As soon as Madam Lu entered the room, she rushed toward the bedside, wanting to touch Song Lingzhou, but Song Ci shouted to stop her, glaring at Song Zhiqing.
"Hold your wife back."
Song Zhiqing himself had suffered from pox as a child, so he wasn’t as wary. Having been scolded by Song Ci earlier, he didn’t dare to rebel and just pulled Madam Lu into his arms, looking at his eldest son on the bed.
Seeing him, his guilt deepened. He hadn’t expected his legitimate son to also be so severely ill.
Song Ci didn’t add to the chaos either, allowing several doctors to step forward while he asked Madam Zhou about her experience. Hearing that she had contracted pox as a child, he felt slightly relieved; having her care for Song Lingzhou was appropriate.
However, the sudden onset of pox was sowhat concerning.
Song Ci hadn’t yet considered any conspiracies. After all, the appearance of pox was commonplace even in modern tis; similarly, in ancient tis, it was sothing treatable, though not easily handled.
She watched as Imperial Physician Chen first checked the pulse, and the physician from the Ma residence exclaid in shock. Compared to yesterday and midnight, there were no red spots on Song Lingzhou’s body.
But looking now, spots appeared on his hands, feet, and neck, with so beginning to form on his chin.
Lin Qing saw this clearly, feeling slightly worried.
Once Imperial Physician Chen had checked the pulse, she also checked, frowning, exchanged a glance with Chen, and they both nodded.
After the careful examination, they all reached a conclusion.
"How is it?" Song Ci asked anxiously.
Lin Qing looked at Imperial Physician Chen and said, "You speak."
Imperial Physician Chen clasped his hands, "The pulse of the young master indicates an evil qi invading the lung and protective systems, with the evil toxin closing the lung. The rash is sparse and lightly colored, indicating an initial stage of manifestation when..."
Song Ci, her mind a tangled ss, waved her hand to interrupt him, "Don’t speak in traditional Chinese dical terms. I don’t understand. Just tell , does Zhou’er have pox?"
Imperial Physician Chen and Lin Qing exchanged a glance and nodded, "Yes."
Madam Lu’s legs weakened, her eyes rolled back, and she completely fainted into Song Zhiqing’s arms.
Song Ci felt a headache coming on and instructed the physician from the Ma residence to get so oil to revive her.
"Do you know how to treat it?"
Imperial Physician Chen said, "Disperse wind and clear heat, stabilize convulsions and open the orifices, detoxify and drain dampness. What do you think, Doctor Lin?"
Lin Qing nodded, "I agree with Imperial Physician Chen. We must also observe if the young master’s pox gets worse and adjust the prescriptions accordingly. Moreover, the rash hasn’t fully developed yet; the challenging part lies ahead."
Song Ci knew this; having pox wasn’t like a common cold that could be quickly cured. It was a long process, lasting ten days or half a month.
The most troubleso part was that the pox would itch. If the child scratched it, scars were inevitable.
That’s why people in ancient tis dreaded pox. If not properly treated, it could leave unsightly scars. For girls, it could make marriage difficult; for boys, it could hinder their prospects, even affecting their civil exams. In severe cases, it could be life-threatening.
"Please prescribe a treatnt, Imperial Physician Chen. Since you are diagnosing, I must trouble you to regularly check my grandson’s pulse," Song Ci said.
Imperial Physician Chen replied, "It’s no trouble; it’s my duty. Rest assured, Madam. Moreover, caring for soone with pox requires soone who’s had it before to avoid infection. Otherwise, precautions like we’re taking now work well."
With the so-called masks and an oil paper barrier, it’s stuffy, but it effectively prevents contamination. It’s quite good.
Song Ci was well aware of this.
Supporting Madam Lu, Song Zhiqing anxiously said, "Imperial Physician Chen, I have another son in a high fever, delirious. Please check his pulse as well."
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