The Prodigal Son

On the way back, Zhao Luan offered to let Qin Yu ride with her.

However, she wasn't interested in being intimate with Qin Yu; she simply wanted to learn more about the cannon.

However, the moment Qin Yu sat down, things took a turn for the worse.

Qin Yu casually pulled Zhao Luan into his arms, "Your Majesty, please ask whatever you wish! I will answer to the best of my knowledge!"

He had a very serious expression on his face.

But those claws didn't stay still.

"Have you been busy with this for the past few days?"

As Zhao Luan spoke, she lightly pinched the back of his hand.

She's conflicted right now.

She actually hoped to spend more time with Qin Yu.

Qin Yu could also work with Shangguan Youyi to help her handle some government affairs.

When she encounters difficult decisions, she consults with someone she completely trusts.

But she was also a little afraid that Qin Yu would stay by her side too often.

That lecherous bastard won't behave himself if he stays around her!

If someone were to see her like that one day, wouldn't she be so embarrassed?

Moreover, Qin Yu and Gao Yi have become mortal enemies.

If her relationship with Qin Yu were made public, Gao Yi would be filled with anxiety every day!

This is a situation she doesn't want to see right now.

The campaign against Yan is imminent!

High-quality genetic material has many uses!

"What else?"

Qin Yu smiled at Zhao Luan, "So now you know why I was unwilling to temporarily assume the position of Minister of War, right?"

"Having you do these things is indeed more meaningful than having you sit in the position of Minister of War."

Zhao Luan nodded slightly, then smiled and stared at Qin Yu, "If it weren't for what happened a few days ago, would you have kept this new weapon hidden away?"

Qin Yu rolled his eyes at her. "If I were to keep it hidden forever, without doing it secretly, would you even know about the Heavenly Craft Workshop?"

It's not that they would hide it.

However, he definitely has to keep something in reserve.

"I'd be a fool to believe you!"

Zhao Luan scoffed, "All you ever think about is women or the 'kill the dog after the hunt' mentality. I don't believe you wouldn't be wary of me!"

"Really, no!"

Qin Yu chuckled and then began to explain the use of artillery to Zhao Luan in detail.

Qin Yu explained in detail, and Zhao Luan listened attentively.

When Qin Yu mentioned loading cannons onto the warships, Zhao Luan immediately understood.

No wonder that bastard cares so much about the navy!

It turns out he had already thought all this through!

That bastard was truly born to fight!

Imagining the scene of "the city being melted by artillery fire" that Qin Yu had described, Zhao Luan couldn't help but feel secretly excited.

The next moment, Zhao Luan flipped over and sat on Qin Yu's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, a touch of feminine charm on her face. "I am very satisfied with this gift! How would you like me to reward you?"

Qin Yu's lips curled up, and his claws slowly reached towards Zhao Luan's chest.

Snapped!

Zhao Luan slapped Qin Yu's hand away.

Qin Yu was displeased and was about to speak when Zhao Luan, suppressing her embarrassment, grabbed his hand and placed it on her chest.

"..."

Qin Yu was both amused and exasperated.

Is this even possible?

Why does she always have to take the initiative?

Does that mean I'll only be her rocking horse from now on?

"What are you looking at?"

Zhao Luan's cheeks flushed, but she stubbornly insisted, "I said, I am the one in control of the situation!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Luan lowered her head and kissed Qin Yu's lips.

Faced with such beauty, Qin Yu naturally couldn't refuse.

Qin Yu responded passionately to Zhao Luan's kiss, his hands also busy.

However, just as he was about to reach into Zhao Luan's clothes to properly examine her body, Zhao Luan reacted as if electrocuted, abruptly separating her lips from his, grabbing his hand, and glaring at him with shame and anger: "If you dare to move again, I'll chop off your paws!"

asshole!

Colored embryo!

Don't you even know where you are?!

Qin Yu chuckled, "Your Majesty, you're just burying your head in the sand!"

Zhao Luan, embarrassed and annoyed, brandished her fist at Qin Yu. Just as she was about to speak, Yun Ying's voice came from outside.

"His Majesty!"

Zhao Luan panicked and quickly sat down opposite Qin Yu, while also moving closer to the window of the imperial carriage, asking calmly, "What is it?"

"A messenger just arrived from the palace to report that Prime Minister Song... is dying."

Yun Ying's trembling voice came from outside.

"What?"

Zhao Luan froze, then suddenly yelled outside, "Stop!"

Before the imperial carriage had even come to a complete stop, Zhao Luan, ignoring the blush still on her face, rushed out of the carriage.

The sudden bad news left Qin Yu stunned.

They had just visited Song Zhuo a few days ago.

At that time, although Song Zhuo was already very thin, he was still in good spirits!

How could you suddenly be unable to hold on after only a few days?

Could it be from drinking?

After a brief moment of distraction, Qin Yu quickly rushed out of the carriage.

"dismount!"

Zhao Luan disregarded imperial decorum, rushed over, snatched a horse from an imperial guard, quickly mounted, and jerked the reins.

"drive!"

Zhao Luan quickly spurred his horse and charged out.

"Quick, keep up!"

Qin Yu and the other imperial guards quickly spurred their horses to follow.

"Thump thump..."

The rapid sound of horses' hooves rang out continuously.

The group shielded Zhao Luan in the middle and rushed towards the Song residence.

A quarter and a half minutes later, the group hurriedly arrived at the Song residence.

Before the servants of the Song family could even pay their respects, Zhao Luan rushed into the Song residence.

The group ran all the way to Song Zhuo's ward.

Having received the news, Su Yu and the others had already arrived and were gathered around Song Zhuo's sickbed.

Song Xianzheng, who had just been transferred back to the capital, knelt before the sickbed with tears streaming down his face.

Seeing Zhao Luan stride in, everyone quickly stood up: "Your Majesty..."

"No need!"

Zhao Luan gave a low shout and strode quickly to the bedside.

Song Zhuo's body was already emaciated. Upon seeing Zhao Luan, he hurriedly and weakly instructed Song Xian, "Help...this old man...get up!"

As he spoke, Song Zhuo tried to get up, but he was too weak and collapsed again after only managing to stand up a little.

"My beloved teacher..."

With a sob in her voice, Zhao Luan tightly grasped Song Zhuo's hand and then cast an inquiring glance at the imperial physician beside her.

The imperial physician lowered his head and gently shook his head.

Song Zhuo is completely exhausted!

Unless a god intervenes, no one can reverse the situation.

Upon receiving the imperial physician's answer, Zhao Luan's eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up in her eyes, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Seeing Zhao Luan trembling with pain, Song Zhuo forced a smile and tried to comfort her, saying haltingly, "Your Majesty, please don't... grieve for me. Everyone... must die eventually. To have met Your Majesty in this life is my... fortune! It's just a pity... cough cough..."

As he spoke of the later events, a deep sense of regret appeared in Song Zhuo's cloudy eyes.

Ugh!

Even though he had long since become indifferent to life and death, the two biggest regrets in his heart were not seeing the day when Yan was destroyed and not seeing the day when Zhao Luan got married.

Zhao Luan fought back tears, gently patted Song Zhuo's thin, bony hand, and asked, choking back sobs, "Does my mentor have any further instructions for Song Xian?"

Song Zhuo was an extremely intelligent man.

As soon as Zhao Luan asked, he knew she wanted to speak to him privately, so he forced a smile and said, "I already told you..."

Zhao Luan closed her eyes, letting tears stream down her face, and ordered in a deep voice, "Everyone except Qin Yu, step back!"