The next day in Kyoto.
"Hey, have you heard? Lady Hui Shu went missing yesterday, and a large number of soldiers were dispatched from the capital last night to search for her," a commoner said.
"Is that the same Hui Shu who invented gunpowder, which led to victory in the Northern Frontier, and who also created many beneficial items for the people... and discovered new crops and invented a seed soaking technique to increase grain production? No wonder there were so many soldiers on the streets of Kyoto last night."
"Besides this Hui Shuren, who else can be called Hui Shuren? Alas, I heard that the soldiers searched all night but found no trace of her. Hui Shuren has done so many good things for our people, how could she suddenly disappear and suffer this disaster after coming to the capital? It is truly worrying."
"Indeed, Madam Hui, though a woman, does everything she does to benefit us common people. We mustn't let anything happen to such a good official..."
An old woman came out and said, "Oh my God, my son was able to return from the northern frontier entirely thanks to Hui Shuren. May God and Bodhisattva bless Hui Shuren so that she may return safely."
The people on the street were talking about it, expressing their deepest gratitude and respect for Hui Shuren, and silently praying for her safety.
An ordinary-looking carriage passed by. The person inside, hearing the people's comments, smiled and murmured, "Hui Shuren, Hui Shuren, you must lend me a hand."
The next day, Song Anxin met the person who had grabbed her from behind.
Looking at the extremely ordinary yet unfamiliar face in front of her, Song Anxin was filled with doubt.
"Young master, what have I done to offend you?"
"hehe..."
A familiar laugh came from beneath that ordinary face.
Song Anxin's expression changed slightly, and then she realized that this was the legendary art of disguise.
She spoke coldly: "Is the Second Prince resorting to coercion after failing to win me over?"
She considered whether it was the eldest prince or the second prince, but she preferred the eldest prince. It seems that gentleness is the most deadly.
However, she couldn't understand why the Second Prince would take such a risk to kidnap her. She had no real power and was only a third-rank noblewoman with some prestige among the people. All she had were some talents. He wanted to use her talents to win over the hearts of the people and the court officials, but the emperor was not someone to be trifled with. Doing so would only result in more harm than good.
Song Anxin didn't hide her doubts and asked them aloud. Since they had already been arrested, she should find out the situation first.
The Second Prince smiled, his ordinary face showing admiration for Song Anxin: "As expected of Consort Hui, not only are you completely calm, but you can also analyze the situation so calmly. It seems I don't need to waste my breath. Consort Hui, just stay here and think about things that can benefit the country and the people."
"As for what Consort Hui said, Consort Hui need not worry about this prince," he said, taking a sip of tea. When he looked up again, his eyes were icy cold. "The emperor, hmph, he won't last long."
Song Anxin was horrified. Could it be that the Emperor...?
She suddenly realized, no wonder, no wonder that day when she entered the Imperial Study, only the Emperor and Eunuch Qi were there, all the other palace servants had been dismissed outside. She had thought that the Emperor had deliberately dismissed all the palace servants in order to talk to her, but it seems that was not the case.
Your Majesty, this is not just a common cold.
Seeing Song Anxin's appearance, the Second Prince became interested and asked her, "Does Consort Hui know why the Emperor's health suddenly deteriorated?"
Without waiting for Song Anxin's reply, he shook his head and sighed, saying to himself, "Actually, it can't be said to be sudden. The toxins accumulate in the body, so it's no wonder it can't withstand it."
Song Anxin stared at him in horror, her eyes widening in shock.
The Second Prince laughed heartily: "Consort Hui, don't wrong me. How could I have such great ability to poison him in the palace?" He scoffed, "It's because he was blinded by his bedmate that he probably won't understand until his death that his most trusted bedmate is the culprit who harmed him."
Who else could be the Emperor's most trusted bedmate besides Consort Liang? Song Anxin's face was full of astonishment and complexity. The royal family really is a cruel place.
Having seen enough of Song Anxin's expressions, the Second Prince stood up and said, "Consort Hui, you'd better come up with something that satisfies me as soon as possible, otherwise you won't be treated so well here."
His tone was full of threat as he finished speaking and walked out the door.
Song Anxin lowered her eyes, feeling a mix of emotions as she received so much information. She quickly calmed herself down.
It seems that she has no choice but to submit to him for the time being. However, if she can think of the eldest prince or the second prince, Feng He and General Yan should be able to think of the same thing.
However, she has a long-standing grudge against the eldest prince, and they are probably more focused on the eldest prince's side. No, she can't just sit here and wait for her doom.
Song Anxin pondered, feeling increasingly frustrated. She simply got up and walked towards the door of her room.
“Hui Shuren, you can’t leave this room.” Granny Zhang immediately stopped her.
Song Anxin glared at her coldly: "Didn't your master ask me to think of something? I'm feeling really annoyed right now, how am I supposed to come up with anything good for your master?"
Granny Zhang paused for a moment, then said, "Please don't be angry, Lady Hui. This old servant also needs to consult with my master first. Please wait a moment, Lady Hui."
Then she walked over to a guard standing at the door and said, "Keep an eye on Hui Shuren, I'll be right back."
Song Anxin sat down with a cold face, testing the area where she could go.
Upon hearing the report from the guard, the Second Prince sneered, "Let her go. If she wants to leave the courtyard, so be it. Let her see my strength and understand that serving me loyally is the wisest choice."
A short while later, Granny Zhang returned to the room and said to Song Anxin with a smile, "Huishu, the master said you can go out. You can move around freely inside and outside this courtyard."
Song Anxin was somewhat surprised, wondering what the Second Prince was up to.
She stepped out of the room and found that it was a small, ordinary two-courtyard house. Looking around the courtyard, she saw towering mountains, and the house was located at the foot of one of them.
She walked outside the courtyard and her eyes widened in shock. To the east, a large patch of earth was covered with black lumps, and there were many people digging them up and carrying them to a row of houses to the east. As she got closer, she could hear the clanging and hammering sounds.
What else did Song Anxin not know? The Second Prince was secretly mining iron ore to forge weapons!
"Shuren, I'm sorry, you really can't go over there anymore."
Granny Zhang stopped Song Anxin from getting closer.
Song Anxin had no choice but to turn back. Suddenly, she smelled a familiar scent. She turned around and followed the scent, and found that there was a stream on the west side not far away. Dozens of people were on the other side of the stream, putting water into a basin and kneading something. The basin contained sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter.
They're making gunpowder!
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