Only after the rebellion succeeded did they realize that this place was...

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency, the young master is now out of danger."

"But you must remember to never catch a cold again. The fire in the mansion must be kept burning at all times. Although the windows can be ventilated, only a tiny crack should be left open. This will prevent the stuffiness from getting in and will not let in the cold. Otherwise, it will definitely worsen the illness and will not be good for the young master's health."

With the compassion of a physician, Dr. He meticulously instructed on every detail of the care, speaking with utmost sincerity.

He was not a veteran official of the old Song Dynasty, but a physician appointed by the new Han Dynasty, holding the position of Director of the Imperial Medical Academy. He was appointed by Liu Hong in Jinling and has been in office for several years.

The emperor's favor was as heavy as Mount Tai to him. He would never again arbitrarily choose a master.

Before long, He Yuanzheng led his grandson He Hongwen away quickly, unwilling to have any further involvement with the Shunming Marquis's mansion.

I came here on the orders of the Imperial City Guard.

The pulse diagnosis was genuine, the examination was genuine, that's all.

Zhao Zhen watched the group walk away before turning back and entering the deep courtyard of the Marquis's residence, where he went into the warm and comfortable inner chamber.

Only now did his tense back relax slightly, and a relieved smile finally appeared on his face.

He walked quickly to the bedside, carefully sat on the edge of the bed, and looked at his only young son, his eyes full of tenderness.

A few days ago, the child's pale face and weak breathing tugged at his heartstrings, almost extinguishing his only hope for the rest of his life.

"Xi-ge'er, get well soon. May the gods protect my Xi-ge'er and help him grow up safely into adulthood."

Zhao Zhen murmured softly, his gaze towards the child gentle and compassionate. There was no trace of the former imperial majesty of the Song Dynasty emperor; only the expectation and love of an ordinary father for his child remained.

Before Xi Ge'er, Zhao Zhen had two other children.

The eldest son, Zhao Fang, was born in the fourth year of the Jingyou era. His mother was Consort De. He died shortly after birth. In the first year of the Qingli era, he was posthumously granted the title of Prince Bao, the title of Grand Tutor, and the posthumous name Huaijing. The second son, Zhao Xi, was born in the second year of the Baoyuan era. His mother was Consort Zhaojie, née Miao. He also died young in the third year of the Qingli era.

He had thought that this third pregnancy would also suffer the same fate as the previous one, but fortunately, the physician He from Jinling was so skilled that he was even better than the physicians in his former palace.

Previously, the child was already in critical condition, beyond the help of even the most divine intervention, but thanks to Dr. He's three consecutive days of acupuncture and medication, he was gradually pulled back from the brink of death.

Seeing his child's rosy complexion and steady breathing, Zhao Zhen felt an indescribable sense of relief, and even a thought began to stir in his mind:

Could it be that it was precisely because the Song family's empire was gone that Zhao Zhen was able to preserve his offspring and ensure the orderly succession of the dynasty?

That's the idea.

He would never have dared to have it before, but now he has no choice but to think about it.

If it weren't for this Imperial Physician He, this young child would probably be gone long ago; this is only to be expected.

"My lord, is Xi-ge'er alright?"

A woman's urgent voice came from inside. It was Zhu, Xi Ge'er's birth mother and a former concubine in the palace. After receiving the news, she rushed into the room with her face full of lingering worry.

Almost simultaneously, Empress Cao, the former empress of the Song Dynasty, also slowly walked in.

Dressed in a plain brocade robe, she still exuded her usual majesty. Upon hearing Zhu's words, she raised her eyebrows slightly and corrected in a deep voice, "Sister should address Your Majesty as Your Majesty."

Zhu bit her lower lip, her expression complicated, torn between two options.

On one side are the old palace rules, and on the other is the current situation; they don't even know how to address each other.

Fortunately, Zhao Zhen came to her rescue in time, beckoning Zhu Shi to sit beside Xi Ge'er and take good care of him: "You take care of the child. No one in the world cares more than a mother. With you here, I feel at ease."

Ms. Zhu sat down as instructed and carefully tucked the blanket around the child.

Zhao Zhen turned and walked out of the room, followed closely by Cao Shi. The two stood under the corridor, the door behind them already closed.

A cold wind whistled outside the corridor, swirling fine snowflakes as it swept past, but both of them were wearing thick fox fur cloaks, so they didn't feel the biting cold.

"Cao, you should understand."

Zhao Zhen spoke first, his tone calm, showing no unease whatsoever, only contentment and satisfaction with his current life in the Marquis's mansion: "Now, you and I are no longer the Empress or the Emperor. From now on, let's not mention the word 'Your Majesty' again."

"My lord?"

Cao sneered, staring straight at Zhao Zhen, her words full of resentment and incitement, "That new Han is nothing but a usurper. Today Liu Hong has gained temporary glory, but the Prince of Yan and the Prince of Yong have already left the capital, as well as the Duke of Ying in Zhen Ding Prefecture, the border, and even the royal family members in various places."

"Does this mean we're just going to let this rebel of the new Han dynasty sit firmly on the throne?"

Seeing Zhao Zhen remain silent, Cao assumed he was wavering and quickly pressed her advantage, adding urgency to her voice: "The capital city of Kaifeng may seem peaceful now, but undercurrents are surging. How can a mere traitor like Liu Hong possibly subdue those former Song officials and nobles for long?"

"As long as we find a suitable opportunity, the capital city of Bianjing will inevitably be thrown into chaos, and that will be the time when our Great Song Dynasty will be returned to Zhao intact."

"Your Majesty, do not hesitate any longer."

"That's enough!"

Zhao Zhen suddenly shouted to stop him, his face showing no sign of compromise.

His gaze gently swept over the warmly lit bedroom behind him, where the child he had fought so hard to save was located. Then he looked at Cao Shi again, his tone cold and hard: "You are not allowed to mention this matter again in the future."

"Is the Emperor afraid?"

Seeing Zhao Zhen turn to leave, Cao Shi spoke with a tone that was both inflectious and sarcastic, clearly using a provocation tactic.

Zhao Zhen abruptly stopped, then turned around and strode towards her.

A smug glint flashed in Cao's eyes, assuming her provocation had worked. But the next moment, she saw Zhao Zhen point a finger at her, his face contorted with rage, his voice trembling slightly with fury: "What do you know, you woman? Do you really think you can annihilate the Xin Han army with that rabble?"

"Do you know how our nearly 200,000-strong army, protecting the capital of the Song Dynasty, was utterly defeated in a single battle that day outside the city of Bianjing?"

Zhao Zhen's roar echoed through the corridor, unafraid of being overheard by others. "The elite troops of the New Han Dynasty—the Divine Martial Guard, the Flying Sky Guard, the Imperial Workshop behind them, the Valiant Warriors who fight everywhere, and even the four imperial estates scattered throughout the land—how could we, prisoners, possibly contend with them so easily?"

"The Prince of Yan and the Prince of Yong, how could those two be men capable of great things? Now, more than half of the dozen or so prefectures of the Great Song have surrendered to the new Han, and the rest are still observing, but I'm afraid they won't last until the end of the year."

He was panting heavily, his gaze falling once more on the bedroom. His tone softened slightly, but remained resolute: "It's not that I'm afraid, it's that I don't want to watch this whole family, who barely escaped this calamity, truly suffer the same fate as the families of the Prince of Yong and the Prince of Yan, ending up beheaded!"

He is now the Marquis of Shunming, a surrendered official under the orders of the new Han dynasty, so it is perfectly reasonable for him to say such things.

Moreover, he was once the emperor of the Song Dynasty.

He managed the Shunming Marquis's mansion well in the end, and with a few trusted confidants around him, he was not afraid that any slight movement would get out and cause trouble.

Cao stood there, stunned, speechless for a moment.

By the time she came to her senses, Zhao Zhen's figure had already disappeared at the end of the corridor.

The two hardest things in the world are persuading others and acquiring wealth.

Zhao Zhen's earnest advice was nothing but a coward's excuse to her, and she didn't listen to a word he said.

After a long while, Cao Shi gazed in the direction Zhao Zhen had left and sighed softly, "Your Majesty, you've grown old."

"Your Majesty."

A dark figure emerged from behind a pillar, bowing beside Cao Shi with a worried expression. He asked in a low voice, "If the Emperor disagrees, can we still succeed?"

Cao slowly turned around, glanced at her indifferently, then chuckled coldly, a hint of gloom and certainty flashing in her eyes: "Don't forget how Emperor Taizu of Song gained the empire? Once the great cause was accomplished, he staged the Chenqiao Mutiny and donned the yellow robe."

"When that moment came, he had no choice but to agree."

The wind and snow intensified, enveloping the entire Shunming Marquis's residence in a chill. The palace lanterns under the eaves swayed gently in the wind, casting Cao Shi's face in half of light and half of shadow, revealing an indescribable gloom.

He finished speaking.

Cao raised her eyes and glanced again at the bedroom where Xi Ge'er was hidden. A soft laugh escaped her lips, full of meaning.

Even if it's just for this child.

This game will surely succeed.

……

At this time, He Yuanzheng, who had left the Shunming Marquis's residence, along with his grandson He Hongwen, had already entered the palace to pay their respects. He bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, the young master of the Shunming Marquis's residence is out of danger and only needs careful care."

"Thank you for your help, Dean He."

Liu Hongzheng walked along the palace corridor, his robes fluttering lightly, with his attendants following closely behind. "He has been busy for several days since arriving in Bianliang. He deserves a reward for this. Effective immediately, He Yuanzheng is promoted from the sixth rank to the fifth rank and will be in charge of all matters of the Imperial Hospital."

"Your humble servant is very grateful for Your Majesty's great favor."

He Yuanzheng bowed and thanked him. As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Liu Hong's gaze fall on He Hongwen beside him, with a gentle smile.

"The He family of Baishitan has a long history of medical knowledge and has passed down their medical skills for generations. Although they have not served in the Imperial Hospital for generations, it is time for them to continue this opportunity."

Liu Hong slowly spoke, "Your grandson should enter the Imperial Hospital another day. He doesn't need to start from such trivial matters as a medicine assistant. He can be appointed as a physician of the eighth rank, which is a respectable position for a young man."

"Director He, what do you think?"

Liu Hong was always open-minded and fair in his rewards and punishments.

Deeply grateful, He Yuanzheng kowtowed again, saying, "Your Majesty's kindness is too great for me to bear."

As she bent down, she couldn't help but glare fiercely at He Hongwen beside her.

This child has exceptional medical talent, but is rather slow to understand human relationships. If he makes another mistake today, he may suffer a great setback in the future.

Seeing the grandfather and grandson like this, Liu Hong laughed loudly and waved his hand: "It's alright, a childlike heart is a good thing."

"Your humble servant thanks you for your grace!"

The grandfather and grandson of the He family responded in unison.

The group continued on their way, when Liu Hong suddenly remembered something and paused slightly: "By the way, it's time for the young ladies from various prefectures and the daughters of officials in the capital to enter the palace for the imperial selection."

"When I was in Jinling, I heard that Lady Zhuang, the wife of Imperial Physician He, was not only skilled in medicine, but also in treating women's internal diseases. I wonder if Imperial Physician He could have Lady Zhuang also take charge of the Imperial Hospital? I want to create a new position called Female Physician, who will be in charge of the diagnosis and treatment of the concubines, female officials and palace maids in the inner palace. This would be more convenient and would also be a good deed and a meritorious act."

Female doctors have existed since ancient times.

As early as the Western Han Dynasty, there were female physicians who were famous for treating serious illnesses with acupuncture and medicinal poultices. In the Jin Dynasty, Bao Gu was skilled at treating tumors with red-footed moxibustion. During the Zhou Dynasty, female physicians were appointed to manage medical care in the palace. The Han Dynasty followed this system, and in the Tang Dynasty, female positions such as Siyao and Dianyao were established in the Menxia Province.

Liu Hong's suggestion is reasonable and entirely appropriate.

"Your Majesty is benevolent and virtuous. Your wife will certainly serve you wholeheartedly and with all her heart."

He Yuan immediately agreed.

Liu Hong nodded in relief.

He had long been confident in Zhuang's medical skills.

In the story, Rulan successfully gave birth to a son thanks to her prescription. Now that the new Han dynasty has been established, the country needs to be stable.

Since he has already started the imperial examinations, he should make preparations early. A stable harem and a continuous line of offspring are the foundation of a strong nation, and it is always better to plan ahead.

After walking around for a while, the He father and son bowed and took their leave.

We walked to the passageway leading out of the palace.

Suddenly—

Boom boom boom!!!

Several deafening explosions rang out from the east of the city, the sound waves rolling like an earth dragon turning over, a natural disaster descending upon the world. The sound made people's eardrums buzz and the ground under their feet tremble slightly.

A few breaths later, Dean He exhaled a long breath and quickly regained his composure. However, He Hongwen, who was standing beside him, was so frightened that he turned pale. If his grandfather hadn't supported him in time, he would have probably fallen to the ground and lost his composure.

The grandfather and grandson supported each other as they walked. He Hongwen was in a state of great turmoil, his voice trembling and his teeth chattering: "Grandfather, what was that just now? It seemed like the heavens were furious, could it be..."

"shut up!"

He Yuanzheng quickly covered his grandson's mouth, glancing warily at the surrounding palace maids and guards. Seeing that no one was paying attention, he breathed a sigh of relief and scolded in a low, stern voice, "What nonsense are you spouting? This was made by the Imperial Workshop, a secret military item of our New Han Dynasty. Besides this loud cannon fire, there are also flying firearms, all of which are top secrets of the nation."

Very few people have ever seen it, and even if they have heard of it, it has long been suppressed by strict orders, so it is unknown to outsiders.

Just like the white salt, sugarcane, and other exquisite items you saw after arriving in Jinling, these are only circulating among the powerful and wealthy in the capital. They are all national treasures, and we must not allow any foreign country to covet even a fraction of them, otherwise it will surely bring great disaster to our new Han dynasty.”

With his grandfather's example as evidence, He Hongwen's fear gradually subsided, and his mind slowly calmed down. However, his eyes remained fixed on the direction from which the explosion came from the east of the city, his eyes filled with awe, as if he were looking up at the might of the heavens.

Only one thought remained in my mind:

Your Majesty is truly blessed by Heaven. Only our new Han Dynasty is the rightful heir to this land.

……

Although the explosions echoed throughout the palace, they did not cause much of a commotion.

This isn't the first time such a commotion has occurred.

At that time, Liu Hongben was a little tired from strolling in the Imperial Garden and was about to sit down on a stone bench when the deafening sound made the stone bench tremble slightly. If he sat down, his buttocks would probably shake uncontrollably.

Liu Hong was both amused and exasperated.

After a long while, the explosions subsided and there was no more noise. Only then did Liu Hong sit down with a sense of relief. Thinking of everything that had happened at the Tiangong Academy, he couldn't help but sigh softly, his tone full of emotion: "It took a full seven years to barely succeed."

From the day the Tiangong Institute was established.

He immediately gathered artisans, Taoists (alchemists in ancient times), and mathematicians from all over the world, bestowing upon them official positions and salaries, and allowing them to devote themselves to their studies.

Later, guided by his own groundbreaking understanding, he standardized the gunpowder ratio to "75% nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal" and granulated the gunpowder; then he led metallurgical research and improved the blast furnace iron mold casting method.

It took nearly three more years to mass-produce and assemble the firearms they had developed, which led to the creation of the Shenwu Guard.

The Divine Martial Guard was not entirely composed of musketeers; rather, it consisted of artillery, musketeers, cavalry, and shield bearers working together to form a mobile fortress, making it a formidable weapon on the battlefield.

They usually stayed in Jinling, only going to the battlefield for decisive battles, thus securing their rule over the world.

Only now, with heavy artillery and fortified gun emplacements taking shape, and a comprehensive offensive and defensive firearms system established, has the new Han dynasty gained terrifying power against all sides.

Only then did Liu Hong secure his position as the legitimate new emperor of the Han dynasty.

Looking back now!

These seven years have spanned from the arduous journey of starting the uprising in Yangzhou, to the repeated setbacks encountered during the research and development at the Tiangong Institute, and finally to the ecstatic joy of the deployment of firearms.

The journey has been fraught with difficulties.

This world, this imperial throne, is truly hard-won.

Seeing the emotion on his face, the chief eunuch beside him lowered his head and said softly, "Your Majesty is a man of extraordinary talent and has devoted himself to the cause, which has brought about today's prosperity. This is a blessing for our new Han Dynasty and for all the people under heaven."

Liu Hong smiled faintly, raised his eyes and looked towards the east of the city, his gaze deep.

I'm vaguely thinking:

The Heavenly Crafts Institute has shipped out another batch of goods?!