Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 127

Born as the Daughter of a Lowly Concubine 127

Even a servant under the orders of the mistress wouldn’t treat the young lady carelessly.

But even so, it wasn’t Maehyang’s fault.

It was the kidnapper’s fault.

‘And perhaps because I was kidnapped that day, all the people who were about to be unfairly sold into slavery were safe.’

Maybe I’m just thinking too positively.

It wasn’t a mistake, nor was it intentional; there was no point in regretting something that happened due to someone’s malice.

The most productive way was to catch the person who caused it and deal with them, not to make other innocent people suffer.

‘Of course, it’s not easy to think that way.’

So, I need to show them that I’m okay and reassure them.

Above all, Maehyang informed me to prevent innocent people from becoming slaves, didn’t she?

Originally, gisaengs [female entertainers] don’t carelessly leak stories they hear at drinking parties to the outside for their own safety, but Maehyang gave me the information, prepared that something might happen to the gibang [a traditional Korean house of entertainment] because of this.

The reason she specifically wanted me to come in person was probably because she couldn’t be sure who to trust.

‘She should be praised instead.’

It would be easy and safe to just turn a blind eye, but Maehyang didn’t.

Of course, if it becomes known that Maehyang gave the information, there will be damage, so I couldn’t reveal it to the world.

In fact, I wanted to visit the gibang when I came out last time, but it started pouring rain as soon as I left Siyoungwon [a government-run medical facility], so I couldn’t go anywhere else, let alone the gibang. So I couldn’t even see the play that day.

I was thinking of stopping by today, and since Sehwa was going, it would be killing two birds with one stone.

I walked alongside Sehwa and asked as if I had just remembered.

“Come to think of it, who’s sick?”

“Ah, it’s because one of the gisaengs in Dabanggol Gibang has a high fever, is vomiting, and can’t eat properly, so I’m going to check her pulse.”

“Hmm. I hope it’s not a serious illness.”

“Yes, as you say.”

Sehwa reassured me, saying that doctors actually see more minor illnesses than major ones, so I shouldn’t worry too much.

Dabanggol wasn’t too far from Hyeminseo [another medical facility], so we arrived sooner than expected.

The atmosphere in Dabanggol, where we arrived, was somehow chaotic.

As we approached the gibang, someone ran out, shouting.

“It’s, it’s smallpox (痘瘡)!!”

What?

Smallpox (痘瘡).

Also called Pock (疱瘡) or Mama (媽媽).

A contagious disease known in modern times as smallpox (天然痘), it is estimated to have existed since before Christ.

Not only is it spread through droplets, but also through the air, so its transmission power is strong, making the risk of secondary infection very high once it spreads.

The mortality rate due to high fever, one of the symptoms, is 30%, literally a terrible disease where three out of ten people die.

Moreover, even if you are lucky enough to survive, many suffer from aftereffects such as brain damage and vision loss due to the high fever that lasts for several days.

Above all, it was one of the worst diseases because it was difficult to avoid being socially shunned due to the severe pockmarks left on the face and body.

‘If it’s a nobleman, the situation might be a little better…….’

I once searched it out of curiosity, and even the scars left after suffering from it were better if you were a nobleman.

I couldn’t deny that the appearance of blisters popping up was a bit…… very grotesque.

If you didn’t know, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think that you were cursed by the wrath of God.

‘Fortunately, it’s a completely eradicated infectious disease in modern times.’

However, it was a disease that killed countless people for thousands of years until vaccination was discovered in modern times and vaccinations were widely spread.

In modern times, it has been eradicated to the point that even vaccinations have been discontinued, and germs are only stored for research purposes, so everyone can live without worrying about it unless it is used as a chemical weapon in war.

But here, it was still an active (!) infectious disease that threatened lives.

“What do you mean smallpox!”

“G, gisaeng has a rash (發疹)!”

“What……!”

People were horrified by the words of the person who ran out and quickly scattered.

“I only heard that the patient had a persistent fever, but if a rash has started, it could really be smallpox.”

Sehwa said that, and Seongji also looked back at me and recommended that I go home, although he hadn’t checked her pulse yet.

“If it’s really smallpox, it’s dangerous, so it would be best for you to go back now.”

“Um. I understand.”

Knowing the dangers of smallpox, I readily stepped back.

“What about the two of you?”

“We will check it ourselves.”

“Are you…… okay?”

At my words, the two looked at each other, then nodded and said.

“Yes. We’re fine. Don’t worry.”

“If we don’t go, who will?”

Seeing their confidence, I wondered if they had something to rely on.

The two covered their noses and mouths with cloth as if they had made a promise, handed us cloth, telling us to be careful just in case, and ran to the gibang.

On the way, it was basic to retrieve the person who had just run out of the gibang and push them back into the gibang.

“Anyone who has been in contact with the patient must not leave the gibang!”

“Prohibit people from entering the gibang!”

When those who looked like medical personnel gave instructions with charisma, the gibang servants, who were in a panic, unknowingly began to seal off the area according to the two’s instructions.

‘The two work well together.’

How did they get so close?

As the chaotic situation calmed down a bit, Seongji remained at the door to give instructions to the people, and Sehwa was seen going inside.

Perhaps he judged that Sehwa should see the patient since he had requested a doctor from Hyeminseo.

“Hmm. Will it be okay?”

“Young lady, it would be best to leave this to those two and return quickly.”

“If something happens to you again, we’re dead.”

“Okay, okay.”

Unlike Chunho, who seemed a little embarrassed by the current situation, the two, who had already experienced the kidnapping, urged me with resentful voices.

‘They were both very surprised back then.’

In particular, Soi was severely scolded by many people for leaving me alone.

When I thought about it, she had only followed my orders, so I covered for her and she wasn’t punished, but she was always careful because she was always scolded because of me.

‘But she always tries to come with me.’

She said she feels more at ease if she comes along.

Anyway, at the urging of Soi and Seong Gyeom-sabok, I had no choice but to turn my horse around.

‘I should send a letter to Maehyang later.’

And at the same time as changing course, I made eye contact with Maehyang, who was leading the gisaengs and servants.

Fortunately, we were both on horseback, so our eyes met appropriately.

“Oh, young lady? What brings you here?”

“Maehyang?”

Maehyang, who saw me, quickly got off her horse and bowed to me.

“Yes, it’s Maehyang. What brings you to such a place…… again.”

Maehyang, who said that while lifting her veil, looked a little relieved when she saw several people around me.

“I haven’t seen Maehyang for a while since we parted ways last time, so I came to see her face.”

“Oh my. If I had been a little late returning from the boat ride, I wouldn’t have been able to see you.”

Maehyang’s face brightened as if she was happy with my words.

Seeing that she said she had been on a boat ride, it seemed she had been called to a nobleman’s boat ride.

“But that’s not important right now.”

“?”

“I heard there’s a smallpox patient in the gibang. Did you know?”

“Yes? Smallpox? Just a slight…… high…… fever…….”

Maehyang’s face clouded over. Of course, the same was true for the gibang people who were with Maehyang.

Maehyang closed her mouth tightly with a pale face. It seemed like she had a hunch.

At that time, Seongji, who noticed this, approached.

“Young lady, I heard that the patient started developing a rash today.”

“What about the others?”

“It seems that no one has shown any symptoms yet, but there are some who have a fever. Until the rash (發疹) and blisters (水疱) appear, the possibility of infection is not high, so we should isolate those who have been in contact with them for now.”

And Seongji’s gaze turned to Maehyang.

“Have you had any contact with the patient today?”

“I…… have.”

“Just in case, you should burn the clothes you wore when you came into contact with the patient, and you should also isolate yourself in your quarters for a while.”

“…….”

Maehyang quietly nodded.

“You have to follow the doctor’s instructions well. Got it? Doctor Heo, I’ll pass on the message to Hyeminseo and Siyoungwon.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as it was said that Maehyang had been in contact with the patient, Seong Gyeom-sabok, who had been blocking my way, urged me to leave.

“Let’s go quickly. It would be best to refrain from going out in this area for a while.”

“Um.”

I couldn’t delay any longer, so I hurried away.

It was a problem if I got it, but it would be a problem if other people in the palace got it because of me.

‘Come to think of it, historically, there were quite a few cases where princes or princesses got smallpox.’

Heo Jun also cured Gwanghaegun’s smallpox cleanly and was favored.

No matter how high your status is, illness comes equally.

It’s just that getting treatment is unfair.

‘If I remember correctly, smallpox can definitely be spread through the air, so its transmission power was high.’

If infectious diseases have a high mortality rate, their transmission power is rather low, but smallpox has a mortality rate of 30%.

Once you get the disease, 3 out of 10 people die.

Even if you don’t die, it’s not like it doesn’t hurt, and the aftereffects are serious, so it’s best to avoid it.

However, even though it was definitely a big deal…… I had a strange feeling that I didn’t have to worry.

‘Smallpox was a frequently appearing material in medical historical dramas or novels.’

Is it because vaccination is surprisingly easy to spread, to the point that even if you’re not a doctor, you can get vaccinated if you know the principle?

And my memory is…… too blurry to be sure, but there was smallpox in the female lead’s active part…… or so it seemed. I can’t be sure because it’s a material that’s used a lot here and there.

‘Can I finally identify the female lead? Actually, I have five female lead candidates in my heart!’

……It’s not that I don’t think that, but if a person has a deadly disease with a 30% mortality rate, and it’s even an infectious disease, who knows how many more people will die or get sick, so it’s a psychopath to think like this.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t heard much about smallpox while living.’

Of course, everyone in the palace is extremely concerned about my health, so they wouldn’t say such ominous things, but I was the type to wander around the marketplace.

‘Of course, I’ve been going to almost the same places these days.’

Before and after creating Siyoungwon for the first time, I used to wander around and go to unfamiliar taverns, but now I mainly go to Hyeminseo and the Siyoungwon area.

I’m often busy working or meeting people, so I don’t really go to taverns.

But in fact, all sorts of rumors come to Siyoungwon anyway.

The children working at the franchise taverns seem to be conveying words to each other through the child who supplies the ingredients, so all sorts of rumors quickly spread to Siyoungwon.

‘Maybe they deliberately kept it from my ears.’

Some children were a little cautious in front of me because they vaguely knew that I was a princess.

In this era, people tend not to mention fearful beings unnecessarily.

When I told Hyeminseo that smallpox might have occurred in Dabanggol Gibang, everyone’s expression darkened. Once it started spreading, there was no telling how big the problem would become.

If smallpox spread on a large scale, the Hyeminseo medical officers would be the next to suffer, after the patients and their families.

First, Hyeminseo decided to send another medical officer to Dabanggol Gibang to make sure to check if it was smallpox.

After Hyeminseo, I stopped by the Siyoungwon school and clinic again to deliver the news.

“Smallpox, you say.”