The Great Ming Demon Pill: Your Majesty, please address me as the Crown Prince!

Zhu Zhanji's words seemed to be praising Zhu Zhanjun, but the deeper meaning behind them, especially the last sentence, was clearly a veiled criticism that Zhu Zhanjun had long anticipated that Zhu Di would not let him go and was deliberately putting on a show.

Those present were all more cunning than him, so how could they not understand his meaning?

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze.

Zhu Di's gaze swept back and forth between Zhu Zhanji and Zhu Zhanjun, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger.

Zhu Gaoxu stood aside, coldly watching Zhu Zhanji.

Zhu Gaochi looked embarrassed. He knew that his son's words were too blunt and were practically an open accusation that Zhu Zhanjun was putting on a show.

However, that's what he thought in his heart too.

Yang Rong, Jin Youzi, and other cabinet ministers looked at each other, each with their own plans.

They were all shrewd old foxes, and naturally they could hear the barb in Zhu Zhanji's words, and they also understood that His Highness Prince Huai's request was indeed based on "morality".

If you interrupt rashly at this moment, you may get into trouble no matter which side you take; it's better to remain silent.

Han Shi, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, wished he could shrink himself into a ball and pretend he was invisible.

If a mere imperial physician were to get involved in such open and covert struggles among the imperial grandsons, he would likely die without even knowing how.

In the midst of this suffocating silence, Zhu Zhanjun suddenly laughed.

"Big brother is right."

"Zhanjun is still young, and he did not think things through just now. He only thought about sharing the burden of the Emperor, but forgot that he was of low status and his words carried little weight. His rash request only put the Emperor in a difficult position."

"However, I wholeheartedly agree with what my elder brother just said: 'Grandfather has always cherished his grandchildren.'"

"I will always remember the love my grandfather has for us grandchildren."

"That's why Zhanjun couldn't bear to see his grandfather worrying about the epidemic while he stood by and did nothing."

"Grandfather, although I am young, I am confident that I can prevent a smallpox outbreak."

"Every moment of delay now means the deaths of innocent people."

"Please, Your Majesty, do not hesitate because of my identity."

"If it benefits the country, I will risk my life; how could I avoid it because of personal fortune or misfortune?"

These words elicited various reactions from the people in the hall.

Zhu Di suddenly raised his head, his gaze shooting towards Zhu Zhanjun like lightning, his eyes filled with shock and emotion.

He had fought for half his life, seen countless loyal and brave men, and heard countless impassioned speeches, but to hear such courage and responsibility from a seven-year-old child, especially in the face of a smallpox epidemic that everyone was trying to avoid, truly shook him to his core.

He slowly stood up, walked around the imperial desk, and stood in front of Zhu Zhanjun, looking down at his grandson.

After a long silence, he reached out and placed a heavy hand on Zhu Zhanjun's shoulder, his voice deep and powerful: "Good! Good! What a fine example of 'I would lay down my life for the country, and not avoid danger for personal gain'!"

"Zhanjun, you're absolutely right!"

Zhu Gaochi stood to the side, his obese body trembling slightly.

He had just been secretly relieved that his son Zhu Zhanji had refused the task and saved his life, but now Zhu Zhanjun's words stung his face.

Zhu Gaoxu was so excited that his face turned red. He slapped his thigh and shouted, "Good! This is my child, Zhu Gaoxu's child!"

Zhu Gaosui stood to the side, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

He glanced at Zhu Zhanjun, then at Zhu Zhanji, whose face was deathly pale, and inwardly clicked his tongue in astonishment.

This kid has really embarrassed everyone.

Yang Rong, Jin Youzi, Huang Huai and other cabinet ministers looked at each other, their eyes filled with astonishment.

The words spoken by the Prince of Huai were simply overwhelming and unstoppable.

Zhu Zhanji felt dizzy and disoriented at that moment.

His mind was filled with Zhu Zhanjun's words, "If it benefits the country, I will risk my life; how can I avoid it because of fortune or misfortune?" and the disappointed look in his grandfather's eyes just now.

Nima.

How did this kid come up with such a brilliant quote?

You're making me seem like a coward.

Zhu Di remained silent for a moment, then his gaze fell on Zhu Zhanjun again.

"Zhanjun, you just said you have a way to prevent the spread of smallpox. Is that true?"

Zhu Zhanjun raised his head and met Zhu Di's gaze without flinching.

He stepped forward, straightened his back, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, everything I have said is true. I do have a way to effectively control the smallpox epidemic and prevent it from spreading to the capital."

These words caused another uproar among the people in the hall.

Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Gaosui, and Yang Rong, along with other cabinet ministers, looked at each other with surprise and uncertainty in their eyes.

Smallpox ravaged the people for a century, and even the Imperial Medical Academy was helpless, only able to passively deal with it through lockdowns and isolation. Yet this seven-year-old dared to say he had a solution.

Zhu Di frowned slightly, tapping his fingers lightly on the imperial desk: "Zhan Jun, this is no child's play. Smallpox is dangerous; even renowned physicians throughout history have been unable to cure it. What...do you have to rely on?"

Zhu Zhanjun smiled slightly, his expression composed: "Grandfather, your grandson dares not speak presumptuously."

"The method my grandson mentioned is not a medical treatment, but rather a way to stop the spread of smallpox at its source."

"Specifically, there are three strategies: First, isolate patients and cut off the transmission route."

"Secondly, burn the patients' clothing and utensils to eliminate the source of the epidemic."

"Thirdly, vaccination prevents smallpox infection, enabling uninfected individuals to acquire immunity."

"Vaccination?" Zhu Di sat up abruptly, a glint of light in his eyes. "What is vaccination?"

Zhu Zhanjun explained, "Grandfather, smallpox is so terrible because everyone is susceptible to it."

"But my grandson overheard a strange story while inspecting a dairy farm directly under the Guanglu Temple."

"There was a man in the factory who had made a living by milking cows for generations. He said that his ancestors had suffered from smallpox, and many people in the village died, but his grandfather, father, and several uncles were all safe and sound."

"My grandson was curious at the time, so he specifically visited several families who had been milkers for generations and found that very few of them seemed to have contracted smallpox."

"I dare to guess that this might be related to the milkers' long-term contact with cows. There might be some tricks about cows that can make people more resistant to wild boars."

"Therefore, I decided to go to Jurong myself to try it out and see if I could find a way to save the people through this method."

"If it fails, I am willing to accept the blame."

"But please, Your Majesty, believe in your grandson and give him a chance."

The hall was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Zhu Di stared at Zhu Zhanjun for a long time without saying a word.

He had fought countless battles and witnessed countless deaths, and he knew all too well the horror of smallpox. This seven-year-old grandson before him dared to gamble his own life with such a bold idea; this courage and responsibility filled him with both shock and complex emotions.

He slowly stood up, walked around the imperial desk, and stood in front of Zhu Zhanjun, looking down at the child who was connected to him by blood.

After a long while, he reached out and gently placed his hand on Zhu Zhanjun's head, his voice low and solemn: "Zhanjun, do you know that if anything happens to you on this journey, I..."

"Grandfather," Zhu Zhanjun interrupted him, raising his head with unwavering determination in his eyes, "Grandson knows. But grandson also knows that if I back down out of fear of death, I will betray Grandfather's trust and the people struggling in the epidemic area. Grandson begs Grandfather's permission."

Zhu Di took a deep breath, closed his eyes, as if making a difficult decision. After a moment, he opened his eyes, his gaze resolute: "Fine! I agree!"

He turned to Yang Rong and said in a deep voice, "Yang Rong, immediately draft an edict: appoint Prince Huai, Zhu Zhanjun, to oversee all epidemic prevention matters in Jurong; the Imperial Medical Academy shall dispatch capable medical officers to accompany him; and the Nanjing garrison shall allocate five hundred elite troops to be at his disposal. All necessary epidemic prevention supplies shall be allocated with priority and without error!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Yang Rong bowed and accepted the order.

Zhu Di then looked at Zhu Zhanjun, his gaze carrying a rare gentleness: "Zhanjun, I will give you three days to prepare. After three days, you will set off for Jurong. Remember, you are both my grandson and the Prince of Huai of the Ming Dynasty. If things cannot be accomplished, do not force it; prioritize your own safety."

Zhu Zhanjun bowed deeply: "Grandson understands. Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty!"

He straightened up, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, finally settling on Zhu Zhanji, whose face was deathly pale. A slight, meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

Zhu Zhanji felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and he roared in anger.

You better die in Jurong, you little brat!