"Especially the wounded on the battlefield."
Imperial Physician Chen, who had once served as a military doctor in his younger years, still bore the weight of those memories. Even now, when he spoke of it, his expression was grave and full of feeling.
"The battlefield is harsh by nature. Many soldiers ended up with festering wounds that never healed properly. Some rotted, turned black, and endangered their lives. In the end, their limbs had to be amputated. They were left crippled, incomplete.
The unlucky ones… lost their lives outright."
"Most of it came down to a failure in proper disinfection."
Yun Shu spoke solemnly.
"This Princess once read in a medical text that in this world, beyond the filth we can see with the naked eye, there also exist impurities invisible to us. And it is these unseen impurities that often lead to infection."
"But if they cannot be seen, how can one hope to eliminate them?"
"With strong liquor."
"Strong liquor?"
This time, it was Emperor Xuanwu who picked up the conversation.
"You speak of the kind of liquor we drink in court?"
"That is barely sufficient."
Yun Shu shook her head at once.
"The book mentioned that the liquor must undergo a special process called distillation to become truly effective. Only after refining its potency can it be used."
"Distillation?"
Yet another unfamiliar term. Imperial Physician Chen was utterly lost, the words drifting past him like clouds. He gathered his courage and respectfully asked,
"Would Your Highness be willing to lend this medical text to your humble servant for study?"
Yun Shu hesitated for a beat.
Ah, what a clever request.
She had claimed to have read many books in front of Emperor Xuanwu before, but every time she was unable to present the actual text. Perhaps it was time to make one appear, at last.
What if she simply had one fashioned in the villa space? Something aged, worn, like an old tome plucked from the dust of time?
That way, her excuses might seem more credible.
Better still, she could use the opportunity to introduce some basic medical knowledge from the modern world into Tian Sheng through this book. A plan that served both truth and strategy.
With this in mind, Yun Shu gave a thoughtful nod.
"It is possible, though it has been years since This Princess last perused it. I was merely passing the time back then. After reading, I cannot recall where exactly I placed it. I may need to search for it upon returning. Once it is found, I shall have someone deliver it to you."
"Your humble servant thanks Your Highness!"
Invisible filth, disinfection, distillation… all of this was utterly novel to Imperial Physician Chen.
The thought that he might soon be able to read a medical text filled with such extraordinary knowledge made his heart leap with joy. He nearly broke into a dance then and there.
Thankfully, he still remembered where he was. After expressing his thanks with enthusiasm, he could not help but press further.
"Forgive me, but what of this distillation process…"
"That… may require a special apparatus."
Yun Shu furrowed her brows slightly, recalling,
"The book had diagrams. Once This Princess retrieves the book, I shall have the Ministry of Works construct a prototype to test its effectiveness."
"Understood."
Though a little disappointed that he would have to wait to learn more, Imperial Physician Chen knew there was no other way.
Lowering his gaze, he caught sight of Emperor Xuanwu's hand—still untreated—and quickly snapped out of his reverie. Somewhat abashed, he reached for the medicine jar.
"Then, regarding Your Majesty's injury…"
"We do not yet possess strong liquor for disinfection."
Yun Shu leaned in for a closer look. Though the wound appeared fearsome at first glance, it was, in truth, not too serious. Somewhat sheepishly, she made a hesitant suggestion.
"Shall we… just apply the medicine as is?"
Imperial Physician Chen fell silent.
Emperor Xuanwu did not speak either.
So, after all the delay, the final decision was to treat it exactly as they had intended from the start?
Then why had she interrupted them in the first place?
Still, the physician proceeded to administer the medicine and wrapped the Emperor's hand in a simple bandage.
Only once he had withdrawn did Emperor Xuanwu speak again, as if casually.
"You seem to have read a rather wide array of texts."
Travelogues were one thing. Perfectly reasonable as leisure reading.
But medical texts?
"A rather wide array indeed."
Yun Shu's heart skipped a beat. She could sense the suspicion in the Emperor's tone.
Still smiling, she took her seat with practiced ease.
"Your Daughter was rather bored back then. I would pick up any book within reach and flip through a few pages.
That particular medical text had many accessible passages. And the part about invisible impurities was something I had never heard of before. It struck me as curious, so I read further."
"Hmm."
The answer, while vague, was just plausible enough.
Emperor Xuanwu studied her closely for a moment, then spoke in an even tone.
"Today, the Grand General of Weihai submitted a report. He also requested Our judgment regarding the Wa people, once they have finished mining. What say you, Xiao Wu?"
What did she think?
To be perfectly honest, if left to her own inclinations, she would have killed them all without a second thought.
But how could she say that aloud?
There were so many of them. If she proposed slaughtering them all without justification, would it not seem unreasonable?
As it was, Emperor Xuanwu already viewed her strange ideas with growing suspicion.
Yet the alternative, allowing the Wa people to become citizens of Tian Sheng, was unacceptable to her.
Why should they be granted such a reward?
Forget the blood debts borne by her own time. Even in Tian Sheng's history, for hundreds of years, how many innocents had been slaughtered by those Wa pirates cloaked in the guise of traders?
And now, after being defeated in battle, they should simply gain Tian Sheng citizenship? Enjoy the fruits of peace and prosperity built through the toil and sacrifice of others?
Unthinkable.
She had labored so diligently to improve Tian Sheng, only for these Wa people to reap the rewards?
Let them rot.
Just imagining it made her blood boil.
So be it. Let suspicion fall where it may. Worst case, she would claim to be a reincarnated celestial maiden. Her dreams were never ordinary.
Steeling herself, Yun Shu lifted her gaze and spoke with grave clarity.
"Perhaps… it would be best to execute them all."
"Execute them all?"
As expected, Emperor Xuanwu's gaze sharpened at once.
"For what reason?"
"Because…"
The divine maiden excuse was her final card. For now, it was better to mislead with half-truths.
Taking a deep breath, Yun Shu continued.
"Your Daughter actually read… another book."
Emperor Xuanwu blinked.
So many books again?
His lips twitched.
"What book this time?"
"A travelogue, Your Majesty."
Yun Shu cleared her throat, inwardly wincing at how flimsy the lie sounded.
But the words were out. She could only forge ahead.
"The author of the travelogue journeyed to the coastal regions and was unfortunately captured by Wa pirates who had come ashore disguised as traders. They took him back to Wa…"