Duke of Zhenguan

"Zhengqi, it's not even Mao Shi (5-7 AM) yet..."

The next morning, Lin Chuan sat in the front yard living room, yawning, and looked at Liu Zhengqi, whose eyes were bloodshot, with a resentful expression.

Last night, he was busy drafting hygiene regulations until the early hours of the morning, and he only got to sleep for less than two hours before being woken up.

"This disciple knows his mistake!"

Liu Zhengqi bowed respectfully and admitted his mistake.

"Alright!"

Lin Chuan waved his hand, saying he was just saying it casually.

He pulled out the booklet he had written the night before from his sleeve and handed it to Liu Zhengqi, saying softly:

"I don't know much about treating diseases, but I still want to remind you that even if they are all dysentery, different causes may produce different symptoms, so you have to treat the symptoms accordingly!"

This is a hygiene manual, not for treating illnesses, but for preventing infections as much as possible. I'm giving it to you, Zhengqi, for your reference!

Remember, especially doctors treating injuries, you must strictly follow the health regulations!

Although it's a bit troublesome to carry out, these are minor matters compared to lives!

"Your disciple will humbly follow your teachings!" Liu Zhengqi accepted the booklet with both hands and bowed in response.

Lin Chuan waved his hand and said with a smile:

"I know you're worried about your illness, but please take care of yourself. My mother should be cooking breakfast now. Have some before you go back!"

"yes!"

After seeing Liu Zhengqi off, Lin Chuan went back to sleep for a while.

I got up at noon and went to see Lin Jiu first.

Now that Liu Zhengqi has become Lin Chuan's disciple, he always visits the Lin family to examine Lin Jiu. The medicine he uses is also from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Lin Jiu's health has always been quite good, and he recovers very quickly, already able to sit up.

After looking at Lin Jiu, he ran to the front yard of the east wing.

The east wing was mostly empty. Lin Chuan turned a small courtyard in the front yard into a temporary workshop, specifically for making soap.

With Lin Chuan's guidance, Wang the blacksmith and his team have already produced some soaps with various floral scents.

Lin Chuan found an exquisite bamboo basket, filled it with water, and then took the Zhao brothers to the Cheng family.

Although the formal procedures have not yet begun, Cheng Yaojin has already agreed to the marriage, and the entire Cheng family already regards Lin Chuan as their son-in-law.

Different statuses naturally lead to different treatment.

In the past, when I visited the Cheng family, the steward and servants were only respectful and enthusiastic, but now their words and actions are full of warmth.

There was no need to announce their arrival to see Madam Cui; the steward led Lin Chuan directly to the central courtyard.

"Xiao Chuan is here, please have a seat!"

Cui gestured for Lin Chuan to sit down, her gaze lingering on the bamboo basket in Lin Chuan's hands for a moment before she chuckled and teased:

"Here to deliver something to Chu Rou?"

"Auntie, this is a gift for you!"

Lin Chuan, thick-skinned as ever, wasn't embarrassed by this little joke. He got up, took the bamboo basket to Cui Shi, and said with a smile:

"This is soap my nephew had made. It's better than regular soap, and it cleans much better!"

Curious, Cui took a bar of soap from the bamboo basket, brought it to her nose, smelled it, and asked in surprise:

"It smells like osmanthus?"

"I happened to find some osmanthus flowers that had been dried in the shade last year, so I added them in. There were also pomegranate and lotus flowers that smelled nice. I didn't know what kind of flowers Auntie liked, so I just took a few of each!" Lin Chuan explained.

"Alright, I know you're looking for Chu Rou, and the things are for her anyway, so take them and give them to Chu Rou yourself. Qing'er, take Xiao Chuan to find Chu Rou!"

Cui didn't take it too seriously, just considering it a little trinket that Lin Chuan had made to please Cheng Churou. She picked it up, looked at it for a moment, and then put it back in the bamboo basket, instructing the maid to take Lin Chuan to find Cheng Churou.

Lin Chuan didn't explain further; whether it's good or not, you'll only know after you've used it.

Cheng Churou lives in the backyard. In the past, when Lin Chuan came to the Cheng family, he would at most visit Cui Shi in the central courtyard. Going to the backyard was not appropriate. Now, however, he can openly and legitimately go to see Cheng Churou.

Following the maid Qing'er through a series of covered corridors and moon gates, they finally arrived at an exquisite courtyard.

Qing'er knocked on the door, and after a moment, the door opened, and Cheng Chun's face peeked out. Seeing that it was Qing'er, she asked in a sweet voice:

"Sister Qing'er?"

Qing'er flashed aside, revealing Lin Chuan behind her, and said with a smile:

"The lady asked me to bring Young Master Lin here!"

Cheng Chun then noticed Lin Chuan, her small face instantly turning bright red. She quickly curtsied and turned to leave.

"I'll go tell the mistress!"

Qing'er looked at Cheng Chun, smiled knowingly, and said to Lin Chuan:

"Young Master Lin, Qing'er takes her leave!"

"Thank you for your help!"

After Qing'er left, Cheng Churou hurriedly ran out with Cheng Chun, walked up to Lin Chuan, and her face showed undisguised joy:

"Lin Lang!"

"Chu Rou! Did you miss me?"

Lin Chuan shoved the bamboo basket in his hand into Cheng Chun's hands, reached out and pulled Cheng Churou along, and asked with a smile.

"Lin Lang..."

Cheng Churou's face immediately burned like fire. She wanted to pull her hand away from Lin Chuan's, but she couldn't bear to.

Cheng Chun, who was standing to the side, was more perceptive. She whispered, "I'm here to brew tea," and then turned and left with her bamboo basket.

After Cheng Chun left, Cheng Churou grew a little bolder, letting Lin Chuan hold her hand, and asked with a smile:

"Why did Lin Lang come here?"

"Of course I came to see you! And I brought you some things!" Lin Chuan replied with a smile.

"A few days ago I wanted to go with my brother to the Dali Temple to see Lin Lang, but Mother wouldn't allow it! Lin Lang, come in quickly!"

As Cheng Churou spoke, she pulled Lin Chuan inside.

The courtyard was nothing special; it was just a small traditional courtyard house. Besides Cheng Churou and Cheng Chun, there were three maids and a wet nurse.

Upon entering the room, Cheng Chun brought over hot tea. Lin Chuan had just taken a sip when he heard Cheng Churou say softly:

"I heard from my brother that Lin Lang brought a young lady back from Qunfang Pavilion. Is she behaving well?"

Lin Chuan's hand trembled, and he almost dropped the teacup. Looking at Cheng Churou's smiling face, he didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Cheng Churou glanced at Lin Chuan and said with a smile:

"By the way, what was Lin Lang carrying just now?"

"Soap!"

"Soap, for washing hands?"

"It's similar to soap, but it should be better!"

"Really?"

"Why don't you try and see?"

"handwashing?"

"Taking a shower is fine too!"

"...Let's wash our hands!"

……

While Lin Chuan was accompanying Cheng Churou in her small courtyard as she tried out soaps, dozens of imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau were discussing the hygiene manual Lin Chuan had written for Liu Zhengqi.

After Liu Zhengqi returned to the Imperial Medical Bureau with the booklet, the most skilled senior physicians Zhen Quan and Zhen Liyan, as well as the current Imperial Physician Xie Jiqing, took turns reading it before passing it on to the other imperial physicians.

The above is not complicated; it's a hygiene manual, which, as the name suggests, is about maintaining hygiene.

Quicklime was sprinkled on the living quarters, food and drinks had to be boiled in water, and even clothes were best boiled in boiling water...

It's also best for doctors to wear disposable masks, avoid large gatherings, and ensure timely screening and isolation of patients...

It consisted of about ten pages.

None of these things mentioned treatment, but they gave the imperial physicians the impression that they were feasible.

"In my opinion, it seems feasible, but we'll have to try it to know how effective it really is."

Nearly a hundred people outside the East City have contracted dysentery. It's better to try it sooner rather than later!

"I will go to the palace immediately to ask His Majesty for a decree! Physician Liu, you will come with me!" Physician Xie Jiqing said in a deep voice.

"yes!"