Chapter 19

< Chapter 19: Germination... Carcinogenesis? (12) >

Chapter 19: Germination... Carcinogenesis? (12)

When King Sejong, startled by the report that "the Crown Prince has committed suicide!" rushed out of the main hall, he encountered Hyang at the corner of the hall.

"Ah? Father? Where are you going in such a hurry?"

"Crown Prince!"

Upon seeing Hyang, Sejong hurried over and examined him all over.

"Father, why are you doing this?"

"Phew~. You're not hurt."

Sighing in relief, Sejong glared at Sangseon, who had hurriedly followed behind.

"What? The Crown Prince committed suicide?"

"I also received the report..."

Sejong glared not only at Sangseon but also at the ministers, causing Sangseon to glare at the eunuch who had reported to him.

"O Eunuch! What is this all about!"

Under Sangseon's rebuke, the eunuch in question glared at another eunuch standing next to Hyang.

"Kang Eunuch! You explain. Didn't you tell me this? I am innocent!"

At the eunuch's words, Sejong and the ministers all glared at the eunuch standing next to Hyang. At that moment, Queen Soheon's voice was heard.

"Your Majesty! What is this? The Crown Prince committed suicide?"

Amid the glares of the king, queen, and ministers, the face of the eunuch in question turned pale.

"You! Why did you say something that should not even be thought of? Speak now!"

At Sejong's command, the eunuch prostrated himself on the ground and spoke.

"Your Majesty! I have never lied!"

"You have never lied?"

At the eunuch's words, Sejong looked at Hyang. When Sejong, the ministers who followed, and the queen all looked at Hyang, he looked embarrassed and spoke.

"Kang Eunuch seems to have misunderstood the treatment I received."

"Treatment? Misunderstood?"

Seeing Sejong's face, which clearly showed he did not understand, Hyang turned his head.

"Come forward."

"Yes? Yes! Your Highness!"

At Hyang's call, an elderly man from the group that followed stepped forward and bowed deeply to Sejong.

"A lowly person greets Your Majesty!"

"Who are you?"

"I am Sodol, who takes care of the royal animals on Jeo Island."

"Sodol?"

"The name means 'good at raising cattle.'"

While listening to Sodol's answer, Sejong still looked puzzled. In the end, Sejong turned to Hyang.

"Crown Prince, explain the reason. Leave nothing out!"

"Yes, Father. Actually, while reading medical texts from China..."

According to Hyang's explanation, the events unfolded as follows:

- In medical texts from the Song and Yuan dynasties of China, there were records of a method called 'human variolation' to prevent smallpox. This method was also described in the medical texts of the Western barbarians, and upon further investigation, both Chinese and Western medical texts noted that human variolation had a high failure rate. Human variolation involved taking pus from someone recovering from smallpox and either injecting it into the skin of someone who had not yet contracted smallpox or having them inhale the dried scabs through the nose.

This was naturally a high-risk method. Pus taken from someone who appeared to be fully recovered on the outside but not on the inside showed little effect, while in the opposite case, it could lead to smallpox and a life-threatening situation.

While reading medical texts that described the dangers of human variolation, Hyang found an unusual sentence in a Western text.

- Among the cattle herders, there were many who did not contract smallpox, and their commonality was that they had contracted cowpox while taking care of cows with cowpox. It seems worth investigating further.

Upon finding this sentence, Hyang immediately went to Jeo Island to verify the facts.

Upon arriving at Jeo Island, Hyang gathered the herders. Indeed, the herders' faces were lined with wrinkles from hard work, but all but one were relatively clean.

"Among those gathered here, raise your hand if you have had smallpox."

At Hyang's words, only one person raised their hand.

"Did you contract it after becoming a herder?"

"No, I had it before coming to the ranch."

"Who is the oldest person here?"

At Hyang's question, Sodol stepped forward.

"Has smallpox never spread in this Jeo Island and its surrounding areas?"

"No, it has spread at least once a year."

"Then why not?"

Hyang stopped speaking. The old man standing in front of him, Sodol, seemed to know something.

"You know something, don't you? Do you have some secret technique?"

"It's not a secret technique."

According to Sodol's explanation, his family had been raising royal livestock since the time of King Gongmin of Goryeo. Sodol also began raising cattle when he was old enough.

One day, a cow that Sodol had particularly cared for suddenly contracted cowpox. While cowpox was not a fatal disease for cows, some unlucky cows would die from severe inflammation in their udders.

While taking care of the cow without sleeping for several days, Sodol contracted cowpox. In his exhausted state, Sodol suffered from a fever for several days. However, Sodol's father looked at him calmly.

"Son, you won't have to worry about smallpox for the rest of your life."

After recovering from his illness, Sodol asked his father why he said that. His father simply replied.

-For some reason, those who recover from cowpox don't get smallpox.

"Then why didn't you tell the doctors or officials? Many people could have been saved from smallpox."

At Hyang's question, Sodol smiled bitterly and answered.

"How could I just let it go? Of course, I told the doctor. But I was scolded and chased away. How could a disease that affects a lowly animal like a cow prevent smallpox?"

"So only you avoided smallpox?"

"I am human... I couldn't bear to see my family become pockmarked. So..."

Sodol trailed off, but Hyang could infer what came next.

"You made the people here contract cowpox intentionally?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

At Sodol's answer, Hyang clenched his fist.

'The clinical trial has been successful! Even if it doesn't work, it's worth a try! No, stopping would make me a coward!'

"I need to try that secret technique myself."

"Your Highness!"

"Your Highness!"

The eunuchs and guards who followed Hyang were shocked, but Hyang paid no attention.

"We need to hurry as it's almost time to return to the palace. Is there a cow with cowpox?"

"Every year, we intentionally make at least one cow contract cowpox for the children who need it."

"Very good!"

"...So I received the pus from cowpox."

After finishing his words, Hyang looked at Sejong's face. Sejong's face was pale, and Queen Soheon was on the verge of fainting. No parent could remain calm after their child, who had left in the morning, returned with something they had never heard of.

"You brat!"

Sejong shouted and raised his hand, causing Hyang to kneel down.

"Father! How many people die from smallpox each year? If we can save them, what's the problem?"

"That doesn't mean you have to be the first! You are the Crown Prince!"

"Is there any distinction in the value of human life? And why be afraid when there are already healthy people here!"

At Hyang's answer, Sejong put his hand on his forehead and sighed.

"Phew~. You... Can you just stay still for a day without causing trouble? Ha~."

Sejong sighed again and turned to Sodol.

"So, what happens after receiving cowpox?"

"For about five days, you will have a high fever, so you shouldn't move. A few boils will appear on the shoulder where you received the cowpox, but don't pop them. Wait until they naturally form scabs. After about ten days, you can get up."

"Is that so? Royal Guard Commander!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Lock this man in prison! However, do not torture him and ensure he is fed properly."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After giving the order, Sejong glared at Sodol.

"If anything happens to the Crown Prince, I will cut off your head. However, if your words prove true, I will reward you greatly."

At Sejong's words, Sodol bowed deeply and was led to prison by the guards.

Watching Sodol disappear in the distance, Sejong looked at Hyang, who was still kneeling, and pointed at him, about to say something. But Sejong held back the words that had risen to his throat and turned around.

"Since you will suffer for a few days, go rest. Eunuchs, take good care of the Crown Prince."

"Understood."

The eunuchs who received Sejong's order led Hyang into the Crown Prince's palace. Sejong then gave orders to the ministers.

"Ministers, return to the main hall first. I will check on the queen and then come in."

"Understood."

After the ministers bowed and disappeared, Sejong looked at Queen Soheon.

"Are you alright?"

"I am fine, Your