Faced with Emperor Deyuan's question, Jian Ruonan said nothing. Only after a long while did she reply, "Your Majesty, this official needs to perform a divination."
With that, she raised her left hand, closed her eyes, and slowly counted on her fingers, muttering something unintelligible under her breath.
She wasn't deliberately putting on a mysterious air. She was afraid everyone would balk if she suddenly proposed cowpox inoculation.
Humans were naturally afraid of unfamiliar things. Introducing something new was like reforming the laws in ancient times: however good it was, there would inevitably be voices of opposition.
Even briquette coal still had a small number of people adamantly resisting it.
Besides, this meant inoculating people's arms with cowpox. To the ancients, that was simply beyond belief.
She was a salted fish who couldn't be bothered arguing with idiots. After all, good advice could hardly sway a ghost bent on dying.
But epidemic prevention was different. Idiots who refused inoculation would endanger others.
In ancient times, the government bore no responsibility for epidemic prevention. The old emperor's attitude was that as long as he didn't die and his rule wasn't affected, all was well.
After weighing the pros and cons, Jian Ruonan still felt that inoculation ought to be made universal.
After finishing her finger-counting divination, Jian Ruonan opened her eyes. "Your Majesty, this humble official has just divined that this matter is far from simple."
Emperor Deyuan said, "Explain in detail, my dear subject."
Jian Ruonan gazed up at the starry sky at a forty-five-degree angle, then stood with her little hands behind her back, looking unfathomably profound. "We must erect an altar, perform a ritual, and follow Heaven's arrangements. After all, Heaven is supreme."
Passing the buck to the gods was the best way to popularize cowpox inoculation.
Whatever