I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Chapter 155: Chapter 67: Celestial Pillar

Beneath the azure sky, the sun shone brightly as a few cotton candy-like clouds drifted lazily in the gentle breeze.

In Willow Alley, under the great willow at the entrance, a massive iron cauldron was propped up over a roaring fire.

”Rehmannia root, goldthread, peony bark, pinellia tuber...”

A physician’s apprentice read from a prescription, giving directions. Beside him, two governmental officers from the Taiping Army followed his instructions, continuously tossing all sorts of herbs into the cauldron. A huge cloud of steam billowed up, and the thick scent of medicine began to permeate the air.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

A Night Watchman patrolled the street, striking a gong and shouting, ”The Rebel Army has found a master of Medical Skill! A cure for the plague has been developed for all you good people! To prevent further infection, the Rebel Army orders all households to remain indoors! The Rebel Army will deliver the medicinal soup to everyone, free of charge!”

”Whether you’re sick or healthy, everyone can drink it! One bowl of this soup will cure the sick and protect the healthy!”

...

Hearing this, many families began peeking out through their doors and windows as a murmur of hushed discussion arose.

...

”Hey, dear, did you hear that? The Rebel Army claims they’ve developed a cure for the plague? But it’s only been a few days. How could they be so fast? It’s got to be a lie, right?!”

Even the common folk, who lacked sophisticated knowledge, still had common sense. They knew that developing a specific cure for a plague from scratch couldn’t possibly happen this quickly.

”That’s right, husband. It’s too fast. It makes me uneasy. To be honest, it’s giving me the creeps!”

”I know, right? I’m just worried there’s something wrong with that soup...”

...

”The formula might have been rushed, but the worst that can happen is the medicine is a little weak. As long as it helps, even a little, that’s all that matters.”

”That makes sense! Something is better than nothing. I’m not asking for a miracle cure. If it can just make our child suffer a little less, that would be wonderful!”

The wife wiped away her tears and choked out, ”It’s only been a day or two, but look at our little one... they barely look human anymore...”

”Sigh... If we don’t drink it, we’ll die. If we drink it, we’re taking a gamble. At least things can’t get any worse!”

...

”How could they possibly come up with a cure this fast?! Husband, what if... what if the Rebel Army is scared we’ll spread the infection, so they’ve put poison in the soup to kill us all?” the voice was barely a whisper.

”Pah! What does a woman like you know? All that long hair and not an ounce of sense!”

The husband of the house replied, ”Let’s think this through. Even if the Rebel Army really wanted to do that, wouldn’t it be much easier to just burn the city down? Why go to all this trouble?”

SMACK!

The woman slapped her forehead. ”You’re right, husband. What was I thinking? It must be because of that master of Medical Skill they mentioned! That’s why it was so fast!”

...

”Free? You mean it costs nothing? Then we have to get some of that soup!”

”Yeah, what if it actually works? No one in our family is sick yet, but didn’t they say it can prevent it, too? It can’t hurt to have a bowl.”

”One bowl for each of us. All five of us will drink. It’s free, after all.”

”That’s right! And from the sound of it, the recipe comes from some kind of master! For common folks like us to drink a master’s medicine in our lifetime—and for free, no less—well, that’s something to live for!”

...

And so it went from house to house. Some were full of suspicion, some were filled with hope, some had moments of epiphany, and others were just looking to take advantage of a freebie. The reactions were varied and many.

...

The Fang Family.

Bailiff Wu personally delivered the medicinal soup. It was a generous amount, nearly half a basin’s worth. ”Physician Fang, I’ve had some of this myself. It really works! You should take it and drink it right away. It’s good for prevention, even if you’re not sick.”

”Many thanks!”

Fang Rui brought the medicinal soup inside but set it aside before heading into the kitchen. ”Mother, Third Sister, Ling’Er, Nannan, just wait a moment. You’ll drink my soup. I’ve added some precious ingredients to it, so it’s a bit better than this mass-produced version.”

Though he knew the soup was almost certainly fine, he still didn’t let Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, Third Sister, Fang Ling, or Nannan drink it.

Besides, just as he had said, the public prescription was a one-size-fits-all solution for the masses. The decoction he was brewing, however, was enhanced with rare ingredients and specifically tailored to the constitutions of women and children, which would make it more effective for them.

It was the difference between something off an assembly line and a custom order.

...

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Just as Fang Rui’s own medicinal soup had nearly finished brewing, huge cheers suddenly erupted from outside.

”It’s working! It’s working! It’s really working! I drank the Rebel Army’s soup, and I feel so much better!” someone cried out in joyful surprise.

”My little one, too! They’ve hardly coughed at all since drinking the medicine!” This was the voice of a mother, weeping with joy.

”I developed a bit of a fever after drinking the medicine. A governmental officer from the Rebel Army said it means I was already infected and in the incubation period, and the medicine is now fighting the disease... Thank goodness I drank the soup!” The voice was filled with relief.

”No one in my family got a fever. Looks like we weren’t infected.”

”Hey, see? Now you know! All of you, doubting this and that... you should be ashamed of yourselves! Didn’t you hear what the Rebel Army said? The only reason they developed the cure so fast is because they brought in a master of Medical Skill!”

”I was wrong. I was being small-minded. I never should have doubted the Rebel Army...”

”You can’t be blamed.”

An old man stroked his beard. ”A regular Physician and a master of Medical Skill... there’s no comparison! Years ago, I heard a passing traveling merchant say that any Physician who can be called a ’master of Medical Skill’ is good enough to enter the Imperial Palace and treat the Emperor himself!”

”Thank heavens for the master of Medical Skill who developed this cure, and for the Rebel Army giving it to us for free. They’re so much better than the old Imperial Court!”

”Yes! Thank the Rebel Army, and thank that master! He saved my entire family! We’re going to set up a tablet in our home to pray for his long life...”