A bet on one's head?
Liang Xiao's words, like a thunderclap, sent the entire hall into an uproar.
Xiao Qing, Luo Changfeng, and Liang Qing felt uneasy, their elders repeatedly signaling Liang Xiao.
Dugu Qun was enraged, "Your Majesty can see, I once respected Liang Xiao as a colleague and could address him as Scholar Liang. But Liang Xiao is so insolent...!"
Liang Xiao chuckled, "You people are attacking me with all your might, as if you want to dismember me and cook me in a five-tripod cauldron. Yet, when I, Liang, earnestly confront you, you act so aggrieved? You're all old, and so hypocritical. Have you no shame?"
"Scholar Liang, respect the elders, respect the elders..." Gu Hong reminded him helplessly.
As the Minister of Rites, he respected Liang Xiao, but he also had reservations about cowpox inoculation, so he chose neutrality.
Now, under the nose of the Minister of Rites, Liang Xiao disregarded propriety and berated a group of old officials, making it impossible for him to remain uninvolved...
Liang Xiao smiled, "Minister Gu need not intervene. My bet with this Minister of War on our heads is not a whim."
"What do you mean?" Dugu Qun's face darkened.
Only then did Liang Xiao say solemnly, "You all put on a show of championing the people, madly smearing the policy of smallpox prevention, naturally assuming that my actions would bring disaster to the nation and the people. If so, you champions of the people, why lack the courage to wager with me on this matter, for the sake of the people?"
"Wager what..." Xiao Qing asked with some concern.
What if he lost the bet? Even if she could protect Liang Xiao, he would be ruined!
"Let's set a two-month limit. We bet whether this cowpox inoculation can effectively prevent smallpox and control the number of cases in severely affected areas!" Liang Xiao said without hesitation.
The expressions of the crowd changed, and they began to whisper among themselves.
Two months for a significant effect?
Xiao Qing's heart sank, her small hand trembling on the armrest of the dragon throne.
Dugu Qun's expression was uncertain. After a long internal struggle, he roared with laughter, "I will not engage in such a childish dispute with a junior!"
"Oh? Minister Dugu was just accusing me on behalf of the people, looking so heartbroken."
Liang Xiao feigned surprise, then his tone turned cold, "Since Minister Dugu cares so much about the people, then why, when there is a method of smallpox prevention that I, Liang Xiao, dare to vouch for with my head to promote, do you shrink back and dare not bet your head to prevent it?"
Dugu Qun was speechless for a moment, then roared, "Insolent! I am the Marquis of Wanling, a marquis just like you. You are not qualified to lecture me!"
At these words, even Wang Canghai and Gu Hong looked at Dugu Qun with disappointment.
Tongue-tied, like a defeated dog!
"All bluster, relying on your age!" Liang Xiao said with disdain, ignoring Dugu Qun's resentful gaze, and then turned to He Wanli, "Minister He Wanli, how about you bet your head with me?"
He Wanli's heart leaped, and he turned his head away, "I will not bicker with a junior!"
"Then Minister Ouyang?" Liang Xiao turned to Ouyang Ji.
Ouyang Ji roared, "Don't look at me. I won't act rashly!"
"Other lords?" Liang Xiao then looked at the other objectors, receiving similar responses.
Liang Xiao's laughter echoed in the hall.
"Each of you relies on your age and discriminates against others, yet you dare to call yourselves champions of the people. Who gave you the nerve to confront me, Liang Xiao!"
With a furious roar, Liang Xiao pointed to the banner written by Xiao Qing herself next to the genealogical chart of officials on the wall.
[To establish the heart for heaven and earth, to secure life for the people, to inherit the lost knowledge of the past sages, and to bring peace to all generations!]
"Open your clouded old eyes and see clearly, to secure life for the people!"
Liang Xiao descended the steps and pointed at the noses of Dugu Qun and the others, berating them one by one.
"I, Liang Xiao, am practicing 'securing life for the people' by risking your attacks to propose the promotion of smallpox prevention to the court. You high officials, who speak of worrying about the country and the people, are all about business behind the scenes. It truly fits the saying: 'The old and useless are thieves!'"
Glancing at the furious crowd, Liang Xiao continued, "If you care about the people, you should care about their lives and safety, not spread rumors that cowpox inoculation treats people like livestock! Do those cattle farmers who contract cowpox become less than pigs and dogs? You are talking utter nonsense!"
The opponents were shocked and angry, yet speechless.
Wang Canghai then said solemnly, "Well said. Cowpox is just a disease name, common in cattle. Cattle farmers often contract cowpox, and they are all living people! It's not like what you lords said when Marquis Anguo was absent, that those who contract cowpox will grow horns and their skin will turn like that of a cow!"
Dugu Qun and the others were stunned and could not refute, merely explaining, "We heard it through hearsay..."
"Spreading rumors? In the end, it's still a lack of knowledge, having read a pile of useless scriptures!" Liang Xiao said disdainfully.
Useless scriptures?
Liang Xiao's words, like a stone stirring up a thousand waves!
Even though Xiao Qing was enjoying listening, she couldn't help but whisper a reminder to Liang Xiao, "My dear minister..."
As expected, Ouyang Ji was the first to become enraged, "Liang Xiao, since you are promoting cowpox inoculation, why don't you explain the principle first! Why should the people risk their lives for your sudden whim! It's not convincing!"
Liang Xiao grinned and took out a secret letter, opening it.
"I have a personal letter from the Sage of Medicine, entrusted to me to be presented to His Majesty at the appropriate time. The letter states that the Sage of Medicine and dozens of renowned physicians from Tianshan have jointly confirmed that no patients who contracted cowpox have died. Only a harmless scab may form at the wound site. And patients who have had cowpox have almost no record of contracting smallpox thereafter!"
"The renowned physicians of Tianshan, led by the Sage of Medicine, also propose to His Majesty that this smallpox prevention measure be promoted, guaranteeing that the risk of cowpox is far lower than that of so-called variolation!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall was astonished!
Even the Sage of Medicine vouched for Liang Xiao?
Xiao Qing was overjoyed and raised her eyebrows, saying, "My dear minister, with the recommendation letter from the Sage of Medicine, why didn't you produce it earlier? I must give you a little criticism!"
Liang Xiao then turned and bowed to Xiao Qing, "Your Majesty, please forgive my failure to report promptly. However, if I had reported it promptly, how could I have exposed the true colors of some sanctimonious old foxes!"
Dugu Qun and the others turned pale with anger and dared not speak.
With the Sage of Medicine brought into play, anyone who opposed him now would be humiliating themselves, and might even be dismissed like Dugu Liang...
Xiao Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief, took the letter handed by Liang Xiao, and nodded repeatedly in praise, but a hint of jealousy arose in her heart.
Mu Xueqin had actually asked Xiao Qing to admonish Liang Xiao not to mistreat her daughter, Jian Qinwan!
Gu Hong's doubts were dispelled, and he immediately stepped forward to praise, "Your Majesty, the name of the Sage of Medicine is renowned. With her guarantee, it is enough to show that Scholar Liang's opinion is feasible, and at the very least, it ensures no great risk!"
The neutral officials promptly declared their support, and Wang Canghai and others were also delighted, praising Liang Xiao.
"We have wronged Marquis Anguo!" Dugu Qun and the others immediately changed their tune and voiced their insincere praise for Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao smiled and said, "I am not a petty person, and I do not take such slander to heart."
Dugu Qun and the others breathed a sigh of relief, only for Liang Xiao to change his tone again.
"However, since all of you lords are so concerned about the country and the people, and nearly caused the policy of smallpox prevention to be stillborn, resulting in a grave mistake, you must feel remorse after reading so many scriptures. You must show some token of your regret, right?"
Seeing Liang Xiao rubbing his fingers at them, everyone's expression changed again, and their hearts sank: this little beast was preparing to extort money from them...