"Provoking me will bring you no good," Mu Xueqin suddenly smiled.
Jian Qinyan glanced at Liang Xiao with disdain, shaking her head helplessly.
This fellow actually wanted to take a different approach, fundamentally negating her mother. No matter how hard she tried to ease the atmosphere now, it would be in vain!
Luo Qingxue and the other two dared not disturb them, only looking at Liang Xiao anxiously.
Liang Xiao met Mu Xueqin's gaze, his expression unruffled. "A physician's heart is benevolent, you must have that, right?"
"Precisely because a physician's heart is benevolent that I cannot break the rules and treat kings and nobles!" Mu Xueqin stated resolutely.
Liang Xiao asked again, "Then I ask you, in your medical career to date, approximately how many people have you saved?"
Mu Xueqin chuckled, "No matter how eloquent you are, I've seen it all. I'll let you give up with absolute clarity."
"Throughout my life, I have saved countless people, including over eight thousand with complex and difficult illnesses, and I have taught seventy-two disciples, each with their own achievements!"
Mu Xueqin spoke calmly, but her expression was proud.
"Altogether, at least two to three hundred thousand, right?" Liang Xiao asked.
"Indeed, worthy of the title of Medical Saint!" Ding Wuyi praised.
"You can't compare to my mother; my mother genuinely saves people," Jian Qinyan said proudly.
Liang Xiao smiled, "Is this the confidence and capital you are proud of? You have treated so many people, assuming all were miraculous recoveries, meaning you saved two to three hundred thousand lives. Then, have the surrounding foreign tribes stopped invading because of this? Have the common people lived better lives because of this?"
The mother and daughter frowned, staring at Liang Xiao.
"You're just trying to say that you govern the country and can save millions of people, aren't you?" Mu Xueqin sneered.
"Young Master Liang Er has indeed achieved that..."
Ding Wuyi was about to explain but was immediately stopped by Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao smiled, "How many people I can save, we'll discuss later. I ask you, do you know why, despite you saving so many people, the Great Qian nation still faced the brink of invasion by the barbarians, shattered mountains and rivers, and faced turmoil two months ago?"
"I have done all within my power, and my conscience is clear!" Mu Xueqin replied, then retorted, "Then you tell me, why is that?"
"Conscience is clear?" Liang Xiao scoffed, then said gravely, "Because studying medicine cannot save Great Qian, it's that simple!"
"Insolent! I don't buy your pontificating!" Mu Xueqin's expression was dismissive.
Liang Xiao simply took a roll of silk from his embrace and tossed it before Mu Xueqin.
"As the Medical Saint, why are you helpless against smallpox, a disease that people fear at the mere mention?" Liang Xiao retorted, also with disdain.
Mu Xueqin's expression changed, and she cast a questioning glance at Ding Wuyi.
Could it be that he knew the current emperor's secret?
Ding Wuyi merely shook his head at Mu Xueqin.
Mu Xueqin then relaxed, opened the silk, and glanced at it. "Cowpox inoculation..."
"Prevent smallpox with cowpox? Are you insane..." Jian Qinyan shot Liang Xiao a dirty look.
Smallpox was a serious illness, completely unrelated to the cowpox of calves; their toxicity was worlds apart!
Mu Xueqin watched, her pupils trembling slightly. "This method..."
It roughly described the method of preventing smallpox by inoculating with cowpox!
Prevention?
"Those inoculated with cowpox will not die from cowpox, but they will be able to avoid contracting smallpox in the future," Liang Xiao explained.
"Where did you learn this? Or are you just making it up?" Mu Xueqin asked urgently.
Liang Xiao smiled, "You are not qualified to ask me now. I have already asked my grandfather to make a backup and requested instructions from His Majesty for promotion. If there are any errors, I will bear all responsibility."
"Nonsense! How can you experiment with the lives of the common people! You scholars are truly..." Jian Qinyan was furious and was about to scold him, but Mu Xueqin stopped her.
"My child, be quiet for now..."
Jian Qinyan peered curiously at Mu Xueqin and noticed that her mother's expression was unusually solemn.
"I do recall that not a single person who contracted cowpox died. Today, after reading this scroll, I suddenly recalled: those who had cowpox did indeed not subsequently contract smallpox..."
Ding Wuyi, Luo Qingxue, Yue Lian, and Jian Qinyan were struck as if by lightning!
Could cowpox really prevent smallpox?
In the imperial study, Xiao Qing knelt before Xiao Qing, trembling, repeatedly kowtowing.
Xiao Qing looked at the transcribed content of cowpox inoculation with tears in her eyes, her body trembling slightly.
"Your Majesty, cowpox inoculation is unprecedented and I fear there are great risks. I request to bear the responsibility. If it proves effective, then let Xiao'er receive the credit..."
Xiao Qing shook her head and sighed, "I will immediately announce this to the realm and attempt to promote it, but before it takes effect, Liang Ai Qing's name must not be mentioned. Also, those inoculated with cowpox will be guarded by the yamen. If anyone dies from it, they will be immediately sent to the capital for autopsy."
The middle-aged female imperial physician standing to Ning Xuejun's left reminded her, "Your Majesty, this minister has never heard of any cases of death from cowpox. This minister also seems to recall that those who have had cowpox did not have any treatment records for smallpox afterwards..."
Hearing this, Xiao Qing's anxious heart stirred. "Cowpox doesn't kill people?"
"Your Majesty, strictly speaking, all medicine has a slight toxicity. Contracting cowpox does not necessarily mean one will not die. Sometimes, even a small wound can claim a life, let alone a disease..." the female imperial physician explained.
Xiao Qing was both surprised and delighted, and nodded solemnly, "Understood! Promote it first in areas where smallpox is severe!"
...
In the bamboo house, Mu Xueqin sighed, "It can be tried for promotion, perhaps it will really work... Liang Xiao, is this the confidence you used to change my mind?"
Everyone was overjoyed and looked at Liang Xiao.
Jian Qinyan also breathed a sigh of relief, her gaze towards Liang Xiao softening considerably.
Since there was hope, she no longer had to worry about her mother being held accountable by the Emperor.
Liang Xiao shook his head and said gravely, "My intention was to tell you that I, Liang Xiao, not only can save lives but also save hearts! And you, if you don't even understand this point, let alone the Medical Saint, you don't even deserve the name of a physician!"
"Explain yourself!" Mu Xueqin stammered.
"What I, Liang Xiao, intend to do is to ensure that all people in the land have food to eat, have education, have housing, are cared for in their youth, have support in their old age, have medical care when sick, broaden intellectual horizons, give them more opportunities to rise above, and prevent displacement! A wealthy nation and strong people, peace throughout the four seas. Any foreign tribes who dare to wage war will be cut down! This is saving lives and saving hearts!"
Mu Xueqin fell silent.
Jian Qinyan stared at Liang Xiao, stunned.
Luo Qingxue and Yue Lian's tears flowed like springs.
"Well said, well said!" Ding Wuyi, no longer the grim Shadow Guard Commander of old, laughed heartily towards the sky, his trembling hands gripping the armrest of his chair, tears streaming down his face, repeatedly murmuring every word Liang Xiao spoke.
Everyone has food to eat, everyone has education! Foreign tribes who dare to wage war will be cut down!
After a moment, Luo Qingxue and Yue Lian could no longer restrain their sobs.
Liang Xiao turned to comfort the two.
"You angered me just now, weren't you afraid I would secretly poison you or treat you to death on the spot?" Mu Xueqin pouted.
Liang Xiao frowned and retorted, "Do you think you are very humorous?"
Mu Xueqin's brow twitched, and she sighed, "A person blessed by the Heavenly General is indeed different from ordinary people... Let me examine your injuries."
Luo Qingxue, Yue Lian, and Ding Wuyi were both shocked and delighted. Liang Xiao and Jian Qinyan also finally breathed a sigh of relief.
This was the best possible outcome.
The bamboo house was warm. Liang Xiao, with his back to Mu Xueqin, was about to pull down his upper garment.
Jian Qinyan, Luo Qingxue, and Yue Lian turned away with blushing faces.
Ding Wuyi crouched behind Liang Xiao, also wanting to see the extent of the injuries.
After baring his back, Mu Xueqin and Ding Wuyi stared at the shocking wounds on Liang Xiao's back, their pupils contracting.
"You, what is your relationship with the Heavenly General!" Mu Xueqin slammed the table, tears gushing from her eyes.