Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

At the same time, in the Imperial City of Kyoto.

Inside the imperial study, the air was thick with the scent of sandalwood incense. The young emperor sat upright on the spacious dragon throne, his feet barely touching the ground. He listened intently, his small body leaning forward slightly with excitement. Left Prime Minister Zhao Mingcheng, hunched over the imperial desk, recounted the recent events in Gaoyang County, particularly the whimsical ideas and deeds of Zhang Jingwei.

From the clever treatment of fraudsters in Zuixianlou, the incredible military operations, the scale of Gaoyang County, the water conservancy projects currently under construction, and the strange knowledge called "science"... Zhao Mingcheng's words were plain, but he described Zhang Jingwei's talents vividly.

The young emperor trembled slightly upon hearing this, not out of fear, but out of extreme excitement and amazement. His eyes widened, gleaming with disbelief. He slammed his hand on the imperial desk, though there was no sound, and exclaimed in admiration, "He truly is an immortal! This... how could any mortal do this?"

Zhao Mingcheng stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "Your Majesty, you are absolutely right. Even more remarkable is that all of this young man's philosophies revolve around people's livelihoods and the economy. His thoughts and ideas are all deeply connected to the well-being of the common people. At such a young age, he has already achieved such pragmatic and beneficial deeds. This is truly a great blessing for our country. The younger generation is truly formidable!"

The young emperor pressed on eagerly, his eyes filled with curiosity: "Granduncle just said that the kind of knowledge he holds is called...?"

"Science!" Zhao Mingcheng uttered these two words clearly, as if they were of great weight.

"Science... science..." The little emperor chewed on the word again and again, his eyes shining brighter. "Great talent! Truly a gift from heaven! Such a great man, I... I really want to summon him to my side immediately! To listen to his teachings day and night!"

Zhao Mingcheng heard this, but slowly shook his head, his expression becoming solemn: "Your Majesty, absolutely not."

"Why?" The young emperor's face was filled with confusion and reluctance. "Such a great talent shouldn't be buried in a mere county!"

"Your Majesty," Zhao Mingcheng said earnestly, "It is precisely because you value his talent and hope that he will continue to serve the country that you cannot place him in a high position just yet. A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind; a pile that stands out on the shore will be swept away by the current. A tall tree attracts the wind, and this old minister does not need to repeat to Your Majesty the truth. The current situation in the court is unclear, and the Empress Dowager's faction... is watching closely. Promoting him to the top of the government now would be like placing him on the fire, making him a target of public criticism."

The young emperor was intelligent and immediately understood the danger. A trace of worry and frustration, unbecoming of his age, flashed across his face. "Yes... I... I understand." He was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his head with a glimmer of hope. "Then... how about I grant him a red seal and an iron certificate? It would grant him immunity from death for generations. That would at least keep him safe, right?"

Zhao Mingcheng shook his head again, his eyes deep. "Your Majesty, the treacherous nature of officialdom and the unpredictable nature of human nature cannot be simply resolved with a golden medal of immunity from death. Often, the very grace of Your Majesty will only attract more jealousy and backstabbing, and may even lead to his death even faster because of this special gift. Grace can sometimes be a shackle."

After hearing this, the young emperor's shoulders slumped, his face filled with weakness. He murmured softly, his words carrying a hint of fatigue and oppression beyond his years: "I am already ten years old this year... but how long must I wait before I can truly break free from the cage of my mother... and her followers? Before I can make my own decisions and appoint whomever I wish?"

Zhao Mingcheng's heart trembled, and he quickly bowed. His voice was even lower, but it was filled with great solemnity: "Your Majesty, please be careful with your words! Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, the supreme ruler. All under heaven belongs to you, and all the people are your subjects. No one in this world can truly imprison you. All you need is time and patience."

The young emperor raised his head and looked at his most trusted minister, his eyes filled with resentment. "That's what I say... but such a living national hero is right before me, and I can't even promote him... What's the point of me being an emperor..."

Zhao Mingcheng looked at the little emperor's lost expression, took a step forward, and spoke in a softer, guiding voice, "Your Majesty may not be able to promote him to a high position immediately, but you may be able to 'hold' him in another way."

The young emperor's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked, "What method? Please, great uncle, give me some guidance!"

Zhao Mingcheng said slowly, "Zhang Jingwei wrote to me the other day, mentioning that his wife, the daughter of Northern Marquis Huangfu Changshui, was suffering from a serious gynecological illness that doctors were unable to cure. He begged me to see if I could find a renowned doctor in the capital."

Upon hearing this, the young emperor immediately said anxiously, "This is great news! Then send him a royal physician right away! Send the best royal physician! The head of the Imperial Hospital! Let him go in person!"

"Your Majesty," Zhao Mingcheng waved his hand slightly, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes. "Your kindness is indeed precious. But in my opinion, this matter cannot be cured 'with a single remedy,' at least... not too quickly. He needs to... 'keep it hanging.'"

The little emperor was confused at first, but then he suddenly realized and clapped his little hands gently: "I understand! I understand!" Disease is like a rein. If the royal family can control the treatment process, it is equivalent to holding the most effective line to bind Zhang Jingwei.

He immediately straightened his back, regaining some of his imperial dignity, and shouted to the eunuch who had been standing in the side hall with his hands hanging down, "Accompany!"

The old eunuch immediately stepped forward and bowed to receive the order: "The old servant is here."

The young emperor's voice was clear and clear, carrying an unquestionable command: "Go to the Imperial Hospital immediately and summon Li Yuanzheng to see me!"

"I obey your order." The old eunuch responded respectfully, lowered his head, and quickly left the imperial study.

Silence returned to the palace. The young emperor and Zhao Mingcheng exchanged a glance, their words speaking volumes. Sunlight streamed through the window panes, illuminating the imperial desk and the imperial scheme that began with care but ultimately ended in checks and balances.