TPITWOHEF

Chapter 132

All princes were being variolated, and not only the empress, but even the empress dowager was very anxious.

Everyone had worshipped the Smallpox Goddess, and when Sanda entered the specially enclosed area for variolation, seeing the anxiety of the women, he was even more moved.

"This... haven't they tried it with children from outside the palace before?"

Xiao Yunzhou shook his head, "Do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself. If we are to extend this to all under Heaven, it is only natural that we start from my Jing Country palace."

Sanda's chest swelled with emotion, looking at the thin physique of the Jing Country man Xiao Yunzhou, who was no taller than his own eldest son, he suddenly felt a surge of reliability!

Who would have thought?

This sense of security, before only his elder brother had ever given him.

On the grasslands during battles and hunts, his elder brother had always charged ahead of him, taking on the dangers himself.

If one were to say that the brotherly address from earlier in the imperial study room still had an air of courtesy and insincerity, then this short-statured Jing Country emperor Xiao Yunzhou truly reminded him of his elder brother now!

"Previously, a batch of palace maids of suitable age had already attempted the variolation within the palace. Those who underwent the trial were allowed to rest outside the palace for ten days, and received an additional two taels of silver."

Xiao Yunzhou turned to explain to Sanda, "The palace maids who underwent the trial previously were all successful."

Sanda's expression grew complex.

In fact, when he learned of the variolation method, that it involved infecting the child with the disease, he did not want his own children to try it.

He dared not risk it, for if they contracted smallpox, the chances of successful treatment were only sixty percent.

But now, seeing that even the Jing Country princes were being inoculated, he was somewhat moved.

[Woo, my brother is really bold! The eldest prince's face turned pale when he saw the imperial physician come to inoculate him, and his hands were trembling.]

Xiao Chuchu, held by Concubine Liu, seized the opportunity before the imperial physician started to take another look at her brother Cheng Qian.

With a single glance, she saw that among the princes, her own brother was the bravest.

[My brother is so brave!]

Xiao Yunzhou had originally been chatting with Sanda, boasting about how he had inspired the imperial physicians with the idea of variolation.

Hearing his daughter's inner voice, he immediately turned to look at the row of sons.

Sure enough, Xiao Yunzhou immediately noticed that among his sons, only Cheng Qian remained composed, as if variolation was merely a small matter.

In contrast, the eldest prince's face was as white as paper, sweating profusely.

The other sons, the third and fourth princes, were also gritting their teeth, extremely anxious.

There was no mistaking it, when compared, the differences in courage were clear.

The imperial physician had not even begun yet, merely inquiring about the princes' recent diets and health conditions, and still needing to check their pulses before proceeding with the variolation.