course. When I deliver the geese to the Minister’s Residence the day after tomorrow, I’ll bring you the list.”

“Alright, see you then—but don’t come too early. Around mid-morning would be best.”

She had to go to Xinglin Hall at dawn to explain to the doctors how to prevent smallpox.

She also had to speak with Manager Lin about purchasing medicinal herbs, which would take at least an hour.

“Alright, see you then.”

After leaving the teahouse, Ye Chutang found a secluded corner with no one around, entered her space, and changed clothes.

She used her earth-shifting ability to visit the warehouses of various cloth shops, gathering all the cotton and cattail fluff needed for the winter and storing them in her space.

When she saw animal furs, she collected those as well, leaving behind more than enough silver as payment.

By the time she finished, it was already curfew.

Ye Chutang made a trip to the woodworking shop.

The racks, cabinets, and trunks she had ordered were all completed.

Not only was the warehouse full, even the courtyard was piled with furniture.

She stored it all in her space and headed to the Minister’s Residence.

The Ningchu Courtyard was brightly lit.

Ye Jingchuan sat on a chair in the main room, nodding off.

As he was the master of the house, Dan’er was attending to him at his side.

Seeing Ye Chutang enter, she quickly called out, “Young Miss, you’re back!”

The sudden noise startled Ye Jingchuan so much he nearly fell out of his chair.

He stood up and looked at Ye Chutang with displeasure.

Just as he was about to scold them both, Ye Chutang cut him off. “Spare me the nonsense. I’m tired and not in the mood to listen.”

“…”

Knowing he could never win an argument with her, Ye Jingchuan swallowed the scolding words he had ready.

“I’ve already divorced Kong Ru. Consider it my way of making amends to your mother.”

Ye Chutang was long familiar with Ye Jingchuan’s shamelessness and had no interest in entertaining it.

“Get to the point.”

“Chuer, could you ask Prince Chen to spare Zhi’er? He may be foolish and cruel, but he doesn’t deserve to die.”

The Ye family had few members left. He wanted to save his eldest legitimate son to continue the family line.

Ye Chutang let out a mocking laugh.

“Father, have you lost your mind? The Court of Judicial Review is run by the royal family—you should be begging the emperor. Prince Chen is just a lowly assistant minister. He doesn’t have the authority to release a scum who murdered his own mother.”

Filial piety was taken very seriously in Beichen Kingdom—Ye Jingchuan wouldn’t dare bring this matter before the emperor and risk angering him.

“Chuer, as long as Prince Chen persuades the two officials who witnessed the truth to say that Zhi’er was forced to kill his mother, that should be enough.”

That way, Zhi’er would only be flogged thirty times and the matter could be settled.

Ye Chutang poked Ye Jingchuan on the forehead.

“Is your head full of crap? Why should Prince Chen ruin his own reputation to help a scumbag?”

Ye Jingchuan rubbed his sore forehead and shamelessly said, “If you ask him, he definitely would.”

“I want Ye Anzhi dead. There’s no way I’ll help save him. But if you want to save him, there’s one way.”

“What way?”

Ye Chutang leaned in close and lowered her voice. “Kill the emperor. Once the crown prince takes the throne, there’ll be a general amnesty.”

Ye Jingchuan: “…”

What kind of monster did he raise?!

“I’ve told you the way. You may leave now.”

Ye Jingchuan was so angry his chest hurt. He pointed at the tray on the table.

On the tray was a simple red silk bridal veil and some high-quality embroidery thread.

“You’d better stop running around and finish embroidering the veil already.”

“Got it. Now get out.”

After Ye Jingchuan left, Ye Chutang asked Dan’er to draw her a bath.

While adjusting the water temperature, Dan’er nervously asked, “Young Miss, when you marry Prince Chen… will you take us with you to the prince’s estate?”

She and Jinzhi were no longer pure, and thus unfit to be personal maids.

Ye Chutang tied up her hair and replied, “I won’t take you two with me, but I have other plans for you.”

Only officials and their family members were exiled.

Maidservants were usually turned into army prostitutes, while manservants were sent to do hard labor.

Naturally, she wouldn’t let Dan’er and Jinzhi suffer such a fate.

Dan’er felt a bit sad she couldn’t serve her in the prince’s estate, but as long as her mistress didn’t abandon them, that was enough.

“Your servant will obey your arrangements.”

“Go get some rest. The next few days will be very busy.”

“Yes, your servant will take her leave.”

Dan’er shut the bedroom door and went to rest in the east wing.

After bathing, Ye Chutang also went to sleep.

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The Next Day

Around 5:30 a.m.

Ye Chutang woke up and forced herself to get out of bed.

After getting ready, she had a simple breakfast and set out for Xinglin Hall.

Xinglin Hall was closed to customers for the morning—no herbs were being sold.

The main hall was filled with doctors—at least fifty of them.

Even Xue Dong had rushed over from the palace.

Ye Chutang arrived fifteen minutes early, only to find everyone already there, waiting for her.

“Have you all been waiting long?”

Divine Doctor Xue said, “Miss Ye, your medical skills are extraordinary. You’re worth the wait.”

Manager Lin brought over a comfortable grand chair and had the medicine boys place ice basins nearby to keep her cool.

“Miss Ye, shall we begin now or would you prefer to rest a bit first?”

“Let’s start now. The wedding’s coming up—I’m short on time.”

Hearing that, everyone congratulated her.

Not wanting to waste time, Ye Chutang quickly interrupted them. “Let’s get to the point.”

She first explained the origins of smallpox, how it spread, its symptoms, and methods of treatment.

She was so thorough that all the doctors were in awe.

Manager Lin was immensely grateful he had the foresight to arrange for a scribe to write down everything Ye Chutang said.

He asked, “Miss Ye, how can we prevent smallpox?”

“By vaccinating with cowpox.”

Ye Chutang then gave a detailed explanation of how cowpox inoculation could prevent smallpox.

The doctors listened with furrowed brows and turned to Xue Dong.

“Divine Doctor Xue, what do you think?”

Though Xue Dong understood what Ye Chutang was saying, he was skeptical about the cowpox vaccination method.

“It sounds like fighting poison with poison.”

Ye Chutang shook her head. “It’s prevention, not treatment.”

She had long anticipated that her method wouldn’t be easily accepted by the doctors.

After all, cowpox was a form of pox found in cows.

Injecting cowpox into healthy people sounded terrifying no matter how you framed it.

“You probably think I’m speaking nonsense. Then when the next outbreak happens, try this method—who knows, it might work.”

With that, she stood up. “You may all leave now.”

Manager Lin knew she wanted to discuss the matter of medicinal herbs with him and quickly had the medicine boys escort the doctors out.

Most of the doctors felt the meeting had been a waste of time and left disappointed.

But Xue Dong felt that Ye Chutang wasn’t someone who spoke without basis and decided he would find a chance to test her method.