Chapter 151

The explosion was so loud.

Even Zhu Yuanzhang in the Forbidden City heard it clearly.

A large contingent of the Embroidered Uniform Guard flooded into the Fengtian Hall in an instant.

"Protect Your Majesty!"

"Protect Your Majesty!"

The entire Qianqing Palace descended into chaos.

Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table with a "Bang!" and rose, shouting sternly.

"What are you panicking about!"

"The Tatars haven't crossed the Yellow River yet; the sky hasn't fallen!"

"Jiang Huan, where is Jiang Huan?!"

Shortly after, Jiang Huan, who was on duty in the palace, hurriedly walked into the great hall.

"Your Majesty, I have already sent people to investigate."

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang finally plopped down onto the dragon throne.

Zhu Di in the chat group also looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with some confusion and asked.

"Father, is everything alright on your end? It's the twenty-fourth year of Hongwu; I recall there were no major incidents in the capital."

Zhu Yuanzhang crossed his legs, speaking to Zhu Di with disdain, while also addressing Jiang Huan before him.

"Does this even need investigating?!"

"The Imperial Armory Bureau, the Bureau of Military Equipment's Office of Armories, and the Five Military Commissions' Firearms Camp—those three places. It must be some poor soul who set off the gunpowder again!"

Jiang Huan, however, kept his head bowed and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, saying.

"Your Majesty, I just returned from duty at the Imperial Armory Bureau. It shouldn't be the Imperial Armory Bureau. The Bureau of Military Equipment's Office of Armories and the Firearms Camp are both outside the city; logically, there shouldn't be such a commotion."

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression inevitably became more interested.

"Truly not the Armory Bureau?"

Old Zhu had actually already concluded that the Armory Bureau was responsible for the commotion.

After Jiang Huan's reminder.

Zhu Yuanzhang finally came to his senses.

The direction of the sound indeed did not seem to be the Armory Bureau.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang's brows inevitably furrowed tightly.

"Where in the inner city could there be so much gunpowder?"

Jiang Huan bowed his head and said.

"I am investigating."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly.

Before Old Zhu could sit down again.

two Embroidered Uniform Guards, covered in dust and grime, rushed hurriedly into the Qianqing Palace.

"Grand Commander, Grand Commander, there is an incident in the Guard."

Jiang Huan's brows tightened, and he immediately scolded sternly.

"Do you not see that this Commander is currently investigating the loud boom within the city?"

"Grand Commander, that loud boom is from our Guard. It is the Imperial Prison! The Imperial Prison has been blown open with a huge hole; all the brothers in the Guard have gone there!"

The moment the words fell.

Zhu Yuanzhang on the dragon throne shot up with a "Zeng!" sound.

"The Imperial Prison exploded?!"

"Jiang Huan, how are you performing your duties!"

Zhu Youjian in the chat group also could not sit still.

Emperor Sizong Lie:

"The Imperial Prison? No, Great-Grandfather, is this the same Imperial Prison?"

"Why can't I blow it up?"

Emperor Chengzu Wen:

"You ask me, who should I ask? Logically, the Imperial Prison in Jin Ling should be of better quality than the one in the north..."

Hearing the words of those Embroidered Uniform Guards, a "Buzz!" sound rang through Jiang Huan's brain.

He involuntarily knelt to the ground.

"This subordinate deserves death ten thousand times over. The firearms in the Guard..."

Jiang Huan looked up in confusion and said to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Your Majesty, our Embroidered Uniform Guard has only a few hand cannons, totaling just a hundred or so jin of gunpowder, which are stored in different places. How could this sound be so loud?"

Before Jiang Huan could finish speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang shot up from the dragon throne with a "Zeng!" sound.

"How are the prisoners in the dungeon?!"

"Is Su Qiao still in the dungeon?!"

The moment Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, Jiang Huan's face instantly turned deathly pale.

"Your Majesty, do not panic. This subordinate will immediately send people..."

Before Jiang Huan could finish speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang kicked him.

"You still talk about sending people! Hurry and go with me to take a look."

"If anything happens to that boy Su Qiao, I will surely kill you!"

For Old Zhu.

Su Qiao was an ace in the hole.

For any state affair, he could provide a brand-new line of thought.

For an empire.

Such a strategic minister is something one can encounter but not seek out.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard in the palace immediately escorted Zhu Yuanzhang at a brisk pace to the Imperial Prison.

And at this moment, outside the gate of the Imperial Prison.

The common people had already gathered in full force to watch the spectacle.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard nearby had long since erected fences in a corner of the Imperial Prison.

Fortunately, the location of the explosion was quite far from the cells where the main criminals were held in the Imperial Prison.

Thus, the cells of the surrounding criminals remained relatively intact.

However, when Jiang Huan saw the Imperial Prison before him.

His face turned deathly pale in an instant.

"Your Majesty, this, this seems to be Lord Su's cell!"

Hearing this.

Zhu Yuanzhang's heart also gave a "thump."

"What?!"

"What are you all eating for?"

"Traitors are trying to break the prison with such a huge commotion, and you didn't notice?!"

To blow out such a large corner of the Imperial Prison.

It would take at least a hundred or so jin of black powder.

Even if packed in sacks, it would require a full sack.

Zhu Yuanzhang cursed a couple of times offhandedly and immediately rushed into the ruins with several members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

A moment later.

Zhu Yuanzhang found Su Qiao, who had been numbed by the shock, amidst a pile of rubble.

The hundred officials who had come upon hearing the noise felt a pang of jealousy in their hearts seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's concerned expression.

When had they ever seen Old Zhu act this way toward anyone else!

"Are you alright, you brat?!"

Su Qiao, lying in the rubble, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang's lips moving up and down with a bewildered expression.

He simply couldn't hear a single sound.