The thought of Yin Wuyan's perilous future made Zhan Feiyu feel an urgent need to produce gunpowder as quickly as possible. She had previously researched that books from hundreds of years ago already contained records of gunpowder: "Saltpeter from Longdao."
Regarding the formula for gunpowder, ancient texts also provided it: "Sulfur, realgar mixed with saltpeter, and then burned with honey," which would cause phenomena such as "flames erupting, burning hands and faces, and the entire house combusting when the fire subsides."
Zhan Feiyu knew this meant that heating honey could turn it into charcoal, and the mixture of sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal was the formula for gunpowder.
However, even with the formula, her elder brother had mentioned that the Daqing Dynasty's military only equipped "flying fire" and "fire arrows." The former involved shaping gunpowder into rings, igniting the fuse, and launching them with a trebuchet.
The so-called "fire arrows" involved attaching a gunpowder ball to the arrowhead, igniting the fuse, and shooting them with a bow.
But the destructive power of gunpowder was not great, and it was not easy to store. Once damp, it would become ineffective. However, in an overly dry environment, there was a risk of the gunpowder igniting, or even exploding if stored in a sealed container.
Therefore, throughout the Daqing Dynasty, only the Shenbing Battalion of the Imperial Guards was equipped with flying fire and fire arrows. This battalion of three thousand soldiers obeyed only the current Emperor and was responsible for the safety of the capital and the imperial palace.
"Were you startled?" Qiu Zongxi looked at Zhan Feiyu, whose brows were so furrowed they could have trapped a fly. He regretted saying those words, which had made the girl worry about Gu Qingzhou, who was far away in the capital.
Snapping back to reality, Zhan Feiyu was about to speak when hurried footsteps sounded from outside the door. Before the maid guarding the door could even curtsy, Yang Xu had already pushed the door open and rushed into the inner chamber.
Seeing Yang Xu, who brought with him a gust of cold wind and chill, Qiu Zongxi's face darkened. "How can you be so reckless!"
Although Yang Xu usually studied and wrote with Zhan Feiyu in the study, Qiu Zongxi was also present in that study, as was He Nuan. But this was the inner chamber, the bedroom. Yang Xu barging in so brazenly, even if Qiu Zongxi was not particular about etiquette, he considered Yang Xu to be excessively impolite.
Breathing heavily from running too fast, Yang Xu stopped. His dark eyes were fixed on Zhan Feiyu, who was leaning against the bed, his gaze filled with confusion, anger, and disappointment.
Looking at Yang Xu, who was bristling with hostility, Zhan Feiyu couldn't help but recall their first meeting in Stone Village. Yang Xu had been like this then too. Could he have learned of the Fu family girl's death?
"You went out at midnight last night?" Yang Xu's voice was hoarse, his fists clenched tightly, his gaze still fixed on Zhan Feiyu's face, as if unwilling to miss any of her expressions.
"Yes." Zhan Feiyu nodded. Although she had gone out secretly last night, He Nuan had helped her leap over the Qiu residence's wall. The Qiu family's hidden guards, who were secretly protecting Mr. Qiu, would have known. It was likely that Yang family remnants lurking nearby also knew.
Her heart sank to the bottom. Unwilling to believe it, Yang Xu, with a stiff face, pressed again, "You went to the Fu family?"
Seeing Yang Xu, who was tense as if suppressing a monstrous rage, Zhan Feiyu's eyes widened slightly. Did he think she had caused the death of the Fu family girl?
Suddenly, a nerve snapped in her mind, and Yang Xu roared in anger, "Say something!"
Zhan Feiyu was already feeling unwell with a stuffy head from the cold. Seeing Yang Xu, who was as angry as a wild beast, and meeting his extremely disappointed gaze, Zhan Feiyu inexplicably became angry too. She sat up from her reclining position. "Yes! I went to the Fu family!"
At this moment, Qiu Zongxi had no idea what had happened. When Zhan Feiyu suddenly left at midnight last night, Qiu Zongxi had heard the report but paid no mind to it and hadn't sent anyone to follow her.
When He Nuan took leave in the morning, Qiu Zongxi was not surprised that Zhan Feiyu had caught a cold. The young girl was very sensitive to the cold, but she had gone out and to the Fu family?
"You killed Fu Langhuan?" Yang Xu questioned, his eyes reddening. How could she be so dismissive of life?
"I think you hit your head when you fell into the water yesterday!" accompanied by an angry shout, Qiu Zongxi casually threw a teacup. Fortunately, despite his anger, he only threw it towards Yang Xu's back. Otherwise, if it had hit his head, he would have been bleeding.
He Sheng, who had entered the room at some point, flashed forward and stood in front of the bed. His gentle and honest face was now cold. "Young Master Yang, please conduct yourself properly. Miss needs to rest. Please leave."
"I..." Looking at the indifferent He Sheng, and then at Zhan Feiyu, who appeared calm but had a strangely distant and cold look in her eyes, Yang Xu froze. His initial anger vanished without a trace. He wanted to speak, but in his confusion, he didn't know what to say.
What a blockhead! Qiu Zongxi couldn't bear to watch.
Although the Yang family were military officials, they were strategists who could win battles from a thousand miles away. How had it come to this with Yang Xu, who was so single-minded? At eight years old, he was not that young, yet he was so rash and impulsive.
"Alright, come out with me!" Qiu Zongxi stood up, placing a hand on Yang Xu's shoulder with such force that Yang Xu knew he had to leave.
But thinking of the news he had just received, Yang Xu's feet felt as if they were nailed to the ground. He stared stubbornly and stubbornly at Zhan Feiyu, wanting an explanation from her.
"You idiot! Would she need to go herself if she wanted to kill someone? Do you think He Sheng and He Nuan are just decorations, or are those people lurking in the dark made of wood?" Qiu Zongxi angrily slapped the back of Yang Xu's head, using a skillful move to drag Yang Xu out of the bedroom. He had seen fools, but never one so foolish.
He Sheng watched coldly, then cleaned up the broken teacups on the floor. Looking at Zhan Feiyu, who had leaned back on the bed, he asked with concern, "Miss?"
"Has there been any news from Big Brother? Who poisoned Gui Cao?" Zhan Feiyu asked. She considered Yang Xu a friend, but she valued the Yang family's military power even more. Of course, Yang Xu was also worth befriending.
But precisely because she knew Yang Xu's disposition, Zhan Feiyu did not argue with the eight-year-old child. It was just that his questioning attitude just now had displeased her. As friends, he should have at least inquired with her first, rather than immediately convicting her upon hearing the news.
Seeing that Zhan Feiyu was not truly angry, He Sheng was relieved. "There is no news yet. The Fu family has reported the case, and Magistrate Zhu has gone to the Fu family with his constables."
"A Sheng, continue to go to Yang Xu's side. I'm going to sleep for a while." Zhan Feiyu snuggled back into the warm quilt. Seeing He Sheng's bewildered expression, she couldn't help but smile. "If he is unkind, I will be righteous. I will make him feel so guilty that he dies!"
Uh... He Sheng couldn't help but pity the departing Yang Xu.
The bedroom became quiet again. Zhan Feiyu emptied her mind and closed her eyes. She thought she wouldn't be able to sleep, but after a moment, she drifted into a deep sleep.
...
The main hall.
Qiu Zongxi sat in the main seat, looking at Yang Xu, who stood by his side with his head lowered, appearing to admit his mistake. He couldn't help but laugh sarcastically. "Weren't you just bravely storming into a young lady's boudoir? Now you're scared? I'm telling you, it's too late."
He asked a maid to bring tea. Qiu Zongxi took a few sips, and his anger finally subsided a little. "Gu Qingzhou has only had this one disciple all these years, cherishing her like nothing else. Although he is far away in the capital, he sent wagonloads of things to the little girl from afar – food, clothing, and daily necessities. You ate those things too, Yang Xu, Yang Xu. You're like someone who eats from a bowl and then curses the hand that fed you. Ungrateful and heartless, that's you!"
Actually, Scholar Gu had also sent a wagonload of things, but the rest were sent by Yin Wuyan's people, merely using Scholar Gu's name.
"The Yang family hasn't been restored yet, and you've already offended the Grand Academicians to death. Do you think the Emperor really needs the Yang family? Yang Xu, you're capable! The Yang family was falsely accused of colluding with the enemy and treason for more than eight years. Just as their name was about to be cleared, you ruined it all!"
Qiu Zongxi sneered at Yang Xu, who looked incredulous. "What do you think it means to wield power over the court? To be second only to one person, above ten thousand? I'll tell you why the little girl didn't go to the capital. Because Gu Qingzhou didn't want her to!"
"If she went to the capital, not to mention the noble sons of aristocratic families, even the princes and grandsons in the palace would have designs on the little girl. Marrying her would mean gaining the support of Scholar Gu, the allegiance of half the court officials, and the endorsement of scholars throughout the land. It would be equivalent to becoming the future crown prince!"
Outside the room, Yang Shoucheng stood under the eaves, enduring the cold wind. Hearing Qiu Zongxi's scolding, Yang Shoucheng stood ramrod straight, his stern and hardened face showing no displeasure.
Qiu Zongxi, having scolded Yang Xu to his heart's content, finally felt better. He placed his teacup on the table. "The fault of the child is the fault of the parent. Do you intend to stand outside the door like a guardian spirit?"
Yang Xu was startled. He turned his head and saw Yang Shoucheng, with snowflakes on his body, walking in from outside the door. "Father."
Ignoring his son, who was clearly devastated, Yang Shoucheng first bowed to Qiu Zongxi. "Uncle Qiu, Yang Xu has caused you trouble."
Qiu Zongxi waved his hand. He had already said what needed to be said. He couldn't entirely blame Yang Xu. He had grown up in Stone Village all these years, seeing little and experiencing little, so it was normal for his mind to be so single-track.
Yang Shoucheng looked at the frightened Yang Xu with a calm expression and asked in a deep voice, "Do you know your mistake?"
"Father, I know my mistake." Yang Xu sincerely repented. Grandpa Qiu's scolding was right. He shouldn't have been so impulsive and reckless. If Xiao Yu really wanted to kill someone, she wouldn't have needed to do it herself.
"You have three mistakes." Yang Shoucheng continued to look at Yang Xu, who stood straight. "First mistake: after hearing the news, you were controlled by your emotions and lost your reason and judgment. If this were a military campaign, it would be a grave error!"
"Second mistake: you are friends with Xiao Yu, yet you doubted her. Yang Xu, put yourself in her shoes. If what happened today happened to you, would Xiao Yu consider you the murderer? Or would she immediately try to find the killer who framed you?"
Yang Xu's face turned pale, and he lowered his head again. Especially thinking of Zhan Feiyu's indifferent and distant expression when he left the bedroom, he felt even more distressed.
Seeing the dejected Yang Xu, Yang Shoucheng was unsparing. "Third mistake: if Xiao Yu were the murderer, your rashness in going to question her would not only alert the culprit but also put yourself in danger."
A moment later, Yang Xu left, looking crestfallen. He had originally intended to go to Zhan Feiyu, but thinking of her cold, he turned towards the kitchen. Father was right; to apologize, one needed to show sincerity. Mere perfunctory words were useless.
Inside the room, Qiu Zongxi finally spoke. "What is the situation with the Fu family?"
"The coroner has examined the body. The Fu family girl was strangled, and the perpetrator was Zhou Shuyao, who stayed at the Fu family last night..." Yang Shoucheng had been in Xiangwu County for the past few days, so he received the news immediately. However, he hadn't expected the Fu family girl to die.
Regarding the events in Plum Valley yesterday, Yang Shoucheng had not dealt with them immediately after learning of them. Yang Xu had fallen into the water while trying to save someone, and the Fu family was using this to force a marriage. Yang Shoucheng had plenty of ways to make the Fu family abandon this idea.
It was only because he intended to temper Yang Xu that Yang Shoucheng had not intervened. Who would have thought such an accident would happen, and a young girl would perish so tragically? It seemed that to deal with the Yang family, those in the shadows would stop at nothing. Fu Langhuan's life was nothing.
After listening to Yang Shoucheng's words, Qiu Zongxi narrowed his eyes and pondered for a moment. He looked at the still calm and composed Yang Shoucheng. "Are there any clues? Who was responsible?"
Just as Qiu Zongxi had said before, if Zhan Feiyu wanted to kill someone, she wouldn't do it herself. The same logic applied to Zhou Shuyao. How could the eldest daughter of the Zhou family personally strangle Fu Langhuan? It was just unknown what methods were used.
"The Fu family had secretly gone to the county yamen's prison before." Yang Shoucheng did not hide anything.
Since the news of the Yang family's restoration had spread, Yang Shoucheng had contacted the Yang family's old subordinates. Every stir in Xiangwu County was under his control.
In fact, he was aware of the entire situation in Longyou Dao. Therefore, no matter how secretive the Fu family's actions were, they could not escape Yang Shoucheng's notice.
"You mean Madam Zhang?" Qiu Zongxi's expression darkened. The only possible connection between the Fu family's visit to the county prison and Yang Xu was Madam Zhang, who was still in prison.
Madam Zhang had been imprisoned by the衛所 (Wei Suo - a military garrison system) for murder. However, Madam Zhang was a frail woman, and she naturally could not have killed those eight thugs. The killer was undoubtedly someone else, and Zhang Yiyi could only be considered the mastermind.
But the killers were guards from the Zhenbian Marquisate. Now that these people had disappeared, the case was shelved, and Zhang Yiyi could only remain in prison.
Yang Xu had tried to find a way before, but without Qiu Jinyu's help, Yang Xu couldn't even visit her in prison, let alone bring a doctor to see Madam Zhang. Therefore, it was impossible for Yang Xu to rescue Madam Zhang.
"What does Madam Zhang want? To sell her son for self-preservation?" Qiu Zongxi's dislike for Zhang Yiyi was unconcealed when he mentioned her.
Thinking that the Fu family had used such despicable means against Yang Xu, it was likely Madam Zhang's idea. Qiu Zongxi was so angry that he wished Zhang Yiyi could be executed immediately, so she wouldn't continue to harm Yang Xu in the future.
Yang Shoucheng's expression was calm, as if he were talking about a stranger. "Madam Zhang is a smart woman. She knows that even if she is lucky enough to survive, she will never see the light of day again in her life. She may have been planning ahead."
Yang Xu now had a rift with Zhang Yiyi. His visit to the prison was only to repay his birth debt. However, if the Fu family girl could marry Yang Xu, then in the future, she might be able to soften Yang Xu's attitude by whispering in his ear.
The Fu family also wanted to rely on Madam Zhang as a mother to ensure Fu Langhuan's future status in the Yang family. Both sides could be said to be mutually beneficial, so it was not surprising that they would reach an agreement.