Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

The thunderous sound of hooves echoing across the grasslands still reverberates amidst the heavy snow, and the harsh winter has not completely frozen the vibrant life surging beneath the northern lands.

The thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, Lunar New Year's Eve.

The solemn atmosphere of military life in Zhenbei City has been replaced by festive attire.

Every household has put up brand-new Spring Festival couplets on their doors and red paper-cuts on their windows.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of stewed meat, the sweetness of steamed cakes, and a warm and joyful atmosphere called "New Year".

The streets were crowded with people buying New Year's goods and visiting relatives and friends. Children dressed in new clothes chased and played in the snow, and the crackling of firecrackers added to the lively atmosphere.

This is the first truly peaceful and prosperous New Year's Eve since Hanyuan established its fiefdom.

With land deeds in hand, taxes are paid clearly, trade routes are unimpeded, granaries are full, and foreign enemies are subdued.

The people's faces beamed with genuine smiles, a smile of contentment with the present peace and stability, and a smile of hope for the future.

The Prince of Jingbei's residence was also brightly decorated.

But deep within the Prince's Mansion, in the Gewu Academy, a final test that seems out of place with the festive atmosphere, yet is closely related to it, is underway.

"Sir, the last three sets of the Seven-Colored Peony, Golden Chrysanthemum, and Milky Way waterfall designs are assembled and the fuses have been checked and found to be correct!"

A young craftsman, his face covered in soot but his eyes shining brightly, reported to Li Mo, the head of the chemical pharmaceutical department.

Li Mo rubbed his hands together, circling around the dozens of oddly shaped "firecrackers" carefully bound together with oiled paper and bamboo tubes, muttering to himself: "Seven and a half parts saltpeter, one part sulfur, one and a half parts charcoal, plus a little strontium salt, copper powder, iron powder... the proportions should be correct. The amount of propellant... hmm, the safety margin is sufficient. It's just the timing of the delay fuse..."

He picked up a long, thin fuse made of multiple layers of oiled paper and examined it closely under the light.

"Li Mo, are you not done yet?" Xiao Chen's voice came from the doorway.

He was not wearing royal robes today, but only a dark red brocade robe with cloud patterns, which made him look even more dashing.

Behind him followed Han Lie, Murong Xue, Wang Dashan, and other trusted confidants, all dressed in casual clothes and smiling.

"Your Highness!"

Li Mo was startled and quickly bowed. "Just one final check left! Your Highness, I dare to guarantee with my life that tonight's fireworks will be a spectacular sight!"

"What I desire is not sensationalism, but joy, peace, and the grandeur of a prosperous era!"

Xiao Chen patted Li Mo on the shoulder, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes as he looked at the strangely shaped fireworks.

One of the topics he posed to the Institute of Natural History was to explore the beauty of gunpowder beyond its use in killing.

Unexpectedly, this bookworm obsessed with explosions actually made a name for himself before the end of the year.

"Is everything ready?" Xiao Chen asked.

"Your Highness," the head steward of the Prince's residence bowed and said, "The 'Ten Thousand Families Banquet' is ready. A total of one thousand tables have been set up at the eight major restaurants in the city, the military camp canteen, and the gates of various government offices, with plenty of chicken, duck, fish, meat, seasonal vegetables, rice, noodles, and steamed buns. Han Yuan Zui has also been prepared in abundance. We await Your Highness's order to begin the banquet."

"it is good."

Xiao Chen nodded. "Pass down the order: at 3:45 PM, the city-wide banquet will begin! At 7:00 PM, at the North Gate tower, the people will celebrate together and enjoy the fireworks!"

"yes!"

The order was quickly relayed throughout the city.

The people were stunned at first, then burst into thunderous cheers!

The prince wants to eat with the common people and even set off "fireworks" that have never been seen before?!

This is simply an incredible blessing and a marvelous event!

At three quarters past dusk, as officials distributed banquets in various places struck gongs, Zhenbei City instantly transformed into a sea of ​​joy.

Families brought out their signature dishes and gathered at the temporary long table set up on the street.

In the barracks, the soldiers also enjoyed themselves with the civilians, eating large chunks of meat and drinking large bowls of wine.

Officials, artisans, merchants, farmers, soldiers, refugees... at this moment, their identities seemed to blur, leaving only the same smiling faces and the same blessings.

"Wishing Your Highness good health and longevity!"

May Hanyuan enjoy favorable weather and abundant harvests!

Wishing for an even better next year!

Blessings, laughter, clinking glasses, and children's playful noises intertwined to create a harmonious symphony of prosperity that was both incredibly noisy and incredibly moving.

Instead of sitting in the main hall of the Prince's mansion, Xiao Chen led Han Lie and the others into a street not far from the mansion. Amidst the excited, fearful, and incredibly enthusiastic gazes of the people, they casually found an empty table and sat down.

"Your Highness! This...this is unacceptable!" The old craftsmen and vendors at the table were so frightened that they almost knelt down.

"Today, there is only celebration, not the Prince." Xiao

Chen smiled and waved his hand, then picked up a piece of tenderly stewed mutton and put it in his mouth. "Mmm, delicious! Everyone, eat too, don't be shy!"

Seeing how approachable the prince was, the crowd gradually relaxed, and the atmosphere became even more lively.

Xiao Chen chatted with the old craftsman about his craft, discussed market prices with the vendors, and was even tugged at by a few bold children who asked for New Year's money. He was having a great time.

Han Lie and the others watched from the sidelines, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.

They had witnessed the grand royal banquets in the capital, with their clinking of glasses and strict etiquette, yet the atmosphere was cold and distant.

I have never seen such a scene where a king and a commoner eat together, laughing and talking.

This is what the people truly desire and what everyone hopes for.

As the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) approaches, the banquet gradually comes to an end.

Everyone knew that the main event was about to begin.

Countless people, young and old, flocked to open areas throughout the city, especially those facing the north gate tower.

The city gate tower had already been decorated and was covered with large red lanterns.

Surrounded by civil and military officials, Xiao Chen ascended the city tower.

Below the city gate, thousands of people crowded around, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the city.

"The auspicious time has arrived!" the master of ceremonies shouted in a drawn-out voice.

The city gate tower fell silent instantly.

Only the faint sound of the night wind rustling through the lanterns, and the suppressed breaths and heartbeats of countless people could be heard.

Xiao Chen stepped forward, looking down at the sea of ​​expectant faces below, and said loudly, "Fellow villagers of Hanyuan! The old year is about to pass, and the new year is coming! In the past year, we have shared joys and sorrows, overcome all obstacles! Only now do we have this peaceful year with full granaries, sufficient food and clothing, well-equipped weapons, and the hearts of the people united!"

"Tonight, I celebrate with you all! May this brilliant light dispel all gloom and illuminate the path to my glorious Cold Abyss! May next year bring favorable weather, national prosperity, and peace, and may our armies be invincible wherever they point!"

"Set off fireworks!"

With the last three words, Xiao Chen channeled all his energy, his voice resounding throughout the city!

"Thump—!"

Almost simultaneously, dozens of muffled explosions erupted from both sides of the city gate and from several pre-arranged high platforms within the city! The sounds were not loud, but they carried a peculiar penetrating power.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, dozens of dazzling fireballs, trailing long, hissing tails of flame, shot into the dark night sky from different points like shooting stars flying in reverse! At the very moment they reached their highest point—

"Bang!!!"

"Bang bang bang bang——!!!"

A series of deafening yet dazzling explosions rang out! The night sky was instantly illuminated!

The first thing to explode was an enormous, layered golden chrysanthemum!

The dazzling golden light, like the purest molten gold, was splashed, bloomed, and slowly dissipated in the night sky, illuminating the entire Zhenbei City as if it were daytime!

Before people could recover from the ultimate golden shock—

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Crimson peonies, azure hydrangeas, emerald green weeping willows, silvery waterfalls... countless "flowers," "waterfalls," and "stars" of various shapes and indescribably vibrant colors bloom in the night sky!

Some are like celestial maidens scattering flowers, some like the Milky Way pouring down, and some like ten thousand trees adorned with silver blossoms!

Red like fire, pink like the sunset, white like snow, green like jade, purple like lavender... Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple—it seems that all the colors that can be found in the world can be found in that illuminated night sky!

Light and color, in the most violent yet elegant way, intertwine, collide, flow, and annihilate, and then are reborn in an even more dazzling form!

"Oh my god... what is that?!"

"A deity...a deity has appeared?!"

"It's the Prince! It's the heavenly fire the Prince summoned! It illuminates the sky above Hanyuan!"

After a brief silence, there came a series of exclamations, praises, and even wailing of joy, like a landslide or a tsunami!

Countless people, regardless of age, gender, or whether they were soldiers or civilians, all looked up, mouths agape, gazing in awe at the magnificent sky they had never seen or even imagined in their lives.

Many elderly people knelt down shakily, kowtowing devoutly towards the city gate, towards the fireworks, and towards the land that had brought them peace and prosperity. Children pointed to the sky, screaming and jumping with excitement.

This is not just a beautiful sight, it's a miracle!

A miracle that can only exist in places of peace, prosperity, and strength!

It tells every citizen of Hanyuan in the most direct and shocking way: what incredible power and glory the prince you follow and the land you live on possess!

Han Lie, Wang Dashan, Murong Xue, and the others were all mesmerized and their hearts were pounding.

They understood better than the common people that behind these "fireworks" was the hard work of the Imperial Academy of Sciences and another application of gunpowder.

But it is precisely because of this that they feel an indescribable sense of pride and joy—our power can not only destroy, but also create such ultimate beauty!

This is true power!

Xiao Chen stood with his hands behind his back on the city tower, the dazzling light flickering on his face.

He gazed at the dazzling lights illuminating the night sky, and at the thousands of people kneeling and cheering below the city, and felt a sense of peace and contentment in his heart.

These fireworks are his New Year's gift to this land, to the people who follow him, trust him, and fight alongside him; they are also a declaration of a prosperous era.

The fireworks lasted for a full quarter of an hour.

When the last specially made, oversized "Beautiful Rivers and Mountains" firework exploded at the highest point of the night sky, transforming into a slowly unfolding picture of a vast landscape outlined by various colored lights, the emotions of the entire city reached their climax!

"Long live Han Yuan!"

"Long live the Prince!"

"A Prosperous Age of Cold Abyss!"

It's unclear who first shouted "Prosperous Cold Abyss," but this shout spread like wildfire, instantly igniting everyone's passion!

Ten thousand people cheered in unison, their voices rising higher and higher, soaring into the sky, as if to forever etch this magnificent scene of the night under the heavens and into the hearts of everyone!

As the fireworks faded and the night sky returned to its deep darkness, the burning passion and hope lingered for a long time.

The air was filled with a faint smell of gunpowder, which mixed with the aroma of delicious food and the joy of the New Year, creating a unique, powerful and vibrant New Year's atmosphere in Hanyuan.

"Give me some wine!" Xiao Chen waved his hand.

The servants, who had been prepared in advance, broke the mud seals on jars of warmed "Hanyuanzui" wine, releasing its fragrant aroma.

From the city walls to the streets and alleys, the fine wine was passed down like a stream.

"Tonight, let us not distinguish between ruler and subject, but only enjoy ourselves to the fullest! Let us drink to victory!" Xiao Chen raised his large bowl.

"Cheers!"

On and below the city walls, civil and military officials alike responded in unison, raising their heads to drink.

The fiery liquor went down my throat, just like my emotions tonight—hot and intense.

That night, no one in Zhenbei City slept.