The footsteps within the Imperial Hospital were tangled and chaotic.
"What's going on? What's happened?"
Many imperial physicians who were still at home were called back, some still reeking of alcohol, wondering whom they were to treat. The people who summoned them said nothing, mysteriously arriving at the Imperial Hospital, only to see quite a few soldiers standing about, each with a solemn expression.
"Could it be that a noble from the imperial palace has had an accident?" speculated one of the imperial physicians.
While they were talking, they saw Lord Fang from the Five Cities Military Department and Imperial Physician Jiang coming out from inside. Their expressions were also solemn.
"Gentlemen, please follow me," Imperial Physician Jiang told the other doctors.
"What's happened, Lord?" one of the imperial physicians asked.
But Imperial Physician Jiang did not answer.
"Let's go and see first," he said.
The imperial physicians had no choice but to follow in confusion, not towards the speculated locations such as the imperial palace or a noble's residence, but straight out of the city.
It was only when they reached the city gate did the physicians realize that it was, in fact, closed.
"It's not time to close the gates yet, is it?" the imperial physicians couldn't help but check the sky.
Plus, during festivals and holidays, the city gates would not be closed.
What on earth had happened?
Commander Fang gestured to the garrison, and one side of the city gate was opened. The doctors walked out, puzzled, and before they could make out the situation, they heard a wave of clamor.
The noise included old and young, men and women, intermixed with sobbing and the thud of knees hitting the ground.
The physicians were startled, only then noticing the dense crowd gathered outside the city gate.
What had happened?
"Lord Jiang, please take a look at these people," said Commander Fang, pointing to the civilians.
Imperial Physician Jiang turned to look at the other physicians.
"Everyone, take a look and see what illnesses these people have," he said.
Could it be that all of these people were sick? What illness would cause so many to suddenly appear? The physicians approached with looks of surprise on their faces.
The civilians surged forward, and the physicians examined them. Although the people varied in age and gender, they all either held or carried children. The children, too, were of varying ages, either unconscious or listless; spots and pustules erupted on the exposed parts of their faces.
Just by seeing these pustules, the physicians stopped, shocked.
There was no need to look further; these were clearly smallpox.
"This is just one city gate; the other four are the same," said Commander Fang. "Are you certain these are smallpox?"
Imperial Physician Jiang looked towards the other physicians.
"Of course, it is," the physicians replied in unison, their expressions still one of shock, "How did so many smallpox patients come to the capital? Aren't quarantined patients not allowed to leave?"
The accumulation of so many patients in the capital was truly terrifying.
Commander Fang evidently realized the gravity of the situation; upon receiving the physicians' diagnosis, he immediately made a decision without hesitation.
"Quickly drive them away and seal off the capital," he said.
The already-prepared soldiers shouted in unison and stepped forward.
Hearing this response, the civilians fell to their knees, knocking their foreheads on the ground and begging.
"Please, lords, let us into the city."
"Please, lords, let us find the divine doctor to save our lives."
Countless voices pleaded.
The physicians suddenly understood why these people had come to the capital. The news that Prince Huai had contracted smallpox had spread before the end of the year, and by now, the news that someone had cured Prince Huai's smallpox must also have spread.
They couldn't help but turn their heads to look towards the city, their expressions becoming weird and complicated.
Now there would be a spectacle to see.
.......................
Seventh Chen sat in Jiuling Hall, watching the pile of appointment notes on the desk.
"Oh, the worry," he said, tapping the table.
Two apprentices bustling nearby laughed.
"Shopkeeper, it's the New Year; what's there to worry about?" they said.
As they spoke, their hands kept moving, placing each newly made medicine into the medicine cabinet before going on to prepare more.
This was a craft, and Sister Liu'er had said not to look down on washing and cutting medicine—claiming to be Jiuling Hall's unique secret technique could be worth a fortune in the future.
The two apprentices finally realized what this meant. Miss Jun was a divine doctor, and they could be considered disciples of a divine doctor—an honor not everyone could claim. Moreover, they weren't just bearing a title; Miss Jun was actually teaching them how to prepare medicinal materials personally.
This craft would be passed down to their descendants.
Without a hint of complaint, the apprentices were full of eagerness and extremely grateful to be working in Jiuling Hall.
"I'm worried about which family to visit first among so many," Seventh Chen said.
The two assistants laughed.
"That's for Miss Jun to worry about, isn't it?" they said.
Seventh Chen coughed.
"Whether to treat someone or not once I'm there is for Miss Jun to decide; which family to visit first is up to me," he said.
Otherwise, why would those servants who came to deliver invitation cards be so respectful, each of them addressing him as Master Chen?
Master Chen, indeed. He, Seventh Chen, was known to everyone in Yangcheng, where they all called him Xiaoqi. Yet, in just half a year since arriving in the capital, not only did everyone know him, but he was also revered as a master.
Seventh Chen picked up a teacup from aside and took a sip, but Manager Liu was right—the relationships among the nobles of the capital were intricate and complex, and not to be taken lightly. He had to consider carefully.
With this in mind, he put down his cup and seriously picked up a visiting card, just as he was about to consider who this person was and what their ancestors had done to establish the family, someone burst through the door.
"It's bad, it's really bad," the person shouted loudly.
Seventh Chen jumped in fright.
"What now?" He put down the visiting card and looked at the newcomer.
He recognized the man—it was an assistant from De Sheng Chang.
"Manager Chen, it's bad, a lot of people have come from outside the city," the assistant said, panting, "They're all looking for Miss Jun."
Seventh Chen exhaled and smoothed his sleeve.
"Call me Manager Chen," he said, "What's so strange about people looking for Miss Jun?"
"Those people all have smallpox," the assistant said, "There are so many of them, all bringing children with smallpox. Now the city gates are closed, and there is public panic inside."
Seventh Chen tensed up, just about to speak.
"Smallpox?" Miss Jun's voice came from behind him.
They turned around to see Miss Jun walking out from the inner room.
"Yes, Miss," the assistant said, "A lot of people have come from all directions, and even more are rushing here from afar, all seeking Miss Jun's treatment for smallpox."
"After Miss cured Prince Huai and the Empress Dowager rewarded her like that, it looks like everyone has heard," Seventh Chen said, looking at Miss Jun, "But this is nothing to fuss over, just smallpox."
If Miss could cure Prince Huai, then smallpox wouldn't be a big deal.
Miss Jun uttered, "Hmm."
"Smallpox, huh," she said, her expression slightly grave.
...
"It's smallpox, huh."
A burst of laughter erupted in a room at the Imperial Hospital before it was quickly stifled.
It really wasn't good to laugh at this time.
The imperial physicians all covered their mouths, holding back laughter and putting on solemn expressions.
"The people in the city have already heard the news," one imperial physician said, "It's chaos. They've even surrounded the Capital City Office."
"We must not allow these smallpox patients to enter the city, they must be expelled immediately," another physician said, "It's too dangerous, there are so many children in the capital."
"Fear what?" Imperial Physician Jiang said, "We have Miss Jun in the capital."
"But Miss Jun has rules about treating illness," an imperial physician said with a hint of sympathy, "Many children's lives probably aren't worth a fortune."
Of course, this sympathy wasn't for Miss Jun, but for those penniless and unqualified civilians who couldn't afford Miss Jun's treatment.
To the common people, all lives are sacred, but unfortunately, in the eyes of Miss Jun, this physician, there are classes and ranks.
What good is a physician who has no compassion, even if she has the skill to heal? Even with the protection of the nobility, do you understand what public opinion is? Do you know how terrifying public opinion can be?
The physicians exchanged glances once more and burst into great laughter.
Just then, someone rushed in, interrupting the laughter.
"Master, the emperor has ordered Miss Jun to treat the smallpox patients outside the city," Doctor Geng said.
Since the emperor had given orders, Miss Jun could no longer be selective with her rules.
There was a moment of silence in the room, and then Imperial Physician Jiang stroked his hand.
"Well, that's good. The emperor is benevolent and the common people will be saved," he said.
The imperial physicians also stood up with a relieved look on their faces.
"Let's wait for Miss Jun to save the people and eradicate the smallpox disaster," they said, "This is truly a great deed."
After that, everyone exchanged glances again and burst into louder laughter, and some had to lean on the desks and chairs, laughing so hard that they couldn't straighten their backs.
This time, Imperial Physician Jiang too began to laugh, twirling his mustache, his eyes brimming with mockery and pleasure.
Previously, you cunningly took advantage of the situation to use Prince Huai's cold disguised as smallpox to make a name for yourself, now the retribution has come.
You can cure smallpox, then go cure it; let's see you treat your fill.