The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 197: Chapter 196: Slapping the Green Tea Empress Dowager (Part 13)

Anning stayed at the Manor for a few days before returning home with her children.

She had fallen out with Prince Kang and felt it was even more necessary to go back.

She feared that if she stayed away too long, she would lose control over Prince Kang Mansion.

Also, she needed to return to help He Zhenyu and Prince Kang’s men bond.

While returning, Helan Zhi told Anning not to arrange any more marriage prospects for her.

Anning quickly understood Helan Zhi’s meaning.

Helan Zhi did not want to enter the palace, but she was also worried that if Anning arranged a match for her, Prince Kang would sabotage it, so she wanted to put off these matters.

She didn’t want Anning to fight with Prince Kang because of her.

She would rather remain an old maid forever than have chaos at home.

Moreover, Helan Zhi was afraid that Prince Kang might lose his temper and find a way to kill Anning.

Anning thought about it and realized that it indeed wasn’t a good time to find a match for Helan Zhi; this matter really needed to be postponed.

After returning, Anning had the Imperial Physician treat Helan Zhi, simply stating that she had caught a cold at the Manor and was now bedridden.

Afterward, Anning spread the news that Helan Zhi had always been somewhat ill and would need to recuperate well within the mansion.

Since then, Helan Zhi really didn’t go out and stayed within the rear estate of the mansion, and Anning was not so keen on socializing anymore.

Originally, the body would often socialize to recruit followers for Prince Kang, but given his current state, Anning wouldn’t bother; instead of socializing, it was better to focus on getting real tasks done.

For example, she began cultivating high-yield crops at her dowry Manor.

Furthermore, she started researching cowpox.

Most importantly, Anning began teaching martial arts to He Zhenyu and Helan Zhi.

Having been a Divine Doctor, Anning was particularly versed in human anatomy and the channels and collaterals; she had also cultivated immortality and possessed unparalleled knowledge in medicine.

With the Prince Mansion’s treasury filled with fine medicinal materials, Anning formulated a medicine recipe, personally gathering and preparing the medicine, and had Helan Zhi and He Zhenyu take medicinal baths every day.

Within less than half a month, the two children were transformed.

Of course, Anning also concocted a formula for herself and took daily medicinal baths to enhance her physical fitness, aiming to progress faster in martial arts training.

Once the children’s medicinal baths were sufficient, Anning taught them Inner Strength.

She taught them differing Cultivation Techniques tailored specifically for them.

Because the Cultivation Techniques were specially altered by Anning for them, the children’s progress was incredibly fast, advancing by leaps and bounds every day.

Meanwhile, Anning’s research on cowpox also produced results.

In this time-space, smallpox had not been conquered and remained a highly feared disease, with countless deaths each year.

It was a contagious disease that genuinely terrified people.

Not to mention far off incidents, just recently, the little Emperor’s Imperial Grandfather died of smallpox, and many princes and princesses in the palace died of it as well. Not to mention ordinary citizens, the Royal family was particularly scared of contracting smallpox; anyone in the palace who did was immediately expelled to fend for themselves.

Not to mention cowpox, even human smallpox wasn’t available in this time-space.

Anning placed the powdered cowpox she developed on the table and called He Zhenyu and Helan Zhi.

When the children arrived, Anning pointed to the wrapped cowpox powder: ”I had this made; it’s a medicine powder intended to prevent smallpox. Now I want to experiment on myself. You should stay away from me for the next few days, and... keep a close watch on your father. I am afraid he might seize the opportunity to harm me while I am weak.”

Upon hearing this, Helan Zhi became anxious.

She hurriedly wanted to throw away the powders.

”Mother, have you lost your mind? How can you risk your life like this?”

Anning was quicker, immediately hiding the powder in her embrace.

Helan Zhi was almost in tears.

He Zhenyu, however, was calmer: ”I know mother cares deeply for the people, but you really don’t have to risk your life. If you want to test this medicine to see if it works, instead of experimenting on yourself, why not find some death-row inmates in prison who have never had smallpox? They are bound to die anyway, so why not let them do something beneficial for the country and the people before they die?”

The method proposed by He Zhenyu was actually quite good.

Under normal circumstances, Anning would definitely do that.

But now she could not.

Anning patted He Zhenyu’s head: ”Yu’er, mother knows all of these, but I must take this risk myself this time.”

Helan Zhi’s eyes were red from crying: ”If anything happens to Mother, how are we supposed to live?”

Anning smiled: ”Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to me.”

He Zhenyu still didn’t quite understand: ”Mother, why must you do this?”

Anning looked at him and then at Helan Zhi, patiently explaining the situation to them.

”Smallpox has always been a dreaded disease since ancient times. Throughout history, how many people have died from this disease? Whether among the commoners or the royal family, once someone contracted smallpox, it was a near-certain death sentence. If we can conquer this disease, and from now on prevent smallpox from troubling Dayong, that would be a great blessing for the Wan Family. If I risk my life to personally test it, it would greatly enhance our reputation. Regardless of what happens in the future, our lives, the lives of mother and son, will be assured... Moreover, no matter how fiercely I quarrel with your father, he wouldn’t dare do anything to me.”

He Zhenyu understood.

It turned out that Anning was aiming to boost her reputation.

After all, the impact of her developing a cure for smallpox and personally testing it on herself was significant.

If the common people knew that Princess Kang risked her life for them, personally contracting smallpox to test the medication, then all of Dayong Dynasty would remember her benevolence. So long as she doesn’t rebel, no one would be able to harm her.

Realizing this, He Zhenyu still didn’t want Anning to perform the experiment.

”If it’s about gaining reputation, there’s no one more suitable than your son.”

So said He Zhenyu.

But Anning worried: ”How can I let you take risks, my son? I am already an adult, even if I truly die from this, I am not afraid. But... my son, you are still so young.”

He Zhenyu held Anning’s hand tightly: ”Mother needs to remain in command at home, to stabilize our situation. If anything happens to mother, all three of us are doomed. It might as well be the son to try, even if the son falls ill, with mother here, I believe you can keep your son safe.”

Anning saw that He Zhenyu had made up his mind.

She thought for a while, knowing the cowpox powder she made was quite safe, He Zhenyu would at most be sick for a few days, with no danger to his life.

Moreover, with her skills as a Divine Doctor, even if He Zhenyu truly contracted smallpox, she had ways to save him.

Thus, Anning nodded: ”Fine, if you do this, the reputation garnered will be even better than if your mother did it.”

Mother and son decided on a plan, Helan Zhi wanted to persuade them but couldn’t.

Both of them were more stubborn than the other; she had thousands of words to say, but they wouldn’t listen, so she was helpless.

Anning was a decisive person with strong execution.

She immediately had He Zhenyu roll up his sleeves, took a sterilized knife to make a cross-cut on his arm, and then sprinkled the medicine powder...

Helan Zhi watched from the side, she felt the pain for He Zhenyu, and her heart ached for her young brother.

Anning vaccinated He Zhenyu and then had him sent back to his room.

She also warned Helan Zhi not to visit He Zhenyu to play for the next few days.

Helan Zhi outwardly complied, but inwardly decided that if He Zhenyu did indeed contract smallpox, she would take good care of him.

The first day Anning vaccinated He Zhenyu, the next day he developed a high fever.

Anning knew this was an inevitable reaction and was not anxious. She ordered the maids and old women not to go near He Zhenyu’s courtyard, personally taking care of his diet and daily life.

On the third day, Anning sent a message to Xiao Yuan, asking him to begin spreading news about the Heir of Prince Kang’s selfless act.

Soon, the rumor began circulating in Capital’s taverns and workshops.

It was said that the Heir of Prince Kang had been earnestly searching for a cure for smallpox, and upon a chance discovery of a potential preventative method, he thought of the harm smallpox could do and the suffering of the people, and decided to verify the effectiveness of this method himself.

He couldn’t bear to let the common people risk their lives in experimentation, yet was anxious for a result, so the Heir of Prince Kang used himself for the experiment, disregarding his own safety and well-being for the sake of alleviating the suffering of the people from smallpox.

These rumors initially didn’t spread much, just mentioned casually by those leisurely spending time in the workshops, but within a day, all the people of Capital knew.

Soon, the news spread quickly outside Capital.

In no time, nearby cities also received the news.

Not only the commonfolk, but the court ministers also heard about it.

Many began inquiring whether the news was true.

Then, when servants of Prince Kang Mansion went out to buy groceries or for other errands, when people asked them, they all sighed continuously and only said that the Princess had sealed off the Princely Heir’s courtyard.

The Princess feared the servants looking after the Princely Heir might contract smallpox, and couldn’t bear to see the servants die innocently, so she personally took care of the Princely Heir’s food and daily needs.

They also mentioned that the Heir had been feverish for two days, yet the Princess did not call for an Imperial Physician to cure him, and even forbade the Commandery Princess from approaching the Princely Heir’s courtyard.

As the servants of the Prince Mansion consistently said this, the rumors must be true.

Thus, the whole court was stirred.