You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 44 The Fatal Weakness of Living Two Lives

The doctor gently stuffed a wad of cotton into Donny's nostril.

"Please return to your residence to rest, Your Highness. You may have a low-grade fever in the next few days. Once the fever subsides, you will never get smallpox again."

With the flag leader taking the lead, the others naturally couldn't refuse.

The commanders, assistant commanders, deputy commanders, and colonels lined up, each having a doctor stuff cotton into their nostrils before leaving.

"Your Highness is so righteous, I am deeply grateful."

Hong Chengchou cupped his hands in greeting.

"Hengjiu, this matter is of great importance. It can only succeed and cannot fail. You must take it very seriously. It would be great if it could be like Nancheng. If there is any dissatisfaction within the banner, I will try my best to suppress it."

"Your humble servant respectfully sees Your Highness off."

Prince Doni mounted his horse, sighed, and rode back to his residence.

……

The pilot program in Beijing will begin in the southern part of the city.

The pilot program in the inner city will prioritize Zhenglan Banner.

The logic is simple: those with lowly fates go first, and those with noble fates go later.

The significance of the procession at the Meridian Gate finally became apparent at this moment, and the public had been buzzing about it for some time.

Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.

Wu Yong, the Imperial Physician, weakly stepped over the threshold, his face covered in plasters and his arm in a sling, looking utterly disheveled.

"Your subject bows in reverence."

"Alright, alright, please have a seat."

When Emperor Shunzhi saw that you were already in such a state, why were you still kneeling? Just sit still. Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang had repeatedly instructed that one should be polite to the imperial physicians and chefs, and not let them harbor resentment.

……

"Minister Wu, I have summoned you here because there is something I have been hesitant to decide. Tell me, do I, the Empress Dowager, and the palace servants need to be vaccinated against smallpox?"

"The Emperor and Empress Dowager are of extremely high health and should not take any risks; therefore, they do not need to be vaccinated. However, the palace servants must be vaccinated."

"Why?"

“If all the Manchu bannermen and palace servants in the capital were infected, there would be no more smallpox patients in the capital, and the danger would naturally disappear.”

"I see, I understand now." Emperor Shunzhi exclaimed. "Academician Wu, your ability to analyze problems so clearly and in such a profound way shows that your medical skills are no less than those of Hua Tuo."

"No, no, my medical skills are far inferior to even a fraction of Hua Tuo's."

"Go and prepare. I hereby issue an imperial edict that everyone in the Forbidden City, except for the Empress Dowager and myself, must plant seedlings."

"Whoo."

Wu Yong leisurely left the Qianqing Palace and slowly departed from the Forbidden City.

Looking at the thick, leaden clouds covering the sky, he sighed deeply. The sigh had a complex meaning: relief, emotion, and lingering fear.

After exiting the Meridian Gate, they boarded their own carriage.

"Go to the South City Military Command."

……

South City.

The area around Bingmasi Hutong and Shijia Hutong has been completely transformed.

The roads were repaired and leveled, the walls were repainted, and even the corners were washed clean with water.

There is a public toilet on each side of the alley, but neither is labeled with gender.

A garbage dump that had been spontaneously dumped by nearby residents has just been cleared away, and the original pond has reappeared. It will be filled with water after a few rains.

The slogans on the wall include:

Those who litter, regardless of gender, will be paraded through the streets on wooden donkeys.

Strictly controlled area! Anyone who urinates or defecates indiscriminately, regardless of gender, will be paraded through the streets on a wooden donkey.

Wu Yong looked around and marveled at the sight.

The Qing Dynasty was essentially East India, where the concept of hygiene did not exist.

From a medical perspective, he believed that Jiang Qingyun's measures were very beneficial in preventing diseases, but no one had dared to take the plunge because the ideas were extremely advanced and too difficult to implement.

But what's with this wooden donkey parading through the streets?

……

"Brother Jiang, I'm here again."

"Professor Wu, what's wrong with your injury?" After entering the room, Wu Yong quickly recovered and looked like a healthy person. He casually removed the gauze, walked around, stretched out his arms, and admired the calligraphy and paintings.

A colorful ink painting of a lady on the wall caught his attention.

"Brother Jiang, this is indecent and immoral."

"This is art! I personally admire a vibrant and passionate new life~"

Upon closer inspection, Wu Yong realized that the proportions of the woman in the painting were indeed much more normal than those of the old scholars' freehand paintings; at least she looked like a beautiful woman.

After some small talk, we got down to business.

"Where do you come from, Brother Wu?"

"The Forbidden City. The Emperor ordered me to plant seedlings for all palace staff except for himself and the Empress Dowager, including members of the imperial family."

"so?"

"So I'm buying 500 doses of your seedlings, each dose discounted by 1 tael. But don't worry, this whole thing has nothing to do with you. We'll tell everyone that the Imperial Hospital did it themselves, and we'll clean things up for you from beginning to end."

"Our prescriptions are the same, why bother sending me money for nothing?"

"Let's split the profits equally, brother. Come on, let me take your pulse~"

The two smiled knowingly, neither saying a word.

……

Wu Yong had a habit of closing his eyes when taking a pulse.

It is a family tradition passed down from my grandfather.

Closing one's eyes serves two purposes: firstly, it demonstrates profound medical skill and the demeanor of a renowned physician; secondly, it prevents the expression of emotions and ensures safety during medical practice.

Those who frequently hold official positions know that the eyes are the easiest thing to betray. Managing facial expressions is not difficult, but managing one's gaze is not. The eyes are the windows to the soul, and they are easily "revealed."

Therefore, when taking the pulse, the imperial physician must not let his own emotions fluctuate because of the royal family's illness, and this should not be reflected in the changes in his eyes.

He simply closed his eyes to take the pulse, refusing to reveal the secret.

While feeling the astonishing pulse, Wu Yong tentatively said:
"Brother, you're truly amazing. You've figured out the ins and outs of officialdom perfectly. I, Wu, am especially grateful to you for successfully escaping this vortex."

"Brother Wu, you flatter me. The matter is not over yet."

"You're not playing dumb with me. Hong Chengchou is doomed, but you'll still get promoted."

Jiang Qingyun's pulse changed instantly.

Wu Yong smiled but remained silent.

……

noon.

The two of them had a small drink, but instead of talking about officialdom, they talked about health and romance.

"Brother, you're at the perfect age to focus on health and wellness."

"I'm only 18."

"It's a bit late to start taking care of your health at 18. I started when I was 8, and my dad started even earlier, at 6."

"May I ask how old your father is?"

He lived to be 76 years old.

"You've lived to a ripe old age."

"So you should start taking care of your health as early as possible. I'll have someone send you a book tomorrow. Study it carefully, and ask me if you don't understand anything next time."

"what book?"

“I wouldn’t part with ‘The Study of Peng Zu’s Health Preservation’ even if someone offered me 1000 taels of gold.” Wu Yong’s tone was full of temptation. “Brother, you’ve become a fifth-rank official at such a young age. You should be in the prime of your life, full of vigor and ambition. A wife and two concubines are too simple. Your career should be as glamorous as your love life. You should also enjoy a life of romance and health preservation. That’s what a carefree life is all about.”

"I'm so young, shouldn't I prioritize my career?"

"You're confused. At 18, you're so dashing and spirited that even a 38-year-old duke or general can't compare. At 18, you can feel the satisfaction of spending 10,000 taels of silver, but at 38, you can only feel the satisfaction of spending 1,000 taels of silver."

……

Jiang Qingyun nodded repeatedly, his heart filled with anticipation.

If he were only a human being for one lifetime, he wouldn't be easily swayed.

Because he had lived two lives, he understood even more clearly that what Wu Yong said was the absolute truth! When one reaches middle age, all things come to an end, and youth, once gone, will never return!

Ah ~
This intense 18-year-old's thrill!

That night, Jiang Qingyun didn't sleep well, tossing and turning with Green Pearl, unable to resist his inner demons!

(End of this chapter)