Chapter 28: Volume 1 Chapter 28 The Silent Crown Prince

Cang Yun thought for a moment and nodded, "Because we ran into her not far from Ya Xing, she should see it. Young lady, is there any problem?"

Rong Luoge gave a slight nod, "Mingcui is at odds with you and resents me for driving her away, so she'll definitely want revenge on us. Although we can't intervene in Ya Xing, places like Zhen Guo Gong Fu have many dealings with them, so pulling some strings is very easy."

Cang Yun was startled, then thought, "Young lady, you make sense. I went to buy people this morning; I could have selected a few on the spot, but then a Ya Xing official appeared and said the people weren't ready yet, so he let the servant pick them in the afternoon. Now that I think about it, there's indeed a problem. What should we do? Should the servant send the people back?"

Rong Luoge shook her head, "Since we've already bought them, where could they go if we send them back now? Even if the Duchess Who Guards the State wants to plant a spy, not all three can be it. You should watch them covertly, see which one is the spy, and we can turn the plan to our advantage."

Cang Yun said with a hint of guilt, "If I had known, when I saw Mingcui I should have pretended not to see her and not fought her."

"You think that if you don't beat her, just seeing her won't lead to scheming? Someone like her won't change." Rong Luoge comforted, "By the way, I've bought a large house; we need to move, but this problem has arisen, so these few must stay here for now, and you'll have to stay here for a while as well."

Cang Yun was first surprised that the young lady bought a house, then hearing her words realized she didn't want Guo Gong Fu to learn about the new home. He immediately said, "The servant can stay, no problem, but what if there's no one to attend to you?"

"It's only for a short time, nothing to worry about." Rong Luoge added that she wasn't truly an ancient miss who must be attended; she came from the later world, fully capable of taking care of herself.

Without Cang Yun, it would indeed feel a bit busier for a while.

Cang Yun left, both happy and worried, determined to root out the spy soon, so she could quickly return to the young lady's side.

Rong Luoge slept a beautiful nap, got up before dawn to draw diagrams; the main issue with fire‑type weapons is still gunpowder, and the weapon designs are heavy.

She couldn't monopolize gunpowder, and with her current status and strength, not to mention monopolizing, even producing it is difficult.

Selling gunpowder to Luo Xian isn't a big issue; he can obtain the formula, but maximizing its effect still depends on his own weapons, unless Luo Xian can find a weapon master stronger than her.

Of course, such a situation doesn't exist now; after all, countless experiences of historical predecessors pave her mind, so no one can surpass her for at least three to five years.

She entered the study, picked up a brush, and the Divine Fire Arrow could only launch one arrow at a time, a basic version. She believed the Crown Prince would learn of the Divine Fire Arrow soon, and of course she would give the Crown Prince a more powerful version.

Thinking it over, she recalled the Forty‑nine Arrow Feilian Arrow: a thing made of a bamboo cage, hollow inside, round opening, about four feet long, the exterior coated with paper, containing forty‑nine arrows inside.

Thin iron serves as the tip, rolled paper as the tube, five inches long, bound to paper, launched with the wind, its trajectory like flying smoke—truly astonishing. If pre‑loaded with burning arsenic and bitter bean as ignition, the struck person's flesh will rot, blood will seal the throat, and if attached to an object it will ignite and burn.

Rong Luoge wrote while thinking; if the diagram was slightly off she had to redraw it, and after a busy whole day she finally produced a draft.

These primitive weapons stem from her own keen interest in studying them; people like them sometimes cannot carry hot weapons for certain missions, and these ancient formulas can dazzle the senses. She never expected they would one day become a means of livelihood.

It shows that one must keep learning; mastering an extra skill provides another path.

The hardships endured while learning in the past will turn into honey on the road of growth, becoming your driving force.

She had sat all day, barely moving except when eating; now her neck, waist, and back felt sore and stiff. She pushed open the door and stepped out, seeing Cang Yun standing guard outside. Upon seeing her, he hurried up, "Young lady, you finally came out."

"Anything?" Rong Luoge, irritated by the interruption while drawing, told Cang Yun not to disturb her unless it was important.

"He Huyuan has already taken care of the matter; knowing you're busy, they first moved the items away, and the servant wants to ask you whether the rear courtyard storeroom items should be moved as well." Cang Yun said hurriedly.

"Move them." Rong Luoge replied. She will reside in Xi Cheng long term; if no one is here, how can the items be safe left here?

"Then the servant will go to the front courtyard to inform He Huyuan."

"Go." Rong Luoge waved her hand, then strolled slowly along the corridor to loosen her stiff limbs. Though the house isn't large, it's actually comfortable to live in; unfortunately she doesn't wish to interact much with Han Yifeng and the people of Zhen Guo Gong Fu, so moving away is better.

It's a pity she spent silver to renovate this place, and now she has to leave after only a few days.

In no time, not only did Cang Yun return, but Jing Chu followed behind him.

"Greetings, young lady." Jing Chu stepped forward to pay his respects, "He Huai is busy and cannot come to report, so he asked me to come and tell you about the matters over there."

Rong Luoge nodded, "How is it?"

"The original owner still lives there, so no repairs are needed, but the subordinate asks how you wish to handle the items in the main courtyard?" Jing Chu thought that, given the young lady's temperament, she probably wouldn't use things that others have used.

Indeed, the young lady said, "Replace them. Isn't there a set of furniture in the dowry? Use that for now; if you like the relocated main rooms, you can move them in, and if you don't want them, sell them and convert the proceeds into silver."

Jing Chu nodded, "The main courtyard furniture is made of fine wood; selling it would be a waste, better to place it in the side hall of the front courtyard for receiving guests."

"Alright, you and He Huai handle it as you see fit." Rong Luoge was indifferent to these trivial matters, "Is everything over there tidied up?"

"Everything is properly arranged; since it's a residence, no major work is needed. Young lady, will you move there tomorrow?"

"Move." Rong Luoge nodded. Chu Ke's hand had already reached here; living here requires vigilance, so it's better to move out first; this way, Cang Yun can quickly uncover which one is the spy.

After all, once she moves, the spy will surely want to know where she went; as soon as she moves, Cang Yun can catch her.

Jing Chu was about to take his leave when Rong Luoge called him, "Do you have any other business now?"

"Nothing for now, young lady, what orders do you have?" Jing Chu stopped his feet and said.

"There's nothing major; since He Huai is busy, you should go to Dong Gong for me and deliver a letter." Rong Luoge said as she returned to the study, placed the diagram into an envelope and sealed it, then took out a token and handed it to Jing Chu as she left.

Jing Chu was astonished, "Go to Dong Gong?"

"What relation does the young lady have with the Crown Prince?"

Though curious, he didn't ask and, after packing the items, headed out toward Dong Gong.

The Crown Prince, just back at Dong Gong, received Rong Luoge's letter; upon opening it, he fell silent at once.