maidservant

Chapter 67: Li Meiwu personally explains the difficulty in finding plague medicine

On the morning of the third day, at daybreak, Yunshan hurried to the pharmacy.

As I stepped into the pharmacy, I saw Li Meng with a layer of white gauze wrapped on her head. She was humming a cheerful tune and busy with her hands and feet.

Yunshan smiled and jokingly said, "Oh, our Lady Li has returned triumphantly, and she even brought some 'victories' with her. It seems the battle was quite intense!"

As she spoke, she quickly stepped forward, gently took the work from Li Meng's hands, helped her sit down slowly, and carefully examined her wound.

Li Miao raised her chin slightly, shaking her head gently, her face filled with pride. "No matter how it happened, it was a great victory. This isn't just a bruise; it's clearly a medal of honor that belongs to me."

Afterwards, Li Mei enthusiastically told Yunshan the whole story in detail.

Yunshan listened quietly and was lost in thought without realizing it. She couldn't help but sigh in her heart: The eldest princess is indeed a wise and open-minded person.

Li Miao couldn't help but find her expression amused when she saw her dumbfounded. She reached out and gently nudged her. "What's wrong? Are you surprised? You certainly didn't expect this, did you?"

Seeing Yunshan remained silent, Li Meng sighed softly and continued:
"Alas, my father and mother are considered extremely reasonable people in this world. But even so, it is inevitable that there will be disagreements between the three of us siblings and them."

"I consider myself a reasonable person, but when it comes to matters like marriage, I find it really hard to communicate with my parents."

"I tossed and turned the night before last, thinking all night, and finally I figured out some clues."

"First, this isn't a question of who's right or wrong; it's simply a matter of differing perspectives and philosophies. My father certainly has my best interests at heart, but his expectations differ from what I truly desire."

"Secondly, people sometimes find that the people they are most difficult to reach consensus with and work with are precisely those closest to them. One party sets out with good intentions, hoping that the other party will follow the smooth path they have mapped out. Meanwhile, the other party, unwilling to disappoint their loved one's good intentions, is internally conflicted with their own true intentions."

"If it were just ordinary friends, or colleagues like you and me, a few kind words of advice from others might have helped them to give up their stubbornness. But between parents and children, besides the unwavering bond of blood and mutual prayers, there's also an insurmountable hierarchy of respect and inferiority."

"It is precisely because of these two points that once a conflict arises between the two sides, it will be so difficult to resolve."

"Alas—with differing standpoints and philosophies, it is difficult to reconcile the conflict between parents and children. Even the closest relatives are bound by long-standing ties, and the order of superiors and inferiors is determined by one's wishes."

Li Meng talked incessantly, her words pouring out like flowing water, and Yunshan was unable to get a word in for a moment.

She knew in her heart that perhaps what Li Meng said made sense, but she had not had time to spend with her parents since she had grown up.

So she listened quietly, feeling in her heart that it was a different kind of happiness for Li Meng to have such a difficult thing.

The two were talking enthusiastically when a female official came hurriedly and ordered them to go to the main hall of the Pharmacy for a meeting.

The chief medicine officer sat at the main seat, flanked by the sixth-rank medicine assistant, seventh-rank medicine director, and eighth-rank medicine assistant. Near the door stood several ninth-rank medicine attendants, the same rank as the two of them.

It looks like something important is happening.

"The plague has broken out suddenly in Xizhou, spreading rapidly. The prefectural officials have urgently reported this to the court. Your Majesty has summoned the director of the Imperial Hospital and me to the Imperial Study, and has strictly ordered the Imperial Hospital and the Imperial Pharmacy to work together to discuss strategies to combat the plague."

The Chief Pharmacist's expression was solemn, and he spoke directly to the point. "If it were simply to kill the sick rats, there wouldn't be much need for us to go to such lengths. But the most pressing issue now is that, according to historical records, it's very likely that plague will break out among farmers within one to three years after the plague."

"The lower level of medicine treats illness, the higher level of medicine prevents it. Although there have been no reports of people being infected with the plague, this situation truly does not allow for any negligence. We must take precautions early."

"According to medical texts and pharmacology, 'Bai Re San' has significant preventive and therapeutic effects against this type of epidemic. Following consultation with the Imperial Hospital, our company's mission is to produce 500 dan of 'Bai Re San' within one year, and 3,000 dan within three years."

Upon hearing this, the Medicine Minister's face was filled with astonishment. "Although the Pharmacy's staff has been slightly strengthened over the past two years, it can barely handle the medical affairs of the six palaces on a daily basis. But if we have to produce a hundred stones a year, even if we work day and night, I'm afraid it will be difficult to complete the imperial order!"

"I have already considered this. Your Majesty is wise and sympathetic to our difficulties. He has specially approved 2,000 troops for us to deploy and also granted us a mansion of a criminal on the east street outside the palace as a place to brew medicine." Lord Fengyu raised his hand to signal the Medicine Minister to rest assured.

Everyone felt relieved and then started discussing the prescription and production process.

The preparation of "Bai Re San" is not complicated.

Honeysuckle, forsythia, platycodon, mint, bamboo leaves, raw licorice, schizonepeta spicate, light fermented black beans, burdock seeds, and reed rhizome. Wash the herbs and soak them in water for 15 minutes. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add mint and simmer for 15 minutes. Filter and add honey and potato starch to make pills.

The Medicine Minister immediately led a team to conduct a detailed inspection of the reserves of medicinal herbs in Kyoto, based on the demand for 500 koku. Discovering that one herb, Forsythia suspensa, was in short supply, he quickly submitted a petition ordering the local government to purchase and deliver the herb within two weeks.

At the same time, the court issued instructions to all prefectures and counties, requiring them to prepare all kinds of medicinal materials needed according to the dosage of 3,000 shi.

Half a month later, although Lian Qiao arrived as scheduled, another piece of bad news came:
"The forsythia currently being stockpiled by the various states is only enough to meet the demand for 500 shi. Furthermore, the amount of forsythia 'axillary buds' and 'lingzi' sown by herbalists this year is extremely small, so I'm afraid it will be difficult to guarantee a sufficient supply next year."

After the emperor learned of this, he held several court meetings with his officials in the past few days to discuss countermeasures.

On that day, the Queen also summoned all the female officials of the Pharmacy to Fengyi Palace to discuss this difficult problem together.

"Your Majesty, although 'Realgar Tusu Wine' is easy to obtain, it only serves a preventative purpose. Once a large-scale plague breaks out, it will probably be of little use in treating it. And while 'Taiyi Liujin Fang' is effective, it's expensive and takes a long time to make. Ordinary people simply can't afford to stockpile enough."

Feng Yu analyzed the available options one by one and reported truthfully to the Empress, "In terms of popularity and efficacy, Baire San is the most suitable."

"Your Majesty told me that there aren't enough medicinal farmers right now, and this year they need to plant several other herbs. So a few days ago, Your Majesty selected a pilot site outside of Kyoto and distributed Forsythia suspensa 'Lingzi', ordering every household to set aside a plot of land for planting."

"But after a few days, when officials went to check, they found that almost no farmers were sowing." The queen rubbed her temples, looking tired and said weakly.

"Ah? But this Forsythia suspensa 'Lingzi' needs to be stored in a cool, moist and well-ventilated cellar, otherwise it will easily lose water, dry up or become moldy and rot. If the farmers don't sow seeds, these 'Lingzi' will probably be wasted!" The impatient medicine minister said anxiously.

After hearing this, the Queen looked up at Feng Yu, who bowed and nodded in agreement.

"What should we do? Do you have any good ideas?" The queen sat up straight and asked with forced spirit.

For a moment, the hall was silent. Everyone had frowned and was thinking hard. Even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard clearly.

After a long moment, Yunshan quietly rubbed her sweaty hands in the corner, took a deep breath, took a step forward, bowed to the Queen, and said, "I have a rather unseemly thought..."

(End of this chapter)