Amidst the grateful cries of the refugees, the group continued its journey towards Luoyang.
The journey was dusty, and there were many refugees along the way.
Upon entering Luoyang, Zhang Shihao noticed that there were no refugees in the city, and even beggars were few.
Many young masters were dressed in splendid clothes, riding fine horses.
By the roadside, some were betting on cricket fights, shouting, “Bite it to death, bite it to death!”
Even courtesans stood at their doors, calling out, “Come in, sir, come in! Sir, you haven’t visited Xiao Cui in two days, Xiao Cui misses you!”
Inside Luoyang city, it was ancient and bustling.
The city's interior and exterior were like two different worlds.
The First Prince had returned to the palace.
The news quietly spread throughout Luoyang.
As the First Prince of the Great Han Empire, whose mother was the current Empress, Liu Bian’s return to Luoyang was undoubtedly significant news for all factions in Luoyang.
Zhang Shihao didn't know what impact it had caused.
He only knew that he had been rewarded again.
In the Imperial Palace, Changle Palace’s main hall.
“Empress, Xiao Haozi, you’ve finally returned. Without the Empress and your sleep-aid incense, I couldn’t sleep well at all last night.”
“However, I heard that Xiao Haozi, you also cured the First Prince. Excellent, you should be generously rewarded!”
Inside the main hall, Emperor Liu Hong glanced at the timid and unharmed First Prince Liu Bian, then said to Empress He Lian and Zhang Shihao with a joyful expression.
“Xiao Haozi didn’t do much, he just saw that the First Prince’s condition was severe. Xiao Haozi believes he knows a bit of medicine, so naturally, he couldn’t stand by and do nothing.”
Zhang Shihao quickly cupped his hands to Liu Hong, speaking righteously.
Empress He Lian, seeing Liu Hong’s dislike for Liu Bian, sighed slightly.
However, she then forced a smile onto her delicate face and said charmingly:
“Your Majesty must reward Xiao Haozi handsomely. Xiao Haozi not only saved Bian’er, but he also possesses truly divine medical skills! In my opinion, he’s even more miraculous than the Imperial Physicians in the palace.”
“All the Imperial Physicians were helpless regarding Bian’er’s illness, but Xiao Haozi stepped forward to treat Bian’er. In less than an hour, Bian’er’s condition had fully recovered, he could even get out of bed! It stunned all the Imperial Physicians. Your Majesty, isn’t that miraculous?”
Listening to Empress He Lian speak on Zhang Shihao’s behalf, Liu Hong laughed heartily, saying:
“Haha, excellent, excellent. I heard that as soon as the Imperial Physicians returned to the palace, they rushed to me to beg for forgiveness, saying they wanted to resign from their Imperial Physician posts. It seems Xiao Haozi’s medical skills are truly remarkable.”
Liu Hong clicked his tongue in wonder, scrutinizing Zhang Shihao, his eyes filled with goodwill.
Although he didn’t particularly favor the First Prince Liu Bian, preferring his younger son Liu Xie instead.
Nevertheless, it couldn’t be denied that Liu Bian was one of his two sons, and the elder one at that.
Liu Bian was seriously ill, and even though he hadn't gone to see him, he was still concerned.
Zhang Shihao stepping forward to save Liu Bian truly delighted Liu Hong.
“Your Majesty exaggerates. Xiao Haozi merely prepared medicine according to the ‘Bian Que’s Medical Classic’ he learned in childhood. He dares not claim credit.”
Zhang Shihao, hearing Liu Hong’s great joy, felt quite happy and expectant inside, but spoke modestly.
“A good ‘dares not claim credit’! However, from the sleep-aid incense and the matter of saving the First Prince, it seems you, Xiao Haozi, have truly inherited Bian Que’s legacy.”
Seeing Zhang Shihao’s modesty, Liu Hong was even more satisfied. He then straightened his face and said, “Xiao Haozi, listen to your reward!”
“Xiao Haozi has rendered meritorious service in saving the First Prince, and has also inherited the legacy of the divine physician Bian Que. His medical skills are extraordinary and deserve reward. I hereby appoint Xiao Haozi as Xiao Huangmen, grant him the position of Imperial Physician, to oversee all Imperial Physicians, and bestow upon him one hundred gold!”
Hearing the rewards, Zhang Shihao was immediately somewhat surprised.
This bestowal was indeed considerable.
Xiao Huangmen, in the Imperial Palace, was definitely a mid-to-upper-level eunuch.
Above Xiao Huangmen, there were only the Ten Court Attendants.
That is to say, among all the eunuchs in the Imperial Palace, only ten Court Attendants could outrank him.
Being granted the position of Imperial Physician, overseeing all Imperial Physicians—this was even more exaggerated and something Zhang Shihao hadn't expected.
The Imperial Physician, that was the highest official among all the Imperial Physicians in the palace.
In other words, all the Imperial Physicians in the palace were now under his command?
And one hundred gold.
In the Han Dynasty, “one gold” was equivalent to “ten thousand coins,” so one hundred gold was one million coins.
In the Western Han, 100 coins were roughly equivalent to 30 yuan in modern purchasing power; in the Eastern Han, about 20 yuan in purchasing power.
Awarding one hundred gold meant that Liu Hong, with a wave of his hand, directly awarded two hundred thousand.
For Liu Hong, who valued money like his life, this was truly rare.
Zhang Rang, who was serving nearby, heard Liu Hong’s bestowal upon Zhang Shihao, and his eyelids twitched rapidly. He stepped forward, cupped his hands to Liu Hong, and said:
“Your Majesty, isn’t this reward a bit too generous? Xiao Huangmen and one hundred gold are understandable, but Imperial Physician, controlling the Imperial Physicians, I fear the Imperial Physicians might not submit…”
Zhang Rang’s voice seemed a little hesitant, and the main hall of Changle Palace instantly fell silent.
Liu Hong, however, waved his hand dismissively, saying:
“Oh, what kind of talk is that? These Imperial Physicians, at critical moments, their medical skills are not strong. I've long grown tired of them. Now Xiao Haozi has inherited the divine physician Bian Que’s legacy, and his medical skills are extraordinary and sacred. Are you still afraid they won't submit?”
“Your Majesty is brilliant!” Hearing Liu Hong’s rather impatient words, Zhang Rang immediately stopped speaking, merely giving Zhang Shihao a deep look.
“Xiao Haozi thanks Your Majesty for the generous reward, and will certainly not bring shame upon Your Majesty!”
Zhang Shihao quickly expressed his gratitude.
Empress He Lian’s exquisite and beautiful face also showed a smile.
At this moment, Liu Hong seemed to finally remember his son, Liu Bian, and said with authority:
“Bian’er, I heard you want to return to the palace?”
“The Taoist temple is not as prosperous as the Imperial Palace, nor does it have as good food. Bian’er doesn’t want to go back. I beg Father Emperor not to send Bian’er back again.”
Upon hearing Liu Hong’s question, despite being very afraid of Liu Hong, five-year-old Liu Bian still quickly expressed his thoughts in a low voice.
As if he was terrified that Liu Hong would send him back again.
However, as Liu Bian’s words fell, Empress He Lian’s previously smiling face instantly turned pale.
Zhang Shihao also raised an eyebrow.
This First Prince truly seemed a bit unintelligent!
No wonder in history, Liu Hong disliked Liu Bian and said that Liu Bian was timid by nature, frivolous in his actions, lacking both the dignity of an emperor and the temperament of a monarch.
Sure enough, at this moment, Liu Hong’s face had almost turned black. He waved his hand at the Empress beside him and said:
“Since Bian’er wants to stay in the Imperial Palace, let him stay in the palace.”
“Yes!”
Empress He Lian forced a smile and bowed to Liu Hong.
That evening, Liu Hong had dinner with Empress He Lian and Prince Liu Bian in Changle Palace.
However, after dinner, the sky gradually darkened.
Liu Hong’s gaze towards Empress He Lian also became increasingly unrestrained, and he had Prince Bian taken away.
“I’m staying with the Empress tonight. Xiao Haozi, quickly, light your sleep-aid incense. Go, go, all of you get out!”
Liu Hong said to Zhang Shihao on one side, while on the other, he drove out the palace maids and eunuchs in the main hall of Changle Palace.
“This…” Hearing Liu Hong wanted to stay overnight in Changle Palace again, Empress He Lian was puzzled.
Although Liu Hong used to favor her, he wouldn’t be so impatient, nor would he stay overnight with her consecutively.
Coming once every half a month was already very good.
Not to mention, like this now.
Empress He Lian’s beautiful eyes couldn’t help but look at Zhang Shihao. Undoubtedly, Liu Hong’s change was because of Zhang Shihao.
Zhang Shihao once again took out a plate of sleep-aid incense and lit it under Liu Hong’s expectant gaze.
The miraculous scene unfolded again.
All the insects in the room scurried out. Seeing this miraculous scene again, Liu Hong, Empress He Lian, Zhang Rang, and others couldn't help but be shocked.
“Your Majesty, your servant takes his leave!”
Liu Hong waved his hand, his face flushed, and said:
“Everyone, get out! Don’t get in the way here!”
Zhang Shihao ignored the slow-moving Zhang Rang beside him and directly exited the room.
Zhang Rang’s pace was not fast; in fact, as he walked, he kept turning back, suspiciously observing Liu Hong and Empress He Lian’s reactions.
As soon as Zhang Rang stepped out the door, he saw Zhang Shihao glance at him, then walk away without looking back.
Zhang Rang let out a sigh of relief, looking at Zhang Shihao’s retreating figure, and his brows furrowed slightly:
“Why does this Zhang Shihao feel somewhat sinister to me, no matter how I look at him?”
Zhang Shihao didn't know what Zhang Rang thought of him.
Seeing that Zhang Rang didn't linger too long in the Empress’s bedchamber and came out, Zhang Shihao didn't care anymore and went straight back to his own quarters.
Zhang Shihao left.
However, inside the Empress’s bedchamber, it was far from peaceful.