Chapter 77: Lacking Sense of Propriety

Quan Quan Aoyu carried Jun Jun Zijin, using lightness skill to head straight for the Imperial Palace; the wind howled past their ears. Jun Jun Zijin clung tightly to Quan Quan Aoyu's hem, her eyes sparkling, finding it thrilling. In a short while, the towering Imperial Palace appeared before them.

The Seventh Imperial Prince and Quan Quan Aoyu had a good relationship. Jun Jun Zijin decided to first use golden needles to reduce the Seventh Imperial Prince's fever, stabilize his condition, and then go see the Emperor.

The two hurried to Shuihua Palace, where a heavy, oppressive atmosphere hung. Jun Jun Zijin took out her self-made masks, handed one to Quan Quan Aoyu, and put one on herself.

Quan Quan Aoyu asked no questions; he mimicked Jun Jun Zijin's action, putting it on his face to cover his mouth and nose.

The Imperial Physicians saw the Crown Prince had come personally. Though unwilling, they dared not stop Jun Jun Zijin. The anxious Noble Consort Shu, seeing the Crown Prince and Lady Lady Qingping arrive, felt doubt but did not block them; perhaps she could truly save her son. After all, these mediocre physicians were helpless. Hearing Lady Lady Qingping's medical skills were exquisite, it was better to let her try.

Jun Jun Zijin entered the room and saw the windows tightly closed. She frowned, opened a crack in the window, and immediately an old Imperial Physician could not hold back, scolding:

"Audacious! If the Seventh Imperial Prince catches a chill, can a mere girl like you bear the responsibility?"

Jun Jun Zijin smiled faintly, her eyes revealing composure and confidence:

"The Seventh Imperial Prince has a persistent high fever and needs to dissipate heat. The air in this room is stagnant; without ventilation, the heat cannot disperse, which is of no benefit to his condition."

How could the old Imperial Physician tolerate being lectured by a girl? His brows furrowed and his eyes bulged in anger as he shouted:

"Nonsense! If you delay the Prince's condition, you cannot bear the consequences."

Quan Quan Aoyu had long grown tired of this old man and said coldly:

"If she cannot bear it, I will bear it."

Hearing the Crown Prince's words, the old Imperial Physician turned pale. How could he dare speak further? He immediately fell silent.

Jun Jun Zijin spoke no more, quickly walked to the Seventh Imperial Prince's bedside, and saw him with eyes tightly shut, face flushed red, lips cracked, and already unconscious. She reached out and gently placed her hand on the Seventh Imperial Prince's pulse. Moments later, her brows furrowed slightly. Then, from her medicine box, she took out golden needles, disinfected them, and quickly inserted them into acupoints. One by one, the golden needles fell. Everyone watched tensely. Before long, the Seventh Imperial Prince's originally red, scorching face gradually returned to normal temperature, and his breathing became much steadier.

Exclamations of awe rose from those around. Noble Consort Shu saw her son's body temperature drop and that he was clearly in less pain. She was overjoyed inside and hurriedly thanked Jun Jun Zijin. She could not help but ask:

"Lady Lady Qingping, what method is this? It is so miraculous."

Jun Jun Zijin answered respectfully: "Your Ladyship, this daughter uses the method of stimulating acupoints with golden needles. The Seventh Imperial Prince's body temperature is now no longer a major concern, but due to the high fever, he is somewhat dehydrated. Warm water must be given to him slowly; it cannot be too urgent."

Jun Jun Zijin took out a bottle of pills from her medicine box:

"Additionally, these are anti-infection pills. Give them to the Seventh Imperial Prince to take, two pills at a time, three times a day. Once the Seventh Imperial Prince recovers somewhat, first give him light liquid food to boost immunity. There is no special medicine for smallpox, but this daughter has already applied needles to lower the Seventh Imperial Prince's temperature. As long as care is proper, it only requires gradual regulation. Also, the Seventh Imperial Prince must not catch a chill, but the room must be ventilated; it cannot be stuffy."

She took out two more bottles of medicine:

"Your Ladyship, the Seventh Imperial Prince will soon feel itchy. Do not let him scratch. Use this bottle to apply to the affected areas; it will reduce the itching. If the itching is severe, take the pills from this bottle internally: one pill, not exceeding two pills a day. This daughter has already written the usage methods on the bottles."

Jun Jun Zijin gave detailed instructions, and Noble Consort Shu listened carefully. After Jun Jun Zijin finished her instructions, Noble Consort Shu felt grateful inside and said to the Imperial Physicians:

"Did you all hear Lady Lady Qingping clearly? Take good care of the Seventh Imperial Prince. If anything goes wrong, this Palace will show no leniency!"

Among the Imperial Physicians, some were admiring, some were disdainful, and some finally felt relieved to have kept their heads. In any case, they all trembled as they agreed, daring not to be careless.

Having finished handling matters for the Seventh Imperial Prince, the time was already late. Quan Quan Aoyu said: "Your Ladyship, since Jun Zijin has stabilized the Seventh Brother's condition, we must hurry to Father Emperor's place."

He deliberately pointed out to Noble Consort Shu that the improvement in the Seventh Imperial Prince's condition was Jun Jun Zijin's merit, intending for Noble Consort Shu to remember her kindness. How could Jun Jun Zijin not know? She looked at him and blinked; he returned her a doting smile.

In Qianqing Palace, the Emperor sat on the Dragon Throne, discussing countermeasures with a group of Imperial Physicians and several ministers who had arrived early below. But apart from traditional methods, there were no solutions. Quan Quan Wuji's brows were tightly furrowed, Guo Guo Yuanzheng tilted his head, and the ministers shook their heads one after another. Throughout the dynasties, when smallpox epidemics broke out, once infected, one could only wait to die. What methods did they have?

Jun Jun Zijin and Quan Quan Aoyu entered Qianqing Palace. Everyone's gazes turned toward them. A flicker of expectation passed through the Emperor's eyes. After Jun Jun Zijin and Quan Quan Aoyu entered the hall and paid their respects, the Emperor signaled for them to rise and spoke with a Solemn expression:

"This time smallpox is raging, and My heart burns with worry. Crown Prince, as the heir apparent, you cannot stand aside on this matter."

Quan Quan Aoyu and Jun Jun Zijin exchanged a glance; both saw relief in the other's eyes. Fortunately, she had developed the vaccine early; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Quan Quan Aoyu clasped his hands and replied: "Father Emperor, rest assured. Your son will go all out. Lady Lady Qingping has developed a vaccine to counter smallpox; it is only lacking the testing phase."

The Emperor signaled for Jun Jun Zijin to come closer to speak.

After paying her respects, Jun Jun Zijin said calmly and confidently: "Your Majesty, this time smallpox is raging; prevention must be the priority. The vaccine to prevent smallpox has indeed been developed, but testing has not yet begun. However, smallpox spreads rapidly; I fear there will not be time for testing. Those already infected with the smallpox virus cannot receive the smallpox vaccine anymore. But if one successfully receives the smallpox vaccine, one will not be infected with the smallpox virus again. Once infected, treatment is extremely tricky. A large-scale outbreak is even more unimaginable. Therefore, Your Majesty, receiving the smallpox vaccine is the most effective method to control the spread of the smallpox epidemic; it brooks no delay. It must be carried out simultaneously with treating the virus. Additionally, this daughter is willing to teach the Imperial Physicians the fever-reducing needle technique to treat those already infected with the smallpox virus."

Hearing this, Guo Guo Yuanzheng was overjoyed. Which of the Imperial Physicians present did not guard their skills tightly? This girl of the Jun family was indeed worthy of being the descendant of the Divine Physician Fang; she possessed such magnanimity. He hurriedly stepped forward and bowed:

"Lady Lady Qingping is most virtuous. If we can learn this needle technique, it will surely save more patients."

At such a time, even if there were those with unwilling hearts who did not wish to be beneath a woman, by common sense, no one should have cared about a woman like Jun Jun Zijin expressing opinions and directing affairs on the court. But there would always be those without a sense of propriety.

These people might be conservatives with deeply rooted traditional concepts, believing women should stay safely within the boudoir, assisting husbands and raising children, rather than getting involved in political affairs; or they might stem from some with sinister intentions, attempting to make a mountain out of a molehill, disrupting the court order to achieve their own undisclosed goals.

For instance, right now, an old minister exchanged a glance with High Chancellor Gao and stood up.