Those who had been vaccinated with cowpox saw their conditions ease. Combined with the Sanwei decoction, they recovered significantly within seven days. This greatly encouraged the imperial physicians, as it indicated that smallpox finally had an antidote, and they, in this generation of imperial physicians, had finally found a way to treat this difficult disease.
Qi Xuan was meticulous in his approach to treating patients, ensuring that each one recovered. He dedicated considerable effort to the experimental patients receiving the cowpox inoculation.
They were provided with good food and drink, their pulses were checked twice daily, and efforts were made to keep them relaxed and happy, almost as if they were being treated like revered ancestors.
Hard work paid off. After more than half a month, the first patient to contract smallpox recovered. He was lively and energetic, even appearing fairer and plumper than before he fell ill.
All the sick were housed in a single residence. Upon hearing that smallpox had been cured, the surviving patients, their desire for life rekindled, clamored for treatment.
Within the palace.
Fan Zehao, upon learning that the patients had been cured, wept tears of joy. In just over a month, so much gray had appeared in his hair. He finally felt a sense of relief.
"Wife, this is wonderful news. The common people can finally be saved and will no longer suffer from smallpox. I must reward these imperial physicians handsomely; they are all great contributors!"
Fan Zehao, crying like a child, embraced Zhao Jiaqi, his nose and eyes running, before saying, "The imperial physicians deserve rewards, but Junjun also deserves them. This idea was Junjun's in the first place. You mustn't show favoritism!"
Zhao Jiaqi seized the opportunity to advocate for Junjun, stating that while she might not have borne the brunt of the work, she certainly deserved credit.
Fan Zehao wiped the tears from his face and nodded his head heavily. "Wife, what do you think we should reward our daughter with?"
Gold, silver, treasures, jade, antiques, rare and precious items – the national treasury was abundant with them. As long as Junjun desired them, ten carriage loads would be no problem.
Zhao Jiaqi hadn't considered any specific rewards.
As for wealth, the Fan family was in business. Junjun's dowry upon marriage was so extensive that it could be seen for miles, even twenty miles away.
Furthermore, Junjun was not a person who coveted wealth; she was a thoughtful girl.
"How about this? Since Junjun is about to be married, let's elevate her princess title further! When she marries, Zongsheng Kingdom will also know how highly we regard our adopted daughter!"
Fan Zehao was now confused by his wife's suggestion.
"Junjun is already a princess. We haven't treated her any differently. How can her princess title be elevated?"
Wouldn't she still be a princess no matter what?
Zhao Jiaqi shook her head. Based on her understanding of Yun Kingdom's laws, the eldest legitimate princess was called a "Gulun Princess."
This "Gulun Princess" title should have belonged to Yu Meng. However, the Fan family had no intention of ruling the realm, so a mere title meant little to them.
Moreover, their daughter would not marry into another kingdom to become an empress. This title was merely an appendage for Meng Meng.
But for Junjun, it would signify an exceptionally noble status, especially in Zongsheng Kingdom.
"Why don't we officially confer upon Ren Junying the title of Gulun Princess and hold the most prestigious wedding ceremony in the palace?"
Zhao Jiaqi spoke her mind, and Fan Zehao issued the imperial decree without even inquiring about the implications of the "Gulun Princess" title.
The next day at court, he announced rewards for meritorious deeds, and the officials raised no objections, even smiling and congratulating the imperial physicians.
However, when Ren Junying was to be officially enfeoffed as a Gulun Princess, there was unanimous opposition from the ministers.
This time, even the Prime Minister was no exception. He was the first to step forward in opposition: "Your Majesty, this cannot be! Princess Jun is Your Majesty's adopted daughter, and bestowing the title of princess upon her is understandable. However, Gulun Princess is a supreme honor reserved only for Your Majesty's eldest legitimate daughter. Only Yu Meng is worthy of the title of Gulun Princess!"
Song Fei stepped forward a large pace, cupped his hands, and declared in a loud voice, "This minister seconds the motion!"
Fang Mingjiang, who was fonder of Yu Meng than Jun Jun, also stepped forward: "This minister seconds the motion!"
"This minister seconds the motion!"
"This minister seconds the motion!"
One after another, officials stepped forward in opposition. Fan Zehao finally understood the significance of this supreme title.
At this moment, he understood his wife's intention even more clearly. Junjun was to marry Zong Han and become the empress of Zongsheng Kingdom. Having a supreme title in Yun Kingdom would ensure she was highly regarded by their ministers when she went to Zongsheng Kingdom.
As for his foolish Meng Meng, her father's doting affection was enough. Moreover, Yu Meng had already gone to the military camp and did not need others' recognition. If she was displeased, she could simply resolve matters by force.
Besides, if Meng Meng became a general, with hundreds of thousands of iron cavalry behind her, who would dare to cross her?
Unless that person was an unkillable grim reaper, or someone who courted death, or someone who danced on the edge of a blade, constantly provoking fate with a heart several times larger than others.
"My mind is made up. My esteemed ministers need not try to dissuade me!"
The Emperor's intention was clear. Even if the ministers spoke more, nothing would change.
The Prime Minister returned to his seat, saying no more. He understood the Emperor's intentions, but still sighed regretfully, his heart aching for Yu Meng.
Ren Junying, upon learning that she had suddenly become her mother's biological daughter and gained an even more esteemed status, was moved to tears.
Early March.
Zhao Jiaqi held a belated birthday celebration for Ren Junying. Although her coming-of-age ceremony had passed, the proper rituals could not be missed, and she wanted to leave little Junjun with beautiful memories.
After Zhao Jiaqi placed a jade hairpin in Junjun's hair, the ceremony concluded.
Su Ya, who had been waiting anxiously at the side, approached and whispered a few words into her ear before retreating.
Zhao Jiaqi's brow furrowed imperceptibly, but she did not betray any worry on her face. Smiling, she said to Junjun, "Your wedding day is in a few more days. You must rest well during this time. The wedding dress has been prepared by the best embroiderers in the palace, but you should also embroider a few stitches on it yourself as a gesture of your involvement!"
Ren Junying lowered her head shyly, her rosy cheeks burning.
She looked beautiful as a bride-to-be, but it was a pity that Yu Meng, Yao Yao, and Sen Sen could not see their sister off at her wedding, which was a great regret.
She didn't know when she would see her siblings again.
Before everyone could recover from the recently subsided plague, news arrived via carrier pigeon from Gao Wenbin, who was traveling afar.
The letter's content was simple: the rivers and great rivers in the south were rising rapidly, with a trend towards flooding. The Emperor and Empress were urged to prepare in advance.
In the Imperial Study.
After reading the letter, Zhao Jiaqi casually placed it on the nearby tea table, her brow furrowed with worry.
There had been heavy snow before the New Year, and now there was spring rain.
The melting snow, combined with the spring rain, could indeed cause rivers and great rivers to rise significantly.
If the spring rain was heavier and the rainfall was greater, flooding was a very real possibility.
"Wife, after reading Gao Wenbin's letter, I plan to have the various prefectures prepare in advance. The snowmelt from upstream will be directly guided into the fields to be absorbed locally. For prefectures with heavy rainfall, we will reinforce the dams and raise them by an additional twenty percent. Before the rainy season arrives, we must dredge the river silt. What do you think of this plan?"