The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 381

You mean these symptoms have appeared in Qiongzhou?

"Yes, sir, dozens of our sailors have had this symptom."

"Has the medicine been taken?"

"The medicine was used but the effect was not good, so Steward Zhong sent a message by carrier pigeon to ask the master for a solution."

Because they knew that the master's wife was the granddaughter of Physician Xiao, a very famous doctor in the capital, they were sure she would have a solution.

"In that case, please wait a moment, I will go back and ask Madam."

"Yes, boss."

Zhao Minghua hurriedly left the mansion and then hurriedly returned.

I was surprised to see Chunnuan dressed in such gorgeous clothes.

"Is Nuan Nuan leaving the manor?"

"No, Eunuch Fu came to the mansion, and I received him."

"Thanks for your hard work."

Wearing fine clothes to receive Eunuch Fu would be no easy task; it would certainly be quite a hassle.

"Qiongzhou..."

The two said in unison, "You knew everything?"

They exchanged a smile. See? There are no secrets between them, that's just how it is.

"His Majesty has received several reports that a large number of mosquitoes have appeared in Qiongzhou, and the symptoms after being bitten are severe..."

Chun Nuan said, "The Emperor sent Eunuch Fu to ask me for the prescription, so I sent Panpan into the palace."

“We also received a message from Fuzhou via carrier pigeon. There are dozens of similar cases in Shuisheng. Nuannuan, can you send them the prescription?”

"Of course, we must act quickly to treat patients and save lives. However, medicinal herbs may be in short supply."

"Tell me what medicinal herbs you need, and I'll arrange for them to be sourced from all over the country."

"Alright."

Chunnuan believes that Zhao Minghua has this ability.

Amidst the disaster in the Hubei and Hunan regions, Zhao Minghua opened a herbal medicine shop called Baicaotang in the capital. Yes, it was just a shop selling medicinal herbs.

Zhao Minghua discovered that there were many shady dealings involved in the medicinal materials business, with many unscrupulous merchants passing off inferior products as superior ones.

He could accept that the money was being taken by others, but he couldn't tolerate spending money on medicine that couldn't cure his illness.

He still prefers the sense of security that comes from having everything under his control.

"Artemisia argyi, calamus, mint, patchouli, neem flower, camphor, clove, camphor..."

As spring warms the heart, Zhao Minghua writes.

"Duckweed, Notopterygium root, Atractylodes lancea, and Angelica dahurica. Li Shizhen's *Compendium of Materia Medica* quotes Sun Simiao's prescription: 'Duckweed should be collected in May, dried in the shade, and burned to repel mosquitoes.' *A Brief Discussion on the Investigation of Things* records: 'During the Dragon Boat Festival, collect duckweed, dry it in the shade, add realgar, make paper to wrap incense, and burn it to repel mosquitoes.' Realgar is a toxic, broad-spectrum insect repellent that can also repel mosquitoes..."

"The other thing is the medication I take."

"Clears heat and detoxifies, dispels wind and relieves pain; can be used for carbuncles, boils, and snake bites; Chicken bone incense: promotes qi circulation and relieves pain, dispels wind and reduces swelling, and can alleviate redness and pain caused by insect bites; Three-forked bitter herb: clears heat and detoxifies, dispels wind and removes dampness; Borneol and menthol: can achieve a cooling and antipruritic effect; Mugwort can reduce inflammation and help the skin return to normal..."

Zhao Minghua memorized every ingredient in Chun Nuan Ji.

"I'm going to Baicaotang."

“I suggest you consider going to the palace to meet the emperor,” Chunnuan said. “This is no different from wartime provisions or disaster relief provisions; they are all necessities. We are not after money, but only to alleviate the difficulties of the people. However, we cannot allow anyone to have any leverage over us.”

"Okay, I'll arrange for someone to make the purchase and then submit the order to the palace."

Although Zhao Minghua was merely a merchant of the imperial court, with a relatively low status, the people around him were all very capable. He had his wife, Xiao Chunnuan, who could enter the palace at any time; his brother-in-law, Xiao Chunning, who was the Minister of Revenue; his elder brother, Zhao Minglang, who was the Governor-General of Hubei and Hunan; and Princess Panpan… Therefore, he also obtained a token to enter the palace. He only needed to submit the token, and whether the Emperor would announce his presence or not depended on the Emperor's mood.

Of course, this was his first time entering the palace.

"Zhao Minghua wants to see me?"

Just after hearing Eunuch Fu's report and reading Chunnuan's reply, someone came to report that Zhao Minghua was requesting an audience.

"Yes, Your Majesty, Zhao Minghua is the husband of Mr. Xiao Chunnuan, and he is a royal merchant."

Grandpa Fu quickly relayed the message.

"That's interesting." The Emperor couldn't help but smile. "In ordinary families, people introduce Zhao Minghua as so-and-so's wife, but I didn't expect that Zhao Minghua would be introduced with his wife's surname."

It's as if he benefited from his wife's fame.

This is truly a tolerant and magnanimous man. Most men would dislike such a title and would tell their wives not to show their faces in public, as they would feel ashamed.

"Lord Zhao is a man from Sichuan. It is said that men from Sichuan have a long history of being afraid of their wives, and women from that region are often impetuous."

“Xiao Chunnuan is a native of the capital.” The Emperor smiled. “His ability to be flexible and adaptable is all because he married a wife who is unique in the world. Ms. Xiao’s skills are unparalleled among women in our Great Zhou Dynasty.”

Such high praise surprised even Grandpa Fu.

However, upon reflection, that is indeed the case.

Looking across the world, how many women are as remarkable as Mr. Xiao?

It is said that when the women of the Xiao family were exiled to Sichuan, she, a young woman, supported the family.

Now, she has returned to the capital, and with the help of her mother and the Empress, she has become the pillar of the Great Zhou women through her own abilities.

The Emperor also knew that the students of Xiao Chunnuan's Chunshan Women's Medical College had opened a path to survival for women in labor, and stories of them saving the lives of so-and-so's lady were circulating throughout the capital.

Nowadays, in Beijing, the first person that women from well-off families think of hiring when giving birth is a female doctor from Chunshan Women's Medical College.

Moreover, even families without means will come to your door immediately if you ask for help. They are said to be Guanyin Bodhisattva, who saves people from suffering.

It has a very good reputation.

"emperor……"

"Xuan."

"Summon Zhao Minghua to the palace."

Amidst repeated summons, Zhao Minghua entered the palace alone for the first time to meet the emperor.

Last time, my brother-in-law, General Xia, accompanied me.

This time, he came alone.

"Your humble servant Zhao Minghua greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"

"Rise, Zhao Aiqing. What brings you to the palace to see me?"

As the supreme ruler, the emperor is not someone anyone can see at will; his desk is piled high with memorials awaiting his imperial approval.

"Your Majesty, I have learned that there is a mosquito disease in Qiongzhou. I have asked my wife what medicinal herbs she needs, and I am willing to fund the purchase of these herbs from other provinces and transport them to Qiongzhou to sell to the government at a fair price..."

The emperor was very familiar with this tactic.

Back then, the King of Shu rebelled, and natural disasters caused a food shortage in Shu. It was Zhao Minghua who sold tens of thousands of dan of grain that he had purchased in advance to General Xia at a fair price. With this grain, General Xia directly took over Changzhou.

This time, he was willing to do it again.

It is said that no merchant is honest, but Zhao Minghua is a very unique businessman.

"Don't you want to make a little profit from the price difference?"