In Xiang'an Town outside Bianjing, Qin Sheng uses his methods of inoculating people against smallpox and cultivating cotton, and unexpectedly meets Emperor Renzong of Song, Zhao Zhen, who is investigating an epidemic in disguise. The two become close, calling each other father and son. Qin Sheng offers strategies to reform the court and overhaul outdated systems, exposing long-standing corruption among officials. His enduring achievements earn him a title of nobility, and he gradually embarks on a path of assisting the emperor and changing the fate of the Great Song.
