"Excellent!" The Emperor was overjoyed. "Minister Lu is young and promising. I never imagined that your wife would also possess such courage. Where is Madam Lu?"

Consort Yue clenched her fingers, her long nails digging into her flesh without her noticing. She stared intently in Gu Nanjiao's direction, her eyes filled with an unusually clear warning.

Gu Nanjiao ignored him and went to the emperor, where she knelt down and bowed respectfully: "This commoner, Gu Nanjiao, greets Your Majesty the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy peace and prosperity for ten thousand generations."

"Rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The emperor glanced at Gu Nanjiao with satisfaction, remaining calm and composed, showing no sign of nervousness in front of his imperial countenance.

Chu Luoxun curled her lips and said sarcastically, "Why is Madam Lu wearing a veil? Do you know that covering your face before the Emperor without cause is a serious offense?"

Lu Yanzhao raised his eyes and glanced at Chu Luoxun with a slightly gloomy expression.

Chu Luoxun snorted coldly, angry that Lu Yanzhao had bypassed him and offered up the incredibly powerful musket, clearly showing that he didn't want to take sides.

Did he think he could rest easy with the emperor as his backer? How naive!

"Your Majesty, I did not mean to conceal anything. Since my family and I entered the capital, we have been assassinated many times. My father and mother almost died in a fire, and although I have survived many times, my face has been disfigured. I dare not offend Your Majesty's eyes, and I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness." Gu Nanjiao knelt down again to beg for forgiveness, her words earnest and her voice filled with sobs.

Her knees... Why did people in ancient times kneel so easily? If only I had learned from Little Swallow and sewn on a kneeling knee!

The Emperor frowned: "When Minister Lu reported that his house had been burned down, I ordered a thorough investigation. Why is the Investigation Department just sitting around doing nothing? There's still no result."

The inspector stepped forward tremblingly and replied, "Your Majesty, I will do my utmost to find the mastermind behind this as soon as possible."

Consort Yue narrowed her eyes. She wasn't worried about the Investigation Department finding out. Since they dared to do it, they would clean up the mess.

However, this illegitimate child is openly seeking the emperor's protection, so it will probably be difficult to deal with him later.

Fortunately, her face was already disfigured, and Consort Yue finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Chu Luoxun was slightly taken aback. Gu Nanjiao was disfigured?

Didn't he send people to protect Gu Nanjiao? Why haven't any of his men reported back?

At this moment, Lu Yanzhao cupped his hands to the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, my wife and I have no other hobbies but to do random research." After speaking, he took out two pieces of paper from his sleeve, held them above his head and presented them to the emperor: "Your Majesty, these are the musket manufacturing diagrams and the Thirteen Arithmetic Characters that my wife and I have researched. Please take a look."

The emperor gestured for the eunuch to take it, and after looking at it, he was full of praise. He then instructed the eunuch to unfold the painting for the assembled officials.

"Hiss..." The entire court of civil and military officials and the princes gasped.

The military officers gathered in twos and threes to discuss the power of the muskets, while the civil officials went forward to look at the Thirteen Mathematical Method.

The Thirteen Calculation Method was researched by Lu Yanzhao, namely, 壹, 贰, 叁, 肆, 伍, 陆, 柒, 捌, 玖, 拾, 佰, 仟, 万.

After discussing it with Gu Nanjiao, it was changed to simpler text: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand.

The characters used in the Chu Dynasty were too complex, and Gu Nanjiao couldn't write them. Seeing Lu Yanzhao calculating, she offered her opinion. Lu Yanzhao also believed that the written language needed innovation and simplification.

After hearing Lu Yanzhao's introduction, the civil officials all praised him, and the emperor was even more satisfied with the new top scholar he had personally promoted. He felt that Lu Yanzhao had excellent judgment and was able to recognize talent.

Meanwhile, Chu Luoxun, standing to the side, felt a tightness in his chest and his face turned ashen with anger.

What exactly is Lu Yanzhao trying to do? She repeatedly bypassed him, all because she failed to protect Gu Nanjiao. She's just a woman, why is it such a big deal!

If such talents cannot be used by him, it is better to get rid of them.

Gu Nanjiao glanced at Consort Yue, the coldness in her eyes making her feel uneasy. She always felt that Gu Nanjiao was a ticking time bomb that could blow her to pieces at any moment.

Gu Nanjiao smiled and presented the improved farm tool diagram once again.

As for why she chose to expose everything at this time, it's because having too many lice makes you less itchy.

From this day forward, she and Lu Yanzhao will be in the eye of the storm and become the target of public criticism.

Since they'd be killed anyway by Consort Yue and the Crown Prince, they might as well expose everything they have and let the Emperor think they're rare talents. With such a treasure, the Emperor would surely send people to protect it.

Who would dare to plot against someone the emperor wants to protect?

The civil and military officials and princes almost lost their footing when they saw the agricultural tool diagrams presented by Gu Nanjiao.

The emperor was so shocked that he could hardly breathe.

What were these two up to? One surprise after another, he couldn't keep up.

The eunuch presented the emperor with drawings of improved agricultural tools. A short while later, the emperor almost lost his balance, but was fortunately supported by the eunuch beside him.

Heaven is helping the Great Chu! It has actually sent them a pair of treasures.

Afterwards, the Great Chu vigorously developed agriculture, ensuring that the people had enough to eat and wear. The Thirteen Methods of Calculation were widely adopted, and the economy took off. With weapons in hand, what was there to fear?

Every emperor wants to be remembered in history, and he was no exception.

The emperor was overjoyed and immediately issued an imperial edict to bestow rewards.

Lu Yanzhao was promoted two ranks to become the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, while Gu Nanjiao was granted the title of a sixth-rank Lady An.

After receiving the imperial decree and expressing their gratitude, the officials knelt down and shouted, "Congratulations to Your Majesty on acquiring such a rare talent! Heaven blesses the Great Chu! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!"

"Hahaha!" The emperor laughed heartily; this was the happiest birthday he had ever celebrated.

He had already begun to imagine that with powerful firearms protecting the country, no one in the Great Chu would dare to bully it, and with the implementation of the Thirteen Calculation Method and agricultural tools that benefit the country and its people, the Great Chu would also experience rapid growth and prosperity, and the people would live in peace and contentment.

He suddenly felt that the reward given to Lu Yanzhao was too lenient, but since it was an imperial edict, it was not easy to change it. So he turned to Lu Yanzhao and asked, "Minister Lu, if there is anything else you need, just tell me, and I will grant it."

Lu Yanzhao didn't stand on ceremony and said directly, "Your Majesty, I don't want any reward. I beg Your Majesty to seek justice for me and my wife. My family and I have been assassinated many times, and my wife's face has been disfigured. I implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this matter and send some people to protect me and my family."

"If my wife and I are kidnapped and assassinated by spies from an enemy country, then what about the musket design…?"

Lu Yanzhao didn't say anything more, and the emperor understood.

The Lu couple are a treasure trove, and they are currently in a precarious situation. If they are not protected, and are coerced or lured by princes with ulterior motives or people from enemy countries, then Great Chu will be in danger, and his throne will be in peril.

...

After the banquet, Lu Yanzhao and Gu Nanjiao walked home hand in hand, only to be stopped by Chu Luoxun, whose face was grim.

"Lu Yanzhao, you're two-faced, you're quite the player!"

Lu Yanzhao curled his lips into a smile, then quickly regained his composure: "Likewise!"

"You!" Chu Luoxun angrily pointed at Lu Yanzhao: "You're nothing but a pauper! Do you really think Father Emperor values ​​you? Once you're no longer of use, he'll just kick you aside. I advise you to be sensible and obey me, and I will ensure the safety of your whole family. Otherwise..."

"Safety?" Gu Nanjiao sneered, "Your Highness, my family and I have been in danger time and time again. Where are Your Highness's people? Every time we escaped death, we relied entirely on ourselves. Since Your Highness cannot be relied on, then we can only rely on ourselves. Rest assured, in order to become useful people, my husband and I will definitely work harder and offer more useful things to the Emperor."

"Let's go, His Majesty's reward is coming soon. I heard he also bestowed four secret guards to protect our safety. I'm sure no one will dare to make a move under His Majesty's nose." Lu Yanzhao took Gu Nanjiao's hand and left, smiling at Chu Luoxun before they parted.

But that smile was incredibly irritating to Chu Luoxun's eyes.