"The common thread is... they were all infected through cattle."
"Cattle?"
Emperor Xuanwu hesitated.
"You mean to say the cows contracted smallpox first, and only then passed it to the people?"
"Exactly," Yun Shu replied earnestly. "That's why Your Daughter began to wonder... what if the virus weakens after passing through a cow before infecting a human?"
"You intend to test this theory?"
Emperor Xuanwu nodded thoughtfully. He was not opposed to trying it out. After all, the death cells held more than enough condemned prisoners awaiting execution. Using them beforehand to serve the realm, to make some final contribution to Tian Sheng, would not be a wasted effort.
But there was a problem. In the image he had seen before, the one testing the vaccine had clearly been that sixth child of his.
Something must have gone wrong in the process.
Smallpox was a fearsome illness. Considering how close Xiao Wu was to that boy, there was no reason she would overlook the condemned and instead send Yun Chuhuan to be the test subject.
Troubled by the possibility that the Simulation Life Selection System might be heading toward a different ending for the first time ever, Emperor Xuanwu found himself increasingly uneasy.
Still, he could not resist the urge to start making contingency plans. First, he would need to find a way to keep Yun Chuhuan safe for the time being—perhaps hidden away for a while to see if the danger might pass.
The most urgent matter was to ensure that Xiao Wu chose a location for the trial that was far, far away—
"Then let someone find an isolated site outside the capital," he ordered. "It must be completely cut off from the outside world..."
If smallpox were to spread within the capital, the blow to Tian Sheng would be devastating.
Given the stakes, Emperor Xuanwu's caution was entirely reasonable. Yun Shu did not question it. After agreeing, she set about executing the plan without delay.
Before sending the imperial physicians to the estate outside the city, she made a stop at Tian Waitian Restaurant.
"Your Highness?"
Tang Xinhua was surprised to see her. Just yesterday, something of that magnitude had happened. She had assumed Yun Shu would be occupied for quite some time.
She blinked, unable to hide her surprise. "Why are you here today…?"
"Didn't I say I would come to see your carriage?"
Smallpox was something that terrified the people. Though Yun Shu knew the cowpox vaccine could work, she had no way of guaranteeing results before it was tested in Tian Sheng.
If word got out now that she was sending people outside the city to experiment with cowpox, it might cause widespread panic.
So even facing Tang Xinhua, Yun Shu chose her words carefully, smiling as she raised an eyebrow."I asked yesterday if you'd noticed anything unusual about that carriage. You never answered."
"The carriage…"
Tang Xinhua didn't understand why Yun Shu was still thinking about that carriage at a time like this. Still, she led her through the courtyard and toward the rear garden as she replied.
"It looks like the wheels were wrapped in some kind of material. Ever since Your Highness ordered the roads paved with cement, the carriages have already become far more stable. But now, with this layer wrapped around the wheels, not only is the ride smoother, but even the sound of the wheels on the ground has quieted."
She paused, then added, "I haven't taken it off-road yet, but I imagine it handles far better than before."
"And?" Yun Shu asked, prompting her further.
"And…?" Tang Xinhua faltered. She could not think of anything else at the moment.
Just then, the two of them reached the carriage. Yun Shu did not wait for an answer. She stepped inside and knocked about, inspecting various parts, before finally lifting the curtain and gesturing for Tang Xinhua to join her.
"Do you notice how thick the carriage walls are?"
"They are thicker than usual, yes. And the interior is softer. Even if someone bumps into it during the ride, it doesn't hurt."
Tang Xinhua nodded. She had noticed that before, but assumed it was just extra padding—perhaps cloth or cotton.
But now that the Crown Princess was specifically pointing it out…
"The material inside," Yun Shu said calmly, "and the wrapping on the wheels outside—both are made of rubber."
As expected, she confirmed Tang Xinhua's unspoken suspicion.
"And these."
She tapped on a small panel in the wall, revealing a hidden compartment from which she drew several pairs of rubber gloves.
"These are also made of rubber. They're waterproof. If an epidemic breaks out, wearing these along with a face covering would significantly reduce the risk of infection."
"Then Your Highness must take good care of them!"
Still worried by what she had heard the day before, Tang Xinhua immediately pulled out rubber-made coats and boots from the same compartment.
"These must be made from the same material, right? If you wear them, then—"
"You won't have to worry about the rain," Yun Shu finished, picking up a rain cape and casually measuring it against Tang Xinhua's figure.
"Aside from the gloves, which I'll be taking, everything else can stay with you."
She handed the cape over and added, "Next time it rains, have someone walk around wearing the full set. The more people see it, the better.
When demand rises, we'll be able to build a proper market for rubber. Then the rubber business in Qiongzhou will finally take off."
Tang Xinhua looked down at the peculiar texture of the rain boots in her hands. Realization dawned.
"Is rubber only found in Qiongzhou?"
"More or less. Even if there are traces elsewhere in Tian Sheng, they're minimal."
Seeing her cousin grasp the idea so quickly, Yun Shu offered a bit more explanation.
"People call Qiongzhou a poor and barren land, but the truth is, much of its wealth lies untapped. If this rubber business succeeds, the local economy will improve significantly. And all of that would reflect well on Cousin Tang Muzhi's record.
If we move quickly and secure a market, perhaps we can even earn him a promotion before year's end."
Yun Shu had actually spoken to Tang Muzhi about rubber before he left for Qiongzhou. But given the early stage of development, plus technical limitations, it had taken over a year just to get a workable product.
Thankfully, the timing was perfect.
These gloves, at least, could be put to good use now.
…
While Yun Shu was focused on ensuring the safety of the imperial physicians, another party had begun to take notice.
The Eldest Prince, who had never stopped keeping an eye on her movements, had also received a report.
"You say the Crown Princess secretly took a large number of death-row prisoners from the Ministry of Justice's prison?"
"Yes," the informant answered with a low voice.
"It was last night. Deputy Commander Zhuo Fengxin of the Capital Garrison brought a royal decree and personally escorted them out."