As the daily training grew more monotonous, Ma Xiaoda lost all interest in visiting the Imperial Stables to oversee work; even the crossbow construction he’d initially championed now bored him, as he’d recently become obsessed with a card game, spending his days playing with Bai Shi and a circle of eunuchs in the palace. A child remained a child, and though he possessed a slightly more mature bearing, it only amounted to two extra minutes of initial fervor before his patience inevitably waned.

Conversely, the sisters Ma Xiaorui and Ma Xiaorui, along with Xu Chen, had absorbed the spirit of adventuring outside the palace walls from their imperial younger brother. They frequently slipped out of the Inner City to roam the Middle City, and given my close relationship with Ma Xiaoda, they sometimes paid a visit to the Zhao residence. This particular day, as I woke from my nap, preparing to attend to the Hu-yu King—one of the Eight Inner Kings of Shuancheng—I heard boisterous laughter from the front hall, with Ma Xiaorui’s purely innocent little girl’s voice being the loudest.

In truth, Linglong was younger than Ma Xiaorui, but her former environment had curtailed her capacity for childlike whimsy, making her appear more mature outwardly. However, since arriving in Shuancheng, her life had improved daily, and coupled with the constant, childlike care she received from those around her, her innate youthful nature was returning in full force. Although Linglong occasionally resented Ma Xiaorui for putting on airs like a princess, most of the time the two girls got along famously.

Seeing Linglong packing a medicine kit, Ma Xiaorui inquired, “Sister Linglong, are you heading out to treat a patient again? I heard that the last time you helped the Wan family from the Ministry of Revenue with a delivery, you brought in a massive fifteen thousand! Will we be getting a big cut by the end of the year?”

Linglong and Yun Yao managed the finances of the Imperial Stables, so her word on the distribution of money carried the most weight. “Princess Xiaorui, you are unaware. The Imperial Stables has not yet begun actual production; meaning, no profit has been generated yet. Without profit, naturally, there can be no dividend distribution.”

“Ah!” Ma Xiaorui bounced up. “How can that be? Fifteen Sister and I invested all our savings, and the Imperial Brother promised us year-end dividends! If that’s the case, then we’re quitting! We strongly demand a withdrawal of our investment.”

Linglong replied, “Withdrawing is possible; we aren’t short of funds now. However, the Master mentioned that the Stables’ paper mill might commence production in the next day or two. If we can establish the market, earning a few tens of thousands of iron coins a year shouldn't be an issue.”

“Ah!” Ma Xiaorui hopped again. “That… what’s-it-called paper factory… has it started operating?”

“Using broken tree bark as raw material—that’s a business where the profit margin is nearly infinite. I demand to invest. I’m not pulling out! Not pulling out.”

Ma Xiaowei and Xu Chen paid no mind to the two young girls’ squabbling. Although Ma Xiaorui was a year older than Linglong, she was far inferior in cunning; usually, she was the one who ended up at a disadvantage.

Xu Chen turned to Ma Xiaowei. “Imperial Sister, Zhang Guan asked me to visit Moon Lake tomorrow. Shall we go together? It would be awkward for just the two of us, and others seeing us might cause trouble.”

Ma Xiaowei chuckled. “How dare we intrude on your outing? You two should enjoy your solitude. Otherwise, General Zhang will surely curse us inwardly for being ill-mannered.”

Xu Chen blushed. “Imperial Sister, you are teasing me. There’s nothing between General Zhang and me. It’s just that he cares for me deeply, and I find it hard to refuse his invitations. Besides, he was the one who brought me to the palace; I hold him in great gratitude. He visited me often during my lowest point; I consider him a good person.”

Having spent so much time together, Ma Xiaowei and this Imperial Sister had become confidantes. She spoke subtly, “Imperial Sister, I’ve read many stories and legends. Most romances begin with such vague, dawning affection. That General Zhang is actually quite decent, and he achieved the rank of General of the Capital Guard at such a young age—his future is boundless. To be frank, Imperial Sister, you are not getting any younger; you should start considering your life’s commitment. Don’t just wait for Father Emperor’s arrangements; happiness should be seized in your own hands. Once Father Emperor decrees a marriage, you won't have a choice.”

While Ma Xiaowei was offering advice, she herself was essentially waiting for her father’s decree. A royal princess marrying was an incredibly grand affair, and the selection of a spouse was extremely strict. Free love was virtually impossible. But this Imperial Sister was not a true princess; perhaps she didn’t need to adhere to the same rigid rules they did.

As Linglong and Ma Xiaorui were bickering, Ma Xiaowei’s matchmaking words startled Linglong. She had already learned from Yun Yao that Zhang Guan harbored fantasies about Xu Chen. Furthermore, because Xu Chen had no memory of her past, coupled with Zhang Guan’s persistent pursuit, she had developed some favorable feelings toward him. Yet, Xu Chen was clearly that man’s wife. Linglong absolutely would not allow Ma Xiaowei to pledge Xu Chen to that malignant growth, Zhang Guan, because it would cause that man sorrow.

Linglong declared, “Princess Xiaowei, I firmly oppose Princess Xu Chen marrying Zhang Guan! That man is unreliable. If you don't believe me, ask around the streets next time you go out. General Zhang of the Capital Guard in the Inner City—he is a notorious scoundrel! Do not ruin Princess Xu Chen’s lifelong happiness over one casual remark.”

Ma Xiaorui hadn't been paying attention to Ma Xiaowei’s conversation, so Linglong’s outburst startled her. “Who’s marrying Zhang Guan? That fellow is no good! His cursed bird caused my mother to scold me for days; I still need to settle accounts with him!”

The parrot Xu Chen had gifted Ma Xiaorui had escaped its cage. Having been confined for too long, it seemed to have forgotten how to fly and bounced all over the rear palace. Ma Xiaorui, leading a swarm of maids and servants, turned the entire palace upside down trying to catch it. Not only did they fail to capture the bird, but she was also severely punished by her mother, and Ma Da even docked her allowance for two months. All the blame for this disaster, Ma Xiaorui pinned on Zhang Guan because he was the one who brought the bird into the palace.

Seeing someone supporting her position, Linglong nodded cordially to Ma Xiaorui. Although this person sometimes argued with her, they were now allies on the same front. She then said to Ma Xiaowei, “See? Someone immediately came forward to prove it! That Zhang Guan boy is no good! He’s utterly unreliable. If Princess Xu Chen is to marry, she must marry our Master!”

Xu Chen, not remembering her past, still possessed feminine shyness. She flushed deeply. “What are you… what are you talking about? Who said they’re marrying? I’m not listening to any of you! You hear a whisper and turn it into a storm—what nonsense is this?”

Ma Xiaowei hastily clarified, “Look at the two of you! I only suggested that Imperial Sister Xu Chen is at an age where she should consider her life’s commitment; I never insisted she must marry General Zhang.”

Linglong retorted indignantly, “That was precisely your meaning! In any case, not only I but also the Crown Prince will strongly object—hmph, and the Emperor will object too! I’m certain of it. Unless His Majesty himself speaks up, your scheme will absolutely fail.”

Ma Xiaowei conceded with a sigh, “Fine, I misspoke. I only meant that Imperial Sister should include General Zhang as one of the potential candidates to consider. As for who Imperial Sister ultimately marries, that still requires Father Emperor’s final approval.”

Ma Xiaorui grabbed Linglong’s arm. “Hey, hey, what did you just say? Imperial Sister Xu Chen must marry your Master? Is your Master made of iron? Is he that fragrant and valuable? He’s just a palace physician who tells good stories, and didn't he say he already has a fiancée? You even told us his son is about to be born! I think he’s a complete scoundrel, hmph! Don’t think having five hundred shabby Stable Guards makes you a General! A General commands ten thousand men! He’s miles away from that standard.”

(Here, gold is nonexistent; the most precious metal is iron, hence the local comparison.) The comrades in the same trench instantly became adversaries again. Linglong scoffed at Ma Xiaorui, “Hmph, so what if my Master has the ability to take three wives and four concubines? What capability does Zhang Guan have? He only became a General by relying on his father. Give my Master five hundred men, and give Zhang Guan a thousand—I guarantee my Master will leave that boy utterly routed.”

Ma Xiaorui certainly needed to object strongly. “Pah, pah! You little brat, how dare you belittle our Imperial Guard! Zhao Qian’s Stable Guards don't even have proper blades—they all use wooden weapons! Trying to fight our great sabers, long spears, and iron shields? Never mind one against two; we can let you fight one against ten!”

Linglong boomed, “Who says we don’t have weapons? Let me tell you, we don't give a second thought to the ironware of the Imperial Guard! Our Master is currently smelting steel! Steel, do you understand? That is something even more formidable than iron. Today, I’ll let you witness it. Look at this military saber—look at this edge! Can those iron blades ever achieve such sharpness? I’ll cut a piece of iron for you to see.”

There was an iron candlestick nearby. Linglong picked it up and severed it with one swing. She possessed considerable strength herself, and the candlestick was made of extremely coarse and slender material. Moreover, this military saber was forged from the finest steel from Earth; although its sharpness couldn't match a 3X alloy military knife, it was still tens of times superior to the dog-shit iron here.

Ma Xiaorui and Ma Xiaowei were startled. “Th-this… did you forge this? Isn’t it true that the Royal Ironworks cannot operate because there’s a shortage of iron ore?”

Linglong knew perfectly well that this level of steel could not be refined here, but she refused to lose face in front of the two princesses. She mumbled evasively, “Our Master has his own methods. His talent and ingenuity are far beyond Zhang Guan’s comparison. It would be a monumental mistake for Your Highness Xu Chen to marry him. Only our Master is truly worthy of her.”

Xu Chen saw the discussion circling back to her again, so she stood up. “I, I should return to the palace first. You keep using me as a topic of discussion. I’m leaving.”

Ma Xiaorui stood up too. “Fine. Tomorrow we’ll visit the Imperial Stables and see just what talents your Master possesses. He might tell good stories and be a good doctor, but he probably can’t smelt iron, right? That’s proprietary technology of the Jin Kingdom. You claim he’s smelting steel! We’ll see tomorrow.”

Ma Xiaowei felt quite apologetic. The Master hadn't even arrived, and because of one sentence she spoke, everyone parted unhappily. As she walked behind, she said to Linglong, who was seeing them out, “Please explain to Imperial Physician Zhao that we won’t wait for him. This… this item, please hand it to him.”

The three slipped quietly back into the Inner City. Linglong kept looking at the item Ma Xiaowei had given her before leaving: a stack of fine white silk cloth, upon which were meticulously sketched scenes in charcoal—oaths in a thatched pavilion, studying together, the farewell at the Eighteen Mile Bridge, and the tragic transformation into butterflies. Each picture was vividly rendered and accompanied by written explanations. The final sheet contained lyrics—it was the song "Butterfly Lovers" that Linglong had overheard that day.

Linglong grew angrier as she read. “Hmph! To dare send something so intensely affectionate to my Master! I see your intentions are malicious! You want to pull Xu Chen away from the Master, and you want to pull Sister Yun Yao away too, and me as well. In the end, only your dark scheme will succeed, but I won't let you have your way.”

With that thought, Linglong hid the packet of drawings in a secluded spot. She envied Yun Yao, Zhou Ni, and Cheng Susu, but no matter what, the affection between those three and her was much deeper. Moreover, she knew those three were his wives brought from Earth; they could never be separated. But she would absolutely not let Ma Xiaowei succeed. As for whether Ma Xiaowei had truly developed feelings for her Master, that was entirely Linglong’s own wishful thinking.

On the way to the Hu-zi King’s manor.

“Linglong, I clearly heard Ma Xiaorui’s voice when I woke up, but why are they gone now that I’m out?”

Linglong seemed hesitant to meet my gaze and replied casually, “Oh, they snuck out to play. They waited for you briefly but were afraid of delaying their return to the palace, so they left early.”

I sighed. “Was Xu Chen here too?”

Linglong said, “Yes, she was. But she still seems to have no memory of you. I’ve paid attention to her reaction several times when you were mentioned; there was nothing special.”

I stopped walking. “It seems I must temporarily give up on Xu Chen for now. As long as she is safe, I will be at ease. We need to find a way to locate Hua Qingqing, Cai Jingjing, Ouyang Qing, and He Yuqing—the other four. We can’t waste too much time focusing on her.”

“You can’t give up, you can’t give up!” Linglong urged anxiously. “Master, you don’t know—that Ma Xiaowei was actually playing matchmaker between Xu Chen and Zhang Guan! And Zhang Guan apparently asked Xu Chen to visit Moon Lake tomorrow! If you give up now, aren’t you essentially handing Chenchen over to someone else?”

Moon Lake was a large reservoir on the slopes of the Inner City, actually part of the imperial gardens—a very beautiful spot. I was startled when I heard Linglong’s words. “What? Have Xu Chen and Zhang Guan developed so quickly? Did I ask Ah Gou to investigate the backgrounds of Zhang Guan and his father? One must know the enemy to win every battle.”

Linglong added fuel to the fire. “He found out! According to ninety-nine point nine nine percent of the populace, those two are the great tyrants and local despots of Shuancheng—they are the kind of villains whose evil smokes out of their heads and oozes from their feet! If it were a respectable young nobleman pursuing Sister Chenchen, fine, but can you really entrust Chenchen to that kind of man?”

I clenched my fist. “Nonsense! Even if he were a respectable nobleman, I wouldn't yield Xu Chen to him!”

Linglong said smugly, “That’s right, Master. That’s why I think Ma Xiaowei isn’t a good person; she might have been bribed by Zhang Guan! You should really keep your distance from her in the future, lest you be deceived by her.”

I reflected that she had a point. Perhaps I should ask Ma Xiaoda to find an opportunity to remind his two sisters that it was best if they interfered less in the matter between Xu Chen and me. If some accident arose because of it, I would regret it too late.

Shuancheng had eight princes. These princes held no military power nor managed state affairs; they were generally not required to attend the daily morning court, only appearing before the Emperor for major events. These eight kings were enfeoffed by successive emperors based on certain merits. These Eight Inner Kings had their domains confined within the boundaries of Shuancheng.

The number of kings and marquises enfeoffed throughout the Shuancheng Nation was innumerable. After a thousand years, the court itself could no longer track all their descendants, with poor communication being the primary reason. Some fiefdoms hadn't sent envoys to Shuancheng to pay homage to the Emperor for centuries; who knew if they even had heirs? Sending an envoy to investigate was difficult and time-consuming, potentially taking years. For a long time, few emperors cared to deal with them, as those nobles did not drain the court’s coffers. The emperors of the past had merely granted remote, unmanageable lands to these nobles, rarely inquiring about their well-being. This system of enfeoffment was also a major reason the court could not collect taxes from various regions. In truth, one could say that centralized power in Shuancheng was already facing significant problems; apart from the major cities surrounding Shuancheng, central control over the provinces was weakening.

The status of these Eight Inner Kings was much higher than those obscure Outer Kings. After all, Shuancheng was the political and cultural heart of the Shuancheng Nation, and being fortunate enough to remain near the Emperor, within the prosperous capital city, naturally gave their titles a unique prestige. Their connection to the imperial clan was certainly closer than that of the Outer Kings, though they were less free and wealthy than those distant nobles.

This aspect of Shuancheng differed from ancient times in the Great Dragon Nation. Ancient emperors, fearing their relatives might usurp their power, always enfeoffed their closest kin in the farthest regions. Here, however, a millennium had passed without war or dynastic change, so the crime of treason was nearly forgotten. Naturally, the Emperor needed not trouble himself with guarding against these princes.

The Eight Inner Kings were: Chi-yu King, Dan-zi King, Zhong-zi King, Xin-yu King, Hu-zi King, Cheng-zi King, You-zi King, and Min-zi King. Combined, their titles spelled out: “Loyal and resolute, protecting the city and benefiting the people”—a naming bestowed by the Emperor as an expression of goodwill. There was a clear hierarchy among the eight kings, with the Min-zi King at the bottom, ascending to the Chi-zi King. Today, we were heading to the Hu-zi King’s manor; the current incumbent was Hu Ji.

The Hu-zi King had been quite robust, but recently a sore had appeared on his waist. Initially, it was dismissed as minor, but the sore grew larger and was accompanied by intense pain. This pain wasn't superficial flesh and bone agony, but a deep, nerve-level throbbing. Hearing that Imperial Physician Zhao of the Imperial Medical Academy possessed not only superb medical skill but was also willing to treat patients outside the Inner City, Hu Ji, the Hu-zi King, went to great lengths to establish contact.

While it was perfectly normal in ancient Earth for an imperial physician to treat a king, the Imperial Medical Academy of Shuancheng was strictly responsible only for the direct lineage of the imperial family within the Inner City. The Eight Kings, despite their noble status, were not permitted to reside within the Inner City. The Middle City also had a medical hall, but the quality of physicians there was far inferior. Furthermore, Hu Ji had already been examined by a secondary physician from that hall, who was powerless to help. If not for this, he would never have spent a consultation fee of one hundred thousand taels to summon the divine physician Zhao—no one wastes money like that unless they have no other choice.

The young prince of the Hu manor, Hu Tong, greeted me at the entrance on behalf of his father. After brief pleasantries, we proceeded directly to the sickroom. This was my protocol: treat the illness, and nothing else was discussed. Hu Tong escorted me without any unnecessary formalities.

I had not read many medical texts, but a cursory inspection revealed that the Hu-zi King was likely suffering from what is commonly known as shingles (serpentine wrapping sores). This condition is caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus, which generally lies dormant in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord. When the body’s resistance drops, or due to a cold, fever, or emotional stress, the virus can reactivate and multiply, traveling along nerve fibers to the skin, causing severe inflammation of the affected nerves and dermis.

The escape pod contained sore-clearing needles because pilots, due to prolonged sitting, often developed hemorrhoids, but medicine for shingles was impossible to carry in the escape pod’s medical kit. I found myself in a dilemma; I couldn't very well trade a life-saving needle for ten thousand small iron pieces.

Seeing my difficulty, the elderly and stout Hu-zi King, Hu Ji, laboriously shifted his posture. “Imperial Physician Zhao, what is the condition of my illness? I heard that since you began practicing, there hasn’t been a case you couldn't cure. My recovery rests entirely on you.”

Hu Tong bowed slightly. “Imperial Physician Zhao, rest assured, we understand your rules. But as long as my father’s pain can be alleviated, we are willing to pay a consultation fee of two hundred thousand iron coins! Please use whatever precious medicine you possess for my father.”

Considering the two hundred thousand iron coins, I decided to take a chance. “Your Highness, it’s not that this subordinate is unwilling to use medicine, but the specific medication for your condition is extinct. I can only attempt an alternative method. If it fails, I ask Your Highness not to blame this subordinate. As for the consultation fee, Your Highness will not be charged a single coin until you recover.”

My reasoning was that shingles was, after all, a viral inflammation. I could try using an antibiotic to manage it first. Given how naive these people here were regarding Western medicine, this Varicella-Zoster virus might be easily eradicated here. Moreover, I had only promised to try; even if it failed, I wasn't afraid of damaging my reputation as a divine physician, as I didn't care much about that small gain. As for money, if I couldn't earn it here, there were other places.

I instructed Linglong, “Prescribe the King five tablets of the anti-inflammatory drug, and then five portions of the powder for sterilization and inflammation relief.”

Linglong prepared the prescriptions and meticulously taught Hu Tong how to use them. The tablets were to be taken orally with warm water once a day; the powder was to be used after cleaning the sore area with salt water every day, then spraying it on. Linglong was already adept at these procedures; I thought she had the natural talent to be a nurse.

For the first treatment, Linglong demonstrated the simple procedure for Hu Tong, who understood it immediately. The old Hu-zi King was extremely fatigued; after taking the medicine and applying the powder, he lay down, while the rest of us moved to the main hall.

On the road to the Hu-zi King’s manor.

“Linglong, I clearly heard Ma Xiaorui’s voice when I woke up, but why are they gone now that I’m out?”

Linglong seemed hesitant to meet my gaze and replied casually, “Oh, they snuck out to play. They waited for you briefly but were afraid of delaying their return to the palace, so they left early.”

I sighed. “Was Xu Chen here too?”

Linglong said, “Yes, she was. But she still seems to have no memory of you. I’ve paid attention to her reaction several times when you were mentioned; there was nothing special.”

I stopped walking. “It seems I must temporarily give up on Xu Chen for now. As long as she is safe, I will be at ease. We need to find a way to locate Hua Qingqing, Cai Jingjing, Ouyang Qing, and He Yuqing—the other four. We can’t waste too much time focusing on her.”

“You can’t give up, you can’t give up!” Linglong urged anxiously. “Master, you don’t know—that Ma Xiaowei was actually playing matchmaker between Xu Chen and Zhang Guan! And Zhang Guan apparently asked Xu Chen to visit Moon Lake tomorrow! If you give up now, aren’t you essentially handing Chenchen over to someone else?”

Moon Lake was a large reservoir on the slopes of the Inner City, actually part of the imperial gardens—a very beautiful spot. I was startled when I heard Linglong’s words. “What? Have Xu Chen and Zhang Guan developed so quickly? Did I ask Ah Gou to investigate the backgrounds of Zhang Guan and his father? One must know the enemy to win every battle.”

Linglong added fuel to the fire. “He found out! According to ninety-nine point nine nine percent of the populace, those two are the great tyrants and local despots of Shuancheng—they are the kind of villains whose evil smokes out of their heads and oozes from their feet! If it were a respectable young nobleman pursuing Sister Chenchen, fine, but can you really entrust Chenchen to that kind of man?”

I clenched my fist. “Nonsense! Even if he were a respectable nobleman, I wouldn't yield Xu Chen to him!”

Linglong said smugly, “That’s right, Master. That’s why I think Ma Xiaowei isn’t a good person; she might have been bribed by Zhang Guan! You should really keep your distance from her in the future, lest you be deceived by her.”

I reflected that she had a point. Perhaps I should ask Ma Xiaoda to find an opportunity to remind his two sisters that it was best if they interfered less in the matter between Xu Chen and me. If some accident arose because of it, I would regret it too late.

Shuancheng had eight princes. These princes held no military power nor managed state affairs; they were generally not required to attend the daily morning court, only appearing before the Emperor for major events. These eight kings were enfeoffed by successive emperors based on certain merits. These Eight Inner Kings had their domains confined within the boundaries of Shuancheng.

The number of kings and marquises enfeoffed throughout the Shuancheng Nation was innumerable. After a thousand years, the court itself could no longer track all their descendants, with poor communication being the primary reason. Some fiefdoms hadn't sent envoys to Shuancheng to pay homage to the Emperor for centuries; who knew if they even had heirs? Sending an envoy to investigate was difficult and time-consuming, potentially taking years. For a long time, few emperors cared to deal with them, as those nobles did not drain the court’s coffers. The emperors of the past had merely granted remote, unmanageable lands to these nobles, rarely inquiring about their well-being. This system of enfeoffment was also a major reason the court could not collect taxes from various regions. In truth, one could say that centralized power in Shuancheng was already facing significant problems; apart from the major cities surrounding Shuancheng, central control over the provinces was weakening.

The status of these Eight Inner Kings was much higher than those obscure Outer Kings. After all, Shuancheng was the political and cultural heart of the Shuancheng Nation, and being fortunate enough to remain near the Emperor, within the prosperous capital city, naturally gave their titles a unique prestige. Their connection to the imperial clan was certainly closer than that of the Outer Kings, though they were less free and wealthy than those distant nobles.

This aspect of Shuancheng differed from ancient times in the Great Dragon Nation. Ancient emperors, fearing their relatives might usurp their power, always enfeoffed their closest kin in the farthest regions. Here, however, a millennium had passed without war or dynastic change, so the crime of treason was nearly forgotten. Naturally, the Emperor needed not trouble himself with guarding against these princes.

The Eight Inner Kings were: Chi-yu King, Dan-zi King, Zhong-zi King, Xin-yu King, Hu-zi King, Cheng-zi King, You-zi King, and Min-zi King. Combined, their titles spelled out: “Loyal and resolute, protecting the city and benefiting the people”—a naming bestowed by the Emperor as an expression of goodwill. There was a clear hierarchy among the eight kings, with the Min-zi King at the bottom, ascending to the Chi-zi King. Today, we were heading to the Hu-zi King’s manor; the current incumbent was Hu Ji.

The Hu-zi King had been quite robust, but recently a sore had appeared on his waist. Initially, it was dismissed as minor, but the sore grew larger and was accompanied by intense pain. This pain wasn't superficial flesh and bone agony, but a deep, nerve-level throbbing. Hearing that Imperial Physician Zhao of the Imperial Medical Academy possessed not only superb medical skill but was also willing to treat patients outside the Inner City, Hu Ji, the Hu-zi King, went to great lengths to establish contact.

While it was perfectly normal in ancient Earth for an imperial physician to treat a king, the Imperial Medical Academy of Shuancheng was strictly responsible only for the direct lineage of the imperial family within the Inner City. The Eight Kings, despite their noble status, were not permitted to reside within the Inner City. The Middle City also had a medical hall, but the quality of physicians there was far inferior. Furthermore, Hu Ji had already been examined by a secondary physician from that hall, who was powerless to help. If not for this, he would never have spent a consultation fee of one hundred thousand taels to summon the divine physician Zhao—no one wastes money like that unless they have no other choice.

The young prince of the Hu manor, Hu Tong, greeted me at the entrance on behalf of his father. After brief pleasantries, we proceeded directly to the sickroom. This was my protocol: treat the illness, and nothing else was discussed. Hu Tong escorted me without any unnecessary formalities.

I had not read many medical texts, but a cursory inspection revealed that the Hu-zi King was likely suffering from what is commonly known as shingles (serpentine wrapping sores). This condition is caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus, which generally lies dormant in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord. When the body’s resistance drops, or due to a cold, fever, or emotional stress, the virus can reactivate and multiply, traveling along nerve fibers to the skin, causing severe inflammation of the affected nerves and dermis.

The escape pod contained sore-clearing needles because pilots, due to prolonged sitting, often developed hemorrhoids, but medicine for shingles was impossible to carry in the escape pod’s medical kit. I found myself in a dilemma; I couldn't very well trade a life-saving needle for ten thousand small iron pieces.

Seeing my difficulty, the elderly and stout Hu-zi King, Hu Ji, laboriously shifted his posture. “Imperial Physician Zhao, what is the condition of my illness? I heard that since you began practicing, there hasn’t been a case you couldn't cure. My recovery rests entirely on you.”

Hu Tong bowed slightly. “Imperial Physician Zhao, rest assured, we understand your rules. But as long as my father’s pain can be alleviated, we are willing to pay a consultation fee of two hundred thousand iron coins! Please use whatever precious medicine you possess for my father.”

Considering the two hundred thousand iron coins, I decided to take a chance. “Your Highness, it’s not that this subordinate is unwilling to use medicine, but the specific medication for your condition is extinct. I can only attempt an alternative method. If it fails, I ask Your Highness not to blame this subordinate. As for the consultation fee, Your Highness will not be charged a single coin until you recover.”

My reasoning was that shingles was, after all, a viral inflammation. I could try using an antibiotic to manage it first. Given how naive these people here were regarding Western medicine, this Varicella-Zoster virus might be easily eradicated here. Moreover, I had only promised to try; even if it failed, I wasn't afraid of damaging my reputation as a divine physician, as I didn't care much about that small gain. As for money, if I couldn't earn it here, there were other places.

I instructed Linglong, “Prescribe the King five tablets of the anti-inflammatory drug, and then five portions of the powder for sterilization and inflammation relief.”

Linglong prepared the prescriptions and meticulously taught Hu Tong how to use them. The tablets were to be taken orally with warm water once a day; the powder was to be used after cleaning the sore area with salt water every day, then spraying it on. Linglong was already adept at these procedures; I thought she had the natural talent to be a nurse.

For the first treatment, Linglong demonstrated the simple procedure for Hu Tong, who understood it immediately. The old Hu-zi King was extremely fatigued; after taking the medicine and applying the powder, he lay down, while the rest of us moved to the main hall.

Hutong, in his mid-thirties, was in the prime of his life. Yet, as the eldest son destined to inherit the title of Prince, he had never cultivated any grand ambitions or aspirations; his life had simply been about eating, waking up, and waiting for his father’s mantle to fall upon him. Now, with the old man gravely ill, Hutong was constantly busy, looking worn and haggard, but he still mustered his spirits to lead us toward the treasury of the Huzifu (Protector Prince’s Manor).

I said, "Young Prince, as I mentioned, my treatment for the Protector Prince's ailment is only an initial attempt. If it’s unsuccessful, there will be no charge. You can settle the payment five days after he begins taking the medicine, should his symptoms vanish. That way, I won't have to return the money to you later."

Hutong walked on, saying, "How can that be? As far as I know, Divine Doctor Zhao never fails in treating an illness, so the situation you describe won't occur. Furthermore, if our manor refuses payment for medical care, word will spread that we are stingy and in decline. Physician Zhao, there is no need to refuse; please follow me."

This young man, Hutong, seemed guileless, perhaps intending to showcase the wealth of the Protector Prince's Manor. He actually led me and Linglong straight into the manor’s money vault. After winding through several checkpoints manned by stern guards, we finally reached the underground treasury. Word had clearly spread of the Young Master's arrival, as torches were quickly lit throughout the vault. Under the glaring sheen of the oil lamps, a scene resembling an underground arsenal appeared before our eyes.

The vast hall stretched for nearly three hundred meters in length and over a hundred meters in width. Within this subterranean expanse stood rows upon rows of shelves, laden with sacks upon sacks of iron coins. Because many sacks had degraded over the years, some rusted and deformed coins had spilled out.

Linglong and I had expressions similar to Liu entering the Grand View Garden. Linglong was somewhat numb lately, having seen so much money, but she could remain impassive before hundreds of thousands of iron coins. However, the sheer volume of coins before us was beyond her ability to tally, let alone count the coins themselves. I suspected that with her counting methods, these coins could never be fully quantified or audited.

What astonished me was the sheer quantity of iron present! It seemed enough to manufacture crossbows for two thousand men! I understood the general principles of ancient iron and steel smelting compared to modern methods, but I had no idea how to construct the smelting furnaces, create the bellows, or even execute the decarburization process to refine pig iron into steel—I couldn't manage any of it. Even my attempts at papermaking resulted in something barely recognizable, forcing me to delegate that task to others.

Regarding the crossbow manufacturing, fortunately, I had Yun Yao. This middle school student, specially recruited into the Art Department at Longteng University, took the technical blueprints I had painstakingly devised and fetched Tie Zhen, the engineer from the Royal Ironworks (the gatekeeper), to the Imperial Stable Command. The open space in that basin offered plenty of room. For security reasons, the steel refinery was temporarily set up near the base of the mountain within the basin, close to a water source. As long as no one could pass the inspection at the two stockade gates, no one could enter. Tie Zhen, the elder, shouldered the responsibility of steelmaking and crossbow production.

The first stockade gate was placed at the valley entrance, and the second at the valley exit. Between the two gates lay a large, long expanse of river valley floor. The slopes on either side of the river valley were not excessively steep, only becoming more precipitous near the very top. The foundations for two barracks had already been dug into the slopes on either side; eventually, the left and right barracks could each house a thousand soldiers. Currently, this area served as the training ground for the five hundred cavalry guards. In effect, the two stockade gates, coupled with the mountain walls on either side, formed a fortified camp within the valley, and this camp lay directly on the necessary route to the Imperial Stable Command. This defense setup guaranteed absolute security.

Tie Zhen proved to be an excellent engineer. He quickly grasped the essence of iron and steel smelting from his master, Yun Yao. Tasks that seemed incredibly troublesome and nearly impossible for us—such as building the smelting furnace—were completed by him and a few dozen apprentices in less than half a month.

Since we lacked iron ore for smelting, the immediate plan involved acquiring large quantities of iron objects to destroy and then re-smelt into steel. Because charcoal was the only fuel source available, the temperature could not reach the level required for true steelmaking. Therefore, we adopted the "stir-frying steel" technique, which involved heating the pig iron to a molten or near-molten state while continuously stirring and refining it to decarburize it into steel or wrought iron.

Because the retrieved iron objects were scarce, we genuinely turned our attention to those iron coins. However, this was a secret known only to Tie Zhen. By the time his apprentices saw anything, the coins had already been melted into liquid iron. This secrecy was necessary for fear of severe punishment from the court if the secret were leaked—privately melting down currency to create other items was punishable by decapitation. Still, having Ma Xiaoda's backing meant this wasn't entirely a private venture.

After a period of intense effort, the first batch of twenty crossbows was finally manufactured. Following further refinements by Linglong and me, the accuracy and range of this batch far surpassed Linglong’s original one. I named it the "Linglong Crossbow," partly because Linglong and her father contributed significantly to its design, and partly because these crossbows were much more compact compared to bows and the bolts carried by bandits. Since we lacked sufficient iron for mass-producing metal bolts, we temporarily had to use wooden ones, though this slightly reduced their effective range.

The twenty crossbows were distributed only among our own people; the five Centurion leaders also received some. The reason for the lack of mass production was twofold: first, we lacked the iron to forge more, and second, we hoped to further improve the design through practical use.

Standing in the underground treasury of the Protector Prince's Manor, facing this sea of iron, my heart nearly leaped into my throat. Over the dynasties, the Shuangcheng Kingdom had exchanged untold amounts of grain with the Jin Kingdom for iron coins. But due to the absence of a banking system, these coins were slowly hoarded by the wealthy, causing the circulating supply of iron currency to dwindle, which in turn increased its value. The rising value of the iron coins made those holding vast sums even more reluctant to part with them, creating a vicious cycle. The scene before me was a living testament to this: people sustained by public funds were unwilling to invest in business, allowing the wealth accumulated over centuries to sit dormant. Due to poor preservation techniques and the high impurity content of these coins, countless thousands had rotted over the past few centuries.

Hutong gave me no time for contemplation. He instructed the guards overseeing the vault, "Send men to retrieve twenty sacks of iron coins. Have them delivered to the Zhao Residence on Ginkgo Alley shortly."

Hutong pointed to the billions of coins in the vault and said to me, "Divine Doctor Zhao, if you can alleviate my father's suffering, I will give you another hundred thousand iron coins. The Protector Prince's Manor lacks nothing in terms of wealth."

If the Protector Prince’s Manor possessed such riches, surely the Chi Prince’s Manor possessed even more? Perhaps the reserves of these Eight Princes alone were enough to equip a formidable army. If the Jin Kingdom was rushing to mint iron coins, let them continue. Sending coins was simpler than obtaining iron ore, and it saved us the trouble of smelting.

Back at the residence, Linglong and I sat in the main hall, staring blankly at the twenty sacks of iron coins. In the eyes of the wealthy, this was less valuable than gravel. Linglong sighed for some unknown reason and asked me, "Master, do you still intend to destroy these to forge crossbows?"

I asked, "Are you feeling sentimental about it?"

Linglong replied, "Yes, these were exchanged for our precious medicines. I must remind you, we have very little of those rare medicines left. I suggest that for the sake of your Imperial Physician status, you should cease these kinds of house calls. Otherwise, if you use all the medicine just to earn money, what will you do when the Emperor or the Empress or some other vital person falls ill?"

I opened the medicine chest and glanced inside; most of the various medicines were nearly depleted. "You make a very good point. Since we've earned quite a bit this time, I think we'll pause the plan to melt coins for crossbows for now. I've already sent Ah Mao to various regions to acquire scrap iron; we can take our time. Moreover, I’ve instructed them to keep an eye out for copper mines. If we can find copper ore, we can abandon iron and refine copper instead." Linglong nodded and pointed to the twenty sacks of iron coins on the floor, asking, "Then what about these?"

"Move them back to the Imperial Stable Command. I need to discuss with Ma Xiaoda how to disrupt Zhang Guan's plan for tomorrow. We must stop him from continuing to harass Xu Chen."

Linglong said, "Then let Brother Da Li Wan send men to escort them. I will accompany you to the palace."

The old steward suddenly entered the hall and reported to me, "Master, a servant from Minister Wan of the Ministry of Revenue has delivered a letter for your review. The messenger is waiting in the side room for your reply."

I coughed, letting Linglong take the letter. Although she had been studying diligently lately, time was limited, and she still couldn't read many Shuangcheng characters. Linglong unfolded the letter, read it quickly, and said, "Master, tomorrow is the day for the monthly drill of the Zhongdu Guard. Wan Lichai invites you to the inner city drill ground to watch the soldiers practice. The letter says the spectacle will be magnificent, a rare sight for ordinary people."

I thought to myself, if the Zhongdu Guard has its monthly drill tomorrow, Zhang Guan shouldn't have time to bother Xu Chen. Wan Lichai's concubine is only eighteen but has already borne him a son. My assistance in delivering the baby was minimal, yet she still paid a consultation fee of one hundred fifty thousand iron coins. Although this fellow had previously withheld grain from the Imperial Stable Command, it wasn't worth offending him over such a matter. I had no idea about the fighting strength of the Zhongdu Guard, the Imperial Forest Army. If they were drilling, it was an opportunity I shouldn't miss.

With that thought, I told the old steward, "Please inform the messenger that I will visit Minister Wan at the Ministry of Revenue early tomorrow morning."

The old steward left. Linglong asked me, "Are you not going to see Ma Xiaoda? Wan Lichai is Pang Hu's godson. It makes sense for him to ask you for medical treatment, but why invite you to watch the Zhongdu Guard drill?"

"I'm puzzled too, which is why I accepted. Besides, we know nothing about the combat effectiveness of the Imperial Forest Army. If Ma Xiaoda truly intends for me to help him, a conflict with the Imperial Forest Army is inevitable sooner or later, so I must ascertain their capabilities. There's no need to find Ma Xiaoda to disrupt Zhang Guan's plan. If tomorrow is indeed the Zhongdu Guard's monthly drill, Zhang Guan certainly won't be able to bother Xu Chen. Perhaps the drill schedule was moved up, which is why Zhang Guan chose this time—it conveniently helps us."

The next morning, beneath the West Gate of the inner city, at the training ground of the Zhongdu Guard of the Imperial Forest Army.

The four companies of the Guard each had their own training grounds in the outer city, with staggered monthly drill dates. The five companies’ drill dates had to be deliberately separated; otherwise, if all five drilled simultaneously, there would be no one left to guard the city. Even so, only five thousand men were participating in the drill today. If twenty thousand were to appear at once, even this large drill ground would be insufficient. Although the bulk of the troops were absent, the officers were all present. I also saw Zhang Guan. He was fully equipped in thick heavy armor, looking quite imposing.

The West Gate Tower of the inner city served as the viewing stand. Since these monthly drills had been held for centuries, the populace was accustomed to them, and the court paid little attention. Apart from Wan Lichai and myself, no one else came to observe.

Wan Lichai was a stout man, not very tall, appearing listless and lacking energy. His most common habit was constantly fiddling with the iron ring on his right finger. The ring was utterly transparent, and its material seemed unusual, somewhat resembling stainless steel from Earth.

Wan Lichai chuckled and said to me, "Divine Doctor Zhao, I must thank you again for taking care of my beloved concubine so she could safely give birth to a son. Yesterday, I accidentally learned that the Zhongdu Guard's schedule was temporarily adjusted for a monthly drill. I realized that since Divine Doctor Zhao has been residing deep in the mountains of Feiyu County, you must have never witnessed this spectacle of Shuangcheng. Thus, I took the liberty of inviting you here, first, to observe the military might of our Shuangcheng Kingdom, and second, so I can host a banquet at noon to thank Divine Doctor Zhao for your assistance last time."

Zhang Shouren, the Commander of the Zhongdu Guard, along with the two Deputy Commanders and two Generals, also stood on the gate tower. However, they seemed intentionally intent on creating private space for Wan Lichai and me, standing far away, avoiding conversation, and constantly issuing orders to the runners. Flag signals were virtually non-existent among them; all commands were relayed via messengers. This, perhaps, was a result of long years without war leading to a lack of motivation for reform.

I replied humbly, "Minister Wan, you are too polite. As a newcomer to Shuangcheng, I am unfamiliar with everything here. It is you seniors who have shown me such tolerance. Minister Wan, please do not use words like 'thank you' in the future."

Wan Lichai laughed heartily, which made me feel a bit uneasy, as I had received a substantial fee without offering much assistance. Wan Lichai continued, "Good, Divine Doctor Zhao is a straightforward man. What do you think of the Zhongdu Guard's martial bearing?"

I leaned forward to look down. The five thousand men were arranged in five large square formations, each large square composed of ten smaller ones. The first two large squares held men armed with long-handled sabers; their posture indeed looked very dashing. The two formations behind them were archers, equipped with standard bows. However, their arrows were likely iron-tipped—I knew this from frequently entering the inner city. The final formation carried single sabers; the style resembled the Embroidered Spring Sabers used by the Ming Dynasty Jinyiwei in films, though the blades were slightly narrower and thinner. Nevertheless, I preferred to call them Embroidered Spring Sabers.

I answered Wan Lichai, "Good, the momentum is quite impressive. This formation seems designed to counter horse bandits."

Wan Lichai gave me a thumbs-up. "Divine Doctor Zhao is truly astute. Not only are you skilled in medicine and lecturing, but you also understand military matters. The long handle of the saber is suitable for striking horse legs, while the archers in the center provide coverage from the front and back. If any bandits slip past the saber formation and the archers, the final blade formation is there to deal with them."

I smiled, "However, Shuangcheng is far inland, distant from the Wanma Kingdom. Are those horse bandits willing to travel thousands of miles across mountains and rivers to attack? If this method were for training border troops, it might be acceptable. But I have witnessed the speed and cruelty of horse bandits. A long-handled saber is better suited for long-range or upward strikes, but it is unwieldy to wield, and the quality of the blades is so poor they will likely warp after hacking through just a few horse legs. This method expends a thousand to harm the enemy by eight hundred. I believe that before Shuangcheng possesses its own cavalry, it would be best to consider other methods for dealing with horse bandits."

Wan Lichai managed a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Heh heh, Divine Doctor Zhao's insights are truly unique. I admire you. A talent like yours should be heavily utilized by the court, but alas, the current Emperor..."

Wan Lichai stopped mid-sentence. I knew he hadn't invited me here merely to watch the Zhongdu Guard drill, nor was it simply for a lunch banquet. According to Ma Da and Ma Er from the Imperial Stable Command, Wan Lichai, a man in his forties, had actually taken Pang Hu as his adoptive father. Setting aside his shamelessness, his loyalty to Pang Hu was evident. His sigh of sympathy for me now must have an ulterior motive, certainly planned by Pang Hu from behind the scenes.

I responded to Wan Lichai, "Minister Wan exaggerates. I am unworthy and incompetent. It is already a great fortune that the Emperor values and employs me; I dare not ask for more."

Wan Lichai sighed deliberately again, then said to me, "Why should Divine Doctor Zhao belittle himself? To be frank, it is not just I who feels it is unfair for you; my adoptive father, Grand Tutor Pang, feels the same way. He intends to strongly recommend you for a position in the Ministry of Revenue. I wonder if Divine Doctor Zhao would be willing to share some of Grand Tutor Pang's burdens?"

It was clear Pang Hu intended to win me over. I intentionally frowned, "So Grand Tutor Pang still cares for me? But previously, I was implicated in a case at the Feiying Prefecture and seem to have offended Grand Tutor Pang. How dare I be reckless now?"

Wan Lichai scoffed, "Tch, what's the big deal? That brat Cai Hua is just prone to making mountains out of molehills. He's just a mere servant in a manor; we could have covered it up easily, but he found excuses to stir up trouble. Grand Tutor Pang is already very displeased and has warned Cai Hua about this matter. I doubt he would dare defy Grand Tutor Pang's wishes to trouble you again. Moreover, since everyone will be working together from now on, why would Cai Hua risk internal strife over one servant?"

What should I do? I panicked momentarily. Because of my earlier case with Cai Hua, and the confrontation I had with Pang Hu in the main hall when I presented the escape pod, I never expected him to try and recruit me. Based on my strength previously, I wasn't even worth Pang Hu's attention; it must be that my reputation from healing people everywhere recently has become too conspicuous.

If I pretended to agree, Ma Xiaoda might be displeased with me. If I refused, I might officially become Pang Hu's enemy, and fighting him with my current strength was impossible. Therefore, I could only stall for time, at least until I could discuss the matter with Ma Xiaoda before making a decision.

"Minister Wan, I appreciate your kind intentions, and I am deeply grateful for Grand Tutor Pang's favor. However, this matter is significant, and I need some time to consider before giving you a definitive answer."

Wan Lichai continued with his strained smile, "No matter, no matter. It is only natural for you to deliberate carefully. However, within the court, besides the Left and Right Chancellors, are there any who are not my adoptive father Grand Tutor Pang's men? Heh heh, so... Divine Doctor Zhao is an intelligent man and surely understands the necessary trade-offs. Heh heh. Let's not discuss this for now and watch the drill."

With a series of commands, the five square formations began their exercise. Shouts erupted across the field, their movements synchronized and orderly, quite visually appealing. However, there was no killing intent in the faces of these soldiers; instead, they reeked strongly of wine and lust. It seemed doubtful whether these emperor's elite troops could actually fight effectively.

At some unknown point, the morning court adjourned, and some civil and military officials leaving the city came to the side of the gate tower to watch the excitement. They seemed to be discussing the court affairs of the day. One said, "Alas, what method did the Emperor think of? Cutting men's dongs—isn't that wicked?"

Another replied, "Stop talking. If you were the Emperor and had such a brilliant plan, would you not use it? Besides, it’s not cutting our dongs; it's only cutting those miscellaneous servants within the palace. I think it's good riddance. How many beautiful palace maids have they defiled? I've long held resentment. This time, severing their equipment, let's see if they can still cause trouble! How can the deep palace allow such scoundrels to run wild?"

"Will it kill them?"

"Didn't the Emperor say? It's not an immediate order to cut them all off. The Ministry of Rites will test a batch first. If it works, they will gradually replace all the servants who still have their dongs."

I was stunned. What was happening? Were they trying to institute eunuchs? Could it be that Ma Xiaoda, during our drinking session the other day, asked me something and then relayed it to Ma Da? Ma Da, hearing his son's suggestion, thought it was a way to eliminate chaos in the palace, so they brought it up for discussion and implementation today? This... wasn't this happening because I caused them to lose their dongs?