Chapter 307: Joint Investigation (Part 2)
Chapter 307 -175: Joint Investigation (Part 2)
Zhao Zun was watching the busy workers nearby. At this moment, his walkie-talkie crackled twice, followed by a clear voice.
“Prince, Prince. Station One reports, Mr. Xiao has passed Station One and is less than five li from the camp gate.”
Zhao Zun’s eyes brightened immediately, and a wide smile curved at the corners of his mouth.
Xiao Zhengfei and his team were sent to the Capital City to protect Han Lei; since they’ve returned, Han Lei should have come with them.
Zhao Zun briskly walked down the grey concrete steps of the lookout tower, squinting against the heat wave that greeted him.
The scorching June sun hung like a burning iron above, even the sand and rocks on the ground were heated.
Just as he raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his brow, he saw Big Fatty wheezing and puffing as he approached.
“Hoo, hoo. Zhao Zun, finally found you!”
Big Fatty’s corpulent figure gasped like a broken bellows, his silk robes covered in coal ash and rust, appearing as if he had rolled in the mud.
His left hand held a few thin iron rods, while his right hand cradled stacked iron pieces, his hands too occupied.
Zhao Zun noticed new streaks of blood at the base of his thumb: “In such hot weather, why not stay in the shade? Why come here?”
“The forge just finished making the furnace bridge and fire gate.”
Big Fatty raised the iron pieces like treasures, and the precisely drilled holes gleamed in the sunlight.
Sweat dripped from Big Fatty’s round chin onto the iron pieces, leaving a patch of dampness.
“Will it work this time?” Zhao Zun inquired.
Big Fatty’s eyes twitched with confidence: “It’ll work, definitely. Haha.”
He let go of the small iron rods on the ground, demonstrating to Zhao Zun with just two small iron pieces.
“Look, these two pieces overlap, turning the top piece can adjust the flame…”
Big Fatty had failed several times making the fire gate for this honeycomb coal stove, mainly due to the lack of rivet connections between the iron pieces.
Zhao Zun glanced at the small iron pieces in Big Fatty’s hand, thinking the chances might not be great this time either, but still patted Big Fatty on the shoulder.
“Hmm! You’ve worked hard.”
“Not hard at all.” Big Fatty wiped his forehead and smiled joyfully. “It’s quite fun making this. I will be done soon.”
Zhao Zun thought about how Big Fatty, a rich noble, should be at home in the Capital City sipping iced plum soup, listening to songstresses sing.
Yet he listened to Han Lei and came here to help, looking so worn out, which made Zhao Zun indescribably moved.
“The weather’s too hot, take some rest. Or, let’s finish what can be done, leaving the fire gate for when Han Lei returns. Don’t tire yourself out.”
Just as Zhao Zun finished speaking, a sudden flurry of horse hooves sounded distant.
Amidst the yellow dust, Xiao Zhengfei charged forward, followed by three or four trusted aides.
Zhao Zun was overjoyed, his gaze kept searching beyond their shoulders, but his smile slowly faded.
In the team, there was no familiar figure.
Zhao Zun sighed quietly.
“We pay homage to the Prince,” Xiao Zhengfei and several trusted aides dismounted with a gust of hot wind.
Zhao Zun nodded and asked, “Where’s the Princess Consort?”
“Uh…”
Xiao Zhengfei hesitated, glanced at Big Fatty fiddling with the iron pieces on the ground, and stopped short.
Big Fatty immediately understood.
“You all go ahead and take care of your business.”
He hurriedly gathered the small iron rods on the ground, squeezing a foolish smile onto his round face.
“Well… the honeycomb coal factory is waiting to test the new stove!”
After speaking, Big Fatty scurried away with his parts, the two pieces of Jade Pendant on his waist clinking all the way.
Seeing Xiao Zhengfei act so cautiously, Zhao Zun felt an uneasy feeling rising in his heart.
Could it be that something happened to Han Lei? Though he was very worried, he waited for Big Fatty’s plump figure to go far before speaking.
Zhao Zun’s brows furrowed, his knuckles whitened from gripping: “What happened to the Princess Consort?”
Xiao Zhengfei raised his head to look at the towering lookout tower, lowered his voice.
“Prince, let’s go up there and talk.”
The lookout tower rose more than three zhang high, offering a panoramic view of several li around with no one able to sneak close.
Talking up on the lookout tower was safer than speaking in the central military tent.
Seeing this situation, Zhao Zun’s already worried heart felt as if it was suddenly gripped by an invisible large hand, tense with concern.
If not for serious matters, why would Xiao Zhengfei and the others need to be so cautious?