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

About ten days later, a rumor began to circulate in teahouses, restaurants, and even on the streets of Nanjing.

"Have you heard? Something happened in Jurong!" In a corner of the teahouse, a scholar in blue robes whispered to his companion.

"What is it? Is the smallpox out of control?" his companion asked anxiously.

"It's more than just out of control!" The scholar looked around, then leaned closer. "That Prince Huai, he developed some kind of 'cowpox' vaccine, using about a hundred people as test subjects, and... dozens have died!"

"What?!" his companion exclaimed, drawing stares from the next table. He quickly lowered his voice, "Really? Wasn't it supposed to be a way to save people?"

"Save whoever you want!" the scholar scoffed. "I have a relative who works in the Jurong County government. He told me personally that some of the people who tried planting the crops had persistent high fevers and their bodies were covered in sores. Others contracted smallpox and died horribly! The Prince of Huai, fearing exposure, has locked them all in a thatched hut outside Dongliu Town, strictly forbidding any news from spreading!"

"This...this is tantamount to treating human life like dirt!" His companion turned pale.

"That's not all!" a merchant at another table couldn't help but interject. "I've also heard that the 'cowpox' vaccine was completely fabricated by Prince Huai! What nonsense about milkmaids not getting smallpox? It's all a lie! The old physicians at the Imperial Hospital are all shaking their heads in private, saying they've never heard of such an absurd method. Prince Huai is just trying to show off in front of His Majesty, so he's going to make things up!"

Rumors spread rapidly like a plague, with increasingly exaggerated versions emerging.

Some people say they saw bodies being secretly transported out of Jurong city at night.

Some say that the King of Huai forced prisoners and refugees to test medicines.

Some even confidently asserted that Prince Huai, Zhu Zhanjun, knew all along that smallpox vaccination was ineffective, but only sought to gain a reputation for "bravely going to the epidemic area" in order to outshine the eldest grandson, Zhu Zhanji…

Within just three to five days, the people of Nanjing were already restless.

"Tsk tsk, a seven-year-old child, what does he know about medicine? He's clearly playing with people's lives!"

"I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince tried to dissuade him at the time, saying that the matter was dangerous, but unfortunately His Majesty did not listen..."

"Prince Huai was indeed impressive in his previous campaign against the Japanese pirates, but this time he has been far too reckless! Is smallpox something to be trifled with?"

"They're probably willing to do anything to secure the crown prince position..."

These rumors, whether intentional or unintentional, would always reach the ears of some court officials, the palace servants, and even the Eastern Palace.

Inside the Eastern Palace, Zhu Zhanji listened to the report from his trusted eunuch Jin Ying, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Keep spreading it, spread it as widely as possible." He slowly fiddled with his teacup. "Especially those places frequented by upright censors and Hanlin scholars, let them talk about it. Remember, make it seem like 'spontaneous public discussion,' and have nothing to do with the Crown Prince."

"Yes, Your Highness." Jin Ying bowed and withdrew.

Zhu Gaochi frowned slightly: "Zhanji, the rumors have already started, let's stop now. If they reach His Majesty's ears, and he starts investigating..."

"Father, what are you afraid of?" Zhu Zhanji put down his teacup. "Rumors that are half true and half false are the hardest to verify."

"It's true that the drug was tested in Jurong, and it's also true that some people became seriously ill. As for whether anyone died or whether it was caused by smallpox, who can say for sure?"

"We are just relaying what people have seen and heard."

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed towards the palace walls: "Now the whole city is talking about Zhu Zhanjun for 'deceiving the world and stealing fame' and 'disregarding human life.' When he returns from Jurong in disgrace, let's see how he will face his grandfather and the court officials!"

"At that time, Grandfather will naturally remember who is the most suitable successor to the Ming Dynasty!"

Zhu Gaochi remained silent and sighed.

A short while later.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Zhanji, although you say it so readily, your father still feels somewhat uneasy."

"What if... what if that kid Zhu Zhanjun just happens to get lucky and manages to get the smallpox vaccination method working?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhanji was first taken aback, then burst out laughing as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

He laughed so hard he almost fell over, and it took him a long time to catch his breath. Pointing in the direction outside the East Palace, his face was full of mockery: "Father, what are you saying? How is this possible?"

"Hundreds or even thousands of years!"

Throughout history, countless renowned doctors and medical masters have been helpless against smallpox, forced to watch it claim lives.

"Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Taizong of Tang, and Emperor Taizu of Song—weren't they all tormented by this disease?"

"Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs, Hua Tuo attempted craniotomy, and Zhang Zhongjing wrote the Treatise on Febrile Diseases—weren't they all exceptionally talented individuals?"

"So what if he's Zhang Zhenren, who's said to be almost an immortal?"

"They are all helpless against smallpox, so what makes Zhu Zhanjun, a seven-year-old child, think he can fight it?"

His smile vanished, and a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.

"Based on a few rural rumors he heard about milkmaids?"

"Just because he saw a few cows with boils on their backsides?"

"Just because he made up a few nice-sounding phrases like 'I would risk my life for the country'?"

"Father, please wake up!"

There are no magic formulas or miracle cures in this world!

"Zhu Zhanjun's trip to Jurong this time was just a show!"

"His so-called 'experiments' were nothing but malicious acts, using human lives to bolster his reputation!"

Zhu Zhanji became increasingly agitated as he spoke, his voice rising several decibels: "Think about it, if smallpox could truly control it, why has it remained undiscovered for thousands of years?"

"Why did those imperial physicians never mention it?"

"Does Zhu Zhanjun think he's the smartest?"

His boastful promises were destined to come to nothing!

He walked up to Zhu Gaochi and lowered his voice.

"Father, you can rest assured."

"What we need to do now is not worry about his success, but prepare how to completely crush him in the mud after he fails, so that he can never rise again!"

"Once news comes back from Jurong, once those people who tried planting the crops have either died or fallen ill, we'll have the censors jointly submit a memorial impeaching him for 'arrogance and ignorance, disregard for human life, and deceiving the emperor!'"

"By then, even if Grandpa Emperor dotes on him, he won't be able to protect him!"

Zhu Gaochi looked at his son's confident and determined expression, his lips moved but he didn't say anything.

The vague unease in his heart was ultimately suppressed by Zhu Zhanji's resolute tone.

Yes, smallpox, a disease that has plagued people for thousands of years, is not so easy to cure.

Perhaps I'm just overthinking it.