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

"What kind of military secret weapon could produce such a deafening sound? And that flying firearm, could it really carry people into the sky? Or is it just a trick like a catapult?"

"How can mortals truly ascend to heaven?"

With these troubled thoughts in mind, He Hongwen soon accompanied his grandfather to the Imperial Hospital.

He Yuan held this position when he was in Jinling.

Now that he has arrived in Bianliang, he has quickly established himself based on his past prestige and has just been promoted from the sixth rank to the fifth rank. Even the eunuchs who hold real power in the Imperial Hospital are only at the same level as him.

"Never before in history has the profession of imperial physician been so highly valued or so prosperous by the emperor. You people are truly fortunate to be living in such a good time!"

In the main courtyard, all the imperial physicians and medical officers were present, and He Hongwen was one of them. He had no special privileges on the surface and stood obediently among the crowd. Apart from being a little younger, he was no different from the others.

"I will obey Your Excellency's command."

All the medical officers responded in unison, their voices resonating in unison.

He Yuanzheng stroked his white beard, and a satisfied expression finally appeared on his face.

In this way, the Imperial Medical Academy, as His Majesty had hoped, focused on developing medical techniques and treating patients, rather than getting bogged down in internal strife and falling into a disadvantageous position.

Healing the sick and saving lives should be the standard for all doctors, and they should have this medical ethics and benevolence.

Before long, the Imperial Hospital was busy again.

When he finally had some free time, He Hongwen eagerly approached his grandfather and whispered, "Grandfather, you mustn't just focus on official business these days. Our He family from Baishitan has just entered Tokyo City, and there are still many families we need to visit, especially the Sheng family."

"Old Madam Sheng and my grandmother established their friendship back in Nanjing, and she even sent a letter to invite me."

Upon hearing this, Dean He waved his hand to indicate that he understood, and the grandfather and grandson then returned to their respective positions and performed their duties.

As the sun set, the staff of the Imperial Hospital called their roll and then gradually left.

Today was ultimately delayed.

The trip to the Sheng family can only be postponed until tomorrow.

Nothing was said that night, and dawn broke in the east.

The narrow paths in winter had long since frozen into ice, and the main gate of the Sheng family's residence was wide open.

Even Sheng Hong, who has been so busy these past few days, like Yu the Great controlling the floods and passing by his home three times without entering, has managed to take leave from the Ministry of War today.

He led three hundred imperial guards, spending his days maintaining order in the city, his feet barely touching the ground, feeling dizzy and disoriented. This time, he took leave only to entertain distinguished guests at home.

"This Imperial Physician He, I heard, was deeply favored by His Majesty back in Jinling, and now that he has just arrived in Bianliang, he has already made great contributions, saying that he saved the young master of the Marquis of Shunming's mansion. If this were the previous dynasty, this would be saving the future crown prince."

"Shh! You mustn't say such things. That's the young marquis, and the new Han dynasty is now in power. If the lord hears this, Dong Rong's beating will leave him bruised and battered."

"This time, the He family has truly gained a foothold. Not only has the head of the Imperial Hospital been promoted, but even the old lady of the He family has obtained an official title in the Imperial Hospital and will be able to preside over the treatment of the women in the palace in the future."

"We, the young ladies of the Sheng family, should certainly cultivate a good relationship with them."

The servants of the Sheng family huddled together, whispering amongst themselves, peeking out the door every now and then, eager for the He family to arrive as soon as possible.

The sun is rising higher.

The thin layer of snow that had accumulated over the months gradually melted, and the wheels of vehicles left deep ruts as they rolled over the wet flagstones.

The He family's carriages finally stopped in front of the Sheng family's gate, and He Yuanzheng and his family arrived.

"Lord Sheng, we are late today."

"It's not too late, not too late! I have long heard of the great deeds of Imperial Physician He in his expeditions to save countless lives. It is truly an honor to meet him today."

The two exchanged polite greetings in official circles, and soon entered the main hall hand in hand.

Madam Zhuang, the matriarch of the He family, led her grandson He Hongwen and a group of maids and servants to Shou'an Hall.

When the women of the inner quarters meet, it is inconvenient for them to accompany Sheng Hong in the front hall.

"Before dawn this morning, magpies were chirping and chattering under the eaves of this hall. I thought some joyous occasion had occurred, but it turns out that it is the arrival of the He family's youngest sister."

Old Mrs. Sheng smiled and got up to greet her. Zhuang was her close friend, and the two had an extraordinary relationship.

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhuang took a sip of tea, the aroma lingering on her lips. She sat down on a square chair beside her and slowly smiled, "Older sister, you always know how to tease people. What? Could it be that my younger sister's visit today isn't to curry favor, but rather to boast?"

"Being valued by His Majesty and now being able to heal and save lives with unfathomable medical skills, just like Imperial Physician He, has fulfilled one of your wishes."

Grandma Sheng saw right through her thoughts, without beating around the bush at all.

Zhuang could only cup her hands and bow slightly, with a faint smile on her face: "Elder sister is truly wise. I, as the younger sister, have nothing to say."

At this moment, Shou'an Hall was filled with the presence of distinguished guests, and the He family and the Sheng family had a long history together.

Both morally and logically, the four daughters of the Sheng family should come to pay their respects.

Hua Lan led the way, followed by Mo Lan, Ru Lan, and Ming Lan. They first bowed to Zhuang Shi, then nodded to He Hongwen in greeting, before taking their seats in turn.

Everyone couldn't help but prick up their ears and listen carefully to the two old ladies' chatter.

And the topics discussed were all closely related to Liu Hong.

"In terms of medical skills, I'm afraid no one in the world can match His Majesty."

Suddenly, Zhuang sighed softly, a hint of self-mockery appearing on her face. "To be honest, elder sister, I used to be confident that my medical skills were second to none in the world. But after learning those mysterious medical techniques from His Majesty, I realized that there are always people more skilled than you."

She paused, her tone full of amazement, and slowly recounted: "The severed arm could be reattached, and the blood between people could be mixed, transferring from one person to another; some people even stopped breathing but were brought back to life, their lives restored, and they continued to exist in the world."

There are also various seemingly minor medical methods that are actually of great use.

If these methods could be spread throughout the world, countless ordinary people could be saved.

Zhuang murmured with emotion, her eyes filled with sincerity, her admiration for Liu Hong evident in her words.

Old Madam Sheng had always understood Zhuang's temperament and knew that she was proud and arrogant. She would never have said such a thing unless she had seen and felt it with her own eyes. It was definitely not the empty talk of an arrogant and ignorant person.

Even though Old Madam Sheng had lived most of her life and possessed excellent self-control, she couldn't help but feel a little emotional at this moment.

"His Majesty is so accomplished in medicine?"

"It's not just about medical skills."

Zhuang hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping short of saying anything.

But these unspoken words only fueled the imagination.

The atmosphere inside Shou'an Hall suddenly became somewhat stagnant.

Before anyone could ask further questions, He Hongwen suddenly recalled the strange events in the palace yesterday and casually remarked, "Yesterday, the palace tested some kind of military secret, and the deafening sound echoed throughout half the city. Some even said they saw something flying, but we don't know if it's true or not."

These words were like a stone thrown into water, startling Old Madam Sheng and her four daughters once again.

Hua Lan's heart trembled slightly, and a hint of pride was faintly revealed on her face. She thought to herself: Zi Guang is so amazing. He is proficient in all the arts, including literature, martial arts, and medicine.

Mo Lan unconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her hand, her eyes surging with an unprecedented urgency.

Entering the palace for the imperial concubine selection.

She must be elected.

What she wanted to be was not a female official, but a concubine who could accompany this exceptionally talented emperor, or even something higher.

Rulan was so surprised she couldn't close her mouth, her eyes wide open, looking adorably dazed.

She subconsciously leaned closer to Minglan and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Minglan, is it really that mysterious? Could they all be flattering His Majesty?"

"There is no one in this world who is so capable. Even Father and Second Brother are probably no match for them."

Minglan lowered her eyes, looking utterly aggrieved, and said weakly, "Fifth Sister, how am I supposed to know?"

"have a look!"

Grandma Sheng suddenly smiled and teased Zhuang Shi, "You've all shocked all the girls in the Sheng family."

That's what they say.

Her expression suggested she didn't entirely believe those fantastical claims; she seemed somewhat hesitant and observing.

Lady Zhuang was not surprised and gently shook her head: "At first, I didn't believe it at all, but the closer I got to His Majesty and the more I knew, the more I truly believed that there might really be people in this world who are born with knowledge and are worthy of being called saints."

Dear sister, you will understand in time.

Now that our new Han dynasty has firmly established its capital in Bianliang, right under the emperor's nose, given time, this place will surely be several times more prosperous than Jinling.

As she spoke, Madam Zhuang clapped her hands lightly, and He Hongwen immediately stood up, took the prepared gift box from the servant beside him, and slowly walked forward.

"Why are you being so polite?"

When Grandma Sheng saw this, she frowned slightly.

Zhuang chuckled, reached out and pinched Old Madam Sheng's hand, her tone full of teasing: "Old sister, please be patient, you'll see soon enough."

Old Mrs. Sheng composed herself and waited expectantly.

In front of a group of women, He Hongwen deftly lifted the lid of the box embroidered with golden lotus patterns and took out the items inside one by one, explaining in detail as he did so: "This item is called snow salt, also known as white salt or jade salt. It is white in color, has a mellow taste, and has uniform grains."

He held the snow salt in his palm and continued, "In the past, most salt in the world was sea salt, which was obtained by sun-drying and boiling. It was dark in color and contained many impurities. Even the little bit of pure white rock salt relied entirely on manual sun-drying and screening, and the yield was extremely low. Only the imperial court could enjoy it, and even officials like us rarely saw it."

This snowflake salt is now mass-produced. Although not all of it has been transported to Bianliang, it is readily available even to ordinary households in Jinling City.

"Brother Hongwen, are you joking?"

Mo Lan, most sensitive to money, immediately questioned, "Such pure snow salt must be extremely expensive. How can ordinary families afford it?"

He Hongwen smiled slightly, cupped his hands slightly towards the direction of the palace, his face respectful and full of admiration: "It is thanks to the current emperor's divine blessing that the supreme and wonderful methods were passed on to the Imperial Workshop, which enabled the mass production of this snowflake salt and jade salt."

"Moreover, this salt is much more beneficial to the body than coarse salt used to be."

He spoke clearly and explained things in a logical and organized manner, which convinced everyone who listened.

That's all.

He took out another item, which was white and delicate, and looked very appealing.

"Icing sugar".

Rulan pursed her pink lips and blurted out unconsciously.

She loves all kinds of pastries made with icing, such as Jade Cake, Jade Leaf Cake, Top Pastry, Rose Shortbread, and even Jade Rice with icing, which she never tires of.

Upon seeing it, my eyes lit up instantly.

Before anyone could ask, Rulan stood up and leaned closer, swaying her small body as she giggled, looking both silly and adorable: "Brother Hongwen, does this frosting sugar, like the snowflake salt from before, also become mass-produced?"

"These icing pastries taste so much better than those brownish sugar pastries."

"Sister Rulan is wrong."

He Hongwen chuckled softly.

Rulan's small, round eyes widened immediately, her cheeks puffed out, and she looked displeased: "Then what is Brother Hongwen going to do with this?"

He Hongwen, seeing Rulan's temperament, was not surprised and explained gently, "This is not icing, but white sugar, which is pure white and delicate, and its taste is even better than icing."

"If Sister Rulan doesn't believe me, she can try it."

Rulan was intrigued and instinctively wanted to try it, but then she remembered that her mother, Wang Ruofu, was also in Shou'an Hall. She immediately shrank back and cautiously looked at her.

Everyone in the hall followed her gaze and looked at Wang Ruofu, their expressions carrying a hint of a smile.

Wang Ruofu laughed irritably: "You've already tasted what His Majesty bestowed upon you; you're getting a good deal, kid."

Rulan immediately chuckled, picked up the small plate prepared to the side, and used a delicate silver spoon to scoop a small spoonful into her mouth.

The sweet and mellow flavor slowly unfolds on the taste buds, sweet but not cloying, and even more gentle than icing sugar.

Rulan clenched her little fists happily, her eyebrows curving into crescents, looking as if she was about to faint from intoxication.

Just as she was about to scoop another spoonful, He Hongwen gently moved the small plate away.

Rulan looked at him with a puzzled expression. He Hongwen smiled and said, "It's not that I'm stingy, it's just that this white sugar is high in sugar. If Rulan eats too much, she'll easily gain weight."

Upon hearing this, a soft chuckle rippled through the hall.

Wang Ruofu simply got up and pulled his ignorant little daughter back to his side. Rulan's longing gaze was still fixed on the plate of white sugar, which made everyone laugh again.

Mo Lan pursed her lips and muttered under her breath, "Is it really that delicious?"

Rulan hummed and hawed, looking smug: "You'll know once you eat it."

She tugged at Hua Lan's sleeve and said softly, "Big sister, it's really delicious. Next time we make pastries, let's use this white sugar. The pastries will definitely taste even better."

"I will do as my fifth sister does."

Hua Lan smiled and agreed, her gaze falling on the white sugar, her eyes filled with surprise.

Ziguang is truly amazing to have created such a wonderful thing!

Minglan's curiosity was also piqued.

She loved to think about food, and with Xiao Tao, a big foodie, by her side, she felt a strong urge to eat the glistening white sugar. She subconsciously glanced at Xiao Tao standing behind her.

Xiao Tao blushed instantly and hurriedly lowered her head, thinking to herself: What is this girl looking at? There are so many people, it's so embarrassing.

Immediately afterwards, He Hongwen took out soap and a glass cup from the box.

Although these two items are available now, the soap in front of me is as smooth as jade and its cleaning power is far superior to that of soapberries; the glass cup is crystal clear and smooth, several times more exquisite than ordinary glass.

The Sheng family girls immediately took it, each playing with it in their hands, marveling at it.

"This is fragrant soap, also known as jade ointment. It looks much better than soapberry, but I wonder how effective it is at removing dirt."

Hua Lan rubbed the soap and said softly.

In front of Old Madam Sheng and Madam Zhuang was a transparent glass ornament in the shape of an evergreen pine tree from Shoushan, gleaming with a faint, clear light.

The snow outside the window had not yet melted, and the golden sunlight shone through the windowpane onto the glass, refracting layers of patterns, shimmering and dazzling, exquisite and ingenious, making it look extremely valuable, not to mention the beautiful meaning of this ornament, "Longevity Mountain".

"Why send such an expensive gift?"

Grandma Sheng scolded him gently, but her tone softened a bit, "My old sister here has nothing of value and really can't repay such a generous gift."

Although she had her suspicions, she still felt that such crystal-clear glass could not be mass-produced cheaply like snowflake salt or white sugar.

Zhuang held her hand and said frankly, "It's been a long time since we last met. If we don't send something to show our sisterly affection, how can we demonstrate our friendship? Outsiders might think our relationship has faded."

Grandma Sheng sighed softly, her tone tinged with regret, and her gaze swept intentionally or unintentionally over Minglan beside her.

There was no such thing as a palace selection for imperial concubines before.

She was determined to marry Minglan to He Hongwen. The He family had a good reputation, and He Hongwen was kind and polite. Minglan would surely live a peaceful life after marrying into the family.

But now, everything has changed, and this idea can no longer come to fruition.

At this moment, Minglan was looking down and playing with the jade ointment in her hand. Her fingertips touched the smooth soap, and she sighed softly in her heart.

That emperor was able to create such beneficial products as snowflake salt, white sugar, and soap, and he was also skilled in medicine and military affairs. Such a powerful emperor must have an unfathomable mind.

If she were to actually enter the palace and be selected as a concubine, she would surely be a difficult person to serve.

From now on, I fear I will be walking on eggshells and dare not be careless in the slightest.

We're doomed!