The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 1047 - 237: Repaying the Lifesaving Favor_4

Chapter 1047: Chapter 237: Repaying the Lifesaving Favor_4

Pei Qin, having eaten her fill, wiped her mouth and greeted before continuing her rush to the Manufacturing Bureau.

Several successful long spears had been created, but bullets were not so easy to manufacture. She had to keep constant vigilance and was busy with a few personal soldiers.

After the first batch of thirty long spears and bullets was completed, Pei Qin immediately took her personal soldiers to the training field.

Touching such a powerful explosive weapon for the first time, the selected soldiers were thrilled.

Pei Qin took a long spear, demonstrated its use, and led a collective shooting training.

Xiao Guangbi couldn’t contain himself any longer and came to arrange a meeting with Pei Qin.

Aside from the Palace and the Manufacturing Bureau, Pei Qin was either on the training field or nowhere else to be found.

Xiao Guangbi thus had a message sent to her proposing a meeting. Because too many people gathered around Pei Qin, Princess Xiyun made him feel uneasy. Though he knew Pei Qin was a woman and wouldn’t truly entertain Princess Xiyun, it still made him overthink. Pei Qin was accepting gifts from Princess Xiyun and even helped her deliver items to her father the emperor.

He suspected Pei Qin might betray him. Regrettably, the people he sent with Mo Jiujiu and Mo Xixi were silently killed without a trace. Given the current situation, he needed to keep a tight rein on Pei Qin!

Pei Qin arrived as agreed.

Even with her face smudged, her distinctive delicate features were hard to conceal, and her military attire only added to her impressive demeanor. Xiao Guangbi thought about an advisor’s strategy, "Every woman, when her body is given, gives her heart as well. His Highness might humble himself, since Mo Heng is not in the capital now."

If she cleaned up, Pei Qin could be considered a woman of clear distinction, certainly more unique than any of his concubines. Thinking this, Xiao Guangbi smiled, "Bring the General some refreshing tea!"

Upon hearing ’refreshing tea,’ the attending advisor understood his intentions perfectly and stepped back to fetch the tea.

"Your Highness!" Pei Qin greeted with a bow.

"Please, have a seat! This meeting, I wished to discuss the matter concerning Prince Yong’an," Xiao Guangbi tenderly spoke, having decided on his strategy.

Pei Qin’s eyes flashed briefly, "Please speak, Your Highness!"

"Princess Xiyun has been clinging to you because of Xiao Guangjing, right? Xiao Guangmin and Xiao Guangjing are not only brothers but also cousins. When he was deposed as Crown Prince, he recommended Xiao Guangjing as Crown Prince. All the servants in the Eastern Palace and the staff of the Chancellery of the Crown Prince shifted their loyalty to Xiao Guangjing. They must have bribed you these days, haven’t they?" Xiao Guangbi asked straightforwardly.

Xiao Yong had been raised by her, and Xiao Guangjing had been bribing her every year. Now there was no need to bribe her in such a conspicuous manner. The man who gave her ten thousand taels didn’t say anything, only Princess Xiyun kept sending food and snacks to the Manufacturing Bureau daily.

The advisor brought the tea over and offered it to Pei Qin.

Pei Qin thanked him but didn’t bother with the tea, continuing her conversation with Xiao Guangbi, "Indeed, I’ve received quite a bit. As you know, the Manufacturing Bureau is in need of money."

Seeing she didn’t touch the tea, Xiao Guangbi frowned and sighed, "The gold mine is to be presented to the Emperor; I also can’t provide much here. But if you need materials, I can help get them for you." Even his self-reference changed.

Pei Qin’s gaze shifted slightly but she didn’t decline, "If Your Highness could provide the materials, it would be most appreciated!"

Outside, Xiao Yi came in, "Aunt Pei!" with a box of bone-in abalone in his hands.

Xiao Guangbi frowned as he entered, "Do you even have a sense of propriety?"

"Isn’t it you, Father, who always says Aunt Pei is like family!" Xiao Yi sat next to Pei Qin, "Aunt Pei, try this! Jiujiu loves eating bone-in abalone. I originally saved it for her, but she’s not home, and I don’t know where she went."

"Jiujiu went back to Runing Prefecture," Pei Qin said with a smile.

Xiao Yi passed it to her to eat.

Pei Qin ate one.

Xiao Guangbi glanced at the advisor beside him, saw a slight nod and a smile in his eyes, "The other day I corresponded with Mo Heng..." mentioning the strategies they discussed, "I have found the man, and called you here to discuss the Emperor’s condition. This master’s elixir is quite miraculous. The Emperor has used it and it surely improves his health greatly. What do you think?"

The elixir was definitely problematic, possibly fatal. Pei Qin kept her expression neutral, gave a non-committal response, and agreed with all his plotted strategies.

However, the longer she sat, the dizzier she felt. Her usually cold body felt as if it was on fire. She also smelled a faint sweet scent in the room. Having been drugged before, she looked at Xiao Guangbi’s charming smile. As Xiao Yi left and the room’s advisors and guards were also gone, she suddenly became furious. Damn it! This pervert wants to...

"Your Highness! It’s getting late, I should head back!" Pei Qin immediately stood up to leave.

But just as she rose, she collapsed.

Xiao Guangbi, quick to react, caught her and drew her into his embrace, whispering in her ear, "What’s wrong with you? Did you get a heatstroke?"