Chapter 277: Harming Others for Self-Interest
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Building her own bed crossbows… Could such a delicate young girl have the courage and determination? Yuwen Chu felt that Jiang Shanshan was a strange person when examined closely.
Leaving aside how she obtained the drawing of the bed crossbow, her usual behavior was remarkable. At a young age, she could compose poetry, was eloquent, smooth in her dealings with others, spoke the Wusun language, and even discovered the methods of making glass and soap to start a business. It couldn’t be denied that she was a precocious talent. If she just behaved as a talented woman, there would be no problem.
He didn’t like her, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t appreciate her. Unfortunately, she kept catching his eye, making him and Mingzhu uncomfortable. That was her own fault. Yuwen Chu didn’t want Jiang Shanshan to make money anymore. If she continued to be annoying, he would consider whether she would offer the drawing of the bed crossbow to someone else. He certainly couldn’t tolerate her giving the drawing to someone else. Even if it meant taking a great risk and causing a lot of trouble, it would be worth a try.
After seeing off Fu Mingzheng, Yuwen Chu returned to Yinghui Hall. As he approached the door, he heard Mingzhu talking to someone. He said, “Why aren’t you asleep? Getting up at this time, do you not want to sleep in the middle of the night?”
Mingzhu, with her long, shiny black hair spread out, sat at the table, playing with the arm crossbow in her hand. When she saw him coming in, she smiled at him. “Come and try it, Your Highness.”
Yuwen Chu’s eyesight was sharp. As soon as he entered, he saw the arm crossbow in her hand. He had already guessed a few points, but he pretended not to know what was going on. He walked over slowly with a face that seemed uninterested and said, “What?”
Mingzhu pulled his hand and put the arm crossbow on his arm, smiling, “This arm crossbow was specially tailored for Your Highness by Ban Jian. From now on, Your Highness can carry it with you. If any monsters or demons dare to offend, just shoot them and give them a dozen transparent holes all over their body.”
Made of calf leather straps with delicate and sturdy gold buckles, the steel arm crossbow gleamed under the light, much more exquisite than Fu Mingzheng’s arm crossbow. It was very fitting for his status. Yuwen Chu was very satisfied. He raised his arm and gestured a few times. The size was just right, and the weight was just right. It was so close to him. Knowing that it was made with care. So all the pores on his body stretched out, and there was not a single place that was uncomfortable. He didn’t care about maintaining his dignity anymore, and lowered his head to kiss Mingzhu’s smooth forehead with a “smack”.
Su Lan and the others were still serving on the side. When they heard the conversation, they all blushed, lowered their eyes, and pretended not to have seen anything.
Mingzhu also blushed and lightly tapped him, whispering, “What are you doing?”
Yuwen Chu just kept smiling. “This is the first time Wangfei has ever given me something.”
Mingzhu said, “Your Highness has never given me anything either.”
Yuwen Chu pretended to be surprised. “Really? Wasn’t the red jade pomegranate from me? It has such a good meaning. Does Wangfei not understand? Shall I explain it to you? The pomegranate symbolizes having many children and much happiness…”
This rascal! This shameless rascal! Mingzhu couldn’t do anything with him. Whether he was happy or teasing her, or unhappy and teasing her, she blushed and pushed him, saying, “Go wash up! It’s late.”
Yuwen Chu saw her embarrassment and laughed along with her. He happily took off the arm crossbow and went to wash up. In the bedroom, there was only a dim sheep’s-horn palace lamp left. Mingzhu was already lying on the bed waiting for him.
The two of them shared the same quilt, embraced each other, and Yuwen Chu told Mingzhu the news brought by Fu Mingzheng: “The people sent to find Ban Jian were found by your fourth brother’s men. They are from the Changxing Marquis’s mansion and are in charge of Jiang Shanshan’s workshop for making glass and soap. There are many people similar to Ban Jian. Fourth Brother-in-law suspects that she is secretly building bed crossbows.”
Sure enough, Jiang Shanshan was indeed the one building bed crossbows. Could it be that the blueprint for the bed crossbow really leaked from her? This was entirely possible. Seeing how capable Jiang Shanshan was, speaking Wusun, and figuring out how to make glass and soap from gifts sent by others, it wasn’t surprising if she had other special abilities.
The worry that Mingzhu had been holding onto finally became a reality. Even if the blueprint wasn’t drawn by Jiang Shanshan, it was closely related to her. In her past life, Jiang Shanshan’s downfall was definitely related to the Fu family! She looked at Yuwen Chu, feeling strange. The suspicion she had before, wondering if he was involved, wasn’t as strong now. Instead, she inexplicably felt a sense of being in this together with him.
“I want to know the true origin of this blueprint. Are you willing to tell me the truth?” Yuwen Chu absentmindedly drew circles on Mingzhu’s back, his voice resonating in his chest. Mingzhu’s ear was against his chest, and it sounded like a buzzing. She subconsciously answered his question, “It really was found in ancient books. Your Highness also said that Jiang Shanshan has a similar blueprint to mine, perhaps drawn by some master, and by coincidence, we both found out about it.” It wasn’t easy to explain or admit to the rebirth, but she had to kill Jiang Shanshan. That was necessary.
This explanation was the same as what she had said to him before. Yuwen Chu was slightly disappointed but then smiled, “Then let’s find this master.”
He wasn’t happy, and Mingzhu could feel it. She buried her head in his arms and murmured, “I don’t like Jiang Shanshan. No matter how talented she is, no matter how much Royal Mother likes her, I don’t want her in the mansion. With her without me, with me without her, with you in between me and her, you can only choose one.”
Yuwen Chu grunted, “Got it.”
Mingzhu pouted, “Suddenly, I don’t want to earn money from Jiang Shanshan anymore.”
She was in sync with him again. Yuwen Chu calmly said, “Isn’t it going well? Why suddenly change your mind? You always think of one thing after another. The capital you invested hasn’t returned yet.”
Mingzhu whined, “I find her annoying. Doesn’t she still want to make those bed crossbows? It’s simply wishful thinking. Cut off her source of wealth and see how she struggles!”
Yuwen Chu nodded, “Okay. As you wish.” After a pause, he added, “But there’s one condition: don’t incur losses.”
He was giving her another challenge! She just wanted to charge in, regardless of anything, just to kill Jiang Shanshan and be done with it. What did she care about money for? But Yuwen Chu, who couldn’t bear to waste money, still had to give her a challenge.
Mingzhu pouted and acted cute, “It’s my money, I’ll spend it however I want.”
Yuwen Chu frowned, “No! Your money is for our children’s future. You can’t spend a penny recklessly! Come up with a solution quickly! Harming others and yourself, what’s the point? What’s needed is benefiting oneself at the expense of others, understand?”
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