Ziteng thought for a moment and said, “It can shoot from the south side of Songtao Residence all the way beyond the north side.”

Both Liang Zhe and Qin Shuying were stunned. That far?

One must know that Songtao Residence was quite large! From the south side to the north side was a full half-li distance.

“So it seems even three points stronger than Western State’s firearms?”

Qin Shuying wasn’t certain and remained silent.

Ziteng withdrew, and Qin Shuying and Liang Zhe looked at this gun, pondering for a long time.

Liang Zhe marveled, “Such an exquisite thing—even our Great Zhou’s finest craftsmen might not be able to make it. You said father-in-law obtained it from a foreigner. This means that foreigner’s country must have very sophisticated craftsmanship in this area. These bullets are also rare, not requiring gunpowder at all.”

Qin Shuying didn’t understand much about these things, but she finally understood one matter: fire guns used gunpowder, Western State firearms used black raw stones, while this gun only needed precisely crafted copper bullets.

After thinking, Qin Shuying said, “Ziyu, since we can investigate to this extent, the Mu family’s political enemies might not be unable to find out either. The Mu family is Noble Consort Kang’s maternal family. Imperial Consort De and Noble Consort Kang secretly compete, and the Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince both view each other as rivals. The Fifth Prince is very shrewd—his attention to the Mu family is no less than ours, if not more. Do you think he might also have discovered something from this?”

Liang Zhe pondered, “What you say makes sense. The Fifth Prince has abundant personnel under him, but from my observation, he acts as if he knows nothing about this matter. I can’t read the Fifth Prince’s intentions. There are three possibilities: first, the Fifth Prince truly knows nothing; second, they’re all birds of a feather; third, the Fifth Prince himself has something compromising in their hands.”

The Fifth Prince’s compromising material?

Qin Shuying’s eyes flashed.

The Fifth Prince’s preference for young girls—would that count?

But regarding Ziteng’s matter, Qin Shuying wouldn’t tell anyone, not even Liang Zhe. This was Ziteng’s bloody wound, a past that Ziteng still couldn’t face directly. Qin Shuying wouldn’t reopen this wound for others to see.

But relying solely on her own people, it would be very difficult to investigate some unknown matters about the Fifth Prince, because Qin Shuying couldn’t participate in the Fifth Prince’s life.

Then it could only be left to Liang Zhe to investigate.

Qin Shuying considered carefully, “Ziyu, it seems the Fifth Prince is also somewhat suspicious. Should we also pay attention to him?”

Liang Zhe nodded, “I’ll find a way to investigate him. The current plan still faces constraints from insufficient personnel. Plus, now that I’m at the garrison and often can’t return, many things become much more difficult to handle.”

This was a problem.

Solving any matter required personnel. Without people, one couldn’t obtain evidence and clues, and no amount of suspicion would be in vain.

Qin Shuying comforted, “Fortunately, the Earl’s residence is now in our hands. I’ll gradually replace the personnel and find ways to bring people in. Ziyu needn’t worry.”

Liang Zhe curved his lips in a smile, his smile making all the darkness in the room become brilliant. Qin Shuying only felt her vision blur as Liang Zhe had already grasped her hand again.

“Thanks to my wife’s strong support!”

Qin Shuying found it amusing but didn’t dare look at Liang Zhe. Her heart was now resolute—she didn’t want any more accidents. She only said, “Ziyu, the Fifth Prince’s consort’s status isn’t very high. Do you think this is His Majesty’s intention, Imperial Consort De’s, or the Fifth Prince’s own?”

The slight romantic atmosphere Liang Zhe had just generated was pressed down as he said, “As you mentioned earlier, Zhou Li is very shrewd. I believe this is Zhou Li’s own intention, and His Majesty is happy to see it happen. Luo Meixiang thought Liang Qiong could become the Fifth Prince’s consort, but Zhou Li himself didn’t want to marry Liang Qiong. From this point alone, one can see that Zhou Li has his own plans and isn’t just an empty princely title. In this regard, he’s much stronger than the Sixth Prince.”

“Ziyu, then we have another lead to pursue—the Fifth Prince’s consort.”

Liang Zhe’s eyes were clear as water, gazing at Qin Shuying. “My wife speaks correctly.”

Qin Shuying steadied her mind, withdrew her hand, turned toward the door, walking while saying, “Your lips are somewhat chapped. There’s rock sugar pear soup that was just stewed this morning—drink some to moisten them. By the way, I heard the garrison is particularly cold. Are the bedding I had prepared for you last time sufficient?”

Speaking thus, she called loudly for Ziteng to bring rock sugar pear soup.

Liang Zhe didn’t particularly want to drink rock sugar pear soup—it was sweet and tasteless—but since Qin Shuying had requested it, he would reluctantly drink a little.

…Why drink sugar water? He only wanted to hold Qin Shuying’s soft little hands more.

After drinking, Liang Zhe discussed various matters with Qin Shuying again, went to Zhenyuan to see Liang Zhen and Qu Linglong, then left again.

Qin Shuying had also been very busy these days. After Liang Zhe left, she slept briefly—she was truly exhausted. When she woke, she found the sky had turned completely dark.

In her dreams, she had dreamed of Feng’er.

Feng’er still had that soft little body, extremely adorable.

He ran back and forth under the Lu family’s eaves, appearing very joyful.

After waking, Qin Shuying stared blankly for a long time.

This past year and more, she rarely dreamed of Feng’er.

But the pain of losing her child always lurked in her heart. Perhaps someday at some moment it would stab her, making her entire body numb, as if she had lost all feeling. If not for still needing revenge, she would want to follow Feng’er and be done with it.

Since her rebirth, she, Qin Shuying, had never planned to spare her enemies or herself.

Lu Changxuan’s death, losing everything before dying—this was what Lu Changxuan deserved.

Qin Feifei couldn’t even enter the Qin family’s main gate, being tormented by Old Madam Lu and those people—this was also what she deserved.

What about the remaining people?

She, Qin Shuying, wouldn’t spare them. She wouldn’t.

Qin Shuying stared blankly at the bed canopy for a long time, collected her emotions, then slowly sat up.

No wonder Luo Meixiang was so obsessed with managing the household—this Pacifying West Earl’s residence was truly too wealthy, with numerous properties everywhere in all directions, all profitable enterprises.

The residence’s various expenses were all top quality. Sleeping in a room with underfloor heating, warm and cozy—compared to Old Madam Qin’s room with four or five braziers, this was simply heavenly.

When spring came, she would also install underfloor heating in Old Madam Qin’s room.

Qin Shuying rose, making some noise. Hong Juan knew she was awake and came in to serve her. Qin Shuying stretched lazily, “You’ve all truly become lazy, not even calling me, just letting me sleep so late. How will I sleep tonight?”

Hong Juan smiled as she poured her a cup of water, “First Madam truly wrongs us. This servant came to check many times, but First Madam slept so soundly that this servant couldn’t bear to wake you. Clearly First Madam herself was lazy, yet blames it all on this servant.”

Qin Shuying drank a cup of water. Ziteng and Lu Ye also entered. Lu Ye said, “No one’s lazier than Zhihua being so brazenly idle. Look at all of you—with her supervising Qianxi Garden’s move, they only just finished moving yesterday. When will we be able to move in? It looks like we’ll still have to spend New Year at Songtao Residence.”