maidservant

Chapter 129 The Imperial Court Allows the People to Prepare Plague-Avoiding Pills
Two months ago, after Yunshan prescribed a new medicine for Madam Su, she set off on her way back to the clinic.

Sunlight streamed onto the street, which should have been bustling with the usual hustle and bustle of the city. However, the faces of the pedestrians were shrouded in an undeniable sense of worry. When they talked to each other, they all lowered their voices and looked solemn, as if they were conveying some major news.

Confused, Yun Shan quickened her pace and, following the movement of the crowd, was unknowingly swept up to a place where notices were posted.

A large crowd had gathered around the notice, deep in layers, discussing it animatedly. The clamor of voices surged like waves. Yun Shan struggled to squeeze through the gaps in the crowd to reach the notice.

Looking up, one could see that it clearly stated that the palace had approved the production of "plague-avoiding pills" by the common people to prevent the current plague.

Yun Shan was slightly taken aback, secretly guessing that this name must have been specially bestowed by Consort Xian to distinguish it from the "heat-reducing pills" in the palace.

Although the plague has not yet spread to Kyoto, the situation in Xizhou is already very critical. It is said that the streets of Xizhou are full of patients, and many families have their doors tightly shut, yet they are still unable to resist the invasion of the disease.

I heard that the streets and alleys were filled with painful groans and desperate cries.

The patient initially experiences only fever, cough, and general weakness, but within a few days, the condition deteriorates rapidly, with rapid breathing, cyanosis, and eventual death.

The clinics in the city were overflowing with patients, and the doctors worked day and night, yet they still struggled to cope with the sheer number of patients. Medicinal herbs were in short supply, and prices skyrocketed, making them unaffordable for ordinary people. They could only suffer in agony, awaiting their uncertain fate.

Looking at the notice, Yun Shan understood that the recipe for the "Plague Avoidance Pill" was not disclosed, nor was any ban issued.

In this way, I can continue to use the "heat-clearing pills" recipe that I have been making in the palace.

This announcement quickly caught the attention of the pharmacy guild, which urgently convened a meeting of its leaders, inviting many pharmacy managers, supervisors, and senior pharmacists to gather together to discuss the matter.

The atmosphere in the spacious council chamber was heavy and oppressive. The people sat around a long table, exchanging glances, their expressions filled with hesitation and uncertainty.

The guild leader had never heard of this "plague-avoiding pill" before, and since its price and other aspects were subject to the supervision of the imperial court, there was both risk and opportunity.

For a moment, no one dared to come up with a suggestion.

Some shopkeepers frowned, tapping their fingers lightly on the table as they pondered the pros and cons; some pharmacists whispered among themselves, trying to find inspiration from others; others simply sat there silently, their eyes revealing confusion and unease, unsure of what to do.

Yunshan remembered the formula perfectly, and as soon as she returned to the clinic, she couldn't wait to tell Doctor Feng about it.

After listening, Doctor Feng nodded slightly, his expression showing a hint of emotion, and slowly said:
"I've heard of this formula before. It's a recipe passed down from the palace, and it's no ordinary one. Back in the previous dynasty, it was used to effectively combat a plague, so it should be very useful this time as well."

"However, since the time of the founding emperor, these palace prescriptions have not been allowed to circulate among the common people. The late emperor only allowed the female officials of the Imperial Pharmacy to study them. In fact, many miraculous medicines were given to various ministers as rewards, and the prescriptions and the methods of preparation were never given to them."

"Our current emperor has a spirit unprecedented in history," Yun Shan exclaimed.

After some discussion, the two decided to make "plague-avoiding pills" in the backyard.

However, the two large rooms in the backyard were currently occupied by the workers, so they needed to find them alternative accommodations first. Yunshan and Doctor Feng discussed it and made a quick decision to set aside the backyard specifically for the production of the pills.

Afterwards, Yunshan hurriedly sought out the matchmaker and asked her to find affordable accommodations for the workers. Fortunately, the matchmaker was efficient and found a suitable place without much trouble.

After making the arrangements, Yunshan gathered the staff together and said in a friendly tone, "From now on, after the clinic closes, everyone can go back to the new accommodation to rest. However, one person will still need to take turns on night shifts. Thank you all for your hard work."

The workers were deeply grateful, and Cui'er, ever the outspoken, said directly, "Manager Yun, how about deducting some of the rent from our monthly wages? We can't let you pay for it all yourself." Yun Shan looked at this kind girl, her face beaming with smiles, and said gently:

"Shops are hard to find, but accommodations are easy to rent. Don't worry, I, your manager, can afford this amount, so there's no need to deduct it from your monthly salary."

Upon hearing this, everyone expressed their deepest gratitude, filled with admiration and appreciation for Yun Shan.

Under Yunshan's careful arrangement, the pill production proceeded smoothly.

Every morning, before the first rays of sunlight have fully entered the backyard, the rich aroma of medicinal herbs already fills the air.

With two female doctors joining Dr. Feng in consultations, Yunshan was able to free up her time to work with Cui'er and the others on research and development.

The workers each performed their duties: some skillfully sorted the medicinal herbs, while others focused on grinding them, the sounds of pounding herbs mingling rhythmically together.

Yunshan strictly controlled every step of the process, from the ratio of medicinal materials to the temperature of the refining process, allowing no mistakes whatsoever.

Perhaps it was a decree from the imperial court, a thin notice, yet the news spread like snowflakes to every household; or perhaps it was the terrifying news of the rampant plague in Xizhou, which shrouded the hearts of the people like a dark cloud, causing them to live in constant fear.

Amidst this tense and alarming situation, the first batch of "Plague-Avoiding Pills" meticulously developed by Yunshan Medical Clinic immediately attracted the attention of countless people as soon as they were placed on the counter, like charcoal fire in the cold night or sweet rain after a long drought.

Everyone spoke anxiously, pulling out their wallets to buy the "plague-avoiding pills," which carried the hope of survival. In the blink of an eye, all that remained in front of the clinic was a scene of chaos and devastation.

However, the peaceful days did not last long. As the "plague-avoiding pills" gradually became effective, some unscrupulous pharmaceutical merchants in the surrounding area began to get restless.

They were envious of Yunshan Medical Clinic's achievements and secretly colluded to try to cause trouble for Yunshan.

First, some rumors spread that the "plague-avoiding pills" made by Yunshan Medical Clinic were just for show and could not resist the plague at all, and might even be harmful to the human body.

Unaware of the truth, the people began to waver, and the number of people coming to the clinic for medicine decreased significantly, severely damaging the morale of the staff.

The once bustling "pill-selling stall" that was specially set up in front of the clinic is now deserted and quiet.

Inside the clinic, Cui'er was wiping the counter with a worried expression, while Afu sighed beside her.

Afu angrily threw down the rag: "How could these medicine merchants do this? Our plague-avoiding pills have saved so many people, and they actually spread rumors against their conscience!"

Dr. Feng shook his head helplessly: "You can't judge a book by its cover. But we're upright and honest, so we're not afraid of them."

Just then, the door of the clinic was pushed open with a bang, and a middle-aged man stormed in, pointing at the medicine cabinet and shouting, "You heartless clinic, what kind of fake medicine are you selling! You said it could prevent the plague, but I still got sick after taking it!"

Yun Shan hurried out from the inner room, her expression calm: "Brother, please don't get agitated. Would you mind telling me the details? How did you take the medicine, and where did you buy it?"

The middle-aged man wouldn't listen to her explanation at all, insisting that there was something wrong with the medicine, and that he had already consulted other doctors who diagnosed it as the plague-avoiding pill.

Hearing the commotion, passersby gathered around. Some began whispering, "Could it really be fake medicine?" "I've heard people say this medicine doesn't work."