Chapter 317 The First Madman in the Ming Dynasty

The disaster in the third year of Hongzhi was finally revealed. This disaster was not a natural disaster, but a man-made disaster.

This imperial physician of the Imperial Hospital used his knowledge and status to not only bring the smallpox virus into the palace, but also instigated the epidemic in the palace, and even intended to infect Zhu Youtang with smallpox.

Although smallpox infection does not kill a person 100%, there is a great risk of death after all, so the crime of regicide is enough to implicate the entire family.

Liu Jin saw that Doctor Cui was hesitant, and immediately asked in a deep voice: "Doctor Cui, why don't you confess the truth?"

"Your Majesty, I...I did not put smallpox in the prescription, and I have no intention of murdering Your Majesty, please understand!" After weighing the pros and cons several times, Doctor Cui chose to deny it.

When Liu Jin saw that Doctor Cui was quibbling, he was immediately furious and said, "You have clearly confessed just now, and now the medicine jar is still here. Do you still want to deny it now?"

"Eunuch Liu, I just said that soybean liquid is added to the prescription. This is one of the medicinal ingredients in the prescription! Bean liquid is the essence of soybeans and has the effect of improving eyesight. What's wrong with this?" Doctor Cui's brain worked quickly and he immediately found a reasonable excuse for his behavior.

Zhu Youtang originally thought that the matter could be cleared up, but he didn't expect Doctor Cui to deny it in public. He immediately knew that this person did not intend to tell him everything.

Judging from Doctor Cui's reaction, Doctor Cui not only wanted to protect the mastermind behind the scenes, but also planned to withdraw from this matter unscathed. Things are developing in an absurd direction.

Liu Jin knew that Doctor Cui was talking nonsense, and pointed at the black medicine pot angrily and said, "If that's the case, then drink this pot of medicine, and I'll see if you can get smallpox!"

"Why not! Please bring the medicine over, I'll prove my innocence!" Doctor Cui took a deep breath and said as if he was ready to die.

Liu Jin snorted coldly, and seeing that Doctor Cui was unwilling to confess, he was even more determined to die, so he immediately prepared to pour out the medicine containing pox fluid.

But when he was about to pour the medicine, he suddenly shuddered all over, and turned his head in horror to look at the emperor who was eyeing him covetously.

If Zhu Youtang had not known Liu Jin's character, he would have suspected that Liu Jin was an accomplice of Cui Taiyi. He turned his head and looked at Cui Taiyi who was full of expectation and said, "Of course you dare to drink it, and you even want to drink it all up!"

"Your Majesty... I don't know what your Majesty means by this!" Cui Taiyi's heart skipped a beat, but he continued to pretend to be confused.

Huh?

Song Cheng had been observing silently beside him. Although he didn't understand why the emperor stopped Liu Jin's behavior, he felt that there must be something else going on.

Zhu Youtang seemed to see through everything and said, "According to the ancient royal books, anyone who is infected with smallpox will not be infected again. You have brought smallpox fluid into the palace many times this time, and you must have already been infected with smallpox. This medicine will not cause smallpox in your stomach, but you can take the opportunity to eliminate the evidence!"

Ah?

Liu Jin learned that there was such knowledge, and he almost fell into Cui Taiyi's trap just now, and he couldn't help but swallow his saliva secretly.

"I...I did have smallpox, but I have never heard that people will not have it again after recovering from smallpox, and I have no intention of murdering Your Majesty. Please be clear, Your Majesty!" Doctor Cui realized that the emperor in front of him was not an ordinary person, but he continued to defend himself.

"Your Majesty, I wonder which ancient book records this matter?" Song Cheng was a picky person, and he asked seriously.

Zhu Youtang naturally could not say that this conclusion came from later generations, and he directly put on the majesty of the emperor: "This matter is naturally true, as for which ancient book, you don't need to get to the bottom of it!" After a pause, his eyes fell on Doctor Cui again: "Doctor Cui, you may have thought of one thing wrong! Now the matter does not allow you to quibble. Do you want to be exterminated with your three clans? Or do you obediently confess the mastermind behind the murder of me?"

In theory, Doctor Cui's remarks did not have substantial evidence. If you want to convict Doctor Cui, you need someone to test the disease, but this behavior will not only aggravate the epidemic in the palace, but also may cause someone to die.

He has never been a pedantic person. Now that the truth of the matter is almost in front of him, he will naturally not be so serious as to let people try the authenticity of the decoction.

"Your Majesty, it's unjust! The decoction is just soybean liquid, not smallpox liquid!" Cui Taiyi felt Zhu Youtang's murderous intention, but still insisted on clearing himself.

Zhu Youtang knew that the other party thought he was a kind and pedantic emperor, and immediately said with a gloomy face: "I gave you a chance! In this case, don't blame me for being ruthless! Come, put Cui Taiyi in the death row, and judge the king's crime, and execute nine..."

"Your Majesty, absolutely not!" Song Cheng suddenly stood up and stopped him seriously.

Zhu Youtang's face darkened, and he said in a very unhappy tone: "Song Fuyin, do you think I have wronged Doctor Cui?"

Not to mention that all the evidence has pointed to Doctor Cui, and now Doctor Cui wants to make him infected with smallpox, and now he is unwilling to give up the mastermind behind the scenes, what reason do I have to let him off easily?

"Your Majesty, I am not pleading for Doctor Cui, but before the matter is clear, we should investigate it thoroughly before making a judgment!" Song Cheng's eyes were clear, and he explained seriously.

Zhu Youtang found that Song Cheng was too particular about evidence, but he took a deep breath and said: "Song Fuyin, do you know that if you really try this medicine, the person who tries it is likely to be infected with smallpox and die. Do you want me to kill innocent people?"

"Your Majesty, I know what you are worried about, but killing Cui Taiyi's nine clans without any evidence will damage your majesty's reputation and is not in line with my criminal law. Since I am lucky enough to fall into a dry well and not die, I am willing to try this medicine! If I get smallpox, it will be Cui Taiyi who wiped me, and my nine clans should be killed!" Song Cheng's eyes were firm, and he said seriously.

This...

Liu Jin was dumbfounded when he saw that Song Cheng wanted to test the medicine on himself.

In the past, I only thought that this Shuntian prefect was a black-faced weirdo, but he was indeed a good criminal investigation official. As a result, he found that he had extraordinary courage.

Zhu Youtang did not expect Song Cheng to have such great courage, and asked calmly: "Song Qing, do you really want to try the medicine?"

"I hope your majesty will do it!" Song Cheng's eyes were firm, and he seemed to be fearless and cupped his hands.

Cui Taiyi's forehead was sweating, and he found that his cleverness was completely ineffective. A madman actually jumped out here. It is said that Song Cheng is a rare smart man in the Ming Dynasty, but in his opinion, he is clearly a madman.

Zhu Youtang seemed to be getting to know this black-faced young man again, and asked very seriously: "Do you think it is worth taking such a huge risk for this matter?"

Putting himself in other people's shoes, he would never take such a big risk. Even if he was lucky enough not to die, he would probably have a pockmarked face, which is a result that ordinary people cannot accept.

"Justice of law is my lifelong wish, please fulfill it, Your Majesty!" Song Cheng did not retreat, and said seriously.

Liu Jin could see that Song Cheng was not seeking fame, and secretly admired him in his heart.

Zhu Youtang noticed that Cui Taiyi's eyes were erratic, and immediately said in a deep voice: "Cui Taiyi!"

"I am here!" Cui Taiyi responded immediately.

Zhu Youtang looked into Cui's eyes and warned him seriously: "Once Song Fuyin tests the poison, no one in your nine clans will be spared, so think it through!"

"I...I am innocent!" Cui hesitated for a while, but still said stubbornly.

At this point, this black medicine jar has become the key to the case, and it is also related to the lives of Cui's nine clans.

Zhu Youtang gave Liu Jin a look and immediately ordered: "In this case, let's try it!"

For fear of infection, the eunuch who came over put on a mask and gloves, took the black medicine jar outside first, and then carefully poured a bowl.

The soup is showing an ordinary dark brown color, but it is difficult to judge whether it is poisonous, and it is even more impossible to tell whether there is pox fluid in it by naked eyes.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Song Cheng took the medicine bowl, just paused, and drank the bowl.

Cui Taiyi originally thought that Song Cheng was just talking, but now seeing that Song Cheng really drank it, his body trembled suddenly, but he suddenly begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, I am willing to confess. I was instructed by someone. Please show mercy outside the law!"

This...

Liu Jin saw Cui Taiyi's reaction, but looked at Song Cheng with sympathy.

Song Cheng was about to put down the empty bowl in his hand, and was dumbfounded. This guy seemed to be playing with him deliberately.

Confessed?

Zhu Youtang found that his mentality had changed subtly. He used to try every means to pursue the truth, but now he can also contact and kill slowly.

If Cui Taiyi confessed the mastermind behind the scenes, then according to the prior agreement, it would be difficult to kill the nine clans.

As night fell, the lights in the West Garden lit up.

Due to the epidemic, the Forbidden City now seems quiet, but the eastern area of ​​the West Garden has become the most important activity place for the emperor and concubines.

In the past, the palace and the concubines were separated by a door, but tonight the door was pushed open.

An eighteen-year-old woman came over alone. Due to the need for epidemic prevention, she was wearing a veil on her face and was walking towards the emperor's bedroom.

Zhu Youtang had a strange habit. Even though he was in the West Garden, he did not choose to work in the Yangxin Palace at night, but chose to handle intelligence from all over the country in the bedroom.

Although the undercurrent in the capital was surging, he was always paying attention to the movements of neighboring countries, and the Mongolian side had planned to conquer the Mekeli tribe in the spring.

Although the cold current suffered heavy losses in winter, foreign wars have always been the best way to divert conflicts, and Manduhai has always wanted to solve the Mekeli tribe and complete the unification of the Tatar tribe.

After Zhu Youtang knew Manduhai's plan, he immediately issued an instruction: "The border troops are short of meat, and the old blades are used to exchange cattle and sheep. It is a helpless move. The officials shall not investigate!"

"Why is your majesty laughing?" A burst of fragrance came to my nose, and a heavenly sound came into my ears.

Zhu Youtang was in a good mood at the moment. He looked up at the beauty in front of him and felt his heart beat.

Yang Zisu was eighteen years old. Unlike Han Youying, who had long legs, she had a plump and round figure, which was the ceiling of the slightly fat world. Her beautiful eyes were a bit charming.

I don't know if it was intentional or just for the need of epidemic prevention. The delicate face with a gauze scarf looked more attractive.

Maybe it was because he hadn't touched a woman for a while, or the woman in front of him was too attractive, which made Zhu Youtang have an impulse to eat his words and do this woman first.

"Your Majesty, I am rude!" Yang Zisu felt Zhu Youtang's hot gaze and bowed her head shyly.

Zhu Youtang took a deep breath to calm down, and smiled slightly and said, "It doesn't matter! How is the effect of the acne treatment I gave you today?"

Although there was a theoretical basis for later generations, in order to prevent accidents, he was not eager to act as the first guinea pig, but decided to let the palace maids try it.

Originally, the most suitable candidate for the experiment was the imperial physician, but after the incident with Cui Taiyi, he felt disappointed with the Imperial Hospital, so he handed the matter over to his woman.

Fortunately, he had never treated any woman badly, and this Shurong took good care of her, and even expected her to use medicine to continue his offspring for him.

"I have tested four people, just as the records of the good prescription for treating smallpox show, they have fever symptoms, but the fever has just subsided. Whether the four of them can resist smallpox, I am afraid they will have to be sent to smallpox patients to verify!" Yang Zisu talked about smallpox, and she seemed very serious.

When Zhu Youtang learned about this situation, he knew that the experiment was successful.

The so-called vaccination is essentially the vaccination of cowpox. Cowpox can kill cows, but it is harmless to humans, but people infected with cowpox will soon have a fever.

The duration of fever varies from person to person, but once the fever is over, antibodies will be produced, so that you will not be afraid of smallpox.

Zhu Youtang nodded with great satisfaction, and then praised her seriously: "Shurong, you have worked hard this time! Both I and the people of the world need to confirm this vaccination recipe as soon as possible, so you must do your best."

"I will definitely live up to your majesty's expectations! Your Majesty, I dare not hide something from you!" Yang Zisu said seriously, and then said seriously.

Zhu Youtang was slightly stunned, and asked in confusion: "What is it?"

"Just in case, I vaccinated myself, and my fever has just subsided!" Yang Zisu looked at Zhu Youtang seriously and said very sincerely.

Zhu Youtang was slightly stunned, and looked up and down at the woman in front of him and said: "You have been vaccinated? Where?"

"Your Majesty, here!" Yang Zisu unbuttoned her coat, pulled open her clothes to reveal her shoulders, and there was a small scar on her sexy collarbone, which was the mark of vaccination.

Zhu Youtang saw the familiar mark and felt relieved, knowing that this woman had been successfully vaccinated and no longer afraid of smallpox.

As for her body, not only was it very safe, but she also had the cowpox he needed.

"Your Majesty?"

"You stay tonight!"

"Your Majesty, isn't this appropriate?"

"Today I will help you plant beans again, and you will help me vaccinate tomorrow!"

...

For the current palace, especially for Zhu Youtang, the most important thing is vaccination. However, on the eve of vaccination, some people seemed unwilling and chose to continue sowing when spring came.