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Published at 24th of October 2019 10:00:12 AM


Chapter 116

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Actually, Ning Fu had heard a lot about these so-called 'guns' which were touted to be more powerful than spears or arrows and even swords and on a particularly rare occasion, he had even seen a gun on a battlefield a few years ago when he had captured an enemy general and confiscated his army camp.

However, he had never thought that he would see such a thing in his kingdom because most people in the dynasty – noblemen and commoners alike disdained the things that were made by foreigners and a gun was one such thing.

It was rumoured that it was made by the white people who lived on the far side of the ocean and that it was extremely expensive and cumbersome to take care of.

He wondered why the monarch even wanted something like that.

Was it just idle curiosity or was he planning something?

However, before he could think further on it, his thoughts were interrupted by the Head Commander.

"Your Majesty, forgive this subordinate for speaking out of turn but why would Your Majesty need something like this? Aren't our swords and daggers a better option for protection?"

Su Li didn't know how to explain her need for something tangible that could help her protect herself and her loved ones in a time of need.Find authorized novels in Webnovel,faster updates, better experience,Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.

Since she had arrived in this world, she had constantly thought of how things could have been different if only she had listened to that person when he had repeatedly asked her to keep a gun close at hand for self-protection.

Sadly, she hadn't listened to his well-intended advice and in the end, both of them had to pay a steep price for her wilfulness.

She knew she couldn't change the past but she could learn from it.

So, when she had realised that many people were eyeing her position in this world, she had talked to Zhou Sheng and asked him to make enquiries about guns – even if they weren't of the modern style and were a bit longer, at least they were a better option than not having anything to defend herself with if she was cornered.

So, when the Head Commander asked his inconspicuous question, she mixed half-truths and half-lies as an answer.

"Zhen doesn't know how to wield swords and arrows but Zhen had a gun before Zhen came here. Sadly, Zhen lost it on his way back to the kingdom. So, Zhen asked Zhou Sheng to make inquiries about it, but Zhen didn't expect him to find one on such short notice." 

The words were enough for a bland explanation but her nonchalant expression was belied by the minute shaking of her hands that she tried to hide by clenching them into fists.

Zhou Sheng was busy celebrating the fact that he had stayed true to his words and delivered on the promise and the Head Commander wouldn't dare to gauge the monarch's reaction but her small movements didn't escape Ning Fu's notice


He watched as the emperor clenched his hands and hid them inside the folds of his sleeves and also saw the way the monarch didn't meet anyone's eyes while explaining.

 All the more, he wondered why the monarch felt the need to give the Head Commander's question a verbal response when a single sharp look from His majesty would have been enough to stifle the Shadow Guard and have him keep his words to himself.

The Unit Commander filed the emperor's reaction in his mind to ponder about at a later date.

"What about the ammunition? Does it have shells or ammunition?" Su Li earnestly questioned her friend.

That seemed to put a damper on Zhou Sheng's mood because he muttered, "For now, it's just the shells but I have asked people on the black market to procure some ammo as well. I'll get that in a few days."

The monarch didn't seem to mind the delay because he gave a faint smile.

"You did well this time, Zhou Sheng. Thank You."

Zhou Sheng blushed and softly replied, "It's nothing. Just some gun."

Finished with his words, he walked forward to hand over the gun to the monarch but the other person stood up from his seat and walked around the huge Imperial Desk towards the other three people.

"Since we have it, let me try my hand at it. It's been such a long time since I used a gun. Don't know if my marksmen ship has suffered in the intervening time."

Ning Fu watched as his brother gave a snort at those words and carelessly replied, "Ah! How could that be? After all, you learnt shooting from Zi..."

However, Zhou Sheng stopped at the last word and the monarch seemed to come to a standstill at those words.

Su Li felt as if someone had taken out her beating heart and was slowly and excruciatingly crushing it.

She took in a ragged breath and a heavy silence befell the Imperial Study.

Meanwhile, Ning Fu watched silently as an unreadable current seemed to pass between the monarch and his brother and it looked as if the monarch tottered on the edge of a precipice only he could see.

At the last second, his legs gave way and he almost stumbled forward

Zhou Sheng seemed to have realised his mistake because he hastily went forward to hold the monarch by his arms and softly whispered, "I - I am sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up. I am sorry."

It was visible at a glance that the monarch had been disturbed by those words but the other person made an effort to not let it affect Zhou Sheng because he gave a wan smile that looked like it would crumble at a moment's notice.

"I know."

He again patted the younger boy's hand as if to console him and repeated himself.

"I know. I Just...."

Hr gave a mournful sigh, "I just need some time, that's all."

Those words seemed to sap out all the energy from the emperor but he still gathered the tattered remains of his self-confidence.

"Head Commander, please go and ready a shooting practice for Zhen."

Half an hour later found the quartet - the monarch, Zhou Sheng, Ning Fu and the Head Commander on the training grounds.




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