Chapter 57 - 55 Medicine Stone
Facing the angry Qiu Jing, Tantai Leshan smiled faintly and said indifferently, "The *Treatise on the Origins and Manifestations of Various Diseases, Volume One, Malarial Diseases*, states: ’In the summer, one is harmed by the heat, and in the autumn, one will inevitably suffer from malaria...’"
"The onset of malaria according to the season is due to the evil influence lodging in the Wind Mansion and moving down the spine."
Qiu Jing said impatiently, "I know the medical books better than you."
Tantai Leshan smiled and said, "Since Mr. Qiu is well-versed in medical skill, then you should know that whether it’s the *Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor* or the *Treatise on the Origins and Manifestations of Various Diseases*, both attribute malaria to evil winds entering the body..."
"Don’t joke with me."
Qiu Jing frowned and said, "I have seen more malaria patients than you have eaten bowls of rice. Do you think I’m a reactionary, a stubborn conservative who believes everything written in medical texts is absolutely correct? I also know the philosophy of the Academic Palace: authority and truth are there to be questioned and verified. If, as the student next door said, we could establish the connection between malaria and mosquitoes, I would be the first to jump out in support of eradicating mosquitoes. I would never ignore evidence merely to uphold previously written medical books, allowing the Malaria Demon to harm the common people."
"I, of course, know that Mr. Qiu respects the truth and cares about the lives of the common people," Tantai Leshan said with a smile. "I also know, Mr. Qiu, that you’re afraid I, being impatient for quick results before the autumn malaria outbreak in Chang’an, would proactively find someone—for instance, a death-row convict with irrefutable evidence of unpardonable crimes from the Ministry of Justice—have them bitten by mosquitoes, and then observe the link between malaria and mosquitoes."
Qiu Jing’s brow was tightly knit, and he remained silent.
Tantai Leshan was one of the four Masters who assisted the Mountain Master in managing the Academic Palace. His status within the Palace was second only to the Mountain Master and the Sacrificial Officer, and his power was tremendous. If he asked, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Justice might really agree.
"Mr. Qiu, concern leads to chaos," Tantai Leshan sighed and said calmly. "Autumn invariably brings malaria, autumn invariably brings malaria. Every family, from the Imperial Family and dukes to the commoners, who hasn’t had relatives die from malaria?