Zhao Hao was waiting outside. When he heard Longqing calling him, he hurried in and kowtowed.

"It's been half a year. Have you done what you promised me?" Longqing asked expectantly.

"Your Majesty, it has been done." Zhao Hao quickly lifted up a heavy wooden box.

Long Qing waved his hand, and Meng Chong, who had just returned from Wudang Mountain, hurriedly and carefully took it with both hands.

"I know that my life was saved by you and the two miracle doctors. I have to thank you very much." Longqing said to Zhao Hao with a smile again.

Feng Bao on the side read out three imperial edicts, one of which was to confer the title of "Medical Saint" on Wan Mi Zhai, the director of Jiangnan Hospital, and to give him the fifth-rank crown and belt, and to grant him the title of He'an Doctor, and to allow one of his sons to be the Shangbao Cheng.

The other one named Li Shizhen the "Medicine Saint", also bestowed upon him a fifth-rank crown and belt, appointed him as Doctor of Bao'an, and allowed one of his sons to be made Shangbao Cheng.

Finally, Zhao Hao was rewarded and promoted to the 4th rank of Shaoqing of Taichang Temple, commander of Siyi Hall, and in charge of maritime affairs and other matters at sea.

In short, from now on, everything on the sea will be under his control...

However, Master Zhao did not dare to obey the order, because a son's rank could not exceed that of his father, and his father was only the fifth-rank Tongzhi of Chaozhou, acting as the prefect.

"Mr. Zhao, you don't know that the emperor has promoted your Excellency to the rank of Junior Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, a fourth-rank official, to serve as the daily lecturer at the imperial lectures," Feng Bao said with a smile.

"I thank the Lord for his grace on behalf of my father." Zhao Hao quickly kowtowed to Longqing.

"Your father was the first number one scholar selected by me, and I wanted to make great use of him." Longqing glanced at Ning An, who was unable to hide his joy, with a strange expression, and said quietly, "But he is a dog... He has such a bad temper that he dared to beat up a senior official of the court. I had to send him away to temper his temper, but I didn't expect him to do something like that... It's a pity that I can't use him anymore, so come back and assist the new emperor."

In fact, according to Longqing's personality, it would be better for Zhao Shouzheng, that bastard, to never return to the capital. But before he abdicated, he distributed gifts to everyone, even giving Master Gao a death-free certificate. How could he miss out on his precious sister?

Ning An only had this one request, how could he not satisfy it? Anyway, if there was any trouble in the future, it would have nothing to do with him...

After everyone had given their instructions, Longqing asked them to leave, leaving only Meng Chong, who had learned the art of projection, to project the film for him.

Silence returned to the Jujing Pavilion, and suddenly a melodious and cheerful piano sound was heard. It was the horse-head fiddle played by the court musicians.

Amid the sound of the horseshoe-harp, a green grassland was projected onto the snow-white curtain.

Amid the blue sky and green grass, a red horse is approaching from afar.

When he got closer, he could see clearly that the person on the horse was a Hu girl wearing Mongolian clothes. She was charming and seductive, with a hot body, exactly like the woman in the portrait.

It's just that the person in the portrait is dead, while the person on the screen is smiling sweetly, lively and agile, and even winks at Longqing and calls him "Your Majesty"...

"My beloved, you are indeed alive..." Looking at her charming appearance dancing on the grassland, Longqing burst into tears and reached out to touch the screen.

That was the person he missed day and night and loved deeply...

That was the flower that bloomed for him, and withered at the most beautiful moment. Who would remember that she had been in this world?

"My beloved, I, I will never forget you..." Longqing let his tears flow, his eyes gradually blurred. Then he murmured in a different tone: "Ping'er, my sister, I can't bear to leave you in my heart..."

Even if the world forgets me, I will forget myself...

~~

The next day, the imperial edict of abdication was issued to the whole country, shocking everyone. No one expected that Longqing was so seriously ill that he had to replace the ten-year-old prince as emperor.

How can a ten-year-old emperor govern the country?

But the grieving people thought that Emperor Longqing, who was in his thirties, had never governed the country...

Thinking in this way, it seemed that it didn’t matter how old the emperor was...so people were not so worried.

As the Ministry of Rites, Taichang Temple, Honglu Temple and other government offices began to make intensive preparations for the abdication hall, people's attention completely shifted from the old emperor to the new emperor.

Soon, the Imperial Astronomical Observatory announced that the 26th of this month was an auspicious day, and decided to hold the abdication ceremony on that day.

At this time, it was less than ten days before Longqing decided to abdicate.

This was a grand abdication ceremony that had never been held in the Ming Dynasty. Even in history, there was only one such ceremony that could be used as a reference, but the officials were able to set the etiquette rules and make preparations in such a short time. This efficiency was incredibly high.

I don't know if these government offices are too lazy or if there is some special force that is pushing them to perform beyond their capabilities...

On the 25th, Duke Cheng led Duke Ying and Duke Ding to offer sacrifices to the Heaven, Earth and the State.

The officials also began to set up the ceremonial guards in a hurry. The throne of the emperor was set up in the Huangji Hall, with a treasure table in the middle, and long tables on the left and right of the hall. There was an imperial edict table on the east pillar, a memorial table on the west pillar, and other items were placed in the north and south. At the entrance of the hall, there was a worship seat for the successor emperor, and a worship mat was laid...

The people of Beijing also started to get busy. Every family prepared incense tables, candlesticks, flowers and fine wine, in preparation for the celebration tomorrow.

Although they had experienced a coronation ceremony six years ago, the emperor had just passed away and everything was wrapped in white cloth and all rituals were simple. There was no festive atmosphere.

Zhangyimen Inner Street, the main thoroughfare for southern provinces to enter and exit the capital, is the most prosperous place in the outer city. At this time, it is decorated with lights and colorful decorations, and the hawking of goods is deafening. This is because the shrewd merchants have sensitively grasped this business opportunity and are desperately trying to promote their goods.

Some people just think they are noisy...

An inconspicuous mule cart was trying to leave the city, but it was stuck on the street for more than half an hour and had not yet gotten out of Zhangyi Gate.

The old servant accompanying the carriage sighed. He was used to the ceremonial guards and gongs clearing the way wherever he went, so that everything could go smoothly.

The old woman in the car was sweating from the heat and had a lot of complaints. Only the old man with a beard like a steel needle and eyes like copper bells said nothing. He just stared at the busy street outside through the screen window, and no one knew what he was thinking.

He turned out to be Gao Gong, the former Prime Minister of the Cabinet, Grand Secretary of the Zhongji Palace, and Junior Tutor who had just retired.

Gao Gong had always told others that he would wait until next month when it was cooler before setting off, but he actually played a sneaky trick and asked Gao Chao to find a mule cart that no one knew about. He took only some dry food and a change of clothes, and he and his wife got on the cart and quietly left Shichang Street.

He did not notify anyone, but only left a letter for Gao Cai in the house, asking him to find a way to send his books back to Gaojiazhuang, and then sell the house for a thousand taels of silver and send it to Zhaojia Hutong as a substitute for his elder brother's subsequent medical expenses.

"Master, I'm not saying anything bad about you. The Emperor has granted you permission to return home by express post, so why are you making things so difficult for yourself? The Emperor also told you to wait until autumn to set off, so why do you insist on leaving early? Aren't you asking for trouble?" Madam Gao complained unhappily:

Gao Gong said with a straight face: "When so many people come to see me off, ordinary people will also watch along the way. I will feel embarrassed!"

"There's nothing shameful about it. You retired on your own initiative." Madam Gao was unconvinced and said, "Besides, this isn't the first time. Why didn't you feel ashamed last time?"

"Because five years ago, I knew I would come back, and they knew it too!" Gao Gong's face twisted, and he said in a muffled voice: "Do you know how many people I have offended? How many people want to see me laugh this time? Who knows, some people might even throw stones at me!"

"Ah, you work day and night, and this is the result?" Mrs. Gao was stunned.

"I don't want to argue with you today, so stop stirring up trouble here!" Gao Gong was so angry that he blew his beard and glared.

"Oh..." Mrs. Gao didn't dare to say anything when she thought of how terrible he was when he got angry.

~~

The carriage finally drove out of Zhangyi Gate, headed south along the official road, and crossed Liuli Bridge at noon.

It was late June, and it was still very hot at noon. It hadn't rained for nearly a month, and there was a mirage on the road. Not to mention the people, even the big blue mule pulling the cart was so hot that its head was drooping and its ears were drooping.

Gao Chao couldn't stand it any longer, so he discussed with Gao Gong, "Why don't we go take a rest under the shade of a tree by the roadside and wait until the sun isn't so strong before setting off again?"

Gao Gong wanted to get away from the capital as quickly as possible, but when he looked at his wife who was about to have heatstroke, he had no choice but to nod in agreement.

The driver felt as if he had been pardoned. He and Gao Chao pulled the mule cart to the roadside under a poplar tree to seek shade.

When the carriage stopped, Gao Chao quickly found a ventilated place to put down the stool, and helped the old lady get off the car and sit down.

When he came back and asked the master to get out of the car, Gao Gong refused to get out, saying that he was fine in the car.

In fact, his waist is almost broken...

But this place is too close to the capital, and it is also a major thoroughfare in and out of the capital. Gao Gong was worried that someone from the government office might pass by and recognize him.

He said he was open-minded, but in fact he was more shy than the bride and wished he could find a veil to cover himself.

Gao Chao couldn't persuade the master, so he had to get a kettle for him and handed him a pancake that he had baked last night.

Gao Gong sat in the carriage, drinking water and biting the pancakes one by one. But he couldn't swallow it, so he stuffed his mouth full, choking and making his eyes red...

He couldn't help but lean his head against the wall of the car, feeling as miserable as a dog.

Just as he was complaining to himself, he suddenly heard a horseman stop not far away, and the rider asked loudly, "Excuse me, is your master the Duke of Xinzheng?"

Gao Chao was enjoying a pancake with meat sauce. Upon hearing what was said, he ran to the car and lifted the curtain. He saw that his old master's cheeks were bulging like a squirrel.

Oops, I forgot to give the old master the meat sauce...

"Master?" Gao Chao quickly diverted attention and said, "I was recognized after all."

"Yes." Gao Gong nodded, clapped his hands on his cheeks, swallowed the food in his mouth, and restored his dignity as prime minister, saying: "Then there is no need to hide your head and show your tail."

"Yes." Gao Chao understood, and got off the carriage and said to the knight, "It is my master. What can I do for you?"

"My old master heard that Lord Xinzheng had retired with honor, so he came to see him off." The visitor answered loudly, "My old master has prepared a banquet in Zhenkong Temple in front. Lord Xinzheng and his wife are welcome to come."

"What's your master's surname?" Gao Chao asked in a deep voice.

"My surname is Zhao!" the man replied.

P.S. I don't know why, but I have the illusion that I'm going to finish the book today. Of course it's an illusion, I still have to write a long story. The next chapter will reveal the grudge between Gao Gong and Zhao Liben!