The Empress’s Gigolo

On Earth, one year has 365 days, but in this world, every month has exactly 30 days, so a year has 360 days.

“Based on Dayao’s calendar, in Year 72, 2nd Month, 30th Day, the first hot air balloon of this world is going to carry an angry hulk to conquer the sky.” A deep voice resonated from the edge of a field.

“Sir, what’s a hulk?” The official recording the statement was puzzled.

“Don’t worry about what it is, just write according to what I say,” Ren Baqian ordered.

“In addition to carrying the angry hulk, the hot air balloon also carries the hopes of people who have been dreaming of flying for thousands of years and opens the exploration of the sky,” Ren Baqian added.

“What exactly is a hulk?” This time, it was the empress who asked from behind Ren Baqian.

“The hulk represents great power,” Ren Baqian replied. “It’s just a figure of speech.”

The empress looked at Ren Baqian suspiciously and felt that he was trying to hoodwink everyone again.

“Speak. How much of what you told me is real, and how much is false?” the empress asked suddenly.

“With your quick wit and intelligence, how would it be possible for me to hide anything from Your Majesty?” Ren Baqian laughed.

The empress snorted and let the sudden thought pass.

At this time, the crowd was seated in the square in front of the palace.

Besides the empress, there were many big shots from the imperial court as well as students from the Black Bamboo Academy. Various officials and their families were also watching the event from further away.

The hot air balloon was being set up in the middle of the square.

There was no thermal control equipment and no safety devices. It was just the balloon portion of the hot air balloon, a bamboo basket underneath, and a large stove mounted above the basket.

As the coal and firewood in the stove burned, the hot air balloon gradually expanded and the bamboo basket underneath began to rise off the ground.

“One world, one dream…” One by one, Tu Wan read the words out loud as the balloon expanded and displayed the slogans.

Someone immediately ran to another side to see the words displayed from another direction.

“There will be dreams if there is hope…”

“I want to soar up into the sky and be side by side with the sun… This statement is very profound to me.” Qin Chuan laughed loudly.

Although these people were jointly suppressed by Ren Baqian using the loudspeaker and the empress exerting force, they didn’t bear any grudges.

The aboriginals were straightforward! Unless the hatred was very deep like in the case when Ren Baqian had offended that Yao Zi, minor disputes meant nothing to them.

Qin Chuan went close to Ren Baqian and asked, “Can this thing really fly?”

“Of course it can. You will see it very soon.”

“If this thing can really fly, can it be used to bring soldiers into enemy territory?” Qin Chuan inquired.

“It can be shot down by an arrow, causing everyone to fall to their deaths…” Before Ren Baqian could reply, Tong Zhenye had already answered and sneered at Qin Chuan.

“Keep quiet!” the empress said coldly.

The two immediately shut their mouths and glared at each other before moving apart.

“Senior, it’s almost ready. If it drops down, remember to spread open that cloth as soon as possible to increase the resistance and slow down the speed.” Ren Baqian went to the front and patted Li Fu on the back.

As a matter of fact, he shouldn’t have said “if” and should have said “when.”

“According to you, this thing can’t continue going up into the sky forever, but to get closer to Heaven is good enough. I want to see it with my own eyes.” Li Fu had calmed down and wasn’t as frenzied as he had been a few days ago.

“Well, the materials are still not up to my standards. In the future, it will be better.” Ren Baqian nodded.

Nevertheless, it was clear to Ren Baqian that even making the most modern hot air balloon was meaningless because it would be subjected to air buoyancy when the air became thinner at higher altitudes. Even the best technology was unable to make a hot air balloon comparable to a rocket.

“That’s good enough—I will go up and take a look first!” Li Fu said as he saw the hot air balloon starting to float up little by little.

“First use coal and then use some firewood when you reach a certain height. The fire produced by the wood is hotter and will enable you to fly higher,” Ren Baqian reminded him again.

“I know. Okay, I want to go up now.” Li Fu waved his hands and appeared inside the basket in a flash.

Subsequently, Li Fu cut the securing rope, allowing the hot air balloon to gradually rise into the sky.

A cry of alarm immediately rang out from the square.

Most of the spectators were astonished that this thing could actually fly.

On the other hand, the students from the Black Bamboo Academy felt honored because they knew the principles and methods of making this thing. Seeing the looks of amazement on the faces of the others made them extremely happy.

The craftsmen from the Zhang family looked flabbergasted because they had no idea how this was done.

As the hot air balloon flew higher and higher, this giant monster could be seen from all over the city.

“Quick, take a look! There’s something flying up!” someone pointed at the sky and shouted.

Within a short time, a group of people were beside him and looking up at the sky.

“What’s that? It looks strange!”

“There are words written on it!”

“What’s written on it?”

“I want to soar up into the sky and be side by side with the sun!” someone with good vision read the words out loud.

“Wow! This thing is going to fly up to the sun!” the crowd exclaimed rapturously.

Soon, the hot air balloon could be seen flying higher and higher until it became a dot. Then, a strong gale came blowing…

They watched as the hot air balloon was blown away…

The crowd looked at the disappearing hot air balloon and simultaneously looked at Ren Baqian.

“The sky is like the sea—it’s where people seldom set foot. It’s full of opportunities and dangers!” Ren Baqian stroke his chin and said solemnly.

“Can he return?”

“The fuel can only last for less than two hours, so it shouldn’t fly too far away.” Ren Baqian shielded his eyes from the sun and looked into the distance.

“Your Majesty, let’s go back.” Ren Baqian turned to speak to the empress.

After the two went back to the palace, the rest dispersed. Some went back to do their official duties, some went back to work on constructing the clock tower, and those that needed to build the steam engine went back to build it.

However, to the officials, their children, and the ordinary citizens, such a big thing flying in the sky was something that would be discussed for a long time.

Whatever world they were in, people were fervent about the dream of flying.

“I heard that there was a big thing that flew up from the area in front of the palace?” Qing Lian was interrogated by Ning Caichen the moment she came back to the wine shop.

“Yes!” Qing Lian nodded.

She was still amazed by that thing and found it very fascinating. If given the chance, she would like to sit in that thing and see what the sky really looked like.

“What was it? How did they accomplish that?”

“It’s called a hot air balloon and I saw how they made it, but gathering the materials is rather difficult,” Qing Lian said.

“If I could go up into the sky and take a look, it would be splendid,” Ning Caichen said yearningly.

“I heard that thing can fly to the sun. Since the sun is so hot, won’t that thing catch on fire?” Ning Caichen asked again.

“Oh…” Qing Lian was stumped as she hadn’t considered this point.

This type of discussion was going on in many places throughout the city.

In Ren Baqian’s opinion, the hot air balloon didn’t contain much technology, but it greatly impressed many people.

To be able to bring people up into the sky was simply a great achievement!

The reputation of the Black Bamboo Academy became even more established in Lan City due to this publicity.

For the next few days, the hottest topic of discussion in Lan City was: “Will the hot air balloon catch on fire when it reaches the sun…