Chapter 326 The Blueprints of the Divine Machine Battalion Leaked
Zhou Congxian's hand, which was holding the egg, suddenly froze.
The smile on his face was almost impossible to maintain.
Meng Xingjiang snorted coldly and put down his chopsticks. The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a heavy hammer blow to Zhou Congxian's heart.
Meng Shilan quickly smoothed things over, "Father had important matters to discuss with your uncle last night and slept in the guest courtyard."
"Discuss important matters?" Fu'er blinked her big eyes, looking completely innocent. "Then why did Uncle see Father this morning and his eyes and nose didn't look like eyes or noses?"
"Cough cough!"
Zhou Congxian choked on a mouthful of porridge and coughed violently.
Meng Xingjiang's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
"Do not speak while eating or sleeping."
He spoke in a deep voice, his gaze sharp as a knife as he swept it towards Fu'er.
Fu'er shrank back under his gaze, lowered her head in grievance, and dared not speak again.
"Alright, Xingjiang."
"Although the marriage is a temporary measure, it is also a wise decision made by His Majesty."
That's true.
Meng Yushan, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.
He put down the soup bowl, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and looked at Zhou Congxian again.
"The child's words, though naive, are also reasonable."
“Face is face, substance is substance. Jiang’er is my brother, and his concerns are not wrong.”
"Let's pick a day, just the two of us as a family."
“If you properly perform the ancestral rituals and pay your respects, then this matter will be settled.”
Zhou Congxian immediately put down his chopsticks, stood up, and bowed respectfully.
"Grandfather's reprimand is correct; it was the son-in-law who did not consider things carefully."
He was sincere and offered no explanation.
"My son-in-law decided yesterday that he will go to the Imperial Observatory today to ask them to choose the nearest auspicious day for him and Shi Lan to hold their wedding ceremony."
Meng Yushan nodded in satisfaction.
He then looked at Meng Xingjiang, "Xingjiang, your maternal grandfather understands your heart for protecting your sister."
"But Cong Xian is, after all, the child's father and the son-in-law acknowledged by the Meng family. We must not go too far in anything."
Meng Xingjiang lowered his eyes, cupped his hands, and said, "I understand."
Facing this maternal grandfather whom they had only recently come to know.
He had long since stopped resisting.
An invisible battle was dissolved by Meng Yushan's few words.
After breakfast, the servants cleared away the bowls and plates.
Meng Shilan took the children to the yard to digest their food.
Only Meng Yushan, Meng Xingjiang, and Zhou Congxian remained in the flower hall.
The atmosphere, which had been tense and undercurrents, became serious.
Meng Yushan spoke first, but asked about something else entirely.
"Xingjiang, His Majesty has transferred you to the Divine Machine Battalion. What are the procedures?"
Meng Xingjiang's expression turned solemn as he replied, "Grandfather, His Majesty intends to reorganize the Divine Machine Battalion and develop new firearms to deal with the dangers on the border."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Congxian frowned slightly.
He remembered the musket that Xiao Lin had brought that night.
"Brother-in-law," he said, no longer concerned with personal matters, but instead asked in a deep voice, "how much do you know about firearms?"
Meng Xingjiang glanced at him, his expression grave.
“When I was in office in Ding County, I seized a batch of privately manufactured firearms. Although they were crudely made, their power should not be underestimated.”
"I suspect that someone is secretly improving firearms."
These words made Zhou Congxian's heart sink.
He said in a deep voice, "Ding County is a subordinate county of Yuzhou, and Yuzhou is the fiefdom of King Cheng. This matter is inextricably linked to him!"
Meng Yushan listened quietly, and at this moment, a cold glint flashed in his aged eyes.
"Since the founding of the nation, the Shenji Battalion has been jointly managed by the Ministry of War and the Inner Court, and its core blueprints can only be viewed by the emperor."
"Where did Xiao Shu, a mere vassal king, obtain a musket? And who has the ability to manufacture such a weapon?"
The old Duke hit the nail on the head, pointing directly to the core of the problem.
In Zhou Congxian's mind, Xiao Shu's ambitious face appeared.
"Among the princes, Xiao Shu is the most powerful. His fiefdom is near the mines, and he has long harbored rebellious intentions..."
Meng Xingjiang immediately realized, "Cheng Wang has already planted an inside agent in the mine!"
"I was working in the mine, taking every precaution I could, thinking I was absolutely safe..."
Zhou Congxian shook his head. "I have no evidence."
"However, we must be wary."
"And the Divine Machine Battalion's blueprints have been leaked; this is a matter of great importance!"
For a moment, the flower hall fell into silence.
The wind and snow outside the window seemed to have intensified.
An invisible pressure loomed over everyone's hearts.
Meng Xingjiang and Zhou Congxian exchanged a glance, and their past grievances were completely resolved.
In the face of matters of national importance, the awkwardness of personal feelings seems so insignificant.
They all understood that the situation in the capital was about to change.
Meng Xingjiang's return to Beijing has put him in the eye of the storm.
"I see."
Meng Xingjiang slowly spoke, breaking the silence.
"Your Majesty has entrusted the Divine Machine Battalion to me; I will certainly not fail your grace."
"I will investigate the origin of this musket thoroughly!"
His tone was firm and resolute.
Zhou Congxian looked at him and nodded solemnly.
"Speak up if you need anything."
"We are, after all, family."
He emphasized those last four words.
Meng Xingjiang was taken aback, and then, the corners of his tightly clenched lips seemed to turn up slightly.
Just then, the butler hurriedly walked in from outside.
"Lord Duke, General He and several of his sons have come to pay their respects."
The atmosphere in the flower hall changed completely.
The He family has arrived.
Meng Yushan stood up. "Let's go, everyone come with me to greet them."
A rare hint of unease appeared on Meng Xingjiang's face.
Seeing this, Zhou Congxian mischievously leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Brother-in-law, could it be... that you're feeling nervous about returning home?"
Meng Xingjiang glared at him, but his ears turned slightly red.
The group arrived at the gate of the mansion.
Several magnificent horses were seen parked outside the gate, led by a middle-aged man in a scarlet official robe with a refined appearance—He Wenting.
Behind him were three tall, upright young men.
Each of them was imposing and handsome, and their features bore a resemblance to He Wenting. They were none other than the three young masters of the He family: He Xun, He Xuan, and He Zhuo.
Meng Xingjiang looked back.
He Ran did not come.
"Lord Meng".
Upon seeing Meng Yushan, He Wenting immediately stepped forward and respectfully bowed.
"We're all family, please come in." Meng Yushan smiled and helped him up.
After exchanging pleasantries, He Wenting's gaze fell on Meng Xingjiang.
That look in his eyes was like a father-in-law looking at his son-in-law, becoming more and more satisfied the more he looked.
"Xingjiang, you must have had a long and tiring journey back to Beijing."
"Uncle He." Meng Xingjiang bowed respectfully, his posture neither humble nor arrogant.
The three He brothers also came forward to greet Meng Xingjiang and Zhou Congxian.
The group entered the flower hall chatting and laughing, and took their seats as guests and hosts.
The servants served fragrant tea and snacks.
He Wenting and Meng Yushan discussed the political situation in the court, and every now and then, the conversation would turn to Meng Xingjiang.
"His Majesty has high hopes for Xingjiang's takeover of the Divine Machine Camp."
Meng Xingjiang humbly replied, "I am merely fulfilling my duty as a subject and dare not fail Your Majesty's grace."
"You can't say that," He Wenting waved his hand.
"The Divine Machine Battalion is a vital national asset, and it has always been a mixed bag of people. Without some ruthless methods, it would be impossible to keep order."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
