Chapter 73 Obtaining Gunpowder

“Miss, Xiao Wuzai has brought the items out.”

Qing Dai said happily.

Shu Yuwan brightened up: “Take him to the front hall. I want to see him in person.”

“Yes, Miss.”

When Shu Yuwan arrived in the front hall, as soon as she entered, a young man of about fifteen or sixteen years old knelt down and knocked his head respectfully: “Greetings, Miss.”

“Get up quickly. You’ve worked hard.”

The young man showed a simple smile: “It’s no trouble at all. It’s my good fortune to work for the Miss.”

Without the Miss, his sister would have died from illness.

Being able to repay the Miss’s kindness made him feel at ease.

Thinking this, Xiao Wuzai took out two round paper tubes from his bosom: “Miss, these are the things that Zhao Qing Qing hiding. I saw them with my own eyes. These things explode when they come into contact with fire, creating a pit in the ground. The steward calls it gunpowder. But it’s not perfected yet. Sometimes it won’t ignite, sometimes it explodes too violently, and sometimes it doesn’t explode at all. Previously, someone ignited it too close and it suddenly exploded, killing the person.”

“Zhao Qing Qing has confined all the people making this stuff in a village and stationed guards to prevent anyone from leaving. However, a few days ago, for some unknown reason, the steward hurriedly moved both the people and the materials to the mountain. The people from the Anding Marquis also came to trouble the steward. I took this opportunity to sneak out.”

Shu Yuwan and Qing Dai understood what was going on immediately.

“I see. Hand the items over to me.”

“You’ve made a great contribution. Here’s a reward one hundred taels of silver,” Shu Yuwan said, quickly stand up.

“Thank you, Miss.” Xiao Wuzai was very happy. With this hundred taels, his sister would have a dowry when she gets married, and he would also have money to find a wife.

Seeing this, Shu Yuwan smiled: “In a few days, I’ll let you go home to see your sister. For now, stay in the mansion for a few days until we settle this matter.”

“Yes, Miss.”

…

Shu Yuwan was examining the gunpowder barrels that Xiao Wuzai had brought back.

Qing He came in and said: “Miss, the eldest master has arrived.”

Shu Yuyang then walked in: “What does my sister need me for?”

Shu Yuwan handed the items to Shu Yuyang: “Elder Brother, please deliver these to the Crown Prince along with this letter, as soon as possible.”

Seeing Shu Yuwan’s serious expression, Shu Yuyang smiled: “You’re about to get married in a few days. Why can’t this wait until after the wedding? You can’t wait a few more days and still need me to act as a messenger.”

Shu Yuwan ignored him and continued to instruct: “These items must never be exposed to fire. They will explode and can be deadly.”

She then explained how the items were obtained and their uses.

Shu Yuyang immediately understood the situation.

“Keep the person who brought the gunpowder with you.”

Shu Yuwan nodded.

“I’ll go right away.” Shu Yuyang said, then promptly headed towards the Palace.

Upon reaching the Palace, the Crown Prince was also surprised after hearing Shu Yuyang “I wondered why Fifth Brother placed such importance on a merchant’s daughter. I didn’t expect this merchant’s daughter would actually have something so significant.”

“Your Highness, the urgent matter now is to send someone to secretly control all the people involved in the research and production of gunpowder on that mountain, to ensure that Fifth Brother doesn’t get it.”

The Crown Prince nodded: “Jun Liu, take people with you.”

“Make sure to secure both the people and the items,” the Crown Prince instructed.

Jun Liu accepted the order and, with the Crown Prince’s letter in hand, first went to the Shu residence to find Shu Yuwan. After retrieving Xiao Wuzai, he quickly proceeded to the place where Zhao Qing Qing was making the gunpowder.

Once Jun Liu had left, Shu Yuyang expressed his concern: “Your Highness, what about Zhao Qing Qing? After she killed An Shaoyu, she vanished, and the Anding Marquis still hasn’t been able to find her.”

“Could it be that the Fifth Prince has hidden her away? As long as she remains with the Fifth Prince, he will still have access to the method of making gunpowder.”

Although Shu Yuwan had mentioned Zhao Qing Qing, the Crown Prince had not paid much attention to her.

They still didn’t know where Zhao Qing Qing was.

“Ah Qing.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Send people to keep an eye on Zhao’s residence, the Anding Marquis, the Peng Minister’s residence, and the Jin residence.” After giving this order to Ah Qing, the Crown Prince turned to Shu Yuyang and added, “Go back and ask Yuwan if she might know something.”

Shu Yuyang was surprised: “Sister?”

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow with a smile: “See, we didn’t know, but Zhao Qing Qing was secretly hiding this stuff, and she already has it in her hands.”

Shu Yuyang thought this made a lot of sense: “I’ll go back right away.”

After bowing to the Crown Prince, Shu Yuyang hurriedly returned, reflecting on how he had become a messenger for both the Crown Prince and his sister.

But this role wouldn’t last much longer.

After Shu Yuyang left, the Crown Prince asked Ah Qing: “What has Fifth Brother been up to recently?”

Ah Qing replied: “A few days ago, Fifth Prince secretly left the palace and visited the Peng Minister’s residence.”

Since Shu Yuwan had alerted the Crown Prince to pay attention to the Fifth Prince, the Crown Prince had stationed spies to monitor him. They had also placed people in the Palace, but since they need to be very cautious, the spies could only be stationed in the outer courtyard and couldn’t enter the inner palace.

Upon hearing Ah Qing’s report, the Crown Prince speculated that Zhao Qing Qing was most likely hiding in the Peng Minister’s residence.

Several hours later.

When Shu Yuyang returned with his report, confirming that Zhao Qing Qing had gone to  Blue Stone Alley after killing An Shaoyu, it was further confirmed.

It’s already evening and Jun Liu also returned.

Jun Liu’s eyes revealed an uncontrollable excitement.

As the leader of the secret guards, Jun Liu usually maintained a cold demeanor and rarely showed such emotions. The Crown Prince immediately became interested: “How was it?”

Jun Liu’s voice was filled with excitement: “Your Highness, this item is truly incredible! I have never seen such a weapon before! It is completely different from knives, swords, and crossbows, and its power is extremely strong.”

“With this, the odds of victory in battles will greatly increase!”

“I have sent all the people and items from the village to the Plum Blossom Mountain Villa without leaving anything behind.”

“Good. Find a suitable opportunity for me to see it in person,” the Crown Prince said, also looking forward to it.

However, with only five days left until his wedding with Shu Yuwan, although the Minister of Rites was handling the preparations, he still needed to keep a close eye on things. With no Empress Dowager to manage things for him and his father preoccupied with state affairs, he had to be more involved himself. He didn’t want Shu Yuwan to feel wronged.

“Send a few people to keep watch over the Peng residence,” the Crown Prince instructed Jun Liu.