lcionline Chapter 278 is simply insane.
Chapter 278 is simply insane.
The night was as dark as ink, shrouding the Chu residence in silence.
Chu Ruohan sat in front of the dressing table, her slightly pale face reflected in the cold bronze mirror.
The days of running around had left her exhausted.
However, deep within those clear eyes lay an unprecedented determination.
"Yu Ling," she called softly.
Yu Ling, who was standing by, quickly stepped forward: "What are your orders, young mistress?"
"Go and tell Qin Fang to come see me first thing tomorrow morning," Chu Ruohan said softly.
"Yes, young lady."
Yu Ling agreed, but she was a little puzzled, wondering what important matter the young mistress wanted to discuss with Qin Fang at this time.
The next day,
Qin Fang arrived early in the morning; he was not alone.
Behind them followed a hunched woman, her head covered by a heavy veil that obscured her entire face.
Qin Fang stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Young Madam."
Chu Ruohan's gaze fell on the woman, with a hint of inquiry.
Qin Fang understood and whispered, "I went to great lengths and spent a lot of money to bribe officials and clerks to get Aunt Zhao out of prison."
He paused, lowering his voice even further.
"The Marquis of Anyang's family has many connections, and the imperial prison is now overcrowded with women from various households."
"With one person missing, the commotion won't be significant and won't attract attention from others."
Chu Ruohan nodded.
When the curtain was lifted, the face was no longer plump and radiant; the skin was sallow and loose, as if she had aged more than ten years in an instant.
She was completely different from the Aunt Zhao I remembered.
Chu Ruohan almost didn't recognize him.
When Aunt Zhao saw Chu Ruohan, her eyes instantly reddened, and she trembled with excitement, almost unable to stand.
She thought she was going to die, trapped in that dark and dreary dungeon, every moment was torture.
Unexpectedly, there was a day when I would see the light of day again and meet Chu Ruohan once more.
"Young... Young Madam..."
Chu Ruohan took her hand. "It's all in the past."
Aunt Zhao nodded with tears in her eyes!
What are your plans next?
Aunt Zhao said, "I plan to leave the capital and open a pastry shop."
That's good too!
She has a chance to start her life over again!
"I will arrange for someone to escort you out of the capital and give you some money to settle down..."
After Aunt Zhao calmed down and left, Yu Ling thoughtfully closed the door, leaving only Chu Ruohan and Qin Fang in the room.
The gentleness on Chu Ruohan's face faded, and her expression became serious again.
"Qin Fang, there's something I need you to investigate."
"Young Madam, please give your orders."
"Du Ruoling," Chu Ruohan's voice carried a hint of coldness, "find out exactly what scheme she offered to the Emperor."
"That allowed the Emperor to make an exception and bestow upon her the title of Princess Anping."
A knowing glint flashed in Qin Fang's eyes. "Understood, subordinate."
A businessman's intuition is everywhere, and the power of money can sometimes pry open even the tightest closed door.
In this world, as long as you're willing to spend money, there's little information you can't find out.
Just two days later, Qin Fang reappeared before Chu Ruohan, his expression more solemn than ever before.
He dismissed those around him and lowered his voice.
"Young Madam, the investigation is complete."
"Du Ruoling has been frequently visiting the Grand Council recently and has been getting along very well with several officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War."
"What she presented was a newly developed firearm."
Qin Fang paused, seemingly considering his words.
"It is said to be a new type of large-caliber artillery that fires specially made shells."
"After the shell lands and explodes, it will release a colorless and odorless poisonous smoke."
"Those who inhale it, whether friend or foe, will experience rapid decay and ulceration of their lungs and internal organs, leading to death. It is a matter of life and death."
Qin Fang's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.
"Young Madam, this is by no means a good strategy to repel the enemy."
"This is... a vicious plot of indiscriminate slaughter!"
"Absolutely outrageous!"
Chu Ruohan felt a chill instantly spread from the soles of her feet throughout her body, and her blood seemed to freeze at that moment.
Colorless and odorless, instant death upon inhalation, causing rot of the lungs and internal organs...
Gu Junze was on the front lines in Pingzhou.
Once released, this poison gas will indiscriminately attack friend or foe.
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians inside and outside Pingzhou City...
The consequences could be disastrous!
That woman, how dare she!
A bone-chilling cold shot from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. Chu Ruohan felt icy cold all over, and her fingertips trembled slightly.
She has to stop all of this.
She wanted to save Gu Junze.
She wanted to save countless innocent soldiers of the Eastern Jin Dynasty!
Almost instinctively, Chu Ruohan suddenly stood up, turned around and walked out.
Just as Dr. Qian was carrying the pregnancy-preserving medicine to the door, he saw that her face was pale and she was walking hurriedly, so he quickly stepped forward to stop her.
"Young Madam! Where are you going?"
"Your health is unstable right now, you absolutely must not..."
Chu Ruohan was extremely anxious at the moment and could not listen to any advice.
She shoved Dr. Qian's arm away and rushed out.
"Young Madam!" Doctor Qian was shocked and, forgetting the medicine bowl, hurriedly chased after her.
He vaguely heard Qin Fang's last words, "heartless and insane," and had already guessed what was going on, which made him even more worried.
What if this disturbs the fetus again?
Chu Ruohan completely ignored Dr. Qian's shouts from behind.
At that moment, she had only one thought: to find Du Ruoling...
"Du Ruoling!"
As Chu Ruohan crossed the courtyard, her voice filled with urgency, she called out directly to the inner hall.
"That firearm you presented to the Emperor must never be used!"
Upon hearing this, Du Ruoling was taken aback at first, then a mocking smile appeared on her lips.
"You're meddling way too much."
"That was His Majesty's personally selected strategy to repel the enemy. If we want to win, we have to use some extreme methods."
Her tone was casual, with a hint of boastfulness, as if she were showing off her achievements.
Chu Ruohan took a step closer, staring intently at her, her eyes filled with barely suppressed anger.
"Once that thing is used, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, including our own soldiers, inside and outside Pingzhou City will die!"
"This is alarmist talk. On the battlefield, how can we be so sentimental? For the sake of the Eastern Jin dynasty, some sacrifices are inevitable."
Looking at her cold and indifferent appearance, Chu Ruohan felt even colder in her heart.
She took a deep breath. "Gu Cheng'an, he went to Pingzhou."
"He joined the army."
Du Ruoling's pupils suddenly contracted, and she froze completely.
She grabbed Chu Ruohan's arm. "What did you say?"
"Cheng'an...he went to Pingzhou?"
Looking at her suddenly changed expression, Chu Ruohan felt no pleasure, only heaviness and anxiety.
"Yes."
Chu Ruohan wanted to use Gu Cheng'an to awaken Du Ruoling's conscience.
Du Ruoling seemed to have all her strength drained away, and she staggered back a step.
The title of princess...wealth and honor...the emperor's favor...
All that she had painstakingly acquired was ironic in the face of Gu Cheng'an's impending death.
No…No…
Du Ruoling looked up abruptly, "You can't use it!"
"We absolutely must not use that thing!"
She knew better than anyone the power of the cannons and the horror of the poisonous smoke.
It was a meticulously designed project that incorporated modern technology, but she never expected...