Chapter 1312 - 1265: Rekindling Trust
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him upon hearing this, then looked again at the glowing tungsten filament, and couldn’t help but smile, "Alright, I’ll let you play with this lamp for now, and this small generator can stay with you too. I’ll come to retrieve them in a few days."
Fu Tinghan: ...
He looked at her with a hint of disapproval but ultimately didn’t expose her. Instead, he told Guo Pu, "This tungsten filament isn’t a gift for you. I’m merely teaching you how electricity is generated, how it conducts, and how it makes the tungsten filament glow. I won’t give you this unstable semi-finished product..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Guo Pu unhappily said, "You’re stingy. I taught you divination, didn’t I give you a set of turtle shells? I procured and fired them myself. Why can’t you give me a generator and some tungsten filament when teaching me about electricity?"
Fu Tinghan hurriedly said, "It’s not that I’m unwilling. It’s just that this lamp is still a semi-finished product. I brought this tungsten filament to demonstrate..."
"I’m not bothered that it’s semi-finished. I think it’s quite nice," Guo Pu said. "When the time comes, I’ll shape it into a circle of auspicious clouds around this building and use two pedal generators to keep it shining day and night."
Fu Tinghan just closed his mouth. With such extravagance, let him hit the wall for himself. So, like Zhao Hanzhang, he said, "You play with this tungsten filament lamp for now."
It wasn’t two days before Guo Pu, intrigued by this fun new gadget, immersed himself in study. By the time the night deepened and everyone had retreated, he was spreading out a large sheet of paper beside the glowing tungsten filament lamp, drawing plans for palace renovations, thinking about where to wrap tungsten filaments and what shapes they should glow in...
Perhaps it was due to a lack of electricity, the tungsten filament suddenly went out. Guo Pu paid no attention and first lit a lamp, then went to crank the generator. After a while, the filament slowly began to light up. He was about to smile when he heard a snap. The tungsten filament broke, the bulb went dim, and it completely went out.
Guo Pu was stunned, momentarily forgetting what he was doing. "This, this, this, I, I, I," Guo Pu anxiously paced back and forth, trying to reconnect the broken piece, but recalled Fu Tinghan’s warning not to touch it with his hands, so he retracted his hand.
Suddenly, Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan’s words from earlier flooded into his mind. Guo Pu couldn’t help but stomp his foot and said, "Oh, Zhao Hanzhang, you’re really laughing at me!"
And Ting Han, why couldn’t he be more assertive and say more things?
Guo Pu was so angry he couldn’t sleep all night. The next day, he stormed into the court assembly, determined to settle accounts with Zhao Hanzhang. However, the court assembly was anything but peaceful.
Overnight, Xun Fan’s severe injury had spread throughout the court and even among the common people.
Xun Zu cried in the court, "If the Great General wishes to kill my brother, just issue the order. How could you frame Yu Hong? Everyone knows, Yu Hong was my brother’s close friend. If you want to kill the two of them, must you let them bear the reputation of becoming enemies?"
The Little Emperor was very anxious, quickly admonishing him, "Imperial Censor Xun, speak carefully. The Great General is not such a person."
The officials of the Zhao Family’s faction also glared angrily at Xun Zu. Ji Yuan’s eyes were blazing as he shouted, "Imperial Censor Xun, you’re making assumptions without investigation. As an Imperial Censor, you cast groundless accusations. Do you think the Great General is too benevolent to argue with you, so you slander without fear?"
Xun Zu said, "I’m slandering? Then tell me why Yu Hong would want to kill my brother? They were close friends! Moreover, Yuan Li and Zhao Shen were both present. Now my brother’s life is uncertain, and Yu Hong has been captured and tortured. Isn’t the whole case something Yuan Li can manipulate at will?"
Ji Yuan said, "Right and wrong, the truth will be clear once they return to the capital. Why is Imperial Censor Xun in such a hurry?"
Xun Zu appeared heartbroken, "I’m afraid I won’t be able to see my brother returning anymore."
The old ministers in court looked either angry or fearful, all staring intently at Zhao Hanzhang.
The Little Emperor was also a bit frightened, promptly looking at Zhao Hanzhang, wanting to urge her not to be angry.
Then they heard Zhao Hanzhang slowly say, "Grand Tutor Xun is seriously injured. I’ve already dispatched an Imperial Physician to treat him, ensuring his safe return. If Imperial Censor Xun is worried, why not go to greet the Grand Tutor and inquire about Yu Hong’s matters?"
Xun Zu gave a sardonic smile filled with desolation, "If the Great General orders it, I would not dare disobey, but with this departure, I fear I won’t return."
"I wasn’t there in person, and I can’t guarantee whether Grand Tutor Xun will return safely, but if Imperial Censor Xun goes, I can assure you that you’ll return alive," Zhao Hanzhang said softly, "Rest assured, Imperial Censor Xun, I am not His Majesty Gaozu. I am Zhao Hanzhang of the Zhao Family, always keeping my word. The promises I make in court are faithfully honored!"
Not only the Little Emperor and Xun Zu, but the entire court of civil and military officials, even Ji Yuan couldn’t help but change his expression.