Chapter 159 - 159 Competition
159 Competition
All the women from the aristocratic families followed his gaze and realized he was looking at Gu Yanfei, who happened to throw out the shuttlecock she had just obtained…
Miss Zeng’s expression darkened. She bit her lower lip until it turned white. “Crazy,” she said softly.
“A woman should be quiet and gentle, as graceful as a lotus…”
She meant to say it for the crazy girls to hear, but before she could finish, she heard another deafening gong that drowned out the rest of her sentence.
Wei Jiaoniang grabbed the drumstick and began to beat the gong again.
She was simply a scoundrel! Miss Zeng was so angry that her chest heaved. She could not help but look at Chu Yi again, still holding a trace of hope in her heart, hoping to see displeasure on his face.
However, Chu Yi was smiling.
His smile was like a warm sun, unable to stop it from spilling out of his eyes and rippling across his handsome face.
Not far away, Chu You, who was on the hunting stage, was also looking at Chu Yi with a malicious gaze.
Ever since Chu Yi returned to the country, nothing had gone smoothly for him.
These failures reminded him again and again that he had been too careless previously and allowed Chu Yi to return to the capital alive.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The loud gong was fast-paced and hit Chu You’s heart like a hammer.
Chu You became even more frustrated. His brows were furrowed as he looked down at the group of laughing girls.
“Your Highness, it’s cold in the mountains. You’re dressed so thin, be careful not to catch a cold.”
Yuan Zhe’s concerned voice came from behind.
Yuan Zhe slowly walked up the high hunting platform. The wind was strong, and the strong mountain wind blew his cloak around him.
He wanted to put a cloak on Chu You, but Chu You raised his hand to refuse.
“I’m not cold,” Chu You said calmly.
He was not only not cold, but he also felt hot. There seemed to be an impatient fire flowing crazily in his body, and he had nowhere to vent it.
Yuan Zhe did not force him. He walked to Chu You’s side and asked in a low voice, “Your Highness, do you really not know that the flintlock has been improved?”
As he spoke, his complicated gaze accurately landed on Chu Yi below. His eyes flickered with a faint light as his thoughts raced.
If the late Emperor had improved the flintlock when he was in power, it was impossible for him not to tell Kang Wang. Then, the only remaining possibility pointed to the current Emperor. He must have managed to improve the flintlock.
What puzzled Yuan Zhe was that he had only been on the throne for less than a year. Before he ascended the throne, he had never taken on any jobs related to firearms.
The late Emperor had always been on guard against the current Emperor, so it was impossible for him to hand over such an important task to him.
“…” Chu You was silent. He was equally puzzled, and a thick, dark cloud surged onto his forehead.
To be honest, even he thought it was nonsense to say that he had no idea.
However, he really knew nothing!
Chu You’s expression darkened further.
Yuan Zhe got the answer from his gloomy, ugly expression and sighed inwardly.
They were alone on the wide hunting platform. There was an empty silence, and the stiffness spread silently.
Without the cover of the trees, the mountain wind became stronger, like a dragon’s roar blowing their robes.
Yuan Zhe pursed his lips and thought quickly.
He did not challenge Chu You’s temper anymore and said bluntly, “If even Your Highness doesn’t know, could it be that the Emperor obtained Emperor Taizu’s personal letter?”
“I once heard from the Empress Dowager that a portion of Emperor Taizu’s handwritten letter was lost…”
Chu You had been distracted. Hearing this, his slender body jerked, and he turned to look at Yuan Zhe, who was three steps away.
The cousins faced each other with solemn expressions.
“A portion of my Imperial Grandfather’s handwritten letter has indeed been lost…” Chu You said softly, frowning in deep thought.
Emperor Taizu was talented and omnipotent. He was a god who had descended from the sky. Not only did he establish the Great Jin Dynasty, but he also developed and improved many things that benefited the country and the people.
In the hearts of the people of Great Jin, Emperor Taizu was a figure comparable to Confucius. He was enough to be remembered for generations to come.
Emperor Taizu was Chu You’s grandfather. When he passed away, Chu You was not yet born, so he had naturally never seen Emperor Taizu.
His understanding of Emperor Taizu either came from Emperor Taizu’s Living Notes or from the previous Emperor, Empress Dowager Yuan, the Grand Tutor, and the courtiers.
Chu You paced back and forth on the hunting platform thoughtfully. His originally fluctuating mind gradually calmed down, and he looked into the east, in the direction of the capital.
“I’ve heard my father talk about my Imperial Grandfather.” Chu You searched his memories and organized his thoughts. “The things my Imperial Grandfather developed were far more than these mercury mirrors, windmills, and pocket watches on the surface. In his later years, he had some shocking works, including new firearms, but they were hidden.”
Yuan Zhe stared intently at Chu You, waiting for him to continue.
“Father said that a few years before my Imperial Grandfather passed away, he became very anxious. From time to time, he would lock himself in the imperial study and write a lot of notes. However, when he was angry, he would tear those notes apart and mutter that the technology tree would be crooked if it was pointed wrong.”
“No one understood those strange words either. At that time, Father almost thought that he was…” Mad.
Chu You pursed his lips and swallowed the last two words. His eyes darkened as his memory returned to years ago.
What he knew was that a few years ago, when the late Emperor was drunk, he had accidentally heard some drunken words from him.
That day was the anniversary of Emperor Taizu’s death. The late Emperor was in a bad mood and drank a lot of wine. He cried drunkenly and complained that Emperor Taizu always despised his sons for being useless. He said that before Emperor Taizu died, he even muttered that it was a waste to leave good things like steam engines and textile machines to them. He complained that even his grandchildren were only average, and he had to wait for his great-grandchildren…