"The most urgent task is to send imperial physicians and doctors to Qingzhou to treat the people and develop a prescription for the epidemic, so we can curb its spread as soon as possible," the Minister of Revenue said, stepping out and bowing.
"Easier said than done."
Chancellor Xue's brows were tightly knitted. "Over all these years, Mo Kingdom has experienced only one epidemic, during the late emperor's reign. We all know how it was handled."
At these words, the officials present immediately fell silent.
Emperor Xuanzhao pressed his thin lips into a taut line, his face almost livid.
Shen Yuxi sensed something was wrong. [System, what does Chancellor Xue mean?]
The system said quietly, [During the late emperor's reign, the epidemic first broke out in a small village. Because it was so remote, the late emperor thought there was no need to go to great lengths, so he used the simplest, most brutal method.]
[He ordered soldiers to seal off the mountainous area and left the villagers to fend for themselves. Hundreds of villagers died as a result.]
[The late emperor publicly claimed that the village chief had been unwilling to burden others and had set a fire in the dead of night, burning the village to the ground.]
Just hearing this made a raging fire of anger burn inside Shen Yuxi.
She cursed furiously, [Inhuman! All those living, breathing people, and the late emperor simply washed his hands of them. How could someone like that deserve to rule?]
[Exactly, exactly,] the system agreed.
[But retribution never misses. The late emperor was bedridden in his final years and suffered a great deal before he finally departed this world.]
[Good is rewarded with good, and evil with evil. It isn't that retribution won't come; its time simply hasn't arrived.]
Shen Yuxi said with a calm expression, [The late emperor committed those sins himself. It was only right that he pay for them.]
[His Majesty cares for the people and loves them like his own children. Surely he won't follow in the late emperor's footsteps.]
She looked at Emperor Xuanzhao's tense face.
[He won't. The circumstances are different.]
The system said slowly, [Under the late emperor, the epidemic broke out in a remote village. It was very easy to conceal, and it hadn't spread widely. But Qingzhou is no small place.]
[Even if the emperor wanted to abandon Qingzhou, he couldn't.]
[Quite a few officials at court come from Qingzhou, too.]
Everyone sank into thought.
Emperor Xuanzhao wanted to say that he was a good emperor.
No matter how terrible things became in Qingzhou, he would never abandon its people.
Emperor Xuanzhao rose, sweeping his sharp gaze over everyone.
"Convey my decree. Immediately allocate three hundred thousand taels of silver, fifty thousand shi of unpolished rice, and one thousand jin of medicinal herbs. Have the imperial guards escort them to Qingzhou within three days."
"Director Han."
"Your subject is here." The head of the Imperial Medical Academy stepped forward and bowed.
"Select ten imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy to support Qingzhou. Post notices far and wide: any doctor or medical practitioner willing to go to Qingzhou to treat those infected will receive a reward of one hundred gold pieces."
"The Imperial Medical Academy is to devote its full efforts to developing a prescription for the epidemic. Whoever develops one will receive one thousand taels of gold."
With a generous reward, brave men would surely come forward.
"Quarantine Qingzhou. Everyone may enter, but no one may leave."
Qingzhou had to be temporarily sealed off. Otherwise, if people left and infected others, things would only get worse.
[Sigh...]
The system heaved a deep sigh, making everyone present's heart rise into their throat.
[How pitiful. How tragic.]
[If you have something to say, spit it out. If you have a fart, let it out.]
[Host, you're a girl! Could you not speak so crudely?] the system lectured.
[You call that crude? Some other day, I'll show you what real crudeness looks like.] Shen Yuxi rolled up her sleeves.
The system: "..."
Everyone else: Why did Lord Little Shen's words sound so strange?
Minister Shen: His little girl! Where exactly had he gone wrong raising her? Why was she acting like a hooligan?
[The people of Qingzhou probably... won't live to see Imperial Physician Han and the others develop a prescription for the epidemic.]
[Mo Kingdom has no other precedents for epidemics. Imperial Physician Han and the others will practically have to start from scratch. That will take a great deal of time.]
At once, everyone at court felt a chill in their hearts.
Emperor Xuanzhao turned his piercing gaze on Director Han, who nodded gravely, indicating that the system was right.
They had no experience with epidemics, much less any confidence.
[Sigh! I'll quietly pray that Qingzhou makes it through this ordeal.]
[Aren't you going to help them, Host?]
[How? I don't know medicine!] Shen Yuxi's eyes went round.
[Have you forgotten, Host? You have the shop. You can buy a prescription for the epidemic.]
The system's built-in shop carried every kind of item. There was nothing one could not buy, only things one had not thought of.
A mere prescription for an epidemic was not difficult to buy.
Really?
Emperor Xuanzhao and Director Han were more excited than anyone.
Emperor Xuanzhao almost lost control and asked Shen Yuxi on the spot whether she could buy it.
Fortunately, both men retained their reason and forcibly suppressed the agitation in their hearts.
Everyone's eyes focused on Shen Yuxi, filled with anticipation and hope.
[Oh, right. I'll look now.]
Shen Yuxi did not refuse. If she could buy it, the number of people saved would be far more than ten thousand.
With one search, the price of the epidemic prescription appeared right on the screen.
Seventy thousand points. Within an acceptable range.
Ever since she had been allowed to leave the estate, she had feasted on more and more juicy gossip, and her points had increased explosively.
Shen Yuxi now had five hundred and eighty-eight thousand points remaining.
If she had not been limited to eating melon within the estate for her first thirteen years, she would definitely have had more points than this.
Without hesitation, Shen Yuxi clicked to redeem it.
The epidemic prescription immediately appeared in her storage space.
Shen Yuxi scratched her head, torn. [Do you think His Majesty would believe me if I handed him the epidemic prescription outright?]
Emperor Xuanzhao: Yes, yes, yes! I'd believe you even if you told me to eat shit.
[He might not believe you at first, but once the prescription reaches Director Han, he'll definitely study and check it first. Then the emperor will believe you.]
[All right.]
Shen Yuxi straightened her collar and cuffs, then stepped out of the ranks with martial vigor and her head held high.
Emperor Xuanzhao sat upright, his gaze following her movements.
He looked at Shen Yuxi as though she were a walking mountain of gold and silver, treasuring her immensely.
Shen Yuxi got straight to the point, bowing as she said, "Your Majesty, I have a prescription for the epidemic."
To keep Shen Yuxi from noticing anything unusual, Emperor Xuanzhao deliberately put on an expression of surprise and confusion.
His voice abruptly rose. "What? My dear Junior Official Shen actually has a prescription for the epidemic?"
The ministers watching Emperor Xuanzhao's performance: Your Majesty, your acting is so unconvincing.
"Yes."
"Where did your prescription come from, my dear Junior Official Shen?" Emperor Xuanzhao asked.
"To tell Your Majesty the truth, I once dreamed of a divine physician. He gave me the epidemic prescription. He seemed to have foreseen the outbreak and told me that, at a critical moment, this prescription could save lives."
Shen Yuxi spun her tale.
"In a dream?"
Hearing Emperor Xuanzhao's half-doubting tone, Shen Yuxi knew that His Majesty did not believe her and thought she was fooling around.
"Lord Little Shen, you actually dare present a prescription of unknown origin?"
Certain stubborn officials refused to believe it and simply had to butt in.
Shen Yuxi could not even be bothered to spare him a glance.
She continued, "Your Majesty can have the Imperial Medical Academy examine it together to determine whether the prescription is reliable."
"Where is the prescription?"
"I have kept it on me all along."
As she spoke, Shen Yuxi took out the epidemic prescription and raised it just above her head with both hands.
Eunuch Yang was about to bring it over for the emperor to see, but Emperor Xuanzhao directly instructed Director Han to take it back to the Imperial Medical Academy.
To determine whether the prescription was viable.
Director Han accepted the epidemic prescription, his hands trembling slightly with excitement.
Not just Mo Kingdom-even other countries were helpless against epidemics.
If Lord Little Shen's prescription truly worked, it would prove that Mo Kingdom had taken a great step forward in dealing with epidemics.
It would undoubtedly be a good thing for the people of the world.