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

The month-long period passed in the blink of an eye.

The smallpox outbreak in Jurong County subsided rapidly, like a receding tide, after the full implementation of cowpox vaccination.

All those who received the vaccine in Dongliu Town and surrounding villages are safe and sound.

The few who contracted the disease but were not vaccinated also recovered thanks to the meticulous treatment at the Imperial Hospital.

By the end of the month, there were no new smallpox cases in Jurong County, and existing patients had gradually recovered.

The once-feared "pockmarked disease" has become a preventable and controllable disease in Jurong.

Within a month, the news had already spread throughout Nanjing.

At first, some people did not believe it, but as more and more people who had returned from visiting relatives in Jurong came forward to give their testimonies, as the official epidemic prevention notices issued by the Imperial Medical Academy were posted at the city gates, and as the imperial court began to prepare to promote smallpox vaccination in Nanjing, all doubts vanished.

The people of Nanjing went from initial surprise and doubt to skepticism, and then to eager anticipation. Now, everyone praises the achievements of the Prince of Huai.

Teahouses, restaurants, and streets were filled with talk of the "miraculous smallpox cure," and everyone was grateful to the Prince of Huai, who, at only seven years old, dared to venture into the epidemic area and save countless lives.

On this day, the spring sunshine was bright and beautiful.

The ten-mile-long pavilion outside Nanjing was already packed with people.

People, young and old, spontaneously gathered on both sides of the official road, stretching for several miles.

They carried bamboo baskets filled with freshly picked wildflowers.

Or they might be holding a rough earthenware bowl filled with homemade rice wine.

Many more came empty-handed, just to catch a glimpse of the legendary "Little Bodhisattva."

"They're here! They're here!"

Someone shouted first, and the crowd immediately stirred.

Dust began to rise on the distant official road.

First, a troop of cavalry led the way, their black armor and red tassels making them look very disciplined.

Following them were several carriages, the most conspicuous of which had a tall shaft and a black-and-gold-edged royal banner with the character "淮" fluttering in the spring breeze.

As the carriage drew closer, the people could see it clearly.

The royal carriage did not have its curtains drawn, and the windows were open.

A child dressed in a prince's everyday clothes is sitting by the window, waving outside.

It was none other than Zhu Zhanjun, the Prince of Huai!

Compared to when he left Beijing a month ago, he looked slightly tired and seemed to have lost some weight, but his eyes were brighter than ever, revealing a composure and determination beyond his years.

"Your Highness, Prince Huai!"

"Long live Your Highness!"

A deafening cheer erupted from the crowd.

The people knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, many elderly people weeping and murmuring, "A living Bodhisattva... truly a living Bodhisattva..."

Zhu Zhanjun bowed slightly and nodded to the people by the roadside.

He saw someone holding up a crude wooden sign that read "Grace of Rebirth".

He saw the child in the woman's arms grinning at him.

Seeing the white-haired old woman trembling as she tried to throw the wildflowers in her hand towards the carriage...

A warm feeling welled up in his heart.

All the hardships, dangers, and exhaustion of the past month have been worthwhile at this moment.

The convoy slowly drove into the gates of Nanjing.

The scene inside the city was even more spectacular.

From the city gate to the imperial city, the main street was crowded with people, and countless heads were leaning out of the windows of the buildings.

Cheers, applause, and firecrackers mingled together, creating a deafening roar.

"Your Highness, Prince Huai! You are our savior!"

An elderly man with white hair and beard, supported by his children and grandchildren, cried out in a trembling voice, "When I was young, I witnessed the smallpox epidemic that wiped out a village. I never imagined that I would live to see this plague brought to an end! Your Highness, you are the lucky star of the Ming Dynasty, a living bodhisattva for the people!"

A middle-aged scholar beside him waved his arms excitedly and shouted to the surrounding crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen! With the outbreak of smallpox, the world will no longer fear 'smallpox'! This is a meritorious deed that will benefit generations to come! Your Highness, Prince Huai, at such a young age, is performing the deeds of a sage. Please accept my bow!"

As he spoke, he straightened his clothes and bowed deeply towards the direction of the carriage.

A portly merchant, his face flushed and his voice booming, exclaimed, "Your Highness's actions have saved countless lives and protected countless families! From now on, when we travel far and wide as merchants, we no longer need to live in fear of contracting smallpox! Your Highness, you are our talisman!"

Praises rose and fell, from the elderly to young children, from scholars and poets to ordinary people; everyone's words were filled with heartfelt gratitude and admiration.

Just then, the convoy arrived at the most bustling street along the Qinhuai River. Restaurants and shops lined both sides of the street, and elegantly dressed women were seen by the windows of the ornately decorated pavilions.

They had already heard about the deeds of the Prince of Huai, and now, seeing with their own eyes the steady figure waving from his small carriage, their admiration and affection were intertwined, adding to their overwhelming excitement.

"Look! That's His Highness Prince Huai!" A second-floor window of an embroidered building was suddenly pushed open, and a young girl in an apricot-colored spring dress leaned out, her face flushed and her eyes sparkling.

After a slight hesitation, she untied a hibiscus-colored embroidered butterfly sachet from her waist, mustered her courage, and gently tossed it downwards. "Your Highness! Catch!"

The sachet, adorned with tassels, swirled and gently landed on the windowsill of Zhu Zhanjun's carriage, releasing a sweet fragrance.

This was as if a floodgate had been opened.

"Your Highness, look at me!"

"Take my handkerchief!"

"Your Highness, Prince Huai~"

The sounds of orioles and swallows suddenly poured out from between the pavilions on both sides.

Countless young ladies, some charming, some shy, and some bold, threw their embroidered handkerchiefs, sachets, silk flowers, and even newly picked peach and plum branches toward the Prince of Huai's carriage.

Colorful silk handkerchiefs fell like clouds, and various sachets dropped like raindrops, interspersed with fragrant flowers, creating a unique and beautiful scene.

A pale white silk handkerchief embroidered with twin lotus flowers was gently placed over the carriage shaft.

A carefully woven sachet with a love knot landed beside Zhu Zhanjun's knees.

A few delicate pink peach blossoms drifted in through the car window and landed on his sleeve.

Zhu Zhanjun was taken aback at first. He subconsciously raised his hand and caught a light blue sachet with a golden bell attached, which almost hit his forehead.

A clear, bell-like laugh suddenly came from upstairs.

"Your Highness, please accept my sachet!" A young woman in a pale yellow dress covered her face with her sleeve, leaving behind a string of cheerful laughter.

"Your Highness, my handkerchief is embroidered with a good luck charm!" another, bolder girl in a green dress shouted, leaning against the railing.

The accompanying guards and eunuchs tried their best to maintain a solemn expression, but their eyes couldn't help but be filled with smiles as they hurriedly and carefully picked up the various items that had fallen onto the roof of the carriage and the back of the horses.

Zhu Zhanjun shook his head helplessly, gently put away the light green sachet and the silk handkerchief beside his knee, raised his head, showed a bright smile to the enthusiastic figures upstairs, and bowed deeply.

His smile and bow drew cheers from upstairs and downstairs, and the enthusiasm for throwing handkerchiefs and silk flowers grew even stronger.

Amidst the city's acclaim and the fragrant aroma that filled the air, the convoy slowly made its way towards the imperial city.

Half an hour later.

The convoy arrived outside Chengtian Gate.

Zhu Di had already led his civil and military officials to wait there in person.

This is an extremely high honor.

Only those meritorious officials and generals who had made unparalleled contributions were entitled to be greeted by the emperor outside the palace.

Zhu Zhanjun quickly got out of the carriage, stepped forward, and bowed ten steps in front of the imperial carriage.

"Your grandson, Zhu Zhanjun, was ordered to oversee the epidemic prevention efforts in Jurong. Now that the epidemic has subsided, I am returning to the capital to report! Your grandson pays his respects to His Majesty the Emperor. Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

Behind him, Zhou Wenqing, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, Wang Jian, the magistrate of Jurong County, and a group of accompanying officials and physicians also knelt down.

Zhu Di looked at his grandson kneeling before him, his eyes filled with satisfaction and pride.

He personally stepped forward, bent down to help Zhu Zhanjun up, and looked him up and down.

"Good boy...you've lost weight and gotten tanned...you've had a tough month."

"To share the burdens of my imperial grandfather and to serve the Ming Dynasty, I, your grandson, am not to be troubled," Zhu Zhanjun said respectfully.

Zhu Di nodded emphatically, patted him on the shoulder, turned to face the officials and the people, and said loudly: "Prince Huai, Zhu Zhanjun, accepted the mission in a time of crisis, went to dangerous places without fear, and used extraordinary methods to save the people. Within a month, he quelled the smallpox epidemic in Jurong and relieved the capital from the brink of disaster! This achievement should be recorded in history and passed down to future generations!"

"By special decree, the Prince of Huai is hereby granted an additional 5,000 shi of grain, and an annual stipend of 15,000 shi of rice, to be established permanently."

"In addition, three thousand hectares of superior farmland near Nanjing and five hundred hectares of fertile land in Yangzhou and Suzhou shall be granted as fiefs, and all land taxes from these lands shall belong to the Prince of Huai's estate."

"A government-run customs office shall be granted in the capital, and the Prince of Huai may send someone to supervise its management. Thirty percent of the commercial taxes collected shall be allocated to the Prince of Huai's treasury."

"In addition, the two workshops of the Jiangning Imperial Weaving Bureau were transferred to the Huai Prince's Mansion for management. The brocade produced therein was exclusively for the use of the inner court and the Huai Prince's Mansion, and any surplus was to be kept by the prince himself."

"He shall be granted a pair of Vermilion Bird Banners and a pair of Azure Dragon Banners, and shall be accompanied by sixteen men carrying halberds and swords when he travels. In court, he shall be ranked first among the princes, and shall only perform half a bow when he sees the Crown Prince. He shall be granted a seat before the Emperor and participate in discussions of state affairs."

"Furthermore, I consider that the Prince of Huai has rendered great service to the state and should be protected by a personal guard to demonstrate his power and to prepare for unforeseen circumstances."

"By special decree: The old system of the Imperial Guard is restored, and the 'Imperial Guard Command' is established, consisting of five guards, with five commanders, all of the third rank, directly under the command of the Prince of Huai."

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.

The Imperial Guard... This was the elite personal guard specially set up by Emperor Taizu Gao for the Eastern Palace, to protect the crown prince and to be extremely majestic.

It was later cancelled because it involved the Lan Yu case.

Since the Yongle reign, although the organization of this guard has been retained, it has never been truly restored to an independent system, nor has it ever been granted to any prince!