Chapter 29: Volume One, Chapter 29  Regret Turns My Guts Green

Volume One, Chapter 29  Regret Turns My Guts Green

Yu Yan, after learning that the Crown Prince had received Rong Luoge's letter, rushed over and sat in the outer hall of the study, looking rather restless.

He didn't know what Miss Rong had sent the Prince this time, and he was extremely curious.

Zhen Yun looked at his demeanor and couldn't help teasing, "Look at how you look now; if anyone saw you, they'd probably not recognize you."

Yu Yan gave Zhen Yun a white look, then said, "I have a feeling something good is happening."

As soon as Yu Yan finished speaking, the silent Hu Xi beside him also looked over; Yu Yan's intuition is sharp—if he says something good, it must be good.

Hu Xi exchanged a glance with Zhen Yun, and the two began to feel a bit hopeful.

After a while, they heard footsteps coming from the inner hall, and the few of them hurried to stand.

Han Xinglan emerged clutching a blueprint, meeting the three's eager gazes, and chuckled lightly, "You are quick with the news."

Yu Yan hurriedly said, "I just saw Jing Chu; I met him before at Zhenxing Escort Bureau and knew he went to Miss Rong's side on duty. When he arrived, I guessed Miss Rong might have sent a letter, so I couldn't sit still and came to wait for the Prince here."

Han Xinglan, hearing this, said nothing else, just placed the blueprint on the table, watching the three pounce like wolves and tigers; he lifted his teacup and sipped slowly.

The three stared at each other's faces after looking, and for a moment they didn't know how to speak.

"What? All silent?" Han Xinglan asked the others, looking at them.

"Prince, I… really don't know how to put it," Hu Xi clicked his tongue, "According to Miss Rong's letter, the gunpowder used for this item comes from the same source as firecrackers, but firecrackers only have great power after exploding, right? The gunpowder ratio probably isn't easy to formulate."

Firecrackers, everyone has seen them; who doesn't look for fun during the New Year?

But using the firecracker's core as a weapon inevitably reminds them of the Taoist priests in the temple who always blow up their furnaces.

If it were that easy to get a suitable ratio, would those alchemists keep blowing up their alchemy furnaces?

"Hu Xi makes a valid point; Miss Rong's idea is truly fanciful," Zhen Yun also disagreed, even feeling that Rong Luoge was seeking attention.

It can't be that something she imagined on a whim could actually be made to work and truly have the power she claims?

"Yu Yan, what do you think?" Han Xinglan asked, looking at the silent Yu Yan.

Yu Yan furrowed his brow, "Prince, I don't know how to put it; I think this matter is unreliable, but my intuition tells me we should try."

The Crown Prince nodded slightly, "Then let's try."

"Prince, the gunpowder formula?" Hu Xi asked hesitantly, "It's not written here."

Han Xinglan's expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "Rong Luoge sold it to Luo Xian."

The three: …

You look at me, I look at you; they were so startled they didn't know what to say. Well, impressive—Miss Rong truly has great skill and boldness.

"Zhen Yun, go fetch a copy from Luo Xian," Han Xinglan said rather nonchalantly, "Then go to the Imperial Villa outside the city to test it, without alerting anyone."

"Understood," Zhen Yun replied immediately, lifted a foot and walked out, heading straight to Zhenxing Escort Bureau.

Hu Xi exchanged a glance with Yu Yan, thought for a moment, then spoke up, "Prince, to forge this kind of Feilian Arrow, we need skilled artisans; pulling people from the Manufacturing Bureau would likely be noticed."

All renowned craftsmen of the Owl Kingdom are listed under the Manufacturing Bureau; if any move, the Emperor will know.

Yu Yan said, "Then we can secretly pick a few from the army; the Prince's guards are trustworthy."

"That will do," Han Xinglan nodded, "Retrieve the list of craftsmen within three hundred li of the capital; any not on the Manufacturing Bureau's list should be recorded."

"Understood," Hu Xi said, realizing the Prince was planning a major move; if Rong Luoge's submitted blueprint truly succeeds, assembling a team of artisans is indeed necessary.

He just couldn't understand; the Prince seemed to trust Rong Luoge so much that he assumed the blueprint could be realized without verification, which gave him a vague worry.

Moreover, Rong Luoge actually sold the gunpowder formula!

Just thinking about it makes him feel outraged; it's not just bold, it's recklessly daring!

After Hu Xi and Yu Yan stepped down, they would inevitably be very busy in the coming days.

Han Xinglan stood by the window, his wide‑sleeved robe trailing on the ground, the scorching sun filtering through the treetops and bathing the floor in gold; thinking of Rong Luoge, his eye color gradually deepened.

The contradictions within her are too many; calling it merely a disguise doesn't make sense, and beyond that, there is no other explanation that seems reasonable.

Especially now, the thing Rong Luoge presented makes him think it's beyond comprehension.

Since the advent of fireworks, the court's Manufacturing Bureau has been researching how to use gunpowder, but some error has made the success rate low; even occasional successes lack sufficient power, making them tasteless to consume and a pity to discard.

Moreover, the weapon Rong Luoge designed is eye‑catching; paired with gunpowder, the two become one, and just thinking of it suggests extraordinary power.

If he can master this, the Crown Prince's position will be as solid as Mount Tai; as for Prince Qi and Consort Ming, they won't pose such a huge threat anymore.

Rong Luoge…

Han Xinglan thought, Han Yifeng really fails to recognize a treasure; he tossed this gem away with his own hands. When Rong Luoge's true abilities are revealed later, he wonders if his younger brother will regret to the point his guts turn green.

Han Xinglan's eyes grew deeper; to make a woman give everything to a man, there is a most convenient path.

Han Xinglan considered himself not a gentleman, but recalling Rong Luoge's clear eyes, he abandoned the plan.

Never mind, with her intelligence, if she knew his ulterior motives, she'd likely turn against him immediately.

So, no rush; take it slow—like a frog boiled in warm water; that's his specialty.

He also recalled that when Rong Luoge bought a house, she unintentionally bought the one next to his; such a coincidence truly lifts his spirits.

The Dong Gong feels like a shackles, locked around his neck making it hard to breathe, so he bought a private residence in the merchant district of Xi Cheng as a retreat.

Previously he hadn't realized how good that place was, its advantage being seclusion, but now he no longer thinks so.

Never mind, he'll go see it tomorrow; perhaps he'll run into Rong Luoge, not knowing what expression she'll have upon seeing him.

Thinking of that scenario, even Han Xinglan's usually aloof nature couldn't help but feel a little anticipation.