Soon, Zhao Jiaqi handed a small booklet to Fan Zehao: "This is the method I thought of. Let's see if the Imperial Physician can find it feasible!"
Qi Xuan took the small notebook from Fan Zehao's hand. The items were clearly listed one by one. After reading it, his eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly: "Feasible, it is indeed very feasible. This can further prevent normal people from being infected!"
Since it was feasible, Fan Zehao immediately ordered that all those in the palace who could write should stop and start copying the booklet to distribute it as quickly as possible.
Qi Xuan stroked his beard and asked, "What is this mask? Is it similar to a face towel?"
He saw the method of making masks at the end of the booklet. He had never heard of this word and asked curiously.
Zhao Jiaqi replied, "Yes, a face towel covers the face, but when the wind blows, the face towel will lift. However, a mask will not do so. It will be more effective in blocking the invasion of viruses."
What is a virus?
Could it be smallpox?
In the less than half an hour Zhao Jiaqi had been there, Qi Xuan had heard several unfamiliar words that he didn't quite understand, but he could guess their meaning!
Zhao Jiaqi scanned the imperial physicians. There were about ten of them. If they, these people, did not eat or rest, it would take an eternity to screen everyone in the capital.
She suggested, "Why don't we gather all the doctors in the capital and have them take the pulse of every household and every person in the capital? This will ensure that no one is missed. This way, all the sick people can be screened, and it will be easier to distinguish between normal people and smallpox patients. Then, they can be treated separately, and fewer people will be infected."
As soon as she spoke, the imperial physicians all praised it as a good idea, effective and convenient, and it could also separate the sick from the healthy.
Qi Xuan spoke first: "Empress's suggestion is very good. Your humble servant believes it is very feasible!"
"Your humble servant seconds the motion!"
"Your humble servant seconds the motion!"
When Fan Zehao heard that the imperial physicians and the original chief imperial physician agreed, he naturally agreed with both hands.
"Issue an order, entrust this matter to the Prince of Unfettered, and the task of making masks to the Worthy Prince. Both of them shall find all possible ways to handle it at the fastest speed!"
Now that they had doctors, the remaining issue was medicinal materials. Zhao Jiaqi said, "We don't know how many people are sick. Why don't we collect all the medicinal materials from the various medical halls in the capital and use them together for medication? Of course, the medicinal materials from the medical halls in the capital should not be used in vain. Record them when collecting them, and we will pay the medical halls the silver later!"
Fan Zehao felt at this moment that it would be better if his wife were the emperor. So far, he hadn't come up with a single good idea, and he was just scratching his head.
As soon as his wife arrived, many difficult problems were solved. She said she might be able to help by staying, but he saw that it wasn't "might," but "definitely could help." It was just a pity for his wife that she had to risk coming with him.
The imperial physicians nodded in unison and felt that this idea was good, at least it would be convenient to use the medicine.
Secondly, although the Imperial Hospital had a lot of medicinal materials, it was not as much as the population of the capital. It was unclear how many people had contracted this disease. If they knew, they would have some idea about the dosage.
After the imperial physicians left, Fan Zehao stopped her from leaving and buried his head in her neck, apologizing in a low voice: "I'm sorry, I spoke too harshly just now. It wasn't directed at you. I was actually doing it for your own good!"
She knew, of course, but faced with such a situation, how could she retreat?
What about the saying that a couple are birds of a feather in the same forest, but scatter when disaster strikes!
"Enough, I'm not a sentimental person."
Having been with him for so many years, if she didn't care about her man, then she would be heartless.
She lifted Fan Zehao's chin, looked into his eyes, and said seriously and solemnly: "Now that this disease has appeared in the capital, it does not mean that it is not present elsewhere. Therefore, you must quickly have all the subordinate prefectures screened. And it would be best if you could find the source of the illness from the infected people!"
Fan Zehao nodded heavily and sighed: "Wife, why don't you be the emperor? I feel useless and can't help at all!"
She be Empress?
Don't be ridiculous. This damned position, she couldn't get rid of it fast enough. Why would she go out of her way to take it on?
It's not like she was tired of living!
Besides, knowing these preventive measures was not something she was born with. She had only borrowed methods from her previous life.
If she told him that she could cure smallpox by inoculating it into patients, would her husband think she was too capable?
"Husband, the burden on your shoulders is very heavy. You cannot relax for a single day as long as you are the emperor. Therefore, after we solve the smallpox problem, we will quickly shirk our responsibilities and abdicate. Otherwise, staying in this position will either make you angry to death or tired to death!"
Fan Zehao felt the same way, and his head nodded even more heavily.
At that time, in the post station, Zong Han's face had already turned very grim when he heard that his little girl was not leaving. Then, he heard that smallpox was not good, so she would not get married!
At this point, his entire face drooped, and his face was longer than a shoehorn.
Ah Shi, who followed him, dared not even breathe, and could only turn behind him. When Zong Han stopped, he stopped.
"Issue an order, we are not leaving."
Zong Han grabbed his greatcoat and went straight out of the post station and towards the palace. He had to stay by his little girl's side at all times. He even more eagerly wished for this plague to end quickly.
The first day of the Lunar New Year, a joyous occasion, yet he was delivered a "good start."
He had set off so many fireworks last night to celebrate a good harvest and smooth weather for the coming year, but he didn't know about the harvest or the smooth weather.
However, this plague came smoothly and favorably, and on the first day of the new year.
He didn't need those old men from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to divine whether the year would be auspicious or not. He could see that this year would definitely not be auspicious.
Soon, the capital was under strict quarantine. The city gates were closed. People from outside could not enter, and people from the capital could not go out.
When they learned that smallpox had appeared in the capital, wealthy families with the means began to buy mugwort to burn for disinfection. For smaller households, those who could afford mugwort rushed to buy it.
In an instant, a lot of mugwort from the medical halls in the capital was rapidly depleted. After the Imperial Guards issued a notice, there was not much mugwort left.
A crowd of people gathered at the city gates, wanting to leave the city.
They were all carrying large and small bags, more terrifying than fleeing from disaster. They all wanted to leave the city, but they were stopped by the soldiers guarding the city gates.
They explained over and over again, and the soldiers' voices were hoarse, but the people who wanted to leave still did not listen. They were very persistent. The soldiers, helpless, raised their long spears: "The Emperor has ordered that at this moment, no one shall enter or leave the capital!"
The common people took a few steps back, dodging the guards' long spears, for fear of their sharp, pointed blades piercing their bodies.
Behind them, there were still endless carriages and people rushing over. The soldiers, seeing this, quickly reported to the commander of the Imperial Guards, Chen Gang: "Commander, there are too many commoners and families of officials trying to escape. My subordinates are limited in number, and I fear these people will break through the defenses and open the city gates to escape on their own."
When faced with death and survival, most people choose survival out of fear, especially a disease like smallpox. Once infected, there is nothing to do but wait for death.
Fighting their way out offered a slim chance of survival, while staying put meant no chance at all!
The capital was plunged into panic!