Chapter Twenty-Eight: Effective

The fifteenth year of the Hongwu era. Yingtian Prefecture, the Forbidden City, Kunning Palace.

As the personal quarters of Empress Ma, the Empress of the Great Ming, this place was usually a sanctuary of peace and serenity. Recently, however, it had been filled with a sense of apprehension and unease.

The Imperial Grandson, Zhu Xiongying, had fallen ill.

It was no ordinary ailment, but smallpox.

This turn of events had made the Hongwu Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang—who had only recently emerged from the turmoil of the Hu Weiyong case—even more irritable than usual. Fortunately, thanks to the intervention of Empress Ma, while the palace servants lived in constant terror, none had yet suffered any fatal consequences.

Under the instructions of the imperial physician Dai Sigong, all personnel within the palace were required to wear silk cloth over their mouths and noses to prevent infection.

Inside the bedchamber, by the side of Zhu Xiongying’s bed, the supreme ruler of the Great Ming, Zhu Yuanzhang, gazed at his grandson. The Imperial Grandson lay on the bed, his face twisted in pain, and the concern etched upon the Emperor’s face grew ever more profound.

The Hongwu Emperor, once so decisive and ruthless during the Hu Weiyong purge, now displayed only the overwhelming anxiety of a grandfather for his grandson.

Besides Zhu Yuanzhang, another person sat by the bedside: the imperial physician, Dai Sigong.

"Physician Dai, how is Xiongying?"

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Grandson is currently suffering from a persistent high fever. I shall brew a concoction shortly, hoping to bring it down."

"Then I shall leave it to you, Physician Dai."

Outside Kunning Palace, a man was striding rapidly toward the bedchamber. No one dared to block his path; it was Zhu Biao, who had just returned from outside the palace.

Upon entering the chamber, Zhu Biao slowed his pace. Walking softly to the bedside, he saw his father, the Hongwu Emperor.

"Father."

Zhu Yuanzhang turned to look at his son, his eyes filled with doting affection. As his eldest son, Zhu Biao had carried the weight of the Emperor's expectations since birth.

Back when he was fighting in Jiqing, the Crown Prince Zhu Biao had been born. To a man who was already twenty-seven, this was undoubtedly a child born in his later years. He had immediately climbed a nearby mountain and carved into the stone, "He who reaches this peak shall not fear for lack of heirs."

Later, he had invited renowned scholars like Song Lian to tutor Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao, burdened with such high expectations, had not disappointed him. He was compassionate toward the common people and deeply respectful of his elders and brothers. If only he possessed a bit more of his father's ruthlessness, he would be perfect. Of course, he was not lacking as he was; having spent five years assisting in the administration of state affairs, it was clear he possessed the potential to become a wise and capable monarch.

"Biao, you’ve returned. Your mother has just gone to rest."

"Father, you should rest for a while as well."

"Biao, I am not tired. How did your trip to Linggu Temple go?"

At the mention of the temple, Zhu Biao tightened his grip on the medicine he was holding.

"Father, the trip went smoothly. I acquired two types of medicine from a food stall; it is said they can cure Xiongying."

Zhu Biao’s words drew the focused gazes of both Zhu Yuanzhang and the nearby physician. The exhaustion that had clouded the Emperor’s face vanished, replaced by a sharp, piercing gleam in his eyes.

There was medicine that could cure Xiongying!

"To think such a divine object exists! Bring it here and let me see."

Zhu Biao handed the item to his father. Zhu Yuanzhang took the box and looked at the characters written on it; like Zhu Biao when he first saw them, he could only recognize about half.

He opened the box to find oddly shaped pills arranged in perfect order. Zhu Yuanzhang’s brow furrowed even deeper.

"Physician Dai, do you recognize this?"

With that, Zhu Yuanzhang handed a blister pack of the medicine to the physician. Dai Sigong accepted it with curiosity, wondering what kind of medicine could possess such miraculous effects.

Upon seeing it, Dai Sigong was struck by its novelty. To be honest, typical medicine was either in powder or pill form; this was the first time he had seen something flat and encased in this manner.

"Your Majesty, may I test this medicine?"

On one hand, as an imperial physician, it was his duty to test new remedies. On the other, he was deeply curious about the composition of this "smallpox cure" the Crown Prince had brought back.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

Following Zhu Biao’s instructions, Dai Sigong popped a pill from the pack and placed it in his mouth. As he felt the medicine dissolve, a strange taste hit his tongue, and he fell silent.

Strange—it was far too strange. He could not detect the taste of any known medicinal herbs.

Seeing the physician silent, Zhu Biao could no longer contain himself. "Physician Dai, is this medicine effective?"

Dai Sigong shook his head.

Zhu Biao felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss. Had the shopkeeper deceived him? Was the medicine useless? What, then, of Xiongying’s condition?

"Your Highness, this medicine appears highly complex. Forgive my limited knowledge, but I cannot immediately determine if it will be effective for the Imperial Grandson’s illness."

Hearing this, Zhu Biao breathed a secret sigh of relief. If that was the case, there was still hope for Xiongying.

"Biao, are you certain you want to give Xiongying medicine of such unknown origin?"

Zhu Biao looked at his father with firm eyes, nodding heavily. "Father, I wish to try. Given Xiongying’s current state, do we have any other choice?"

Zhu Yuanzhang fell into silence. His gaze drifted naturally to Dai Sigong. After a moment, he sighed in resignation.

"Very well, Biao. Proceed as you see fit."

Zhu Biao took the medicine from the physician, removed a tablet, and fed it to Zhu Xiongying with some warm water.

Afterward, the father and son stood by the bedside, looking at the boy with desperate hope, both harboring a single wish: that Xiongying would live.

As for Dai Sigong, he dared not waste a single moment; he had already gone to brew the traditional herbs he had prepared earlier. If the medicine the Crown Prince brought failed, they would have to rely on his own decoction.

When Dai Sigong returned to the chamber with the brewed medicine, he found the two most powerful men in the Ming still standing vigil by the bed.

"Physician Dai, come here. It seems Xiongying’s condition has improved."

Zhu Yuanzhang beckoned to him, his tone sounding much calmer.

Dai Sigong did not hesitate; he set the medicine pot on the floor, hurried to the bedside, and placed his fingers on Zhu Xiongying’s wrist, squinting as he felt the pulse.

A moment later, Dai Sigong’s eyes widened in astonishment.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Imperial Grandson’s pulse has stabilized. He is out of danger."