The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 672

Chapter 672: 318 Glory (First Update)_2

The Emperor’s command of chess far surpassed the Crown Prince’s, and he immediately grasped the essence of the game merely by inspecting the board.

Unable to conceal the admiration in his eyes, he exclaimed, "So that’s how you solve it... Why didn’t I think of this?"

The Prince, wearing a gratified smile, replied, "The Emperor is preoccupied with the affairs of the state and lacks time to deliberate on chess games. Linlang has been recovering from her injuries in the East Palace and has spent her free time sharpening her chess skills."

In saying this, he not only provided an excuse for the Emperor but also took the opportunity to praise the brilliance of Wo Linlang - the problem was neatly solved given there was no prior time, and now there was ample time to solve it.

Who else in the world could be so intelligent?

Perhaps his late cousin could I guess.

The cousin solved the first chess game of Master Meng at the tender age of ten, it is unfortunate that he passed away prematurely.

However, even if he were alive, it’s unlikely he could outperform Linlang, who had reached an even greater magnificence.

Not to mention she is a woman, there really is no woman better than Linlang under heaven.

The Emperor acknowledged this with an approving nod.

He had initially been reserved about this daughter-in-law, considering her prior engagement with Xiao Hen. Yet, the Prince insisted on marrying none but her. Furthermore, her impressive talents and the Empress’s affection for her ultimately led the Emperor to agree to the marriage.

In the years following their union, the Prince made remarkable progress, maturing from an impulsive, naive boy into a restrained and steady man, much of which should be accredited to the influence of the Princess.

"Hmm," the Emperor couldn’t hide his approving look, "the Princess has done well."

"Father, by my reckoning, she should be the best in the six kingdoms, shouldn’t she?" The Prince asked tentatively.

The Emperor smiled and nodded, "Indeed, with the exception of the old Master Meng, your wife is the first person to break down the Kun Game. I will send letters to all the other countries, announcing this wonderful news."

The Prince responded with a bow and a smile, "I congratulate the Emperor on my behalf!"

Studies know no boundaries, as does the art of chess. This is not only an honor for the Princess, but also an honor for the entire Zhan Country.

The Emperor chuckled happily, "I must think carefully on how to reward you two. After all, you have gained favor once again."

The Prince stood up straight, "That is because I have an eye for potential, I married a wife who is a bringer of prosperity!"

The Emperor burst out laughing.

It was evident he was in a good mood. He had recently received a document in respect to the East Palace—urging the Prince to take on more concubines for the Royal Family’s prosperity.

She had no feelings for the Princess and was not interested in her achievements or glory.

She recently acquired some saltpeter and was thinking of experimenting with a few things she had never done before, which she felt slightly unfamiliar with.

She poured out the saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal on the ground.

What she wanted to make was gunpowder.

When strength falls short, weaponry may compensate. And, before reaching her former strength, she desperately needed some powerful artifacts on her side.

If she had had gunpowder during the previous assassination attempt at the cliff, she wouldn’t have been forced to nearly fall off the cliff.

Gunpowder is one of the four greatest inventions of ancient times, but it seems this alternate dynasty has yet to discover it.

Using the materials that she could find now, she could only produce black gunpowder. Although its potency is inferior to that of yellow gunpowder and is not as threatening as dynamite, it is still far more effective than silver needles and darts.

Gu Jiao had a rough idea about the ingredients, but not about the ratio. A tiny error could result in a significant setback, a minor adjustment of ingredients may significantly weaken the impact of black gunpowder.

Therefore, she needed to experiment patiently.

The charcoal hardly had any odor, and the sulfur was bearable, but the saltpeter...