Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The eyes of the assembled officials shifted to Li Yuanzhao.

He wore a smug expression, practically itching to cross his arms like he usually did!

Fang Zheng nodded at him approvingly.

Now that there were favorable results, it was best for the Crown Prince to announce them.

However, he would still need to explain things to His Majesty.

Seeing his son's demeanor, Emperor Jing couldn't help but frown and said: "Crown Prince, do not speak carelessly, speak plainly!"

Li Yuanzhao took a deep breath, steadying his mind. The opportunity to shine had arrived!

"Because the heavenly soldiers mentioned in the memorial are indeed real!"

"Moreover, these heavenly soldiers were trained by your son, and the tactics for attacking Yi Shun were also determined by your son!"

As soon as these words came out, the officials were in an uproar.

Emperor Jing was even more astonished: "What did you say?"

"Your son said that those so-called heavenly soldiers were trained by your son! And the hot air balloon mentioned in the memorial is what helped them ascend to the heavens."

"This thing was spearheaded by Lao Fang's Academy of Sciences."

"Although Yi Shun's terrain is complex, as long as we can attack from the sky, they can be said to be vulnerable!"

"Now, this memorial is the best evidence that your son's method has succeeded!"

The assembled officials collectively changed direction, looking at Fang Zheng with the eyes of hungry wolves.

Fang Zheng, feeling uncomfortable under their gazes, gave a sheepish smile and said: "What the Crown Prince said is indeed true. The Academy of Sciences does have a way to make people ascend to the heavens."

...

...

The hall fell into complete silence.

The atmosphere at this moment was extremely strange, with everyone's eyes shifting back and forth between Fang Zheng and Li Yuanzhao.

Emperor Jing said in disbelief: "Can fly... do you know what you're saying?"

Fang Zheng had seen this kind of reaction too many times.

Unless they actually saw the hot air balloon ascend to the sky, no one would believe it.

Fang Zheng coughed and said: "If Your Majesty and your colleagues would like to see it, then this subject can order someone to bring the thing here immediately."

"At that time, whether the good news from Yi Shun is true or false will be clear at a glance."

Emperor Jing nodded vigorously: "Immediately bring the thing to Us! Today's court session ends here. All of you, follow Us outside the hall to see the hot air balloon."

The originally normal court session was interrupted by this unexpected event.

Fang Zheng acted immediately, sending someone back to Dongjiao University to retrieve the hot air balloon.

There was no point in arguing. Just do it! Today, let the hot air balloon make a dazzling debut!

......

The armory of Dongjiao University had been completed during this period, and the hot air balloon was stored there, but it had never been publicly test-flown for secrecy reasons.

Not only was there the hot air balloon, but also Xiao Letian, the world's number one hot air balloon pilot, who was also invited to the palace.

When the red walls and green tiles of the palace first came into Xiao Letian's view, he felt dizzy.

The palace guards in exquisite attire beside him made him even more panicked.

It wasn't until he was dragged to the square in front of the main hall, looking at Emperor Jing in his dragon robe and the officials dressed in colorful clothes,

Xiao Letian's legs immediately stopped listening to him.

His knees softened, and he sat slumped on the ground, looking at the crowd in front of him with despair.

Fang Zheng quickly went up to help him, scolding in a low voice in Xiao Letian's ear: "Damn it! You're so useless! Kneel properly!"

Xiao Letian's mind buzzed, and he almost fainted.

The headmaster was scolding him!

And scolding him so harshly, was this still the headmaster he knew?

For a time, signs of a collapse in his faith began to appear...

The officials had been waiting in the square for a long time, and when they saw such a useless person suddenly appear, they all snickered.

Fang Zheng's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

He forcefully propped up Xiao Letian and dragged him in front of Emperor Jing, loudly saying: "Your Majesty, this person is the first junior college student of my Dongjiao University, the famous Xiao Letian in the capital."

"Today, let him demonstrate to Your Majesty how the hot air balloon flies."

"Xiao Xiao, quickly greet His Majesty!"

After saying that, Fang Zheng pinched Xiao Letian's armpits hard twice.

Xiao Letian winced in pain, bowed to Emperor Jing with sweat all over his head, and said stammeringly: "C-c-commoner Xiao Letian greets Your Majesty."

The officials kept shaking their heads, with undisguised mockery in their words.

"What's being spread in the city is too exaggerated. This junior college student isn't up to par."

"He's just a commoner, after all. Fang Zheng insisted on promoting him, so it's normal for him to be exposed now."

"Can such a person really fly into the sky?"

A look of great disappointment could not help but appear in Emperor Jing's eyes.

He nodded and said: "Don't be nervous. We heard from Qing Fang that you can control the hot air balloon. Come and demonstrate it to Us today. If you demonstrate well, there will be a reward. If you mess it up, We will not blame you."

Xiao Letian looked at Emperor Jing, his whole body trembling wildly.

The Emperor! The real Emperor! Right in front of him...

Fang Zheng frowned, pinched his armpit hard again, leaned close to his ear, and said in a low voice: "Junior college people, junior college spirit! Junior colleges are all superior people!"

"Look at that group of old fogeys over there, they still dare to laugh at us. We'll laugh at them in a while!"

"Xiao Xiao, you remember this for me. I called you here today, but I've entrusted the fate of the entire Dongjiao University into your hands. You must seize this opportunity!"

Old fogeys?

Xiao Letian's gaze slowly shifted to the officials.

Being with the Emperor, they should all be important ministers in the court, right... Headmaster Fang called them old fogeys?

Was that appropriate?

Xiao Letian shook his head hard, driving away those distracting thoughts, and said: "Don't worry, Headmaster, I definitely won't let you down."

Just then, Li Yuanzhao also approached with a smile.

"Xiao Letian, don't be nervous. Today's demonstration must be successful, just like we practiced before!"

Xiao Letian opened his mouth wide, looking at the bright robe on Li Yuanzhao's body, his thoughts began to dissipate again.

"Young Master Li? You...."

"In the palace, you must call him His Royal Highness the Crown Prince," Fang Zheng said with a smile.

Crown Prince!

Xiao Letian gasped.

The Crown Prince... that approachable, daring, and energetic Young Master Li was actually the Crown Prince?

"That's right, this Prince is the Crown Prince. Are you still nervous now?" Li Yuanzhao asked.

Xiao Letian looked at Li Yuanzhao's smiling face, the memories of working with him in the past began to churn, and a great courage suddenly rose in his chest.

"Not nervous anymore... Thank you, Your Royal Highness!"

Xiao Letian's mentality had gradually stabilized, and he walked towards the hot air balloon placed aside and began to debug it.

Emperor Jing and Fang Zheng stood together, and suddenly opened his mouth and said: "Zheng Yi, We still have many questions in Our heart."

"This subject also has many things to tell Your Majesty."

Emperor Jing nodded and said nothing more. The tacit understanding between the father-in-law and son-in-law had long existed.

Since Fang Zheng had said it, he would definitely give him an explanation later. No hurry!

Under Xiao Letian's command, the eunuchs present began to help him.

First, they inflated the balloon, and when it was almost inflated, they began to light the kerosene tank.

Seeing the raging fire burning in the kerosene tank,

Emperor Jing and the officials' hearts began to hang.

Before long, the hot air began to fill the inside of the sphere, and the part connected to the wicker basket was firmly tied to the stone railing.

Gradually, the hot air balloon began to float slowly... Seeing that it had actually left the ground!

Before everyone could be surprised, a figure quickly stepped forward and flipped into the basket.

Xiao Letian, who was still operating inside, was startled. It wasn't until he recognized the person that his heart settled down.

"Your Highness, why did you come in?"

......