Sky Curtain: My Great Qin must have an aircraft carrier!

In the autumn of the twelfth year of the Han Dynasty, the atmosphere in Changle Palace was exceptionally lively, as many kings of different surnames gathered there.

"King of Wu, you've heard about it too?"

Lu Wan held the wine cup, but her eyes glanced towards the direction of the main seat, which was still empty.

Wu Chen nodded, a strange smile on his face: "If it weren't for that rumor, would we be gathered here?"

"Hmph, I think that old Liu Bang is really going to die."

Yingbu snorted coldly, "He didn't bother with his funeral arrangements, but instead pulled this stunt before he died. I'm afraid he was trying to pave the way for his son."

"Empress Lü has become too powerful to control. Liu Bang, that old fox, must be plotting to use us, the kings of different surnames, to keep her in check."

They exchanged polite greetings, but their eyes were darting around in the shadows.

Normally, they would never have come to Chang'an, fearing they would become the next Peng Yue.

However, in recent years, rumors about penicillin have been spreading more and more widely within the Han Dynasty.

It is said that Liu Bang, who was nearing the end of his life, relied solely on luck to find a useful strain of bacteria and successfully developed penicillin.

Nobody believed the rumor at first.

What makes you, Liu Bang, capable of doing this? Could you possibly make manual labor more efficient than a centrifuge from later generations?

But these rumors only intensified, and some even became quite detailed and convincing.

Some veterans who developed health problems on the battlefield reportedly recovered within days after receiving penicillin injections.

These people are still alive, and some have even returned to the military to recount their experiences with drug trials.

Only then did everyone, still somewhat skeptical, investigate the authenticity of the penicillin and Liu Bang's physical condition.

Just as everyone was harboring their own secrets, a shrill voice broke the silence.

"His Majesty has arrived! Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"

Accompanied by soft footsteps, two figures appeared at the entrance of the main hall.

With Lü Zhi's support, Liu Bang staggered into the palace gate.

His hair was sparse and messy, his eyes were sunken, and his cheeks were thin and bony.

If it weren't for the black dragon robe he wore, no one would be able to associate this sickly old man with the founding emperor who swept across the world and established the Han Dynasty.

After struggling up the steps, Liu Bang plopped down in the main seat and coughed violently a few times.

"I am truly honored that you have come from afar."

"Not at all, not at all," Wu Chen said, leading the compliment and then gesturing to the others with his eyes.

Ying Bu and Lu Wan stood up and exchanged a few polite words with clasped hands.

The group wasted time like this until Yingbu couldn't stand it anymore and took the lead in asking the question that everyone cared about most.

"Your Majesty, we have come here not only to inquire about your health, but also to hear a rumor."

"We've heard that you are destined by heaven to create penicillin, a miraculous substance for later generations. Is this true? Could you perhaps show us?"

Ying Bu asked the question urgently, and everyone in the hall pricked up their ears, even holding their breath.

Liu Bang's smile remained unchanged as he calmly observed the anxious Ying Bu and slowly spoke, "This medicine is extremely precious. Why should I give it to you first?"

Old fox!

Upon hearing these ambiguous words, Yingbu nearly died of anger on the spot.

As the supreme ruler of the land, Liu Bang was not lacking in ordinary gold and silver treasures. What price could he possibly have?

The only things that Liu Bang valued were the title of King of Huainan and his hundreds of thousands of soldiers!

Yingbu touched his cheek, and a sharp pain shot through him where his fingers touched.

He was branded in his early years, and his face was tattooed, which caused him long-term suffering from infection.

That old bastard Liu Bang must have known my condition, which is why he deliberately used penicillin to keep me hanging on!

Would one trade the throne of a king of a different surname for a chance to cure a stubborn illness?

The moment the thought arose, Yingbu nipped it in the bud.

He fought Liu Bang his whole life, and all the wealth he had worked so hard to build was just handed over to someone else.

Ying Bu stopped looking at Liu Bang and instead turned his gaze to Lü Zhi.

Now everyone knows that Liu Bang has secured Liu Ying's position, and no one can take it away from him.

Now that I know Liu Ying will be the one to ascend the throne, if I just be firm, won't that kid obediently hand over the prescription?

Why bow down to this old man now?

After figuring this out, the eagerness in Yingbu's eyes vanished instantly, and he returned to his unruly demeanor.

"Your Majesty is right. I was presumptuous."

After saying this, Ying Bu sat back down and started drinking his wine, refusing to look at Liu Bang again.

The other kings, who were not of the same surname, also had their own plans as they watched this scene unfold.

It seems the miraculous medicine really exists, but Liu Bang intends to use it to weaken the power of the feudal lords.

Seeing the increasingly tense atmosphere in the hall, Lu Wan finally sighed and stood up from her seat.

He and Liu Bang had known each other since childhood, wielding their swords together and ascending to the throne together.

Therefore, it is most appropriate for him to speak first.

Lu Wan first bowed, and then respectfully said, "Your Majesty, we have traveled thousands of miles to get here. If we were to leave like this, it would not look good for you."

"If it is convenient for you, please tell us directly what you need. We are all ears."

Upon seeing Lu Wan step forward, a complex emotion welled up in the depths of Liu Bang's withered face and eyes.

There was nostalgia, there was struggle, and in the end, it all turned into a long sigh.

"Of course I believe you, but do you believe me?"

This seemingly nonsensical remark made Lu Wan's heart pound.

He understood the meaning behind it. Liu Bang wasn't asking him if he believed in himself as emperor, but rather if he believed in his old brother named Liu Ji.

Lu Wan recalled Peng Yue's fate of being chopped into mincemeat and the tragic death of Han Xin from a mysterious incident.

He quickly lowered his head, not daring to look Liu Bang in the eye again.

"Your Majesty, I naturally trust you."

Then, to everyone's astonishment, Lu Wan removed the military tally from her waist.

After placing the military tally on the table, Lu Wan didn't say another word, nor did he even glance at Liu Bang again. He walked out of the hall without looking back.

With Lu Wan's departure, the atmosphere in the hall became even more awkward.

The remaining kings, who were not of the same surname, looked at each other, their minds racing with calculations.

Lu Wan, that old bastard, just handed over his military power like that? Is he really stupid or just pretending?

Is Liu Bang really just going to let him go like that?

After a long silence, Ying Bu stood up first and bowed to the person in the main seat.

"If Your Majesty has nothing else to say, we will take our leave now."

"Then take care."

Liu Bang's smile returned, and he shakily picked up the wine cup on the table, as if he wanted to take another sip.

But he was indeed too old, and his hands trembled so badly that he couldn't bring the glass to his lips; it slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.

With a "clang," the wine glass fell onto the table, making a crisp sound.

Yingbu and the others didn't notice anything amiss, assuming that the old man was truly past his prime, and secretly mocked him.

But at that moment, a chilling creaking sound suddenly came from behind the screens on both sides of the main hall.

The sound was dense and muffled, like a crossbow being cocked, and there were far more than dozens of them!

"you……"

Ying Bu and the others looked horrified. Just as they were about to say something, they heard a dense whooshing sound coming from both sides!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A dense swarm of arrows poured out from behind the screen, blocking all their escape routes.

The dull thuds continued, the sound of arrows piercing flesh.

Within a few breaths, Wu Chen and Ying Bu were riddled with arrows and fell into pools of blood like hedgehogs.

Only after the last armored soldier fell did the hall return to deathly silence.

Only then did Liu Bang slowly bend down, pick up the fallen wine cup, and drink the remaining wine in one gulp.

He looked at the several corpses on the ground, their eyes wide open in death, and said calmly, "I'm sorry, everyone, but this old man of mine won't live for many more days."

"The road to the underworld is too lonely, so I've decided to take you all down with me!"

Seeing that there were no more living people below the stage, Lü Zhi raised her hand expressionlessly.

The armored soldiers who had been waiting outside the hall quickly entered, swiftly dragged away the corpse, and washed the bloodstains on the ground with water.

The main hall was quickly restored to its original state, but the stench of blood still lingered.

Empress Lü walked to Liu Bang's side, looked in the direction where Lu Wan had disappeared, and gestured with her hand on her neck.

"Should we send someone to get rid of him?"

"No!" Liu Bang quickly shook his head, grabbing Lü Zhi's hand. "Just give your father some face, let him die peacefully of old age, is that not enough?"

"He trusted me once, so I have to repay him with my life."

"You're so stubborn." Lü Zhi rolled her eyes, but didn't insist any further.

Without military power, Lu Wan couldn't cause any trouble.

Since this old man wants to do me a favor, then let him.

After calming Lü Zhi down, Liu Bang struggled to his feet and walked alone outside the main hall.

He watched the setting sun slowly sink on the horizon, its blood-red afterglow casting a long shadow over him.

After a long silence, Liu Bang sighed deeply, his tone tinged with self-mockery and helplessness.

"If we were to massacre a king of a different surname today, we might be branded as cruel to our meritorious officials."