CHAPTER 1060: CHAPTER 1059: TREATING ILLNESS

After sending off the Wang Family Brothers and their entire clan, Wang Yongzhu and the others started preparing to head to the Capital City for the exams.

Some graduates couldn’t wait anymore, fearing that if it got colder, the road would become increasingly difficult to travel. Especially after November, certain river sections would freeze in December, forcing a switch to land routes, which was even less convenient.

Wang Yongzhu first handled the matters of the powder shop. Ninth Master Lee had sent a message saying he had already presented the powdered cosmetics and the newly dyed fabric colors to Consort De in the palace. Due to numerous banquets, Consort De was quite busy lately and only sent word that she liked the fabric, but hadn’t mentioned the cosmetics yet. He was still waiting for a reply.

Naturally, he continued to make arrangements in the palace, assuring Wang Yongzhu not to worry. He had bribed a maid responsible for Consort De’s grooming, and when the opportunity arose, Consort De would surely try the cosmetics.

Wang Yongzhu knew this was not a matter to rush, so she discussed it with Lady Qi, entrusting all related arrangements on this side to her. She would bring the entire first batch of finished rouge and powder to the Capital City.

Lady Qi readily agreed and wrote a letter for Wang Yongzhu to take to the Capital City, saying if anything difficult arose, she should seek help from a few of her close friends mentioned in the letter.

While difficult matters might be hard to resolve, small things should be no problem.

Wang Yongzhu accepted the letter and thanked Lady Qi.

Over on the side of Imperial Doctor Du, things were a bit less pleasant. He had taken on a disciple, but there were so many matters. First, he returned to the countryside, and now he had to go to the Capital City.

He had already retired, and if by chance Song Chongjin managed to become a scholar, when would this closed-door disciple return to receive his guidance? Wouldn’t it all be a delay?

Fretting for several days, he found himself growing angry whenever he laid eyes on Song Chongjin.

It was still Lady Qi who laughed at him, saying, "Doesn’t the Capital City still have your son? Why let them idle around? Teaching the little junior sister would be excellent!"

Imperial Doctor Du was inspired by this, writing several letters, not only explaining things to his son but also writing to his acquaintances, including a skilled gynecologist, asking him to offer some pointers for the sake of their old friendship.

He also advised Wang Yongzhu not to slack off on the way to the Capital City, and once settled, to visit the Du Residence and study diligently every day.

He would frequently send letters about the exams.

Wang Yongzhu understood Imperial Doctor Du’s sincere love for his disciples and naturally agreed.

During the journey on the boat, she did not put down her books, studying more diligently than Song Chongjin.

Especially when halfway through the journey, the boatman suddenly fell ill, vomiting and having diarrhea, with a fever that wouldn’t go down.

Unfortunately, they weren’t near a village or a shop, and it would be several days before reaching the next dock, fearing the boatman couldn’t hold on.

Duan Chuanzhou and his men, a group of burly fellows, were utterly at a loss, red-eyed from anxiety, left only to fate.

Wang Yongzhu couldn’t bear to see it, hesitantly offering to try, though she had only been studying medicine for a short time and was unsure.

Upon hearing this, Duan Chuanzhou immediately bowed deeply: "Please, sister-in-law, lend a hand! If heaven grants mercy, there might be a chance, but if not—"

A seven-foot man choked on his words: "Xiao Qi only has a widowed mother and hasn’t married yet; if he were gone, she probably wouldn’t survive either!"

Wang Yongzhu had been studying "Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases" recently, and this boatman named Xiao Qi displayed symptoms aligning with the illness.

She carefully recalled, then began directing, isolating Xiao Qi’s cabin, moving everyone out, clearing his vomit, washing with hot water and vinegar.

She advised everyone who had contact with Xiao Qi to wash hands with hot water and soap, and wastewater should be collected in a large barrel, buried onshore after reaching land.

She urged the boat’s crew to maintain hygiene, ensuring any water consumed was boiled, and tableware was boiled before use.

Duan Chuanzhou and these boatmen, upon hearing and observing Xiao Qi’s symptoms, understood and solemnly agreed.

Especially Duan Chuanzhou, upon hearing Wang Yongzhu’s sigh about lacking lime, hurriedly revealed there were a few bags on board for preventing cargo from moisture.

He immediately ordered them brought up. Wang Yongzhu, delighted, had the lime spread carefully in Xiao Qi’s room, finally feeling relieved.

They boarded the ship with pills and medicines provided by Imperial Doctor Du but had few other medicinal ingredients.

There was only one thirty-year-old ginseng prepared for Old Granny Zhang, along with some nutritional herbs.

Cutting a piece of ginseng, she boiled a bowl of ginseng soup and fed it to Xiao Qi, stabilizing his condition.

Then she sent everyone out, only beckoning Old Granny Wu and Old Madam Ding to come forward and whispered softly to them.

Old Granny Wu and Old Madam Ding were dumbfounded, wondering what kind of request it was, as they had never heard of it!

If it hadn’t been their mistress, and instead some other doctor, they might have cursed a rogue and attacked.

Seeing Wang Yongzhu’s seriousness, though skeptical, they agreed out of concern for a life.

Soon, Old Granny Wu, touching her face, brought forth something, hesitantly shifting towards Wang Yongzhu, embarrassed.

Wang Yongzhu calmed her, instructing that it be burned to ash, taking about a tablespoon, and feeding it to Xiao Qi.

After about fifteen minutes, Xiao Qi gradually slept more peacefully without shaking or muttering incoherently.

Wang Yongzhu felt slightly relieved, surprised at the efficacy of such an attempt.

Old Granny Wu, having felt awkward initially, was now astonished at Xiao Qi’s improvement, treating Wang Yongzhu like a deity.

After thrice-daily doses, Xiao Qi regained slight clarity and wanted to relieve himself.

Aided to a side spot, he relieved comfortably, stopping his fever and diarrhea, though feeling weak.

Duan Chuanzhou and his men revered Wang Yongzhu like a goddess, eager to place her on an altar.

He asked if Xiao Qi was healed.

Wang Yongzhu shook her head: "See in three days after continued treatment; keep Xiao Qi on light porridge only, avoiding meat!"

Everyone on board treated Wang Yongzhu as a Divine Doctor, obeying her completely.

Despite Xiao Qi’s recovery, they all relaxed a bit.