CHAPTER 32 #3
To the west, France and Spain were still stirring, while to the east, the Arabs and Hungarians were not the easiest companions.
The two countries, one east and one west, would at least not infringe on each other's resources in the short term and wouldn’t pose any threat.
"I understand," she said softly. "And thank you for the goodwill you've shown."
It wasn’t goodwill, but a convergence of interests.
Whether in Europe or the East, nations today would form friendships based on shared interests, but tomorrow, they would equally go to war over them.
Adults should not harbor any illusions about this.
"However..." Hedy paused, then asked, "Do you have any plans to colonize a remote island?"
She intentionally avoided the term "Americas," speaking cautiously and tactfully.
"Colonize?" The ambassador assumed she was referring to their intentions in Europe and, with a relaxed posture, said, "That is not within our considerations."
Hedy’s gaze darkened as she realized another important fact.
These Easterners, at least in their historical understanding, were completely unaware of the existence of the Americas.
They did not understand what America would mean.
After the ambassador's arrival, it wasn’t just the entire Foreign Ministry that began working through the night, reviewing documents; even the Finance, Defense, and Technology Ministries held late-night meetings to confirm the topics they needed to discuss and verify with the Eastern envoys.
They reached an agreement to build embassies in the capitals of both countries and also signed a research confidentiality agreement.
—It was said that Eastern experts had already sent the periodic table of elements to the Florence Academy, which shocked all the scholars like an explosion.
More and more things were being passed down like epic myths—
A flashlight that could emit light continuously with just a press, more portable than oil lamps and capable of illuminating vast distances.
The Gatling gun, capable of continuous fire, with one gun able to replace hundreds of flintlock guns.
And then there were the oil engines, batteries, and automobiles...
This time, it was truly the Three Doctors from the East who came to worship (The Adoration of the Magi).
What they brought wasn’t gold, silk, and porcelain, but electricity, chemistry, and mechanics.
——
The Eastern envoys didn’t stay here for long, leaving behind about ten people, five of whom were guards.
But the gifts they brought had a tremendous impact on Florence, and one could even say on Italy as a whole.
So much so that, in the past few days, Leonardo had been solving various affairs at five times his usual efficiency, finishing work at lightning speed to attend university lectures and conduct experiments.
Then he would spend the afternoon at the school, recharged and ready, before heading back to assist the Queen with various matters and to pick her up from work.
"—Today, they showed us light bulbs. The light bulb can turn on and off in just one second!"
"And there are electronic trumpets! Oh, Hedy, you have to hear it, I mean, no band, no violinists, but the sound just comes out!"
Although Leonardo was trying to remain calm, even as he bent over to help her sort and label nearly ten files, he couldn't help but emphasize again, "This is truly unbelievable. Our children should see these."
Hedy, who could leave two hours earlier because of his arrival, let out a sigh of relief and listened to him with a smile.
Leonardo, halfway through his excitement, suddenly realized and chuckled helplessly. "You've already seen all of this, haven’t you?"
"Not necessarily," she answered with a kind smile, "These things are indeed very special."
"That light changes colors too! And they call it the ultraviolet light—no, is it black light?
" Leonardo practically couldn't stop talking, circling around his love as he spoke.
"Our electrical engineering professors have been like lambs, following them around, listening to lectures and taking notes until midnight every day! "
Hedy reached out and pinched his cheek, then leaned in to give him a kiss. "How about you take a vacation, spend some more time at the Florence Academy?"
"Mm..." Leonardo seemed a bit tempted. "But—"
"There's not much of a 'but,'" Hedy replied, taking the documents he had organized and stamping them. "You've already done so much for me, and the children are well taken care of by Dechio and the maids. How about a little rest?"
And then, her dear Prince promptly rushed off to continue his experiments.
Many things, from their inception to maturity, take hundreds of years to develop. Even the transition from candles to gas lamps went through a series of twists and explorations.
After the Eastern professors brought their findings, they did their best to present them in the simplest, most straightforward way to help the locals understand.
They respected the local beliefs and customs, and though there were some language barriers, the communication was quite pleasant.
Electrical and chemical experiments began to unfold in entirely new ways, with more than a hundred onlookers every day. So many, in fact, that the academy had to hire more guards to maintain order and protect the various materials brought by the professors.
When Hedy visited, she happened to see them demonstrating the different properties of phosphorus and aluminum. Leonardo was sitting in the front row, and for a moment, it was like he had returned to the way she first met him—
Eager, pure, and happy.
She didn’t rush forward but leaned against the door, smiling with a touch of nostalgia.
Over the years, Leonardo had changed so much for her.
For a long time, he had lived in his own world, not involved much in politics and avoiding conflicts and turmoil.
He immersed himself in creating stage props, enjoyed painting, but preferred delving into the core mysteries of art, always brave and fearless.
But because she, in a moment of impulse, had led the troops to capture Luka and march north, he had followed her without hesitation, starting to take on more responsibilities.
His hands, which should have been holding paintbrushes and screwdrivers, began frequently turning pages of legal codes and official documents.
His eyes, which should have been focused on sculptures and statues, began to witness the chaos and bloodshed of the world.
Now, in this brief interlude, he could immerse himself in science and truth, and perhaps that would give him the pure happiness he had long been missing.
When white phosphorus burned in the air, it emitted a brilliant light, like the North Star, causing the crowd to cheer and clap as if they were witnessing another miracle.
The teacher on the podium gestured for Leonardo to come up and join the next experiment, starting to write a chemical equation on the board while explaining its principles.
Leonardo gave a nervous yet delighted smile as he stood to assist in their operations.
"The teacher really enjoys these things," Niccolo muttered beside Hedy. "Why are they teaching in English... can't they throw in a few words of Italian?"
You probably don’t understand what the British Empire has done.
Hedy glanced at him and, with a tone of resignation, said, "I’m starting to consider having him leave the political stage."
She had no intention of binding him with emotions or interests. She just wanted him to be happy, always.
"Leave the upper house?" Niccolo looked at her in shock, waving his hand. "Your Majesty, that’s no laughing matter—do you know how terrifying he is when dealing with those nobles? Two or three sentences and he can wrap them all up, negotiating terms like an old fox!"
"Perhaps it wouldn’t be a loss," Hedy said, her gaze soft and affectionate as she watched the figure on the podium, raising the test tube. "He’ll make exceptional contributions to the empire in whatever field he pursues."
"Indeed," Niccolo said, raising an eyebrow. He pulled a letter from his pocket. "This just came in from Genoa."
"Mm?" Hedy broke the wax seal and began reading its contents.
"We have discovered the Americas."
She paused for a moment, then quickly motioned for her subordinates to follow as she stepped outside.
Columbus and his fleet arrived in Florence in July.
They had made several stops along the way in the Americas and encountered a violent storm on the return journey. Some of the smaller ships were damaged by rocks and nearly shattered by the giant waves.
"We have discovered the Americas—there are vast numbers of Indians, and strange trees, strange birds, and many strange animals!"
Dozens of crates of spoils were brought back, including ores that had a golden sheen.
"Our mineralogists seem to have found gold mines over there," he reported quickly. "Also, on our way back, we encountered Spanish ships—they clearly seemed to be heading in the same direction."
"Spanish ships?" Hedy paused for a second, repeating, "Are you sure it was the Spanish?"
"Yes, the colors and markings of their flags were clear," Columbus said, observing her expression, then continued. "The climate and soil there are very suitable for agriculture, but we will need more laborers..."
"I understand," Hedy said in a low voice. "Dechio—we need to organize a new round of meetings."
She needed to act quickly to find collaborators in Hungary, Portugal, England, and all nearby nations with naval power, to sign new treaties.
Spain had already passed, and it wouldn't take much longer for them to reach the Americas.
But she still had time.
No matter what, Isabella was still busy using the Inquisition to expel her enemies, while the Eastern Empire continued to establish more diplomatic and commercial ties with various countries.
Hedy knew she had to set the basic rules in place before it was too late—
The slave trade was inevitable. That primitive and ancient land lacked protection and deterrence, much like the gold scattered across an entire continent.
Only by signing alliances and treaties quickly could she avoid some of the more tragic consequences.
But right now, only they and China had established long-distance, real-time communication, and ambassadors would need at least three months to travel back and forth.
Despite her anxiety, Hedy could only focus on the tasks at hand.
She allocated more funds to Columbus, advising him to rest for a few days before immediately returning to the Americas to establish more camps and ports for future exchanges.
This information was tightly sealed for now, with even the sailors signing blood oaths to ensure it remained confidential.
If certain greedy old men in the upper house got wind of it, things would become even more complicated.
At present, the steam engine was spreading from Florence in all directions, and it was said that even Pedro’s shipyard had begun using related equipment.
She felt she needed to do more.
The Queen leaned by the window, lost in thought, listening to the faint sound of a violin in the wind, letting her long hair be tousled.
Her gaze fell on an old woman, stumbling slowly along the distant street.
Ten days later, the new Queen’s decree was issued.
First, a height limit for high-heeled shoes was set, and no one was allowed to force anyone to wear such shoes by any means.
Second, any corseting or waist-binding actions were prohibited, with violators to be punished with forced labor.
Third, women were strongly encouraged to wear more practical trousers and workwear, actively engaging in industry and commerce.
She was destroying the nascent cages that had started to form.
Originally, with the Renaissance, corsetry would have continued to be popular and developed, often causing women’s ribs to distort to extreme lengths.
Ladies in the court would pursue the perfect waistline, even to the extent of pressing their internal organs into their chest cavities, which led to much shorter lifespans.
Hedy commissioned a fashion magazine to promote a shift in values and lay the foundation for change.
Wearing trousers was now just as fashionable.
Going out and engaging in labor were behaviors to be encouraged and celebrated.
She set up a special award for annual evaluations and recognition, offering generous rewards to the first tailors who designed custom trousers.
And at this point, Leonardo finally returned.
"Hedy," he hesitated a little, but still walked up to her, "The Research Department has approved the application, allowing those professors to set up the first radio circuit from Florence to Rome."
"I... I want to go with them and see it for myself."
His love for science surpassed many things.
If he joined this project, he could learn about the workings and maintenance of electricity at a faster pace, and perhaps in his spare time, he could study English and English texts, enabling him to create even more things in the future.
Right now, the oil painting for the Florence Cathedral was nearing completion, and Raphael had become a lively and clever young man, so he could handle the remaining coloring himself.
But this also meant he would have to leave Florence—and leave her.
Hedy blinked. "Alright."
"But I'm not sure how long it will take for me to come back," Leonardo said, a bit uneasy. "I should be with you to help take care of the children, and the upper house..."
"Going to see it is a good thing," Hedy said with understanding. "You've wanted to go out and explore for a while now, haven't you?"
They had been inseparable for the past few years, seemingly never apart.
"I will miss you," she explained softly. "And I'll miss you... a lot."
"But you have more important things to do."
"That is to live for yourself."