My Cold-Hearted Wife Chapter 84

Dysentery had many names in ancient times – “intestinal slipperiness,” “heat dysentery,” “downward dysentery,” “stagnant discharge,” and so on. Its main symptoms were abdominal pain and bloody stool. Traditional Chinese medicine classified it by cause, such as wind dysentery, sha dysentery, summerheat dysentery, damp-heat dysentery, cold dysentery… But modern medicine believes it is mostly related to bacterial infection.

The imperial physician whom Xie Xuanying had called in to work overtime put it this way. “Dysentery is caused by damp-heat, either from externally contracted damp-heat and pestilential toxins, or from internal injury through diet, causing abnormal movement of the spleen and stomach and contention between qi and blood.”

Speak plainly.

There were three causes of dysentery: externally contracted summerheat-dampness, infection by pestilential toxins, and improper diet.

“May I ask,” Eunuch Li – who was not only director of the Eastern Depot but also a Brush Supervisor in the Directorate of Ceremonial, and so had not come in person but sent a subordinate, a certain Chief Steward He.

Chief Steward He cut straight to the crucial point as soon as he spoke, “What was the cause in the young prince’s case?”

The imperial physician knew his business and spoke bluntly, “Red and white mixed in the stool, abdominal pain, and tenesmus indicate damp-heat dysentery. Infection by summerheat-dampness and pestilential toxins, or eating unclean raw and cold foods – all are possible.”

Chief Steward He was speechless.

What difference was there between saying this and saying nothing?

“Since that is so,” he said slowly, “let us begin by investigating food and drink. What do you think, Director Pan?”

Director Pan asked, “I wonder whether the other palace staff are the same?”

The imperial physician glanced at Xie Xuanying and replied, “They have not yet been diagnosed. After all, it is a place where palace staff are gathered, and there are many inconveniences.”

Director Pan looked toward Cheng Danruo.

“I will go take a look,” she said after considering. “But I suggest that you all need not investigate food and drink.”

Chief Steward He turned his face. He had a square face, small eyes, and a very honest-looking countenance. When he spoke, there was not the slightest trace of effeminate or sinister tone; instead, he was unhurried and measured, carrying a flavor of respectfulness and compliance that made people trust him at first sight.

This was the uniform temperament of the great eunuchs – amiable and trustworthy, for only thus could they be favored by the masters. But to truly take them for good people would be far too naive.

“Oh? What insight do you have?” he asked with a smile.

Cheng Danruo said, “You all know that dysentery spreads from one person to one household and from one household to one village. Now the earliest patients have already transmitted it to a new group. Even if we investigate everyone’s food and drink, it is impossible to find something that every single person ate.”

The imperial physician agreed with her. “Indeed. I have asked the young prince about his food and drink, and there was nothing unusual.”

Chief Steward He, however, said, “Was there no problem with the sushan?”

The imperial physician said, “Sushan is a raw and cold food. Cold-dampness and food accumulation obstruct the intestines, qi stagnates and blood stasis forms, transforming into pus and blood.”

But this was not the answer Chief Steward He wanted.

He was just about to speak when Cheng Danruo spoke again, “Dysentery is contagious. There are still consorts within the temple. Rather than investigating the source, what is more important is cutting off the routes of transmission.”

Director Pan immediately seconded her. “That’s reasonable. Chief Steward He, you should clearly distinguish which is more important and which is less.”

Chief Steward He thought for a moment and was in no hurry to assign blame just yet, so he said, “Physician Zhang, what do you say?”

Physician Zhang said, “Dysentery fears summerheat-dampness. Have everyone avoid cold-damp places and also observe dietary restrictions, eating light and plain food. As for the young prince’s condition, acupuncture and moxibustion can relieve it, and then he should take Shaoyao Soup.”

Xie Xuanying nodded, but out of the corner of his eye he glanced at Cheng Danruo.

A trace of disappointment flashed between her brows, and hesitation showed in her eyes, but she seemed not to know whether she should speak.

So he said, “This illness came suddenly, and His Majesty is also quite concerned. Matters here are entirely entrusted to you.”

Physician Zhang cupped his hands and tactfully withdrew from the dispute.

Once the outsiders had left, Director Pan found it easier to speak and asked Cheng Danruo, “What did you want to say?”

“There are three points in dealing with an epidemic: first, cut off the routes of transmission; second, find the source of infection; third, treat the sick. None of the three can be omitted,” Cheng Danruo said with her brows tightly knitted.

Although the imperial physician had not put forward absurd reasons – such as epidemics arising from celestial phenomena or gods and ghosts – and could barely be counted as materialist, his understanding of infectious diseases was still very shallow.

“There is no need to speak of food and drink: avoid raw and cold things (eat cooked food). The food in the temple may already be tainted by external pathogens (viruses), so it is best to discard all of it. Put all tableware into boiling water and boil it more than three times. Moreover, the mouth and nose connect with the stomach and intestines, and saliva may splash onto objects. When in contact with the sick, by all means do not touch things; change shoes and wash hands when going in and out.

“Dysentery is formed when pathogens obstruct and stagnate in the intestines, so the most dangerous thing of all is the patients’ excrement. It must be handled properly; otherwise it will certainly lead to more infections.”

Cheng Danruo looked into each person’s eyes and emphasized. “Feces must be buried, and lime may also be sprinkled over them. They absolutely must not be left out in the open. If they attract mosquitoes and flies, and the flies bite the food and water, you and I will both be in trouble.”

Chief Steward He frowned deeply, but since the matter concerned himself and the assembled consorts, for the moment he could not refute it.

Xie Xuanying said, “Very well, I will order people to see to it.”

Director Pan then said, “Chief Steward He, why don’t you and I first go pay our respects to the two consorts?”

During this act of Buddhist worship, the mother of the Second Princess had stayed behind to care for her young daughter, and Consort Li, being favored, had followed the emperor to the Western Park. Consort Shun and Consort Zhuang, both hoping for children, were both present.

Chief Steward He replied with great composure, “That is as it should be.”

Cheng Danruo, however, asked, “May I first go see the patients? Human life is at stake.”

“Do what you must.” Director Pan nodded in agreement. “The Imperial Consort has already confined the sick palace staff in one place. Be careful.”

She nodded. “I understand.”

“How can we let you go alone? Xiao Liuzi,” Chief Steward He instructed unhurriedly, “you go with her, and keep your eyes sharp.”

The young eunuch behind him nodded and bowed. “Yes.”

Chief Steward He turned his head and, with respectful yet affectionate persuasion, said, “Young Master Xie, it is already late. Should you not return early? With us here, you may set your mind a hundred percent at ease.”

Director Pan also said politely, “If we caused you to be infected, that would be our fault.”

Xie Xuanying shook his head, his gaze covertly passing over the graceful figure behind them, and said, “I bear an imperial command; how could there be any reason to be lazy? I will stay in the front courtyard so as to be on hand.”

Since he insisted on not leaving, Chief Steward He and Director Pan were glad to have someone to share the responsibility with, and did not try to persuade him further.

Afterward, each went about their own tasks.

The Imperial Consort had already moved all the sick palace staff to the largest meditation compound in the temple. Four strong eunuchs guarded the entrance, and no matter how the patients inside pounded on the doors and called out, there was no response.

Ignoring Xiao Liuzi, who followed like a shadow, Cheng Danruo had them open the door and asked, “How many people are there in total?”

The eunuch said, “Eighteen.”

So many.

Her brows furrowed slightly. She put on her mask properly and went in.

She went to Wang Yongxu first.

She lived alone in one room. It was dim inside, with only a single candle lit. The smell of medicine drifted in the air. The bed curtain was hung haphazardly, one corner not properly hooked, sagging loosely. In the corner was a chamber pot, with no screen to conceal it, so a chest had been piled in front of it as a makeshift cover.

Wang Yongxu, wearing a gauze shirt, leaned weakly against the pillow, her lips peeling. Hearing the movement, she asked hoarsely, “I’ve finished all my medicine. Don’t come bothering me.”

“It’s me.” Cheng Danruo entered with her face covered and carefully took out the pulse cushion. “Put your hand up. I’m taking your pulse.”

Wang Yongxu stared at her blankly, then suddenly burst into tears. “I never thought it would be you coming to save me again.”

“It’s my duty.” Seeing her like this, Cheng Danruo knew these past few days must have been hard on her, but she did not waste words. “Your hand, quickly. I have to see everyone.”

Wang Yongxu wiped away her tears and hurriedly extended her wrist.

After taking the pulse, she said, “Your tongue.”

The pulse was slippery and the coating yellow, consistent with the symptoms of damp-heat dysentery.

“Is there blood in your stool?”

Wang Yongxu shook her head, somewhat embarrassed, and said quietly, “It’s just more frequent. Sometimes it’s all water.”

Bloody stool was a prominent feature of dysentery, while stool like clear water was a symptom of diarrhea.

Cheng Danruo frowned. “Do you have abdominal pain?”

Wang Yongxu nodded and added, “My intestines seem to be rumbling. It feels strange.”

“Do you have a feeling of urgency and tenesmus?”

“What do you mean… urgency and tenesmus?” Wang Yongxu blinked, looking puzzled.

Cheng Danruo described it. “That is, a feeling of tightness in the abdomen, a bearing-down sensation at the anus, and unsatisfactory bowel movements?”

Wang Yongxu thought carefully and said uncertainly, “I don’t think so. I just feel abdominal pain and keep having diarrhea.”

“Is it very urgent?”

“Yes.”

Strange. These were the symptoms of damp-heat diarrhea.

Cheng Danruo thought for a moment and said, “I will prescribe you Gegen Qinlian Soup. Try taking it.”

Wang Yongxu nodded repeatedly. When she entered the palace, she had of course brought pills – common pill formulas used at home. This time, with the diarrhea, she had taken them early, and there had originally been some relief. But afterward, when many others developed symptoms and learned she had medicine, they came to beg for it.

She could not refuse them face and gave them several pills, thinking she would get more once she returned to the palace. Who would have thought they would be locked up, and all the medicine would be gone.

“What is going on? Why have so many people fallen ill?” Wang Yongxu asked tentatively. “They say it is an epidemic.”

Cheng Danruo betrayed nothing in her expression. “There is indeed something strange about it. I was just about to ask you – during the days you have been at the temple, what have you eaten, and where have you been?”

“I have been at the princess’s side the whole time.” Wang Yongxu explained, “You do not know, but the candidates for imperial son-in-law selected from various places have already entered the capital. Once they pass the selection by the Ritual Office, they will enter the palace to be presented to His Majesty. The princess feared that afterward she would be confined in the palace, so these past few days she has been playing with all her might. Thanks to her, I have been all over Huiyuan Temple, inside and out.”

Cheng Danruo asked, “Among those around the princess, are you the only one who fell ill?”

Wang Yongxu said, “Not exactly. There is also a palace maid, but she came down with it a few days after I did.”

“Did the two of you meet?”

“That is the strange part. She does not serve in the princess’s presence, and we have never met.” Wang Yongxu frowned. “Sister Cheng, I will speak frankly to you. When I tasted that bowl of Milk-Sugar True Snow, I already thought it tasted astringent. But it was brought by the Commandery Princess Consort Cheng and bestowed by the princess, so it was hard to refuse to eat it…”

Cheng Danruo reflected that, having grown up at the side of Minister Wang, she ought to have no small political sense, so she lowered her voice. “Do you think it could be her?”

Wang Yongxu shook her head at once and said in a low voice, “If you think someone framed the Commandery Princess Consort to sow discord between Commandery Prince Cheng and His Majesty, then you would be greatly mistaken.”

Cheng Danruo said, “I would like to hear the details.”

“The things were given by the Commandery Princess Consort. Whether or not she was framed, in the end she could not escape responsibility, so the Commandery Princess Consort would never do such a thing. But if it were someone else, it would be too difficult as well.”

Wang Yongxu had apparently made inquiries, and she explained carefully, “The Commandery Princess Consort decided on the spur of the moment to bring it along on the road, and it was delivered by her own palace maid, without being entrusted to anyone else.”

Cheng Danruo showed no emotion. “And after it reached the princess’s hands?”

“The princess only looked at it for novelty and then had it sent to me.” Wang Yongxu said in confusion, “Although it did pass through the hands of palace staff, who would have reason to harm me? And even if someone did, they should not have used something brought by the Commandery Princess Consort.”

“True enough.” Cheng Danruo smiled and then said, “The medicine will be sent to you. Rest well and drink plenty of water.”

She took out several packets of salt and sugar wrapped in rice paper and instructed, “Do not drink tea. Use this – one packet is just right for one teapot of water.”

Wang Yongxu asked, “What is this?”

“Salt and sugar.” Cheng Danruo said, “Your body has lost too much water. Drinking this is absolutely necessary. Do you understand?”

Only then did Wang Yongxu nod.

Next, Cheng Danruo examined the remaining seventeen patients one by one.

They were all anxious and fearful, terrified of being locked up here to wait for death. Seeing Cheng Danruo come, they told her everything they knew and held nothing back; each was very cooperative.

Strangely, however, apart from Wang Yongxu, all the rest had dysentery symptoms, some mild and some severe.

Cheng Danruo recorded each patient’s name, duties, time of onset, and, most importantly, their movements and schedule.

By the time she finished, the night was already deep.

She withdrew from the courtyard, but the people at the gate had already been replaced by a new shift. Xiao Liuzi asked with a smile, “You have been inside so long – are the patients’ conditions not very good?”

Cheng Danruo nodded and took out the prescriptions. “The patients’ symptoms vary in severity. I have written three prescriptions. Please find someone to decoct the medicine and deliver it according to the list above.”

Xiao Liuzi took it and looked at it for quite a while before agreeing.

“Thank you for your trouble.” He said with a smile, “We will certainly handle the assignment well.”

Cheng Danruo smiled, changed into a different pair of shoes behind the door, wrapped up the original shoes, and placed them behind the doorsill. “I will leave my shoes here. Please keep an eye on them. When you go in and out, it would be best if you changed shoes too, just in case.”

Xiao Liuzi agreed to that as well.

Next was washing hands.

“Where is there well water?” she asked.

The eunuch guarding the gate casually pointed to a place.

Cheng Danruo picked up her medicine box and walked over there, still somewhat doubtful. Ahead was a moon gate. She had just turned into it when she suddenly sensed someone behind her and whirled around.

“Who is it?”