Hong Ye looked as if she was hating iron for not becoming steel.
The maids and nannies hung their heads low, not daring to make a sound.
Seeing Hong Ye like this, Gu Jinghui found it somewhat amusing.
This personal maid of his young wife truly took advantage of the fox exploiting the tiger’s might to the fullest.
He stopped and stood outside the crowd, watching what they were up to.
Hong Ye then said, "Hong Mian, you go ahead and tell us, did you remember it clearly this time?"
A quick-witted little maid responded and stepped forward, picking up the herbs from the straw mat, and started explaining, though a bit stammeringly.
Gu Jinghui grew somewhat anxious listening to her.
It took quite a while before she finished speaking.
Hong Ye nodded.
Then came the next one.
Wherever there was a mistake, Hong Ye immediately called out to stop and provided corrections.
One by one, they recited, and Gu Jinghui also noted it all down.
Hong Ye said, "Alright, everyone has finished. Have you remembered the amounts the madam mentioned?"
"Remembered."
Hong Ye pridefully said to Qin Yuan, "Madam, we have all learned it now."
Qin Yuan said, "Not bad, later when the herbs are bought, you will portion them according to the recipe. Pause all needlework in the sewing room and make aprons, soak them in medicinal water, and cover the mouth and nose; each person should have three to rotate."
After everyone had dispersed, Gu Jinghui then walked over and asked, "What made you think of doing this?"
Qin Yuan furrowed her brow and said, "This is a prescription brought by Doctor Li from Renhe Hall, said to be able to prevent smallpox."
Gu Jinghui was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Is it that Renhe Hall again?"
Qin Yuan nodded.
Gu Jinghui said, "Let’s discuss it inside."
The two of them walked into the main room one after the other, and after sitting in the outer room, Gu Jinghui asked, "Can this prescription really prevent it?"
Qin Yuan said, "It’s the prescription brought by Doctor Li, who said it has a fifty to sixty percent chance."
"Fifty to sixty percent..." Gu Jinghui pondered, "Because of a smallpox outbreak in the Northern Border, nearly twenty percent of the population died."
Qin Yuan said, "That’s exactly what Yuan’er is worried about. Lady Zhao and that nanny ran out. If smallpox spreads outside the mansion, what should we do?"
Gu Jinghui was startled, looking at Qin Yuan in surprise.
He knew his young wife was smart, but he hadn’t expected her to think so far ahead.
Qin Yuan said, "The incense I blended can also defend against it in advance, but ordinary households can’t afford it."
Gu Jinghui excitedly grasped Qin Yuan’s hand, asking, "Yuan’er, how did you think of this?"
Qin Yuan said, "Initially, I thought it was chickenpox, so I didn’t pay much attention. Whoever had it would not get it again. But later, when the magistrates arrived and asked one by one, the actions of those two nannies made me suspicious. I was already concerned. After hearing what Xiao Hong said, I believed it to be seventy to eighty percent true. Before mother could invite an Imperial Physician to examine, I had already sent someone to find Doctor Li from Renhe Hall for a countermeasure, and Doctor Li sent over the prescription."
Gu Jinghui nodded, "Doctor Li is quite talented."
Qin Yuan continued, "Doctor Li may not be well known, but he is capable. He said if it’s chickenpox, it will heal without medication; if severe, you can brew some medicine with a prescription to get through it. But if it’s smallpox, it’s hard to say..."
Qin Yuan couldn’t help but sigh.
In the previous life’s epidemic in Yuhang County, more than twenty percent of the population died. Many village people perished.
Xiao Dong died in Yuhang County, without even seeing Doctor Li for the last time.
Those who contracted the epidemic could not be buried in the ground after death.
She couldn’t even collect his body, only able to build a cenotaph beside Doctor Li’s grave.
Gu Jinghui sighed.
Qin Yuan asked, "Is there any news of Lady Zhao?"
Gu Jinghui shook his head.
"Just now, the sixth brother came back and saw that nanny near Horizontal Street, and Shi Ba has already taken people to catch her."
Qin Yuan seriously said, "Lady Zhao was brought back by my husband from the Northern Border. If smallpox spreads from the Dingbei Marquis Mansion, we cannot escape responsibility."
Gu Jinghui said, "I know, you just take good care of the mansion first. As for Lady Zhao and that nanny, we need to see them alive or dead."
Qin Yuan immediately promised, "Husband, rest assured, Yuan’er will definitely take good care of the mansion and not let husband worry, it’s just..."
"Just what?"
Gu Jinghui asked anxiously.
"It’s just... this matter should be reported to the Capital Governor Mansion."
Gu Jinghui hesitated only a moment before saying, "As you wish."
Qin Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.
This matter being reported to the Capital Governor Mansion, Gu Jinghui would only suffer some reprimands, which was better than suppressing the incident and having it escalate in the end.
Gu Jinghui then called Gu Shiliu over and instructed, "Take the name card to find the magistrate who came to the mansion today and say that the missing Lady Zhao and nanny might have spread smallpox in the mansion."
Gu Shiliu hesitated and glanced at Gu Jinghui.