Transmigrating to the fifteenth year of Hongwu, Zhu Chen becomes an obscure barefoot doctor in the Ming dynasty.
He thinks he’ll rely on the “max-level medical skills” he obtained through System sign-ins to heal the sick and live an ordinary life. But then Zhu Xiongying, the emperor’s eldest grandson, suddenly falls gravely ill. The Imperial Medical Academy is powerless to help, and the Hongwu Emperor flies into a rage, offering a bounty of ten thousand gold for the finest doctors in the realm.
With his adoptive father gravely ill and his family destitute, Zhu Chen grits his teeth, tears down the imperial notice, and walks barefoot into the heavily guarded Forbidden City.
The scalpel gleams coldly. His medicine, centuries ahead of its time, astonishes the entire Imperial Medical Academy. The dying imperial grandson makes a miraculous recovery.
Yet Zhu Yuanzhang, seated on the Dragon Throne, stares fixedly at Zhu Chen’s face. Why do his features and bearing so resemble the late Consort Ci? And why is he exactly like Zhu Yuanzhang himself in his youth?
A sealed court record is brought to light, and a prince who should never have existed emerges from the shadows.
Meanwhile, Zhu Chen is still worrying about where to sign in today:
“Sign in at the Eastern Palace to obtain [Grandmaster-level Martial Art: Tai Chi].”
“Sign in at the Hall of Reverent Body to obtain [World Map (1500 AD)].”
“Sign in with the Northern Expedition Army to obtain [mass-production blueprints for flintlock rifles]…”
Years later, as Ming warships cross the oceans and new schools spread throughout every prefecture and county, secret reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guard flood into the Palace of Heavenly Purity:
“Your Majesty, Prince Qin has saved the starving people of an entire province with immortal grain again!”
“Your Majesty, Prince Yan used heavenly thunder cannons to crush the Northern Desert royal court!”
“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince… His Highness says he only wants to study natural philosophy. He begs you to stop urging him to take the throne!”
Zhu Yuanzhang looks beside the imperial throne, at the man who…
