there would be more foreign interference or an outright war with another nation. They have not fully dealt with the mysterious ambassadors IIRC, and there’s all that imported guns. If The Apothecary Diaries decides to go down the path of a typical ancient China court drama, I would also expect to see a power struggle in court or within the royal family. Though, I find it hard to see the current emperor and Gyokuyou losing popular support or getting outwitted by a political opponent, and failing to retain power. My moonshot prediction is that Jinshi and Maomao would end up being exiled for whatever reason, then founding a new nation together.