flstandardbreds Chapter 308: The Relationship Between the Third Prince and Gu Junze?
Chapter 308: The Relationship Between the Third Prince and Gu Junze?
The details of the negotiations were like a bucket of ice water poured over the head of the pilgrimage hall in the capital.
The battle report, delivered by fast horse, detailed Duan Qingye's arrogant words.
The emperor's face turned from pale to purple, and he slammed the battle report to the ground!
"Insanity!"
"Shuzi is arrogant!"
The emperor's roar echoed throughout the hall, "Duan Qingye! A mere warrior, how dare you humiliate me like this!"
"You dare to insult the Eastern Jin Dynasty, saying it has no one to rely on?!"
His chest heaved violently, and his eyes burned with fury.
"Not an inch or a single centimeter of the territory of my Eastern Jin Dynasty shall be lost in my hands!"
Inside the main hall, there was absolute silence; you could hear a pin drop.
Prince Su stepped forward, his voice steady, yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible excitement.
"Father, calm down."
"Duan Qingye is nothing but a clown, just good at talking."
"Your subject believes that since Zheng is being ungrateful, we need not tolerate it any longer."
He turned slightly to the side, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials in the hall.
"The 'weapon of mass destruction' that the Military Intelligence Bureau has spent countless efforts developing is now almost ready."
"It's time to open the eyes of those barbarians from Zheng and let them know that our Eastern Jin is not a pushover!"
Prince Su's voice suddenly rose, carrying a chilling killing intent.
"Only by thoroughly frightening and crippling them will these jackals and tigers dare not covet our borders again!"
This statement immediately drew the agreement of many military officers.
"His Highness Prince Su is absolutely right!"
"It's time to teach Zheng a lesson!"
However, amidst the rousing cheers, an untimely figure slowly emerged.
The man was dressed in a faded monk's robe, which seemed out of place in the magnificent and menacing court.
The third prince clasped his hands together, twirling the prayer beads in his fingers, his face calm and undisturbed.
"May Buddha have mercy. Such excessive killing will inevitably bring karmic consequences and may harm the harmony of Heaven. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider."
Upon hearing this, Prince Su's face darkened, and a hint of disgust flashed in his eyes.
"Third brother!"
Prince Su snorted coldly, "What do you mean by that?"
"On the battlefield, it's either you die or I live. Are you going to show mercy to the enemy?"
"Father is the Son of Heaven, blessed by Heaven. What is there to fear about karma?"
"Are you saying this to curse Father Emperor?"
It's such a big hat to put on.
The Third Prince lowered his eyelids and said, "Amitabha."
This unyielding attitude completely ignited the emperor's already suppressed anger.
"Rebel!"
The emperor grabbed another scroll of memorials from the table and slammed it down at the feet of the third prince!
The memorials were scattered and fell onto the edge of the plain-colored monk's robe.
"When the nation is in peril, instead of thinking of sharing the nation's burdens, you are here spreading rumors and misleading the public!"
"You disobedient and unfilial brat!"
"Go back to your scriptures!"
The third prince bent down, silently picked up the memorial from the ground, and returned it to the eunuch with both hands.
He then bowed, turned around, and slowly walked out of the main hall amidst the varied gazes of the crowd.
A smug smile appeared on Prince Su's lips, but it vanished in an instant.
"Preach my will!"
"Order the Military Affairs Department to immediately transport all artillery shells to the Pingzhou front line!"
"No mistakes!"
Upon seeing this, all the officials in the hall knelt down, exclaiming, "Your Majesty is wise!"
The third prince walked out of the pilgrimage hall, but did not leave in a hurry. Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back under the corridor.
His attendant asked in a low voice, "Master, what should we do now?"
The Third Prince gently twirled the prayer beads, his eyes slightly lowered.
"Send news of today's court meeting to Jing'an Residence."
The attendant was taken aback upon hearing this, and said hesitantly, "Does Madam Gu have a solution? Besides, didn't the young master say that she is pregnant and you should take care of her?"
The Third Prince suddenly stopped holding the prayer beads in his hand. "Go ahead and do it. She will pass the message on to Gu Junze herself."
"Yes." The attendant acknowledged the order and hurried away.
The Third Prince watched him leave, his eyes revealing a deep emotion.
As the sage said, "The benevolent love others." Compassion is a quality inherent in all people.
He looked up at the sky, where the clouds were light and the wind was gentle, but now a storm was brewing.
Hopefully, Gu Junze can stop all of this...
When Chu Ruohan received the news, her heart sank.
She got up almost without hesitation and hurried to Du Ruoling's residence.
At that moment, Du Ruoling was staring blankly out the window, her brows furrowed with an unyielding sorrow.
Gu Cheng'an is still on the front lines in Pingzhou.
When Chu Ruohan conveyed the emperor's decree, Du Ruoling's face turned deathly pale.
She stood up abruptly, her voice trembling.
"No! We have to find someone to send a message right away!"
"Tell Cheng'an to run! Run as far as possible!"
Chu Ruohan grabbed her arm, her expression serious.
"Calm down."
"Gu Cheng'an isn't the only one who wants to run away."
"Once that thing explodes in Pingzhou, the entire city, hundreds of thousands of its inhabitants, and... the soldiers of both countries will all be reduced to ashes!"
"That would be a true catastrophe, a living hell!"
Du Ruoling paused, her face draining even more of its color.
She irritably shook off Chu Ruohan's hand and paced back and forth in the room.
Yes, how could she forget?
When she presented the blueprints for this cannon in order to climb the social ladder, all she cared about was her own future and wealth.
"Then... what should we do?" Du Ruoling's voice trembled, on the verge of tears.
"I...I really didn't think that much at the time..."
Chu Ruohan took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
"It's too late to say all this now."
Do you have any antidote for the poisonous smoke from those cannons?
Du Ruoling shook her head blankly.
"No."
"I was only responsible for providing the initial concept and some blueprints. The subsequent improvements and the formulation of the toxic smoke were all done by those people in the Military Affairs Department. I had no access to the core of it at all."
Chu Ruohan's heart sank, but she did not despair.
"Then... what about the powder used to make the poisonous smoke?"
"It's just the most basic raw material."
Du Ruoling's eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed again.
"The powder... the powder should all be under strict guard by the military intelligence department."
She bit her lip, a resolute glint in her eyes.
"However, I'm familiar with the Military Intelligence Bureau; I can find a way to get it!"
A glimmer of hope ignited in Chu Ruohan's eyes.
"it is good!"
Without delay, the two exchanged a glance and immediately set off for the Military Affairs Office.
The Military Affairs Office was heavily guarded, but the artillery was originally a "contribution" made by Du Ruoling.
As she was also a princess personally appointed by the emperor, she frequently visited the Grand Council, where the officials were quite familiar with her.
The guard at the gate checked my waist tag and respectfully let me through.
Upon entering the inner courtyard, familiar officials came to greet them.
"The princess is here."
The official's gaze lingered briefly on Chu Ruohan behind Du Ruoling, with a hint of inquiry.
"Ah."
Du Ruoling nodded, trying to appear calm and casual in her tone.
"I just came to check on things, you guys go about your business."