Chapter 357: Not the Right Time Yet (Part 3)

Zhao Zun brushed off the coal dust from his body and glared at him impatiently: “Nonsense! I bet it’s Han Lei thinking of me. It’s been a month since we left, and there’s not even a message.”

“Hahaha…” Big Fatty’s laughter shook the coal dust off his face, and he winked slyly, “I think it’s you thinking about your sister-in-law instead! Remember that day you talked in your sleep and called her name!”

“Tch! Mind your own business.” Zhao Zun was momentarily embarrassed, a faint blush appearing on his bronze face.

He lightly slapped the back of Big Fatty’s head, producing a crisp sound: “You better finish quickly, or your sister-in-law will beat you when she returns.”

Big Fatty shrank his neck and quickly raised the wooden apparatus in his hand: “I’ve already finished. If you don’t believe me, take a look.”

He stood up, rubbed his slightly numb legs, and walked to the coal pile, demonstrating like a child showing off a new toy.

“Press down like this, and it fills with coal inside. Then, press this handle, and the coal comes out.”

“Ka-ta!”

With the sound of the wooden mechanism operating, Canzhou’s first standard twelve-hole honeycomb coal was born, sunlight casting twelve fine rays through the neat holes.

“Amazing! It really worked?” Zhao Zun’s eyes lit up, disregarding his princely dignity, and he snatched the wooden apparatus: “Let me try!”

He pressed out five or six honeycomb coals in one go, ignoring the coal dust that splattered his face.

Not far away, Minister of Industry Zhang Shiyang was directing craftsmen to transport the finished honeycomb coal stoves.

Hundreds of tin stoves were neatly arranged, reflecting a metallic luster in the sunlight.

In the center of the clearing, many clay stove cores were being dried, with a few craftsmen cautiously turning them over.

“Prince,” Zhang Shiyang came over, wiping sweat off his face, “In three days, these stove cores can be used. Then we’ll first test them in the government offices and military camps, and if there are no problems, we’ll promote them among the civilians.”

Zhao Zun nodded and was about to speak when he suddenly saw Xiao Zhengfei running over hurriedly.

This normally composed commander of the trusted aides now had beads of sweat on his forehead, with his saber and pistol shaking with every step.

Xiao Zhengfei stopped a few paces from Zhao Zun, casting a wary eye at Big Fatty.

Big Fatty immediately understood and patted the coal dust off his hands: “I need to take these honeycomb coals to dry them. Once they’re dry, we can test them.” With that, he wisely walked away.

Once Big Fatty was out of sight, Xiao Zhengfei took out a slim bamboo tube from his chest, speaking in a low voice.

“Prince, we just received a flying pigeon message from Mr. Liu in the Capital City.” His fingers trembled slightly, “It’s marked in red.”

Zhao Zun’s pupils suddenly contracted.

He remembered clearly; he had told Ping Chuan to instruct Mr. Liu not to contact him unless it was a matter of utmost urgency.

Red mark meant—it involved life and death.

The bamboo tube was crushed by Zhao Zun with a “crack!”

Zhao Zun pulled out the note inside, the handwriting slightly hasty due to the urgency.

“On May 25, there was an explosion at Champion Marquis’s residence; all the lords perished. On the night of June 15, there was an explosion in the Imperial Palace. Civil and military officials rushed to the palace overnight, with the gates shut tight.”

“Something happened in the palace.” Zhao Zun’s voice was cold as ice, handing the paper to Xiao Zhengfei.

Xiao Zhengfei took it, glanced at it, and inhaled sharply.

“Prince, it’s all explosions, could it be the Princess Consort too…” Halfway through, he suddenly stopped, shaking his head, “No, the Princess Consort is already in Jingzhou, right?”

Zhao Zun’s gaze became profound, like two bottomless ancient wells. He raised his eyes towards the Capital City, surprised: “Indeed, then who caused the explosion in the palace?”

Xiao Zhengfei stepped closer, hand on the hilt of his knife, speaking even more quietly.

“Prince, don’t miss this opportunity. With the palace upheaval looming, why not take advantage of the chaos…” He made a motion of wielding a knife, ambition flickering in his eyes.

“No!” Zhao Zun raised his hand sharply to stop him, his sleeve stirring up a cloud of coal dust, “It’s not the right time; a large number of beggars are about to arrive in Canzhou. If we cause a commotion now, the sufferers will still be the common people.”

He turned to look at the craftsmen laboring in the distance, his tone firm: “The honeycomb coal business can’t stop; let’s first allow the common people to get through this winter.”

Xiao Zhengfei still wanted to persuade him but was stopped by Zhao Zun’s look.

Zhao Zun took a deep breath, his mind focused on the issues in the Capital City’s Imperial Palace. At that moment, Ma Zi rushed into the honeycomb coal factory.

Running as he shouted, “Prince, news has come from the No. 1 communication station.”