In the palace, people were panicking because of the spread of the epidemic, especially the possibility of it spreading to the four-year-old princess.
In the imperial hospital, everyone from the envoys and judges to the ordinary doctors below could not find peace of mind in the past few days. They consulted a large number of files day and night to find a way to deal with smallpox.
But no matter how worried Zhu Youtang was about his daughter, and even deployed the country's resources to prevent and treat the disease, it was still a drop in the bucket.
The inability to cure it is due to the limitations of the times and cannot be changed by human will.
In the court, Zhu Youtang brought this emotion to the table. Originally there were many important things to discuss that day, but because the princess was likely to be infected with smallpox in a few days, Zhu Youtang brought up the topic to the spread of the epidemic in the capital. .
Yin Hanzhong of Shuntian Prefecture came out to state the seriousness of the epidemic situation around Shuntian Prefecture to the emperor and the ministers present.
"...After autumn, the epidemic has spread northward from Bazhou and other places. In the past ten months, people in Nancheng and Beicheng have been reported to be infected with the epidemic one after another. People are panicking. In the past, although the morning and evening markets in various places were open, people coming in and out were not able to do so. There are so few, and the price of salt in the city has increased by more than 50% compared to normal years, and some noble people have even taken the opportunity to drive up prices..."
Han Chong had just been transferred to the capital from the position of the right chief envoy of Shaanxi Province, replacing Gao Chang who had died in the post of Yin of Shuntian Prefecture. Right then there was a plague epidemic.
In addition, the plague had spread to the palace, and he naturally felt the invisible pressure.
Zhu Youtang interrupted him: "When we talk about the epidemic, we are talking about the epidemic. Why should we involve other things? Now even Kunning Palace has people infected with the epidemic. Can't even my family be safe?"
Cabinet minister Xie Qian came out and said: "Your Majesty, the epidemic does not distinguish between high and low, it is destiny."
Regarding the epidemic of this epidemic, a common saying in the capital is that Li Guang was punished by God for breaking ground on the Long Live Mountain to build the Yuxiu Pavilion.
In this era, people did not understand the pathogenesis of smallpox, so they naturally attributed plagues and other events to divine punishment.
Zhu Youtang became even more angry after hearing this.
I'm telling you this just to discuss prevention and control methods, but one of them blamed the nobles for driving up prices, while the other said it was "destiny"... To put it bluntly, you're just blaming me?
Those who are driving up prices are led by my two brothers-in-law, and the person who violates the destiny is Li Guang, the Celestial Master whom I have always trusted, isn't it?
Zhu Youtang glared at Liu Jian, the chief minister who stood at the front, and asked: "Mr. Liu Ge, now that my princess has been exposed to patients, is there any way to prevent her from being in danger? Is it the only way? Is there nothing I can do if I pray here to prevent her from being infected by the epidemic?"
Liu Jian is also under great pressure.
His predecessor, Xu Pu, only resigned as chief minister in July, and he took over as chief minister less than two months ago. Now is the darkest period of the Hongzhi dynasty. Although it seems that Zhu Youtang is still polite to civil servants, as time goes by The rise of Li Guang and the emperor's increasing paranoia on Taoist matters caused cracks in the good relationship between civil servants and the emperor.
Furthermore, Liu Jian obviously lacked confidence in maintaining his relationship with the emperor.
Liu Jiandao: "Your Majesty, when there was acne among the people, the epidemic was spread according to the method spread in the Tang and Song Dynasties, or the method of acne clothing, that is, ordinary people wore the clothes of the patients with acne, or used things on the mouth and nose of the patients. Stuffing the nose can cause mild symptoms of acne to avoid the epidemic. However, this method is ineffective if ordinary people have been in contact with patients."
The history of vaccination in China is very early, but the vaccination is based on variola. This method of vaccination is very unsafe and often causes smallpox in healthy people, leading to the epidemic of smallpox. Furthermore, the onset time of variola is the same as the onset time of close contact with acne. It is possible to use blood to inoculate people with smallpox to speed up the onset of the disease... unless they no longer want to live.
In short, this method is very backward, and not many people adopt this method among the people.
Zhu Youtang listened carefully for a long time, and after hearing the end, he said angrily: "Now that I and my family may have been exposed to patients, what's the point of talking about prevention? What I want is how to treat! Is it possible that each family's clan has been exposed to the disease?" Isn’t there any mention in the classics?”
There was total silence.
We are professional politicians who help the emperor run the country. Are we being used as infectious disease experts?
The professionalism is clearly inappropriate!
Just when the emperor and his ministers were in a tense situation, Chen Kuan appeared next to the emperor again and said something in Zhu Youtang's ear.
Zhu Youtang immediately said angrily: "What nonsense, what nonsense!"
What are you kidding about?
The minister was confused.
Zhu Youtang said: "My dear friends, I will be here first for today's court meeting. After you go back, you must check the classics. I have lost my beloved son and don't want to lose my beloved daughter again. She is still young, so I ask you all to help her." She can grow up to the age of cardamom and give advice!"
After speaking, he left in a hurry and headed towards the inner garden of the palace without further explanation to the ministers present.
…
…
In the west hall of Kunning Palace, a half-grown boy was sitting on the steps, glaring at the eunuchs surrounding him with a murderous look, his small eyes, nose, and mouth almost curled up together.
"If you don't let me in, I'll have someone beat you up! You deserve to be beaten to death!"
It's the prince Zhu Houzhao.
Zhu Houzhao came to play with his sister that day, but he was blocked outside Kunning Palace, and he couldn't even see his mother.
Due to a smallpox epidemic in the West Hall of Kunning Palace, the Queen and the principal Queen of Kunning Palace also moved elsewhere, leaving only the little princess Zhu Xiurong living in the West Hall.
The eunuch could not explain such things to Zhu Houzhao, so he could only try his best to prevent the brother and sister from seeing each other.
The eunuch next to him, Liu Jin, said: "Your Highness, you can't go in. If you get sick, the inheritance of the Ming Dynasty... Oh, you must take care of your body."
At this time, it seemed that only Liu Jin dared to peel off the window paper and tell the prince that it was related to an infectious disease.
Zhu Houzhao pointed at Zhu Xiurong who was standing at the door of the west hall of Kunning Palace. He was blocked by the palace maid and looked out with a pitiful expression. He said, "The imperial sister is right there. Does she look like she is sick?"
Liu Jin said: "This is acne. Before the onset of the disease, no one knows whether it has been infected or not."
At this moment, Luan Jia and his party came over from a distance. Seeing this scene, the eunuchs finally relaxed a little and were about to line up to greet the king. However, Zhu Houzhao took the opportunity to get up and quickly rushed to the west hall of Kunning Palace. .
Fortunately, the palace maid opposite saw that something was wrong and quickly closed the door.
"Let me go in!"
Zhu Houzhao knocked at the door.
Now it doesn't matter whether he plays with his sister or not. For Zhu Houzhao, face is more important than anything else.
At this time, Zhu Youtang had already arrived outside the palace.
"Asshole! Come here!"
Even if Zhu Houzhao continued to act recklessly and saw his father's angry look, he could only walk over with his head lowered and look back from time to time as he walked towards his father.
"Cough cough cough..."
Because he was angry and anxious, Zhu Youtang started to cough. He was not in good health to begin with. In the past two years, Li Guang had been supplying pills containing heavy metals from unknown sources, and his health was even worse than before.
"I thought that after you left the government to study, your personality would calm down and your temperament would become gentler. Why are you still acting like this? Do you want me to be the last to be born?"
These were harsh words.
The eunuchs around him were also frightened.
The emperor might be really afraid and thought that this might be God's punishment for him, so he said such words to the prince.
Zhu Houzhao is currently eight years old. He left the court to study in March of the 11th year of Hongzhi. He is relatively early among the princes in the past. It may also be that after the death of his second son, Zhu Youtang hoped that his eldest son would become a talent earlier.
"Father, I just want to play with my sister for a while." Zhu Houzhao's face was filled with anger.
He felt he was right.
Zhu Youtang said: "Your imperial sister has been in contact with patients with acne and is still recovering from illness. If you want to find her, you can wait for half a month after making sure that she has recovered. If you dare to come again, I will I punish you by facing the wall and thinking about your mistakes, and you are not allowed to step out of the palace for a month!"
"Father!"
"Bring him back to me! Keep him under strict supervision. You are the only one who can tell if he is not good!"
"yes!"
When Zhu Houzhao looked unwilling and was taken away by the eunuchs.
Zhu Youtang couldn't help but look at Zhu Xiurong, who was blinking his big eyes and looking aggrieved, but didn't understand why his parents treated him like this.
That pitiful little face made Zhu Youtang heartbroken just looking at it.
From the perspective of family inheritance in China's patriarchal society that has existed for thousands of years, a father would prefer to have a son, but in terms of emotional ties, a father will feel more sorry for his daughter, because the daughter is the father's little cotton jacket.
Zhu Youtang was afraid that he would have to go over and explain to his daughter, but he could only harden his heart, sigh and turn around.
"His Majesty……"
Chen Kuan saw Zhu Youtang's sad face and couldn't help but want to comfort him.
Zhu Youtang said: "Everyone from the Taiyuan Hospital has called me to Qianqing Palace, as well as Li Guang. I need countermeasures! I must not let the little princess suffer any damage, even if it leaves acne scars, it is unacceptable!"
