The Princess Smells So Good (GL) - Chapter 74

The Wubei Zhi once stated:
“The current design uses copper or iron to create a tube-like apparatus, filled with gunpowder inside, sealed with a stone at the mouth, and ignited through a narrow channel. It is fired using flame.”

This was describing a cannon.

Cannons had existed for quite some time. Ever since that exceptionally brilliant Emperor of the Zhou dynasty rose to power, the world had been advancing at an unimaginable speed. Although cannons hadn’t fully materialized during the sage’s reign, every stage of their development was meticulously recorded and stored in the royal archives.

The world believed these advancements were the result of collective intelligence, but only the royal family knew the truth—these designs, every single one, had been foreseen and written down by someone long ago.

It was only recently that a true cannon—a device capable of firing ammunition reliably without exploding—was successfully created. This advanced weapon had just been mounted on the latest warships and brought overseas by Lan Du. Its effectiveness in defeating pirates had already been proven.

Yet here, in such a short time, a new cannon suddenly appeared before everyone. How could Wei Zhao not be shocked or feel threatened by this?

Could there be a traitor in the court? Was it someone from the firearms division? Or the weapons arsenal?

Wei Zhao thought rapidly, staring at the cannon with a mixture of fear and curiosity. She wanted to get closer but hesitated. Finally, biting the inside of her cheek to calm herself, she forced her trembling hands to steady.

The scholar standing before them noticed the silence of the crowd and smirked. Someone impatiently snapped, “Enough talk! Are you trying to fool us with this lump of iron?”

The scholar chuckled and clapped his hands lightly. “Everyone, please be patient. Watch carefully.”

At the sound of his clap, there was a mechanical creaking noise. Bright sunlight flooded the room, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. A large opening, about the size of a person, had appeared in the wall. The display of engineering was impressive, but Wei Zhao remained cautious, her unease growing as she observed the casual reactions of those around her.

The scholar clapped again, and a guard stepped forward, lighting the cannon with a fire starter. A thunderous boom followed, with sparks and smoke filling the air. Inside the mountain chamber, the deafening roar made everyone’s ears ring, and some even instinctively prepared to flee.

“Everyone, calm yourselves,” the scholar said loudly. “It’s just loud. Look over there!”

The crowd shook their heads, trying to regain their senses, and followed his pointing finger. They saw that the mountain outside had been reduced to rubble, with rocks scattered everywhere.

“If that had been a ship…”

Someone murmured softly, trailing off.

Indeed, if it had been a ship, whether a merchant vessel or even one of the court’s massive tower ships, this weapon could easily punch a hole straight through it.

The crowd’s eyes gleamed with excitement as they stared at the scholar, who simply smiled and lightly patted the cannon’s beast-shaped handle.

One person finally broke the silence by shouting, “Name your price!”

The scholar grinned. “This cannon is expensive to produce and nearly impossible to replicate. Naturally, it will come at a high price.”

But the crowd dismissed his comment as unimportant.

The scholar added, “However, one more thing. Because of the difficulty in creating these, our leader wishes to meet any buyer in person.”

Wei Zhao’s expression darkened. She glanced at Song Qing, who immediately understood her silent message. It wasn’t to purchase the cannon—doing so under a false identity would risk exposure—but to find a way to spy on the meeting. A dangerous mission, to be sure.

Song Qing gritted his teeth and gave a subtle nod.

“If something happens to me, Your Highness, please take care of the Songhe Sect.”

Wei Zhao faintly heard his whispered plea. She saw the sweat soaking through his black cloth mask and knew he must have been using some secret technique that drained him physically. Wei Zhao gave the slightest nod in return, and Song Qing’s eyes flashed with determination. He turned away, the two of them reaching a wordless understanding.

Meanwhile, the others hesitated for a moment before some began whispering amongst themselves. The scholar looked unconcerned, merely waiting with a pleasant smile.

Finally, the bidding began at fifty taels of gold, with increments of ten taels per bid.

As the price rose, fewer participants remained. Among them was the man in black who had earlier tossed the snakefruit to Wei Zhao. He placed bids just above the minimum each time, like a hired agent trying to stir interest. But Wei Zhao knew better—this man wasn’t working for the scholar.

She stared at him, feeling a strange sense of familiarity. His movements and bearing nagged at her memory, yet she couldn’t place where she had seen him before.

The bidding escalated until only two parties remained. Finally, one dropped out, and the winning bidder was declared. The scholar seemed satisfied. “Now that this matter is settled, I invite the successful bidder to follow me,” he said.

Guards entered the room, silently watching as the rest of the crowd began to disperse. Wei Zhao lingered briefly, debating whether to stay and observe further or head to the docks to regroup with her people. After a moment’s hesitation, she chose the latter, her mind still on Song Qing and whether he could complete his mission without being exposed.

As she moved with the departing crowd, a mocking voice reached her ears.

“What’s this? A bounty on the Princess?”

“Who’d dare take on such a task?”

A wave of low laughter followed. Wei Zhao paused briefly but kept walking.

This place was a haven for all manner of illegal activity—arms deals, smuggling, even assassination plots. Wei Zhao found herself in front of a board displaying wanted posters.

At the top of the list was a crude drawing of her own face.

She stared at the image, unimpressed by the artist’s lack of skill. The features were exaggerated, but her sharp eyebrows and pointed chin were unmistakable.

“A beauty, no doubt,” someone commented.

“And a wealthy, powerful one at that. Look at that bounty,” another remarked with a laugh.

The poster listed a reward of fifteen thousand taels of silver.

Wei Zhao felt a flicker of anger but kept her composure. She touched her neck absentmindedly before smirking to herself. Let’s see who dares try to claim my life.

As the crowd thinned, one man muttered, “Going against the court? They’re asking for their own downfall.”

The others laughed nervously and dispersed.

Wei Zhao remained for a moment, considering her options. “If I send someone to impersonate me…”

“They’ll verify the identity,” a familiar voice answered from behind. She turned to see the man in black, his face still concealed.

Wei Zhao quickened her pace, heading toward the docks without replying.

The man followed, laughing softly. “What’s wrong? Are you planning to accept the bounty yourself? You must have a way to get close to the Princess.”

Wei Zhao ignored him, aware that any response might expose her.

Suddenly, heavy footsteps and shouting echoed behind them.

“An intruder! Stop them!”

Wei Zhao’s heart sank. Song Qing? How could he have been discovered so quickly?

She fought to keep her expression calm as she walked on. Glancing back, she saw armored guards closing in. To her horror, they were heading straight for her and the black-clad man.

Before she could react, an arm wrapped around her waist and hoisted her off the ground. The rough motion made her stomach press painfully against a sharp shoulder. She barely held back a cry of pain.

But as she steadied herself, a wave of familiarity washed over her.

She had rested on this shoulder countless times before, had been held by this person in the darkest of nights. Tentatively, she pinched his back lightly, like a kitten testing its claws.

“Don’t move,” he said, turning his head. The veil shifted slightly, revealing striking green eyes filled with amusement.

“Little wildcat,” Fa Yilian murmured with a smile.