Chapter 43 Erlang, you're so kind...
The mastermind behind the assassination of Sun Qingzhao was quickly uncovered.
That night, the Right Chancellor was fast asleep when a man in black suddenly broke into his bedroom, cut off a lock of his hair, placed it on the table, and left a note.
The next day, the Right Chancellor discovered the hair and the note, and was terrified.
"The day Sun Qingzhao dies will be the day your Prime Minister's residence is massacred."
The Right Chancellor touched his neck.
Fortunately, the person who broke in in the middle of the night had no intention of harming him, otherwise he would have lost his head long ago.
The person who came made it very clear: not only did he want to die, but his whole family also had to die.
Listening to my grandson running and playing in the yard, my heart clenched painfully.
"Men, from today onwards, protect Sun Qingzhao as you would protect myself."
Tang Xinu witnessed the killer's prowess firsthand yesterday; thankfully, Zisu and Lianqiao were there.
But what if the perilla and forsythia aren't available?
When she planned to escape from the Marquis's mansion, she drew up a weapon blueprint and asked Xiaoqian to find someone to make it.
There's still no news.
"Xiaoqian, do you still remember my weapon blueprints?"
After escaping the Marquis's mansion, the two first stayed in the Imperial Palace and then in the Prince's mansion, where they both remained safe.
The prince dispatched guards, both overt and covert.
There is still danger there.
Xiaoqian had completely forgotten about it.
"I've handed it over to Prince Duan. I'll ask him when I see him later what it looks like."
Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao appears.
Before Xiaoqian could finish speaking, she saw Prince Duan enter the courtyard. She rushed over, first paying her respects, and then inquired about the progress of the weapons.
With so many things to do lately, Prince Duan has neglected this matter.
"Go to the Ordnance Bureau tomorrow and see if it's finished."
Tang Xinuan had never been to the Ordnance Bureau before and was filled with curiosity. "Prince Duan, may I go with you?"
Prince Duan was having a hard time deciding. "Ask your second brother. I can only take you if he agrees."
Zhou Chuanxing always granted Tang Xinuan's requests, and since he wanted the young girl to have more contact with the outside world, he naturally wouldn't refuse.
"Erlang, you are so kind."
Zhou Chuanxing had just approved several memorials, which were so long and tedious that they gave him a headache.
An official even wrote him a poem of over a thousand words, praising the flourishing of the Great Zhou Dynasty under his regency.
Military pay cannot be paid, taxes cannot be collected, and the entire court is full of useless people, yet they still have the nerve to advocate for the government.
He was so angry that he almost tore the book up.
Suddenly, a pair of soft little hands appeared on the temple, pressing down with varying pressure.
The girl's warm breath brushed against his ear, making his heart flutter.
The frustration caused by the memorial quickly dissipated. "It's good that you know."
"Of course I know," Tang Xin's sweet voice gently whispered into Zhou Chuanxing's ear, "Erlang is the best, the very best person in the world."
Zhou Chuanxing felt relaxed and happy, saying, "My daughter is the best person in the world."
...
Prince Duan watched the two of them being so affectionate, and felt a pang of jealousy.
He had no idea that his ruthless and decisive second brother was like this when it came to love.
It made him want to fall in love.
The next day, Ning Yuchan left the mansion with Xiaoqian and Prince Duan.
This time, at least it wasn't perilla and forsythia following her.
Lily had had enough of being a bodyguard, and as she left, she made a face at Lianqiao.
"Tsk tsk tsk, the Ordnance Bureau doesn't have any good hiding places."
Lian Qiao glared at her angrily: "You—"
Tang Xinuan's carriage was stopped as it left the palace.
It is Li Pixiu from Caiyue Tower.
Li Pixiu waited here at the risk of angering the regent, his whole body tense and already covered in cold sweat.
Seeing Tang Xinuan's carriage emerge, he jogged over while wiping his sweat: "Young Master Han, I am Li Pixiu, requesting an audience."
Tang Xinuan participated in the competition organized by Caiyuelou and became famous overnight. Moreover, Li Pixiu helped her throughout the whole process, although he mostly made things worse. She was still grateful.
"Mr. Li?"
Seeing that he recognized him, Li Pixiu said with a smile, "It is my honor that you still remember me, young master."
Tang Xinuan was in a hurry to get to the Ordnance Bureau, and besides, she didn't know how to exchange pleasantries with outsiders, so she asked as soon as she opened her mouth, "Did you need something from me?"
Li Pixiu glanced around and noticed Prince Duan sitting in the carriage. He whispered, "Young Master Han, could we speak in private? I have something good to tell you."
Tang Xinuan didn't want to get out of the car, "You can talk here."
Li Pixiu was conflicted; he didn't want Prince Duan to hear it.
"Young Master Han, may I have a moment's peace? I have some truly wonderful news to tell you."
Curious, Tang Xinuan finally got off the carriage.
The two went to a place where no one else could hear them.
Li Pixiu spoke mysteriously: "This is great news! Someone has offered you one million taels of silver to participate in the competition."
"One million taels?" Tang Xinuan had never heard of such a large sum of money before.
The Prince's mansion is always running a deficit, but with this million taels, it can last at least a year.
But why would someone give her a million taels of silver for no reason?
"real?"
Li Pixiu nodded, "Of course it's true. How many heads would I have to lie to you?"
Tang Xinuan was tempted. "What are the conditions?"
Prince Duan was sitting in a carriage not far away, so Li Pixiu couldn't say anything.
"Young Master Han, let's schedule a time to discuss this in detail."
Tang Xinu hesitated for a moment, then said, "I have time tomorrow morning."
Li Pixiu smiled and bowed, "Then I'll wait for you at Caiyue Tower."
Seeing that Tang Xinuan was about to leave, he instructed her, "You must not let the Prince know about this."
Tang Xinuan said she understood, and then happily got into the car.
Prince Duan was curious; Li Pixiu had grown the audacity of a bear and the courage of a leopard to call someone away and plot in front of him.
However, he was too embarrassed to ask further.
Xiaoqian couldn't help but ask, "Young master, what does Boss Li want with you?"
Tang Xinuan remembered Li Pixiu's instructions not to tell the prince.
This naturally includes Prince Duan.
If Zhou Chuanxing asked her, she definitely wouldn't hide it from him.
But there's no need to tell Prince Duan.
Furthermore, she doesn't know the specifics yet, so she'll wait until tomorrow to find out.
One million taels! Does she really have the ability to earn that much silver?
When Xiaoqian asked her a question, she blinked at Xiaoqian behind Duanwang's back.
Xiaoqian understood and changed the subject: "This is my first time visiting the Ordnance Bureau. I wonder if they have finished making your weapons yet."
Prince Duan could tell, of course, that Tang Xinuan was hiding something from him.
He was curious whether the girl would keep it a secret from his second brother as well.
It was quite a coincidence that Ambassador Liu had just finished making the weapons last night, intending to present them to the Regent today. However, an official from the Ministry of Works came to cause trouble early this morning, demanding that the weapons, which would normally take a month to make, be completed within half a month.
Ambassador Liu repeatedly requested an extension of time.
But Wang Yuanwailang disagreed no matter what he said and gave him a severe scolding.
Ambassador Liu, preoccupied with the Regent's weapons, reluctantly accepted the assignment.
After Wang Yuanwailang left, he took his weapons and went to find the Regent.
The two bumped into each other at the door.
Seeing that he was carrying a very simple peach wood box, Wang Yuanwailang assumed that he was going to curry favor with some prince or minister, and sarcastically said, "Ambassador Liu has no time for proper business, but he is very good at being obsequious and flattering."
Ambassador Liu, red-faced and furious, argued with him, "This was ordered by the Regent."
Others who become ambassadors for the Ordnance Bureau will be promoted after three years, but he stayed in that position for eight years.
Anyone skilled in petty and underhanded dealings would have been promoted long ago; how could they possibly still be stuck in the same place?
Because he had no backing and no connections, he was often ridiculed and mocked by his colleagues.
He had tolerated it all, but today he was wrongly accused of being obsequious and flattering, which really upset him.
"Don't talk nonsense!" How could Wang Yuanwailang believe it? "How could the Prince order you to do something? Look at your own character. Hurry up and finish making this batch of weapons, or don't blame me for impeaching you. You won't even be able to keep this ninth-rank ambassadorship."
When Tang Xinuan jumped off the carriage, she saw Ambassador Liu and Wang Yuanwailang arguing.
She had never seen an argument before, and found it all very interesting, so she moved closer to the two of them and stared at their expressions.
While listening to their argument, I analyzed what they were arguing about.
When Wang Yuanwailang saw that he was a stranger, he was about to scold him away when he saw Prince Duan walking over in a golden and precious manner.
Quickly kneel down and pay your respects.
Ambassador Liu blushed and saluted.
Prince Duan glanced at Wang Yuanwailang, knowing he was the Empress's man, and deliberately didn't let him get up, intending to make an example of him.
Just ask Ambassador Liu, "Are the weapons ready?"
Ambassador Liu got up and held up the large wooden box, saying, "I was just about to send it to the Prince."
Prince Duan said happily, "Let's find a place to try it out."
The group returned to the Ordnance Bureau's test firing range.
Except for Master Wang.
The prince did not tell him to get up, so he could only kneel obediently.
He couldn't help but feel a surge of anger; he was determined to tell the Grand Tutor about this and have him ask the Empress to deal with Prince Duan.
And that regent!
Ambassador Liu opened the wooden box and took out the weapon that he had spent nearly two months of his life working on.
"Your Highness, please take a look and see if its power is sufficient."
Tang Xinuan was overjoyed to see the weapons on the blueprints become real objects.
"Let me see, let me see."
She rushed to grab the weapon, but Ambassador Liu stopped her, saying, "Young lady, be careful. This weapon is too powerful and could easily injure you."
Tang Xinuan opened her eyes wide in surprise, "You know I'm a girl?"
Ambassador Liu smiled and said, "The young lady is beautiful and intelligent. Although she is dressed as a man, her words and actions reveal the elegance and beauty of a woman. She is not a man at all."
Tang Xinuan didn't know how he figured it out.
However, he was the first person to realize that she was a woman disguised as a man.
Of course, Chu Yanqing is an exception, because the two grew up together and are extremely familiar with each other.
"Lord Liu, you are so clever!"
Even someone as intelligent as Sun Qingzhao couldn't tell she was a woman; it seems Ambassador Liu is even more so.
Next, Prince Duan tested the weapon.
Following Ambassador Liu's instructions, he pressed the mechanism on the weapon, and with a whoosh, a steel needle shot towards the target he had aimed at, faster than a meteor or lightning.
Then there was a clang, and the target was pierced through a large hole.
If the target were a person, they would be crippled or killed.
"What power!" Prince Duan couldn't help but praise.
Tang Xinuan was overjoyed, "Let me try it, let me try it."
Prince Duan was not yet familiar with the process and dared not operate recklessly, so he ordered Ambassador Liu to teach her.
Ambassador Liu was reluctant: "This thing is too powerful..."
Prince Duan laughed and said, "It's alright. This was originally made for her. Just teach her, but make sure she doesn't hurt herself."
Ambassador Liu carefully instructed Tang Xinuan.
However, the weapon's design blueprints were revised and modified by Tang Xinuan, so she could operate it without Ambassador Liu's instruction.
Moreover, he is more skilled and accurate in his actions than Duan Wang.
After she successfully inserted two steel needles, Ambassador Liu couldn't help but praise her, "The young lady is truly clever."
Xiaoqian was even happier than if she had been praised herself: "Ambassador Liu, you don't know, this blueprint was drawn by my young master."
Ambassador Liu simply couldn't believe it.
His master designed the blueprints back then, but he couldn't make them no matter what he tried.
After being modified by a little girl, she created such a powerful weapon, which shows how intelligent she is.
"I wonder if Young Master Han would be interested in learning about other weapons?"
Tang Xinuan had finally come to the Armory, so she naturally wanted to have a great time. "Okay, what good stuff do you have here? Come and take a look."
Next, Ambassador Liu showed Tang Xinuan almost his entire unfinished work.
“Young Master Han, look at this,” he pointed to a pile of iron lumps for Tang Xinuan to see, and then handed her the blueprints. “Unfortunately, I’ve tried many times but it still doesn’t work.”
After looking at the blueprints, Tang Xinuan squatted down next to the iron lump and pondered.
"Why use such a heavy iron ball? It would be much better to use gunpowder instead."
“Gunpowder,” Ambassador Liu was startled by the young girl’s casual remark, “that can kill people.”
Tang Xinu smiled innocently, "Isn't war all about taking lives?"
Ambassador Liu: "..."
His words were like a wake-up call: "Young Master Han, you are truly too clever."
Tang Xinuan was genuinely happy to hear people praise her intelligence.
However, this joy was interrupted by the arrival of a familiar voice.
"Ambassador Liu, make me a handy weapon, I need it in three days."
It was Chu Yannuo's voice.
Tang Xinuan was startled and quickly lowered her head to peek out from beside the metal lump.
Chu Yannuo was less than ten feet away from her; he only needed to walk a few more steps to see her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
