Chapter 33: with translation of chapter title

Eunuch 40 (the young emperor's ascension)

Li Mingzhi and Lu Shixian pored over documents for three days, staying up until their eyes were bloodshot, and finally found relevant records about smallpox.

After carefully reading it through, Li Mingzhi was overjoyed, clutching the medical scroll like a treasure, and said, "I will immediately find a cow with pox to test this."

Lu Shixian stopped him, speaking with deep meaning: "Your Highness, why not have the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Office conduct the test?"

Li Mingzhi was first startled, then realized, and performed a disciple's bow to Lu Shixian, saying, "Master, you are absolutely right."

As a prince, he needed to learn to command subordinates; personally conducting such a test would not earn his father's appreciation but would instead make the emperor think his vision was lacking.

Li Mingzhi reflected on himself; he ought to grow accustomed to his identity as a prince—he was no longer the helpless child in the Cold Palace who had to do everything himself.

Because of the Cat God, the imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Office greatly valued the Fifteenth Prince; they would not refuse whatever he asked them to do.

These physicians had just cured countless smallpox patients and were finally able to withdraw from the clinic when they saw the Fifteenth Prince approach; after hearing his words, they all looked puzzled.

"If we take pox from a cow and inoculate a person, will they never get smallpox again?"

The physicians pored over medical texts while researching, and finally concluded: This method is feasible!

Upon hearing this, the Fifteenth Prince, who had been watching the Imperial Medical Office, rushed over and immediately bared his arm, saying, "This method I found; let me be the one to test it."

This clear, pure, and beautiful youth, as lovely as a spring day, faced this matter concerning all the people without the slightest hesitation, bravely testing it on himself.

The physicians knelt in fear and trepidation, saying, "This must not be done! Your Highness the Fifteenth, we always test on condemned prisoners first."

How could we let a noble prince test something whose success is unknown? If anything went wrong, even a hundred lives would not be enough to compensate.

The physicians could see that the Fifteenth Prince had a child's sincere heart; he was not saying this just for show.

Precisely because of this, it is all the more precious, and they are even more unwilling to let the Fifteenth Prince come to harm.

The imperial household had finally produced a prince who cared for the common people; they certainly did not want this prince to come to ruin.

Li Mingzhi hurriedly helped the physician up, feeling remorseful, and said, "I was rash; I asked the Cat God, and it said this method was good, so I believed it and…" He apologetically told the physicians, "You are right—we truly need to test first on condemned prisoners."

For the condemned prisoners, testing drugs is a good thing; since they are destined to die anyway, if they cooperate in the trial, their families can receive some silver, which can be considered their final contribution.

Upon hearing this, the physicians were invigorated, eager to conduct the trial immediately; since the Cat God said the method works, it surely does!

By then, they would not only cure smallpox but also prevent it—this would be an unprecedented great achievement!

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When the cowpox trial succeeded, good news came from all over Liang; smallpox was finally brought under control.

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Next came the time to distribute credit; the treatment of smallpox involved not only physicians, but also the Ministry of Revenue allocating funds to buy medicine, the Five City Military Command maintaining order, and so on—all deserved recognition.

Emperor Liang Kang laughed heartily at the court assembly, telling everyone that not only could smallpox be treated, but it could even be prevented.

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This time the old emperor did not bury his son's achievement; if the cure's prescription was due to the Cat God, the emperor could still shamelessly claim the credit, but this preventive method was sought out by the young Fifteenth Prince himself, and it is truly his achievement.

Moreover, now that the smallpox affair has just subsided, publicizing it is precisely the time to boost the Fifteenth Prince's reputation.

The officials flattered, saying the emperor had raised a fine son, yet inwardly they sighed, seeing that the emperor had already made up his mind—the position of crown prince was destined for the Fifteenth Prince.

Officials from humble backgrounds wore smiles on their faces, while those from aristocratic families felt bitter inside.

Even now, when people speak of smallpox they still feel lingering fear; the Fifteenth Prince discovered a method to prevent smallpox, and once this spreads, the hearts of the people across the world will largely turn to him—how could they later oppose the Fifteenth Prince?

"There are still more benefits," the old foxes in the court said with beaming faces, spreading the good news: "I heard that smallpox has also been found in the northwestern Hu lands; our envoys have already used the smallpox prescription to negotiate a withdrawal with the Hu people and signed a treaty, forbidding invasion for ten years."

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"Furthermore, the steppes produce no medicinal herbs, so we can also sell medicinal materials to them, easing the pressure on the national treasury."

Having gotten an emperor who loves to squander money on women, with the princes embezzling military pay, the army is on the verge of chaos—this money is truly a timely rain.

The old emperor also tacitly approved this; he knows the consequences of an unstable army, and anything concerning the safety of his dragon throne is a major matter.

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After the results of the trial led by the Imperial Medical Office were announced, the Fifteenth Prince was the first to step forward and receive cowpox inoculation.

Immediately after, the imperial consorts—Guifei, Yuefei, and Shufi, among the palace concubines—followed suit.

The young princes followed closely, also receiving the inoculation; after the old emperor himself was inoculated, the entire court of civil and military officials, together with their families, promptly followed and received cowpox.

By this point, the common people were eager to get inoculated; even the nobles in the palace and those high officials dared to get inoculated, proving its safety—what else could they hesitate about?

Moreover, the physicians had said that after cowpox inoculation one might develop a fever, but would never contract smallpox again for life.

The Imperial Medical Office had only so many staff; it was impossible to send them all out to inoculate the populace, so they simply summoned all the physicians of the capital, taught them the inoculation method, and invited them to join this great deed that would go down in history.

Furthermore, physicians from elsewhere flocked to the capital to learn the inoculation method.

Not long after, physicians throughout Liang inoculated the people, telling them that this method had been found by the Fifteenth Prince after searching ancient texts.

For a time, the Fifteenth Prince's prestige soared, second only to the emperor.

"I heard that the Fifteenth Prince was the first to step forward for inoculation, and he told the physicians, as a member of the imperial family, let him lead… the troops?" The person relaying the story was not quite sure of the idiom's meaning, adding, "What the Fifteenth Prince meant was that he would go first to confirm whether there was any danger before allowing us commoners to be inoculated."

"The Fifteenth Prince loves the people as his own children; he is completely unlike the Grand Princess."

The common people whispered, "If only the Fifteenth Prince were the crown prince."

"I heard that those aristocratic clans don't much like the Fifteenth Prince, apparently because his maternal lineage is of humble origin, and moreover he consistently favors us commoners."

"I know this; word from the palace says that someone keeps trying to poison the Fifteenth Prince, but fortunately he has a divine cat that descended from the heavens beside him, saving him—does this not indicate that heaven looks favorably upon him?"

The matter of the Cat God had been spread by the emperor several years earlier; before, the commoners treated it as a joke, not taking it seriously, merely muttering under their breath that the emperor was stingy—how much could one cat eat? Going to the Imperial Kitchen to eat something, they actually had to take out their own silver to buy it.

Only when the Cat God produced the prescription for curing smallpox did this remedy begin to earn money from the Hu people.

Now the common people have taken it to heart, and privately they have even built shrines; the only thing troubling them is the name they chose.

"Other people's Heavenly Hound has such a mighty name! Why is the Cat God called something like 'little one'? This name is really…"

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When the system learned that the common folk had built a shrine for it, it was overjoyed; it could feel waves of merit flowing toward it, and at that moment it wept with joy.

All these years of hard work helping the host with tasks and raising children have truly been worth it!

With so much merit, it could buy at least ten skins! The dog host is stingy—making him buy a skin and still being nitpicky!

Now it can not only buy one for itself, but also buy one to give to the cute system sis!

The common people of Great Liang are really too polite, even calling me the Unified Cat God—what merit do I have? The system let out a rippling meow.

Jiang He's mouth twitched. Unified Cat God? Stab the Cat God?

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Riding this eastern wind, Li Mingzhi, at age thirteen, was finally made crown prince by Emperor Liang Kang, and the whole nation rejoiced.

Everyone in court was pleased; the thirteen-year-old crown prince, though still a bit childish, was lovable, approachable, and very eager to learn—so much so that all his tutors spoke well of him.

The following year, when the crown prince turned fourteen, Emperor Liang Kang suddenly suffered a stroke, and Consort Yue, overcome with grief, also collapsed; a few days later news of her death spread.

The crown prince was overcome with grief, fainting several times, and everyone praised him for his pure filial piety.

The crown prince observed mourning by counting months instead of years; after three months of mourning, he ascended the throne, and history calls him the Holy Martial Emperor.

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"Oh, counting months instead of years!" the Noble Consort sneered, "What filial piety!"

She was almost dying of anger; she never expected that a person would be so different before and after gaining power—it turned out everything before was just an act for them.

What's even more frightening is that the young emperor is only fourteen! To have such scheming and tactics at fourteen—how could it not make one feel chilled and fearful?

The Virtuous Consort, deep in thought, said, "I always feel something is off."

Consort Yue died quickly, was buried quickly, the young emperor's grief came and went just as fast—it seemed like a show for outsiders.

"There's nothing wrong!" the Noble Consort snapped angrily, "Even if he becomes emperor, I'll still say he's a wolf-hearted dog-lunged wretch! How much suffering and sin did Consort Yue endure for this son? He's just an unfilial child!"

The Noble Consort regarded Consort Yue as a sister; seeing the young emperor behave this way, how could she not feel heartbroken for her, and in turn also be angry at the young emperor.

The Virtuous Consort still felt something was off, but she really couldn't pinpoint what.

After thinking, she proposed, "Why don't we go see the Retired Emperor?"

The Noble Consort gave a cold snort and said in a sarcastic tone, "Of course we should go look—seeing him in such a miserable state even improves my appetite."

The Virtuous Consort also felt her appetite improve; Emperor Liang Kang, now the Retired Emperor, lies in bed with only his eyes able to move—watching him is quite satisfying.

I heard the Second Prince also can only move his eyes; the Seventh and Eighth Princes soon suffered strokes as well and became paralyzed—truly like father like son, their pitiful states are so similar, is this what you call 'son follows father'?

The Noble Consort almost burst out laughing, "It's the son who became paralyzed first; shouldn't it be 'father follows son'?"

The Virtuous Consort also laughed, thinking the Noble Consort's remark was extremely indecent, yet she liked it.

When they spoke of the Grand Princess, they added, "And the Grand Princess and her husband are also 'father follows daughter'?"

After the Grand Princess and her husband suffered strokes, now they too can only move their eyes.

The Noble Consort naturally believed her, and she said to the doubtful Virtuous Consort, "Afu's luck has always been good; many people she befriends seem unremarkable at first, but later prove to be of excellent character… To say nothing else, Afu is absolutely top-notch at judging people."

Old Heaven·Jiang He said: Other methods are just heavenly thunderbolts or ordinary death—lacking creativity, I'm really embarrassed!

The fourteen-year-old young emperor entered the eyes of these aristocratic clans; at this age, a young emperor is exactly when youths admire the talented—his household's daughters, nieces, and granddaughters are of comparable age, and if he takes a fancy to one, it's a straight rise to power—no need to be crown princess, she can become empress directly!

Shameless women's elders: hold your breath!

The man patted her back, saying nothing.

After becoming pregnant, Jiang Yuner's thoughts keep coming one after another.

No, the young emperor's throne is already secure.

Especially those clans—if they can't beat him or poison him to death, they just join him.

The tall man beside her half-supported, half-embraced her, and softly coaxed, "Yuner, you're pregnant now—don't get too excited."

This Old Heaven really lacks creativity—how can the punishments for father and son, daughter and son-in-law be exactly the same? Can't we change the method of punishment?

The aristocrats present felt bitter in their hearts; those they ought to have offended have already been offended, they haven't forgotten the poisoning incidents, and surely the young emperor hasn't either.

Where did the remaining third go? Of course they were all slaughtered by this killing god!

Actually, no one knows whether his assassin was from the clans, but the common folk believed it, and the soldiers in the army believed it too.

The other clan heads all felt uneasy: "Who knows who taught him this—so young, yet white-faced and black-hearted, recruiting generals and ministers."

The tall, mountain-like man thought of something, paused his hand supporting hers, and solemnly said, "If you don't trust the emperor, you should at least trust your master."

Even crippled, he can still make soldiers wholeheartedly obey—Jiang family's Ninth Lang; if the dog emperor hadn't done away with his lackeys, Jiang Ninth Lang would surely be a shining general of Liang!

The whole capital seemed to be permeated with a bloody smell.

In private, they gathered together to complain.

Oh, the grandson of Jiang Su, the son of Jiang Lang, and still the ninth one...

Even the former Emperor Liang Kang wouldn't dare act like this—who gave him the gall?

"Really impressive," she sighed, "Jiang Ninth Lang commands troops like a god; I can't think of any contemporary general who could dispose of so many aristocratic clans in such a short time."

No, what's frightening is the young emperor—this must be his order! He's only how old? Just fourteen, and already he kills like crazy!

Jiang He didn't kill anyone himself, but he commanded the troops, moving them as if they were his own arms—thus he led the suppression of the clans.

On the other side, the stroke-stricken Retired Emperor, upon learning his son had slaughtered so many clans and after clearing the Jiang family's name, couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood.

The Noble Consort asked, "Ah Fu, you really don't know the identity of Xiaohezi?"

These clans learned for the first time that the young emperor's mouth could be so venomous.

As long as we slack off, the court will be paralyzed! Then we'll definitely make the young emperor beg and plead before we come out of retirement!

Wait, Jiang Su? Jiang Lang? Why do these names sound so familiar?

Jiang He held his sword, stepped out of a great gate, laughing as he flicked the blood off the blade, gazing toward Huangong with deep meaning.

Regardless of what the Noble Consort and Virtuous Consort think, ever since the Fifteenth Prince ascended the throne, because the emperor is young, quite a few people have begun to harbor designs.

A eunuch, yet he can make those troops wholeheartedly obey—his talent for commanding troops is truly impressive.

In a certain mansion in the capital, a lovely young lady heard the discussion outside, and unknowingly her eyes filled with tears.

Jiang Yuner immediately reacted, wiping away her tears, "Yes, yes, Ninth Lang is so smart, Mingzhi will definitely be fine!" She lowered her hand to gently touch her slightly protruding belly, full of tenderness, "If Mingzhi knew he had younger siblings, he would surely be delighted."

The young emperor's gaze swept over the ministers with varied thoughts in the hall, and he coldly snorted in his heart.

Ah Fu still hasn't come to his senses yet.

At this moment, the Noble Consort and the Virtuous Consort wore strange expressions, the two stared at each other, not knowing what to say for a moment, and simply kept staring at Ah Fu.

In the first year of his ascension, this young emperor skillfully exploited the conflict between the aristocratic clans and the commoners, drawing the commoners over to his side; while the old foxes watched coldly, wanting to test the emperor's nature, the young emperor was assassinated by the aristocratic clans.

Jiang Yuner worried about the children in the palace and her two close friends, yet she did not realize that the situation was completely unlike what she had imagined.

It was not that there was no resistance, but since speed is essential in warfare, the resisters were suppressed in the shortest possible time.

Jiang He said nonchalantly, "Rest assured, rest assured! This bit of merit is no problem; I've already had Mingzhi send people to plant potatoes and cotton, and once they sprout, a wave of merit will immediately come in."

Jiang Ninth Lang was forced into the palace after being hunted by the dog emperor; the palace punishment is a great disgrace for a man, and aside from the deceased Jiang Yuner, the Jiang family has no descendants, truly cut off.

When the brave soldiers stormed the gates of the aristocratic clans everywhere to capture the culprits, the once-powerful clans were filled with cries of slaughter and rivers of blood, and that group of old foxes finally were shocked.

Looking at this eunuch dressed in military uniform, with fair skin and beautiful features, lips red and teeth white, yet it is said that the people he killed have dyed the moat's water red.

Mingzhi values emotions; the two consorts misunderstand him, so he will surely feel upset.

Moreover, some officials muttered in their hearts; when they came to their senses, each gasped in shock, nearly losing decorum in the hall.

As the retired emperor seemed about to die, a handsome youth, as sharp as a sword, stepped into his sleeping quarters, stuffed a pill into the emperor's mouth, and miraculously revived the retired emperor.

Now the entire court truly resembled a tsunami flood, as if a corner of the sky had been torn away, with all civil and military officials seemingly witnessing the waters of the heavenly river pouring down.

"How infuriating! The commoners led by Lu Shixian have all turned to the young emperor; we can't even hold them hostage now!"

In the past, the grand court assemblies were full of officials; now only two-thirds can attend court!

Although he had some guesses about what his master was doing, he found it hard to speak plainly.

"How could I not be excited? Mingzhi said he would seek justice for the Jiang family; I thought I'd have to wait a long time, I never expected…" Jiang Yuner was happy then anxious, "Mingzhi has only just taken office; will his doing this put him in danger?"

Those old corrupt officials who sit on the toilet without defecating had better retire quickly; it's a time for new people and a new atmosphere.

She is a bit silly, never imagining that the sworn brother she met on a whim in the palace could actually be a descendant of the Jiang family? Moreover, not long ago he led troops to slaughter the aristocratic clans, to the point his hands went soft?

Therefore, Little River Boy is definitely not a bad person!

At this moment she again felt some worry, "I heard the Noble Consort and the Virtuous Consort are still angry with Mingzhi." She sighed, "Now perhaps we can tell them the truth."

The reputation of the Holy Martial Emperor for loving slaughter began in the year Li Mingzhi ascended the throne.

Jiang He stood in the great hall, his expression solemn, "Your subject, grandson of Jiang Su, son of Jiang Lang—Jiang Ninth Lang pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

Watching his merit points drop rapidly, he merely frowned slightly, and the System Cat's shriek echoed in his mind: "Wuu wuu wuu, host, you can't kill anymore; your merit has been deducted to zero!"

He went through the motions with the system in his mind, his face showing no expression, passing through the panicked officials to stand before the young emperor.

The Virtuous Consort stared blankly for a while, then finally sighed.

The young emperor's little mouth chatters nonstop; those officials of commoner origin, lacking experience, are swayed by the grand promises he paints, and would gladly lay down their lives and shed their blood for him, immediately creating an era of peace and prosperity.

"I don't know!" Ah Fu merely had a vague feeling that this sworn brother was no ordinary pond-dweller; who would have thought he'd truly transformed into a dragon?

"……"

Gazing toward the palace, Jiang Yuner murmured, "I always feel that Ninth Lang hastened his steps because I am pregnant; he wants my unborn child to bear the Jiang name openly, so he can go and pay respects to the Jiang ancestors."

The troops of the northwestern and southeastern armies are already in the young emperor's grasp; if we do not now eliminate a batch of the aristocratic clans, who are like giant rats, it will be difficult to kill them later.

The Noble Consort's expression was complex: "That's because Ninth Lang comes from the Jiang family, a family that handles troops like a god and specializes in producing generals!"

"You've forgotten, the tutors who taught the emperor all praised him as extraordinarily intelligent." The aristocratic clan head speaking said with bitterness, "I previously didn't believe it, but I never expected that this child, at only fourteen years old, would be like a tiger descending from the mountain, his momentum already formed."

Thus, someone tentatively asked the emperor whether he wanted to hold a selection of concubines. The young emperor, who had not yet grown a beard and whose face still bore baby fat, gave a half-smile: "My body hasn't even fully grown yet, and there are already shameless women who want to defile me?"

They stared wide-eyed at this scene, feeling as if the world before them had collapsed and split apart.

She has always been very interested in military strategy, and she does not know whether Ninth Lang will be willing to exchange military knowledge with her in the future.

At this moment, the young emperor personally stepped down from the dragon throne, using both hands to help the youth up, his expression solemn: "Uncle, you have worked hard!"

Those officials who had ties to the aristocratic clans but whose crimes did not merit death, and who cleverly severed those relations, couldn't help but curse in their hearts: "So many officials have died; I wonder how Your Majesty expects the court to keep functioning!"

Now the imperial physicians are constantly going in and out, busy with rescue efforts.

Thinking of this, the Noble Consort also felt somewhat uneasy in her heart.

As soon as these words were spoken, the officials in the hall couldn't help but feel a bit dazed, then immediately stared in surprise.

Those aristocratic clans, having been parasites for so many years—leaving aside other talents, they are absolutely first in greed for life and fear of death; the guards they secretly keep are certainly not few, and some even maintain private troops, yet they never imagined that upon first encounter they would be completely cleaned up by Ninth Lang.

Wuu wuu wuu, how terrifying!

She doesn't mind at all bowing to a child younger than herself as her teacher.

Because of Jiang He's words, it was like splashing a ladle of water into a boiling oil pot—the entire court exploded!

They're all a bunch of idiots; over these years, Uncle has been cultivating talent, and as long as we hold out for three months, new people will soon fill the ranks.

The officials in the hall were nearly scared to death by him; they never dreamed that one day they would be frightened by a eunuch, feeling that this eunuch was like a killing god incarnate.

"It seems that from now on we can only be turtles that shrink their heads."

As fellow military officers, no one knows the character of the Jiang family better than her natal kin; they were loyal to the sovereign and patriotic, yet were framed by the dog emperor; now the grievance has a source and a debt a creditor, so don't blame Ninth Lang for wanting revenge.

The young emperor's throne isn't even secure yet, and he dares to move against the aristocratic clans?

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