The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: The Secret Weapon

Dr. Lamarck glanced uneasily at Dr. Larsen, who quickly stepped forward and said, “Your Highness, leave the rest to me. Ah, and Dr. Lamarck will be leaving here in a few days.”

“Leaving?”

Dr. Larsen explained, “In fact, Dr. Lamarck has received a special grant from the French Academy of Sciences to conduct botanical research in South America. As you know, there are many fascinating plants there, and he might discover new medicines. Actually, he has already resigned from his position as a court physician.”

“As for the technique for refining salicin, he has taught me everything in detail, so there is little else for him to do here at the workshop.”

Dr. Lamarck coughed lightly and bowed sincerely. “Your Highness, I must apologize.”

“To be honest, the grant I received was largely due to the paper on the efficacy of salicin. You were listed as the first author, but this opportunity to travel to South America is incredibly rare, and I...”

Joseph suddenly remembered the letter he had received a few days ago from the French Academy of Sciences, commending his contributions to salicin research. At the time, he had paid little attention to it, but now he realized it was because of Lamarck’s paper.

In the past, he would have congratulated Lamarck and personally seen him off on his journey. But after witnessing the professional equipment, the skilled workers, and the advanced processing techniques at the workshop today, a new idea took root in his mind.

It was time to attempt to create a pharmaceutical legend he had been dreaming of since arriving in this world—penicillin.

With penicillin, he could first cure his own pneumonia. More importantly, this miracle drug would have immense military applications. In 18th-century warfare, infected wounds were often fatal, but penicillin could bring the injured back to life. Imagine one side’s wounded soldiers continuously returning to the battlefield while the other side’s forces dwindled. How could the latter hope to win?

He had long wanted to manufacture penicillin, but its production process was highly complex. It required a specialized laboratory, experimental and cultivation equipment, and a skilled team to operate it. Until now, these conditions were unattainable. But the pharmaceutical workshop before him offered the possibility.

All that was needed were some additional pieces of equipment, the expertise of Lamarck, and the skills of the workers here, and penicillin could appear more than a century ahead of its time!

Thus, Lamarck could not be allowed to leave.

With this thought, Joseph shook his head and said, “No, you don’t need to apologize. It’s my oversight. Your stage shouldn’t be confined to this small workshop. The unknown frontiers of biomedical science are where you truly belong.”

Lamarck was moved. “Thank you for understanding, Your Highness. Please believe that if my expertise is needed here, I will return at any time.”

Joseph smiled faintly and said casually, “It’s just a pity. I had hoped you could help test a new medicine. But now, it seems I’ll have to wait until you return from South America.”

The mention of a “new medicine” immediately piqued Lamarck’s interest. “Oh? What kind of medicine, Your Highness?”

Joseph had intended to mention penicillin outright but decided against it. The preliminary preparations alone would take significant time. It would be better to start with a smaller project to train the experimental team while laying the groundwork.

Suppressing his ambitions for penicillin, he said, “I’ve heard of a medicine that can delay aging, prevent miscarriages, and even enhance... ahem, certain male abilities.”

Lamarck mentally searched his knowledge but found nothing matching such a description. Just as he was about to dismiss the idea, he remembered the miraculous properties of salicin. Setting aside his skepticism, he asked, “That sounds incredible. Are you sure such a thing exists?”

“It does,” Joseph affirmed. “It’s called tocopherol.”

Tocopherol was none other than vitamin E. While common in modern times, it had yet to be isolated in the 18th century.

Joseph chose vitamin E for two reasons: it was relatively simple to extract with a high success rate, and it could be incorporated into cosmetics. In later centuries, nearly every anti-aging or skin-brightening product included vitamin E.

This would be the second secret weapon for “Paris Angel,” the company aimed at capturing the wallets of aristocratic ladies.

Hearing the professional-sounding term, Lamarck grew serious. “Your Highness, do you know how to obtain this... tocopherol?”

“I know of a method to extract it from corn cobs,” Joseph said confidently. “It requires additional equipment, such as centrifuges, sedimentation vessels, and a temperature-controlled room.”

“A temperature-controlled room? You mean a laboratory that maintains a constant temperature? How is that possible?” Lamarck asked.

In an era without air conditioning, maintaining a stable temperature was indeed challenging.

Joseph thought for a moment and said, “We can lay dense pipes under the floor and within the walls of the room, connected to a large water tank outside. To heat the room, we warm the water in the tank. To cool it, we can channel water from the Seine River, and the waterwheel can handle the flow.”

Even in summer, river water remained below 20 degrees Celsius—suitable for biological cultivation.

Lamarck was clearly intrigued by this substance that could delay aging, but at the same time, his dream of exploring South American plants weighed heavily on his mind. He stood there torn, unable to decide.

Noticing Lamarck’s hesitation, Joseph offered an even greater incentive: “Dr. Lamarck, with a temperature-controlled room and the other necessary facilities, I’ll need your help to develop an even more miraculous medicine.”

“This medicine can cure pneumonia, wound infections, puerperal fever, and even diseases like the plague, syphilis, and sepsis.”

Lamarck was stunned.

If such a medicine truly existed, it would fulfill his lifelong dream—to rid the world of suffering and death caused by disease.

Breathless with excitement, he asked, “Your Highness, you’re not joking, are you?”

Seeing that Lamarck had taken the bait, Joseph smiled. “Once you’ve developed it, you’ll see for yourself.”

“Oh, and as for your South American expedition, I’ll personally fund it in the future. The amount will exceed what the French Academy of Sciences has offered, and you’ll have greater freedom.”

At this, Lamarck could no longer waver. He nodded firmly. “Your Highness, I will devote myself entirely to developing this miraculous medicine with you!”

…

After leaving the extraction method for vitamin E with Lamarck, Joseph departed the workshop. By the time his carriage arrived at Paris City Hall, it was already past three in the afternoon.

Eymond emerged from the City Hall, dismissing a slightly chubby man with protruding ears behind him. “There’s no need for further trouble. Please return.”

The man reluctantly turned back toward the City Hall, while Eymond approached the carriage, bowing to Joseph. “Your Highness, I’ve gathered the information. Among the properties listed for sale in Paris, fourteen meet your requirements.”

Joseph responded without hesitation, “Choose the best.”

“In that case, it would be the Nagelt Jewelry Store on the Champs-Élysées.”

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