Li Ang’s heart skipped a beat. Prince Guang was referring to the estimated number of infected, which was nearly equivalent to the confirmed cases, plus those with obvious symptoms, and the numbers estimated by the Suzhou Prefecture that were outside the official statistics.
The actual number of people infected by Water Poison would undoubtedly also include those who had yet to show symptoms but were already infected.
This figure of 100,000 could easily double, or even more. Moreover, it was increasing every minute, every second.
Li Ang immediately turned, greeted Song Shaoyuan, Chai Chai, and the others in the living room, then followed the Minister of the Ministry of Rites to the carriage. "Where are we heading now?" he asked. "The Imperial Palace?"
"No, the Imperial Medical Bureau," the Minister of the Ministry of Rites replied concisely.
The carriage headed straight east, passing Taiping Square, going through Hanguang Gate, and entering the Imperial Hospital.
The lights were bright in the Imperial Medical Bureau. Many Doctors had gathered around a patient, discussing fervently.
They had all obviously been summoned on short notice, still dressed in their New Year’s Eve fur coats and silk outer garments; some even reeked of alcohol.
"It is late winter now, so the patient likely fell ill during the summer or autumn. As the medical texts say, ’When dampness and heat intertwine, the populace suffers from jaundice. If this damp-heat is not properly managed, various diseases arise.’ This Water Poison jaundice is clearly a case of heat-jaundice, triggered by exposure to dampness..."
"It could also be Yin-jaundice. One must distinguish: Yang-jaundice presents with a yellow, greasy tongue coating, predominant heat, and a rough, yellow tongue. Yin-jaundice presents with a white, greasy tongue coating, predominant Yin, a lustrous tongue coating, and a pale white tongue body..."
"What do you suggest for treatment?"
"What about Madder Root? It’s primarily for Gu Poison; boil it into a decoction for the patient to drink. We could also pair it with Lithospermum. As the saying goes, it treats ’fullness in the chest and abdomen, where food eaten in the morning cannot be retained until evening.’ Lithospermum is known to target ’malignant qi in the chest and abdomen, causing swelling and fullness.’ It should be effective..."
The Doctors were debating animatedly. Someone noticed Li Ang and immediately lowered their voice, "Young Master Li is here."
The noise in the courtyard immediately softened. "Excuse me, please make way."
Li Ang politely asked those in front to step aside. He moved forward quickly, saw Qiu Feng, and nodded slightly to her.
The Minister of the Ministry of Rites and Qiu Jing followed, their faces showing no displeasure at being overlooked. Prince Guang’s face was similarly impassive—Li Shan was long accustomed to being intentionally ignored.
The caliber of Doctors at the Chang’an Imperial Medical Bureau was far superior to those in places like Yizhou; at the very least, there were no charlatans like Yu Miaoshui’s Fortune Doctors or Time Doctors.
Therefore, they were better able to recognize the medical significance of Allicin, Penicillin, blood transfusion methods, and anatomical diagrams.
Even without the prestige of being the Academic Palace Top Scholar, Li Ang still commanded respect and received preferential treatment here.
Walking through the crowd, Li Ang saw the patient. He was sitting on a chair, and Qiu Feng was nearby.
He appeared to be in his early 30s, dressed in plain clothes, lean in build, with slightly dark skin. He had the distinct air of a boatman who had spent years on the water—a type Li Ang was very familiar with.
His face was slightly yellow, his breathing was rapid and shallow, and the hem of his cloth garment was open, revealing a slightly swollen abdomen.
The temperature in Chang’an was not high. The patient clutched a Yellow Paper Talisman that emanated a gentle warmth, preventing him from getting chilled.
"Hello." Seeing the man’s nervousness, Li Ang offered a gentle smile and asked warmly, "I am Li Ang. What’s your name? Where are you from? How are you feeling now?"
"Y-Young Master Li," the man stuttered, his speech carrying a distinct Wudi accent. "My surname is Yi. I’m the third child in my family, and I live in Wu County, Suzhou. I work for the Guide Trading Company..."
After listening to Yi San’s account, Li Ang had a general understanding of the situation.
Yi San was an employee of the Guide Trading Company. A month ago, he had taken a contract to transport goods north to Luoyang along the Grand Canal.
In Luoyang, the crew aboard the boat started to develop a cough, chest pain, and some even coughed up blood-streaked phlegm. Check latest chapters at 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⟡𝕗𝗂𝗋𝖾⟡𝕟𝕖𝕥
However, boat work was arduous, and such symptoms weren’t uncommon. The crew simply bought some medicinal herbs in Luoyang to boil and drink. The boat’s owner even managed to obtain some Allicin from the Luoyang Clinic through his connections, keeping it on board.
To this day, preserving Allicin remained a significant challenge. It could be used immediately after preparation, but for long-term storage, it had to be kept in expensive, sealed glass vials, and even then, its efficacy only lasted for 10 to 15 days.
Over the past year, the Yu Country had come to regard Allicin almost as a Divine Medicine. Noble families with power, status, and connections would even take it every few days as a preventative measure against illness.
However, as the merchant ship continued its voyage, some crew members’ conditions worsened. The boat’s owner administered Allicin, but it failed to bring about any improvement; instead, symptoms like diarrhea, bloody and mucousy stool, and ascites began to appear.
The merchant ship was a "Yu Dainiang" model, carrying several hundred crew members. To maintain morale, the owner had the sick disembark for treatment, while the rest of the crew hastened their journey to Chang’an, where medical facilities were superior.
Yet, within just a few days, 70 percent of the remaining crew on board had fallen ill. They appeared emaciated, suffered from abdominal swelling and splenomegaly, and were coughing up blood.
"The other patients are lying down inside," Qiu Jing whispered. "It’s not just this merchant ship. Many other ships arriving in Chang’an from Suzhou have sick crew members.
"Even some ships that only stayed in Suzhou for a mere two days have crew members who contracted the disease."
"..." Li Ang was silent for a moment. He then moved closer, leaning in to listen to Yi San’s chest and abdomen.
As his Cultivation progressed, his sensing abilities had become increasingly acute, allowing him to easily detect the abnormal sounds within Yi San’s swollen abdomen.
"How is it?" Qiu Jing asked in a low voice.
"Very bad." Li Ang looked up, his expression grim. "He’s infected. His abdomen is full of Parasites."
A commotion erupted in the courtyard; the Doctors clearly understood the implications.
The implication was clear: for those with Water Poison, Parasites devoured the internal organs, extreme heat and virulent toxins raged, and no skilled doctor could offer a cure. It was untreatable by medicine.
Yi San’s face turned deathly pale. His lips trembled, and his teeth chattered. "Infection... does that mean this disease can spread? Young Master Li, my parents, my wife, and children are all still in Wu County..."
He lowered his head, his expression becoming distant as he murmured, "How could this be... Our family always followed the State Mansion’s instructions. We never drank unboiled water or ate raw fish..."
"I’m afraid it’s not a matter of unboiled water," Li Ang said, his expression heavy. He pursed his lips, then turned to Qiu Feng. "I need Mind Silk."