SBMT Chapter 44

Shen Ziqin hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe his mouth, while Chu Zhao, equally stunned, wiped his hand.

 

The lampshades in the side hall were beautiful, and both of them found their gazes drawn to them, as if staring a bit longer might make two more flowers bloom.

 

Anything to avoid looking at each other.

 

Shen Ziqin still felt the lingering sensation on his lips, while Chu Zhao could still feel the fine sugar powder on his fingertips.

 

…It wouldn’t wipe away!

 

More importantly, their minds weren’t clean either.

 

Shen Ziqin covered half his face with his handkerchief, his mind involuntarily reviewing every moment since meeting Chu Zhao. What had seemed normal before now filled him with growing alarm.

 

He had always thought Chu Zhao was simply being attentive to his strategist, but if he could elevate his perspective and look at things from a god’s-eye view-

 

Setting facts aside, was there really nothing unusual between them?

 

Shen Ziqin didn’t want to be presumptuous, but after spending so much time together, he understood Chu Zhao better now.

 

Most of the time, Chu Zhao controlled his presence perfectly-he could be a lazy, napping lion or instantly spring up to tear out an enemy’s throat. But at certain times, his composure was clearly forced.

 

Having been a marshal for so long, he could maintain a convincing facade that most people couldn’t see through.

 

Even examining his expressions or gaze revealed no flaws, but in these moments, Chu Zhao would add extra words he’d never say when truly calm.

 

It was like covering his ears while stealing a bell.

 

Thinking carefully, when Chu Zhao gave him the sachet yesterday, he’d also added “don’t overthink it.”

 

Saying too much became the very flaw.

 

Shen Ziqin paused, looked up, and carefully studied Chu Zhao’s current expression.

 

Chu Zhao noticed his gaze; his downcast eyes paused, then lifted to meet Shen Ziqin’s, feigning composure.

 

Shen Ziqin: “…”

 

Great, now it was even more suspicious.

 

But jumping to conclusions would be unfair. Not certain yet-keep watching.

 

Shen Ziqin put down his handkerchief and steadied his voice: “I really didn’t overthink it.”

 

Chu Zhao visibly relaxed: “Good.”

 

Shen Ziqin lost his composure: Why are you relaxing? What are you relaxing about?!

 

Help! Don’t let me reach the conclusion that you have feelings for me!!

 

Isn’t our good lord-strategist relationship enough!?

 

Shen Ziqin used his wide sleeve to hide his hand, trembling as he clutched his handkerchief. He truly felt unwell now-the shock was too great, making him feel faint.

 

Meanwhile, having said “don’t overthink it,” Chu Zhao seemed to feel his task was complete. His mind at ease, he checked the time and said, “We don’t need to return to the banquet. Let’s go back to the residence.”

 

Better to avoid giving those people another chance to cause trouble.

 

Chu Zhao called Little Fuzi, instructed him to inform the emperor, and returned to the residence with Shen Ziqin.

 

Shen Ziqin practically floated back to the residence. Near Chu Zhao, he struggled to maintain his composure, but once he reached Mingyue Pavilion, he let his dazed expression show freely.

 

Xiao Zhen was startled: “Marquis, what’s wrong? Should I call a doctor?”

 

Shen Ziqin sighed: No doctor could cure his overthinking mind.

 

He pressed his lips together: “Do you think the prince is too good to me?”

 

“How could that be?” Xiao Zhen was surprised and completely earnest. “You and the prince are in perfect harmony-you can never be too good to each other. Besides, you’re very good to him too.”

 

But the fact was that Chu Zhao had been good to him first, and he was merely repaying that kindness!

 

Shen Ziqin sighed-what was the point of discussing this with a romance-brain like Xiao Zhen? Wait.

 

A flash of wisdom crossed Shen Ziqin’s mind: Xiao Zhen thought this way because in his eyes, Shen Ziqin and Chu Zhao were a genuine couple.

 

No one is born with romance on the brain. Shen Ziqin realized he should add some context to his question.

 

They say bystanders see more clearly. Shen Ziqin rallied: “Let me ask you this: if the prince and I weren’t married yet, and you saw him treating me this way, what would you think?”

 

Xiao Zhen didn’t even need to think: “The prince would definitely propose to your family.”

 

Shen Ziqin: “…”

 

Never mind, some people are born with romance on the brain.

 

Strange how his ears were so hot, though.

 

In all the days since his arrival in this world, this was the first time Shen Ziqin lay awake with a clear mind.

 

In others’ eyes, was Chu Zhao’s treatment of him special?

 

Xiao Zhen’s opinion alone wasn’t reliable. Shen Ziqin decided to ask more people later.

 

He tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, while in another courtyard, Chu Zhao had changed into night clothes and was clearly preparing to go out rather than sleep.

 

The banquet had long ended, and Zhan Yan, also in night clothes, had slipped into the prince’s residence. Besides him, there were other commanders who had returned to the capital, five in total, waiting with the guards Chu Zhao had gathered.

 

Ready to go, Chu Zhao picked up the case and beckoned: “Let’s move.”

 

Their group of more than ten people easily avoided the city gate guards-not just because of their martial skills, but because Chu Zhao, as the head of the patrol camp, knew exactly how the city was guarded. They scaled the wall, left the city, mounted horses waiting outside, and galloped into the deep forest under cover of night.

 

At a suitable location, Chu Zhao signaled, and the guards spread out to keep watch. Hei Ying, Zhan Yan, and the five other commanders stayed with Chu Zhao as he lit torches.

 

Chu Zhao opened the case: “You must memorize everything from assembly to operation.”

 

Everyone held their breath, watching Chu Zhao’s hands as he assembled the components from the case into a complete device.

 

A genuine repeating rifle.

 

Seeing how Chu Zhao held it, similar to a musket, Zhan Yan’s eyes lit up: “A new musket?”

 

Chu Zhao chuckled: “Plus… an upgraded musket.”

 

Current muskets were inefficient-short range, slow to reload with gunpowder, and lacking accuracy. They could only be used from the rear and were nearly useless in assaults. But what Chu Zhao held was no antique.

 

Though the materials couldn’t compare to modern ones, in this era, it was absolutely a divine weapon.

 

 

He used the scope to aim at the wooden target the guards had set up 600 meters away, pulled the trigger, and said, “Watch closely.”

 

In the silent mountain forest, a sudden bang erupted, startling sleeping birds into frantic flight-a thunderous roar that could split an era, accompanied by the muzzle flash of the gun.

 

Cold light flickered in Chu Zhao’s eyes as, to everyone’s astonishment, he emptied the magazine.

 

When he stopped, the boundless night was utterly still.

 

Soon, the soldiers snapped out of their daze and erupted into cheers that could shake the heavens.

 

“With this firearm, what do we have to fear!”

 

“I’ve always said the prince is a star descended to earth-Heaven blesses Great Qi, we’re invincible!”

 

Zhan Yan was excited too, his blood rushing to his head, and he almost wanted to hug Chu Zhao. But when he looked up, he saw how calm Chu Zhao’s eyes were in the night.

 

Chu Zhao didn’t look happy; he didn’t show pride or boast to his brothers. In the darkness, he seemed to see a distant place no one else could.

 

Like a bucket of cold water, Zhan Yan quickly sobered up.

 

Chu Zhao waited until their excitement died down, then loaded the last part onto the gun: “When you want to intimidate the enemy head-on, don’t attach this. This is called a suppressor-it greatly reduces noise, perfect for ambushes and surprise attacks. Watch.”

 

He fired another shot. This time, instead of a bang, there was only a soft “whoosh”-much quieter.

 

“Suppressors wear out quickly-after three or four uses, you’ll need to replace them.”

 

“Each of you should try it. This is called a gun; the recoil is much greater than a musket, so you’ll need real arm strength. While you’re in the capital, memorize the assembly steps. When you return, teach only those on my approved list.”

 

“As for who gets to use guns, once we have mass production, I’ll pick the people.”

 

The others were eager to try, but only those who knew Chu Zhao best-Hei Ying and Zhan Yan-held back. Zhan Yan looked at Chu Zhao’s expression: “Your Highness, is there still something worrying you?”

 

Chu Zhao snapped out of it a bit and forced a smile: “No.”

 

Zhan Yan and Hei Ying exchanged a look: It sure doesn’t look that way.

 

When Chu Zhao first arrived here, he’d been extremely resistant to this era because of the emperor, and was a stubborn little mule when brought to the border.

 

Change the era with his knowledge? Why should he, when the damn emperor wanted him dead?

 

Why should he care about anyone else?

 

But his two royal brothers treated him very well. When they sent him away from the capital, his second brother’s eyes were red, and his third brother secretly wiped away tears. The former grand marshal and the border soldiers also cared for him deeply.

 

Gradually, he became close with them, laughing and joking every day-more like a normal teenager than he’d ever been in the modern world.

 

Then he saw war with his own eyes.

 

He saw the honest soldier who’d carved him little figurines one day lying dead on the battlefield the next.

 

If it weren’t for the wooden tag Chu Zhao had given him in return, he wouldn’t have recognized him at all.

 

Because his face was unrecognizable-and because there were just so many dead.

 

All around was blood and weeping. Chu Zhao stood lost in the desolation, then was filled with endless anger and hatred.

 

He began to change from a traveler from another world into a true man of Great Qi.

 

Chu Zhao knew what kind of earthshaking changes his inventions would bring, knew that powerful new weapons would bring storms of blood-a common worry for any compassionate scientist. He’d asked himself the same question.

 

But he always remembered those cries. Why should it always be them who died?

 

Chu Zhao was just an ordinary person-a heart of flesh will always have its biases.

 

The damn emperor was the damn emperor, but those living, laughing people around him had nothing to do with the emperor.

 

The night wind rustled through the forest. Chu Zhao came back to himself and handed the gun to them: “Hei Ying knows how to assemble and disassemble it. Ask him if you’re unsure.”

 

Of course, when he taught Hei Ying before, he’d used a model he’d prepared himself.

 

Hei Ying was perceptive: “There’s the hunt at the field tomorrow, Your Highness. You should go back and rest.”

 

Chu Zhao: “Mm.”

 

His face was cold and hard as he mounted his horse and rode off. After firing the gun, he felt inexplicably unsettled, galloping through the vast night as if he couldn’t find his place in the world.

 

When he came back to his senses, he’d slipped back into the city like a precision machine, returned to the residence, and… found himself on the wall of Mingyue Pavilion.

 

Bai Xiao, on night watch in the tree, stared wide-eyed at Chu Zhao, not understanding why the prince was climbing the consort’s wall in the middle of the night.

 

But he didn’t dare make a sound.

 

Chu Zhao: “…”

 

Chu Zhao wiped his face.

 

He must be crazy-what was he doing at Shen Ziqin’s place at this hour? Besides, Shen Ziqin was surely asleep by now. Was he really going to wake him up for a chat?

 

Chu Zhao took a deep breath, feeling calmer, and was about to leave when he suddenly heard a creak-the door was pushed open.

 

Shen Ziqin, unable to sleep, had decided to get up and count stars in the courtyard.

 

When he looked up, he saw both the stars and Chu Zhao.

 

Shen Ziqin: !

 

Chu Zhao: !

 

Chu Zhao’s foot slipped, and he nearly fell: Why is Shen Ziqin still awake!

 

And Shen Ziqin, seeing Chu Zhao in night clothes and armed with a sword, was shocked.

 

What was Chu Zhao doing in his courtyard, armed and climbing walls in the middle of the night? Not using the main gate-scaling the wall instead.

 

No way this was a sign of romantic interest-who climbs walls and brings a sword to visit their beloved at home?

 

The guards didn’t move, so it didn’t look like an intruder had broken in.

 

Honestly, Chu Zhao looked more like an assassin right now.

 

But Shen Ziqin was sure Chu Zhao had no reason to assassinate him.

 

There they were-one on the wall, one in the courtyard-staring at each other in awkward silence.

 

After a long moment, Shen Ziqin wrapped his robe tighter, and Chu Zhao finally spoke: “…It’s chilly at night. You should go back inside.”

 

Shen Ziqin didn’t move: “…Your Highness, is there something important that brings you here so late?”

 

He almost asked if Chu Zhao was up to no good.

 

Chu Zhao’s feet were on the roof tiles, and he choked out, “Looking at the moon.”

 

As he spoke, he looked up-then realized something shocking: tonight, the stars were bright, but there was no moon.

 

Chu Zhao: “…”

 

When he lowered his head again, he met Shen Ziqin’s expression that clearly said, “Can’t you at least make your lie a little more believable?”

 

Chu Zhao almost couldn’t keep it together and wanted to leave.

 

Shen Ziqin looked at Chu Zhao standing alone on the wall, so aloof-as a good strategist, he should give Chu Zhao a way out.

 

At the very least, get him off his wall first.

 

Shen Ziqin said, “…Your Highness, looking at the stars-shall we do it together?”

 

Chu Zhao, dressed in night clothes, stood on the vermilion tiles, looking utterly solitary, like an eagle no one could catch.

 

Then this solitary eagle, who had just climbed his own consort’s wall in the middle of the night, nodded: “Let’s look.”

 

It was all for show-once he’d put on the act, he still had to come down.

 

The two of them sat at the stone table in the courtyard, looking up at the stars.

 

Chu Zhao said, “Tonight the stars look better than last night’s moon.”

 

Shen Ziqin thought, there wasn’t a moon last night either, but still replied dryly, “Mm, yes.”

 

The word “awkward” was written large in the air. If a crow had flown by and cawed a couple of times, it would’ve been even more fitting.

 

Bai Xiao looked up at the night sky, baffled: Why are they both up in the middle of the night? Tonight’s stars are… just so-so?

 

Maybe he just didn’t appreciate the finer things.

 

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