Chapter 20: Human Trials

After his conversation with Concubine Wei yesterday, Li Shen did not go to the Imperial Academy today but instead went to the Ministry of Justice. At this time, the Minister of Justice was Li Daozong, a cousin of Emperor Taizong. Li Shen went straight to see Li Daozong.

“Nephew pays respects to Royal Uncle,” Li Shen greeted with a bow.

“Li Shen, what brings you here?” Li Daozong was not very familiar with Li Shen, so he spoke formally.

“Your Royal Uncle, I have come to borrow some prisoners from the prison for an experiment,” Li Shen said candidly.

“The prison is a highly secure place. Outsiders are not allowed entry. That is the rule,” Li Daozong replied curtly.

“Royal Uncle, I am here to test a new medicine. I will only select prisoners who are close to death. If the experiment succeeds, it will be a great merit. These people are going to die anyway; if they are saved, the Ministry of Justice will have fewer deaths to account for,” Li Shen explained.

Li Daozong considered this for a moment and then decided to allow Li Shen inside. After all, he was a prince. In this era, laws and rules were meant for commoners; nobles could get away with anything without punishment.

Li Daozong personally escorted Li Shen down to the prison, not out of respect, but because he feared Li Shen might cause trouble that he would have to answer for.

“Royal Uncle, are there any prisoners here who are seriously injured or suffering from respiratory diseases and close to death?” Li Shen asked.

Li Daozong did not know, so he looked to the accompanying jailer.

“Your Highness, there are several such prisoners. They are all serious offenders and have not been seen by any physician. Two died a few days ago, and several others are likely close behind. One of them may have a respiratory illness—persistent coughing,” the jailer replied quickly.

“Good,” Li Shen nodded with satisfaction.

The jailer then led the way to see several prisoners. Three of them had external wounds that had begun to fester and showed signs of fever. Another was coughing incessantly. Li Shen instructed that these four be kept together. Then, his personal eunuch, Shi Tou, first used distilled white spirit to clean the wounds of the injured prisoners. Li Shen’s white spirit was distilled alcohol.

When Li Shen produced penicillin, he had distilled apparatus for sterilizing instruments. Since he could distill pure water, distilling high-proof alcohol was natural, just requiring additional distillation. The alcohol stung the prisoners’ wounds, causing them to struggle painfully. The jailers hurriedly held them down while Li Daozong frowned deeply at the scene.

After cleaning the wounds, Li Shen applied the penicillin solution and wrapped them with coarse cloth—cotton would have been better, but he had none, so he made do. The most critical step was administering injections, which Li Shen himself performed. His needles had been boiled and soaked in alcohol to prevent bacterial contamination.

Li Shen first performed skin tests with a bamboo syringe on the prisoners. Whether they showed allergic reactions mattered little; they were prisoners after all. The main purpose was to observe the skin test’s effect. None of the three showed redness or swelling, so he proceeded to injection.

The dosages administered to the three prisoners varied, and Shi Tou recorded them. Since he taught Li Shen to read, he was literate. The doses were half a bamboo tube, one full bamboo tube, and two bamboo tubes respectively—each bamboo tube about the thickness of a finger.

Similar in size and length to the needles Li Shen used in his previous life. The prisoners were terrified when they saw such large needles, never having seen such instruments. They cried and screamed, confessing to whatever crimes they had, causing Li Shen to smile wryly.

Li Shen told the jailers to hold the prisoners face down and pull down their trousers. Many believe intramuscular injections can be given in the arm, but Li Shen remembered asking a nurse once.

Large doses must be injected into the buttocks, where muscle is thick and relaxed, avoiding bone and rich in capillaries, aiding absorption. The arm muscles are shallow and can easily hit nerves, making absorption poor.

It was Li Shen’s first time giving injections. He tried to avoid going too deep, though the needle was a bit thick. The prisoners howled in pain, and even Li Daozong watching felt the pain in his own buttocks. The coughing prisoner was easier—Li Shen gave him a single injection without fuss.

After waiting in the cell for half an hour and seeing all still alive, Li Shen rose and left the prison with Li Daozong.

“Thank you, Royal Uncle. Please take good care of these prisoners. Make sure they are well fed. I will come again tomorrow,” Li Shen said gratefully.

“No need for thanks. Just come yourself tomorrow. I’ll inform the head jailer. I won’t have time to accompany you,” Li Daozong replied, knowing Li Shen wasn’t there to harm the prisoners.

Early the next morning, Li Shen returned with his team to the prison. The head jailer led them to the same cell as the previous day’s prisoners. Li Shen observed them and found them still alive. Then he asked a jailer, “How did the four respond yesterday?”

“Your Highness, one of the three had full-body convulsions and foamed at the mouth after the injection. He was delirious all night but thankfully did not die. The others were fine. The coughing prisoner seems to have lessened,” the jailer answered.

Li Shen looked at the man indicated. He appeared weak and pale. Li Shen thought the dosage might have been too strong. In this era, there was no such thing as drug resistance; any amount of medicine would have an effect.

So, Li Shen planned to reduce the dosage for this man today and observe further. After a brief inquiry, he began the second day of injections, the same scene and cries as before. He felt his technique had improved since the first day but still heard the screams. After injections, Shi Tou cleaned the wounds again, with the same scene and cries.

This routine continued for five days, with Li Shen visiting daily, making other prisoners fearful and uneasy.

Today marked the seventh day. The coughing prisoner had almost stopped coughing and was breathing smoothly. The other three, after dosage adjustments, showed scabbing on their legs and were no longer feverish. This excited Li Shen greatly, and the jailers regarded him as a miraculous healer, able to save those near death.

For safety, Li Shen decided to continue injections for two more days as consolidation. While excessive medication can harm liver and kidneys, that was insignificant compared to saving lives.

Meanwhile, in the Lìzhèng Palace, Empress Zhangsun’s health was worsening. Her coughing intensified. The imperial physicians’ cough remedies initially had some effect, but now none at all. She coughed through the nights until her throat was raw. Emperor Taizong had lost interest in court affairs, delegating matters to his chancellors and crown prince, staying by her side constantly.

“Is there truly no hope?” At this moment, Emperor Taizong summoned Imperial Physician Li Xiwei, desperate for any good news, even a glimmer of hope. Empress Zhangsun had been with him since childhood; their deep affection was, by modern terms, love. At only thirty-six, how could Taizong bear to lose her?

“Sire, I have spent over a month reviewing every medical text I could find. Forgive this old servant’s incompetence. The Empress’s illness has reached her lungs. Medicine is of no avail. I advise Your Majesty to prepare for the worst,” Li Xiwei said delicately, preparing the emperor for the inevitable.

Emperor Taizong waved his hand in disappointment. Li Xiwei bowed and withdrew, knowing the emperor’s sorrow but powerless to help. Taizong brooded for a while, then steeled himself and entered the chamber.

“Er Lang, don’t trouble anyone over my illness anymore,” Empress Zhangsun said kindly. Even now, she comforted Taizong not to blame the imperial physicians. Over the years, many officials had been spared punishment because of her mercy; otherwise, Wei Zheng would have long since perished.

“Guanyin Maiden, rest assured. I only asked the physicians when you might recover. They said you need rest and will get better soon,” Taizong comforted her.

“Er Lang, I know my condition well. I can no longer accompany you. From now on, you must control your temper and heed the ministers’ advice. Fortunately, the court is filled with loyal and upright men. The inner palace will now be entrusted to Concubine Wei. She is kind and respected, never forming factions in the harem. Cough... cough... cough...” Empress Zhangsun began to make arrangements for the future.

“Guanyin Maiden, don’t speak. Rest well,” Taizong said sorrowfully, tears glistening in his eyes.

“Er Lang, I fear I may be gone soon. There are things I must say early,” she wished to continue.

“Guanyin Maiden, you won’t be gone. Rest well,” Taizong urged her to rest.

“Your Majesty, Prince Shen requests an audience,” Wang De entered to report.

“Out! Can’t you see the Empress is resting? Take twenty lashes and tell Li Shen not to disturb her. Begone!” Taizong shouted, venting his pent-up emotions.

“Wait, let Shen’er in,” Empress Zhangsun said to Wang De, who was about to leave.

“Er Lang, don’t forget what I just said: don’t take your anger out on others. Shen’er comes with good intentions. Let him in,” the Empress said to Taizong.

“Let him in,” Taizong obediently ordered Wang De.