sbdcsierra Chapter 265 Everyone has their own thoughts
Chapter 265 Everyone has their own thoughts
Emperor Sukang picked up his black chess piece, glancing at Long Chuqing.
"Doctor Long plays chess so well, he must also have talents such as playing musical instruments and painting, right?"
"I only know a little bit about it."
Long Chuqing held Kuanxiu in one hand and picked up the white pieces with the other.
"Oh... Doctor Long is still so modest." Emperor Sukang said, "You also said before that you only have a slight understanding of chess, but just now you forced me into a desperate situation."
"I suppose this so-called 'slight knowledge' of playing the piano and painting must be quite something, right?"
Be humble and keep a low profile!
What is the emperor trying to get out of her? He might as well just ask directly; beating around the bush makes it really hard to guess!
Tired.
However, even if he asks, whether he can answer truthfully is another matter.
"I've learned a bit of everything, but I'm not proficient in anything."
"Musicians and concubines often play the zither for me in the palace," Emperor Sukang said calmly. "But I prefer to practice calligraphy or paint landscapes, flowers, and birds in my spare time."
“That’s a good way to pass the time,” Long Chuqing replied with a light smile.
"I wonder if Doctor Long prefers to paint landscapes, figures, flowers, and birds?" A sly glint flashed in Emperor Sukang's eyes. "Or perhaps... some weapon blueprints?"
The volume of the following sentence was emphasized, and the pronunciation was exceptionally clear.
Emperor Sukang kept his eyes fixed on Long Chuqing as he spoke, paying close attention to her movements and expressions.
When Long Chuqing heard about the weapon blueprints, his eyes froze, and his hand, which was picking up the chess pieces, visibly paused.
The movement was very subtle, but Emperor Sukang keenly noticed it, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.
Drawing blueprints for weapons?
Could it be that Xiao Han informed the Emperor that she was the one who drew the blueprints?
No, Xiao Han shouldn't have told her about this, otherwise the emperor wouldn't be testing her with words right now.
Perhaps he had some suspicions, which is why he asked questions to test the waters and confirm his suspicions.
Oh no, did she just pause for a moment?
The emperor's probing words must have been accompanied by careful observation of her actions.
That scoundrel emperor, so clever and cunning, actually dug a pit here to wait for her.
It's truly impossible to guard against!
"Your Majesty, I can only draw flowers, birds, mountains and rivers. As for the blueprints for weapons and crossbows that you mentioned, I have never seen them or heard of them."
“I haven’t painted in a long time. These are things I learned when I was young. Now that I’m away from home, I no longer have the leisure and elegance to paint. If you asked me to pick up a brush now, I probably wouldn’t be able to paint well.”
Despite her attempts to justify herself, her actions just now did not escape my sharp eyes.
My words were clear, and she clearly heard what I said, otherwise she wouldn't have looked somewhat surprised.
She didn't answer directly just now, but instead evaded the key point of the question ambiguously, which clearly showed that she was somewhat guilty.
Moreover, I only mentioned the weapon blueprints and did not mention the words "bow and crossbow" in my answer, but her answer contained the word "bow and crossbow".
It's highly suspicious. What's certain is that she had seen the blueprints for the crossbow, otherwise she wouldn't have blurted it out.
It's now almost certain that the blueprints are related to her, but whether she actually drew them remains to be seen.
There's no need to test it again. If we want to know, it's simple. We can just try to get some information out of Lao Qi another day.
"I was just asking casually. It doesn't matter if you're unfamiliar with the subject. As long as you have the basics, you can regain your feel for it by painting a few more pictures."
"It's your turn..." Emperor Sukang said after placing his black piece.
Long Chuqing nodded, picked up a white piece, but still had some doubts in his mind.
Initially, Xiao Han did not inform the emperor that the drawings were drawn by her, and presumably the emperor did not pursue the matter further.
After all, if someone is willing to give away such important blueprints without asking for anything in return or revealing their name, the emperor would naturally show respect and be extremely happy.
After all, you can get useful things without spending a lot of money, so it doesn't matter if you get more.
When did you start to suspect her? Was it after you captured the dream monster?
After all, someone who knows medicine and can also use magic to catch demons is really suspicious.
This can be inferred from the strangers who have recently appeared around Xiao Han.
It was obvious that she was the stranger who had recently appeared beside Xiao Han.
That's why I made those probing remarks today.
Did she just let something slip? Did she mention crossbows?
Sigh, forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore. So what if we know it was her who drew it? It's not a bad thing for anyone.
Who knows, the emperor might even give her a huge sum of money as a reward, hehe...
As the two played chess, their own speculations and conjectures never ceased.
Emperor Sukang thought to himself: Last time, the seventh prince did not tell the person who drew the picture, probably because he did not want her to get involved in the court's gossip.
If she really drew them, a woman who could produce so many weapon blueprints would inevitably attract a lot of attention.
Perhaps she herself had this intention, not wanting to appear in the public eye in such a high-profile manner.
But where did she, a young woman, get so many detailed blueprints? Suspicious...
These would be considered extremely confidential documents even within a dynasty.
How did she gain access to so many advanced crossbow blueprints and manufacturing techniques? Who exactly is she? Where did she come from?
But even if I asked her now, she might not answer.
Never mind the process; what matters most is that these blueprints are in my hands.
What is certain now is that the person who selflessly handed over so many weapon blueprints is not someone with malicious intentions, and at least for now, they pose no threat.
It seems she wasn't greedy for money; otherwise, those blueprints alone could easily fetch an astronomical price.
So, she stays by Lao Qi's side not for money or fame, but perhaps because she's after Lao Qi himself?
However, this is not hard to understand.
Although Lao Qi is usually a bit quiet, he has a very good temper, aside from not liking to talk.
Needless to say, he is good-looking, having inherited the best features of both me and Consort Shu. He has the same tall and slender figure as me, and his handsome features are flawless. His temperament is also exceptionally noble.
Thinking of this, Emperor Sukang felt a little proud.
His status is that of a prince of the current dynasty, which is among the highest ranks.
With such excellent conditions, how could a woman not be tempted?
Seeing how protective the seventh brother is of her, he must value her highly.
These two kids look like a perfect match.
Although the girl's identity is still a mystery, judging from her flawless skin and elegant demeanor, she must have been pampered since childhood.
His attitude was neither humble nor arrogant; even when facing me, he remained calm and composed, without the slightest sign of panic.
That's quite appropriate and dignified.
Moreover, someone skilled in drawing weapon blueprints cannot fall into the hands of another country; keeping her in our own dynasty is the most sensible course of action.
Emperor Sukang raised his eyes and looked at Long Chuqing again, a plan forming in his mind.
Keeping her by the Seventh Prince's side is the same as keeping her in the capital. If she becomes my daughter-in-law, I don't need to worry about her having any disloyal thoughts.
Who knows, she might even draw blueprints for other weapons? We could get a set for Lao Qi later.
The position of princess does not necessarily have to be held by a woman from a high-ranking family.
He wasn't a pedantic emperor; he only felt comfortable living with his two children because they had feelings for each other.
Emperor Sukang nodded slightly to himself.