After the morning court session, officials gradually left the palace.
Sima Qin did not return to his Residence; instead, he went to the Feather Forest Guard in the capital, intending to mobilize the city's patrols to assist in raiding the workshop near Dongzhi Gate.
At the palace gate, watching Sima Qin's carriage heading towards the Ministry of War, a black lacquered carriage revealed an extrely unpleasant face—War General Wu Fan. Sitting across from him was Zhang Lan, an official from the Ministry of Revenue, who had been standing behind him during the court session.
"General, Sima Qin has started investigating. What should we do?" Zhang Lan asked in a low voice, his gaze deep.
"Let's discuss it at ho!" Afraid of being overheard, Wu Fan quickly ordered the coachman to return to the General's Residence.
However, as soon as the two got off the carriage, they saw several servants at the gate limping back, carrying a stretcher with Wu Yuan lying unconscious.
"What's going on?!" Wu Fan, who was already annoyed, furrowed his brows tightly upon seeing this scene.
"Master, young master took us to fight soone today. Unexpectedly, that person had a powerful expert by his side who looked rejuvenated. We were all knocked unconscious."
A servant with a swollen face ca over, trembling as he explained Zhongren's ruthless beating.
"... When we woke up, we found the young master in this state, and that person was nowhere to be found."
Upon hearing this, Wu Fan erupted in anger. He kicked the servant away, "Take Yuan'er back to his room and then call the imperial physician! For the next month, he is absolutely not allowed to leave without my order!"
At the entrance of the General's Residence, Wu Fan roared like thunder. With the female Emperor's return and her investigation into his long-running secret operation of the black gunpowder workshop, things were already going south. This little brat didn't know whose expert he had provoked! If he hadn't already been crippled... Wu Fan would personally take action!
After calming his restless and irritable emotions for a while, Wu Fan and Zhang Lan finally entered his private chamber.
"General, now that Her Majesty has discovered it and Sima Qin is investigating, how should we respond to this situation?" Zhang Lan asked with a frown.
As an old mber of the military faction, he naturally understood the intricacies involved. When other officials investigate, you can easily buy them off.
But if Sima Qin is involved, a leader of the literati faction, who had been able to cooperate with Wu Fan for the benefit of the court, things beco complicated.
Once he catches Wu Fan's handle, it would be impossible for him to bend the rules.
"The black gunpowder workshop must not be discovered!" A glint flashed in Wu Fan's eyes. "The black fire inside the workshop is nothing special, but the people who make those weapons... are all craftsn from Great Yu!" Find your next read at empire
"If soone is caught, it's equivalent to confirming my treasonous cri!"
"Jiaqing will definitely not spare !"
Great Yu excelled in firearms. Six months ago, Wu Fan had secretly made connections with Great Yu and set up manufacturing points for firearms and weapons.
In his plan, if the female Emperor did not reappear within three months, he could still use the Imperial Order of Great Yu to gather the spies and assassins secretly placed in the capital of the Jing Nation by Great Yu. This would create a formidable private army!
When the ti cos, whether it's purging the court or enthroning a new emperor, he can single-handedly make the decisions! Zhang Lan knows all his plans.
Shaking his head at this mont, he sighed, "Indeed, if His Majesty learns of our sches, he will undoubtedly annihilate our entire clan!"
"But now... her unexpected return caught us off guard. Currently, we must first devise a way to deal with it!"
Wu Fan angrily took a breath, smashing his fist on the armrest of the sandalwood chair!
"There's no other way. To cover up this matter, we can only move everything out overnight..."
"If it's too late, then just detonate it!"
Wu Fan gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with resentnt. Detonate?! If a black gunpowder workshop were to truly explode, it would likely cause a massacre on the entire Dongzhi Street, resulting in countless casualties among ordinary people! Upon hearing this, Zhang Lan's eyes widened in surprise!
However, he also understood the principle that one cannot stand firm without being ruthless.
Compared to the lives of unrelated commoners, his own Nine Clans were more important.
Moreover, if it were to explode, Sima Qin, responsible for investigating this matter, would undoubtedly be implicated due to his failure in handling the situation—an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone!
Zhang Lan looked at Wu Fan, his gaze flickering a few tis, and nodded, "Very well, I'll take care of it tonight..."
"First, see if we can evacuate safely. If not... then we'll have to follow the General's suggestion!"
...
"Who is it, coming to the Imperial Guards so late at night?"
Wei Zhi was on duty that night. In a drowsy state, he heard a steady knocking on the door. Wrapping himself in a robe, he went out to see an old man wearing a purple robe and a first-rank black gauze crown!
"Lord Pri Minister!"
Wei Zhi's drowsiness vanished, and he hurriedly bowed.
"No need for formalities. His Majesty entrusted to investigate a private workshop. Take your patrol guards and co with ."
Sima Qin said calmly.
"Now?" Wei Zhi was sowhat surprised.
Who performs official duties late at night?
"Yes, ti is of the essence." Sima Qin didn't explain much.
He had already planned during the dayti; he must act tonight! The matters explained by the female Emperor in the court, even if no one acknowledged them, were undoubtedly the actions of the ministers.
The other party had already known that they would be investigated during the day and would surely move out early.
Tonight would be the perfect opportunity to block them!
As the Pri Minister, the first thing Sima Qin had to do upon the female Emperor's return was to personally handle the matters entrusted to him, resolving them as soon as possible to set an example for the officials.
At this mont, Wei Zhi raised a hundred patrol guards, lit torches, and followed Sima Qin toward the direction of Dongzhi Gate.
"Gu Brother, are you leaving now?" Seeing Gu Lan wearing a black face veil, revealing only his deep and spirited eyes, dressed in night clothes, the young Daoist asked excitedly, "Can I go with you?"
"You don't need to go. Help deal with your sister Dantie and Old Yang at the inn. If they ask, just say I went out for a breath of fresh air."
Gu Lan smiled and arranged. If it were an ordinary matter, bringing the younger brother along to experience it would be fine.
However, after estimating the entire workshop filled with blackfire, if an accidental explosion were to occur, Zhongren's King Realm cultivation might also be affected.
Since he had promised Elder Yunlong to take care of his apprentice, he couldn't let him take unnecessary risks.
Zhongren seed to ponder for a mont, his eyes brightening, "Oh! Big Brother Gu, this move is called... biding one's ti, right?"
"Uh..." The phrase doesn't seem to have that aning, but from a cautious perspective, it's not entirely wrong!
Gu Lan nodded, patting his head with the doll-like bun, "Take good care of the two of them for . I'll be back soon."
"Okay!"
...
On Dongzhi Street.
Inside the black gunpowder workshop.
"Hurry up with the relocation. If we don't finish before daybreak, we'll have to abandon these achievents and leave!" Zhang Lan's voice echoed lowly. According to his estimation, if they couldn't tidy up before tomorrow morning, detonating the workshop directly would be the most secure solution. At that ti, Sima Qin probably hadn't had a chance to arrive.
Even if he brought the patrol camp, all that would be left for him would be ruins!
Watching as sulfur and saltpeter were loaded onto the carts outside, Zhang Lan breathed a sigh of relief, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
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