Chapter 296: Chapter 239: Blasted in the Face with Black Soot

Shen Ruoxi deeply believed that her husband’s words were true.

If Xiao Chengyi did become the General of the Country and then was promoted to the First Rank to command the Commander’s Seal, leaving aside how the civil servants might react, the military generals would certainly be dissatisfied and would not let it rest.

How could the Emperor not foresee this? He would not easily employ Xiao Chengyi, but Shen Ruoxi’s keen sixth sense vaguely told her that things might develop just as she anticipated.

"I hope so!" Shen Ruoxi said with a solemn gaze, a hint of worry in her eyes.

Jun Moling previously did not want to mention the darkness and filth of the Royal Family to Shen Ruoxi, but now that they were married, he felt he should reveal those potential hidden dangers to prevent her from being frightened in the future.

"Ruoxi, do you not believe in your husband? I fought for five years, was it in vain? There’s nothing to worry about." Jun Moling comforted with a smile, trying to ease Shen Ruoxi’s uneasiness.

When the birds are gone, the fine bow is put away; when the cunning hares are dead, the running dogs are cooked; when enemy nations are defeated, the cunning ministers perish.

This never-changing principle chilled Shen Ruoxi to the extreme at this moment.

She really did not want to think that her Emperor would be the same.

"I’m not worried, my husband. I just want to tell you, I am not a fragile woman, I have the ability to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, my husband, do not worry about me." Shen Ruoxi said with a smile.

Her smile was incredibly infectious, as if it could make people instantly forget all their troubles. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Just for her blossom-like smile, Jun Moling secretly vowed in his heart that he would never allow himself to fail.

"Alright, we advance and retreat together." Jun Moling declared confidently.

Shen Ruoxi gently leaned her head against his chest, emotions surging that were indescribable and unclear, only feeling her heart was full, yet mixed with a bit of sourness.

She nodded heavily, "Alright."

On the other side, Ning Zhen went to the pawnshop. When she presented the ticket, the clerk hurried to search and returned shortly afterward.

However, to redeem the item, an additional one hundred taels of silver was required.

The interest was indeed high, but since the item was found and Ning Zhen was not short of money, she quickly handed over the one hundred taels, then took the item and headed to the Prince Mansion.

After greeting Shen Ruoxi and Jun Moling, Ning Zhen handed the item to Shen Ruoxi, saying, "Princess Consort, please take a look. I looked at it roughly on the way and didn’t notice anything unusual, it’s just a piece of gold."

Shen Ruoxi examined it in her hand, it was indeed a solid piece of gold, at first glance there seemed to be nothing unusual.

Although gold appears soft, it would be quite challenging to cut open such a solid piece to see if anything was hidden inside.

"In this way, find a piece of gold of similar size to weigh it; if it is solid, the weight should be almost the same.

If it is not solid inside, we should be able to detect the difference from the weight." Jun Moling suggested.

Listening to his suggestion, Shen Ruoxi and Ning Zhen both felt it made a lot of sense.

So, he hurriedly called for the butler, and it wasn’t long before they found a piece of gold yuanbao that looked almost the same as the problematic one.

They placed it on the scale to weigh it, and sure enough, there was indeed a weight difference.

It turned out this piece of gold was slightly lighter.

Shen Ruoxi was taken aback, secretly wondering if something had been mixed inside this gold.

Golden objects are extremely difficult to melt, let alone hide something inside.

If something is truly hidden, it either means the gold is hollow inside, but judging by the weight, it clearly isn’t hollow.

The last possibility is that the inside was gradually imprinted with something by melting in bits of gold, and the hidden item is less dense than gold in the same volume, could it be iron?

"Let me try breaking it." Ning Zhen also sensed that there was something fishy about it, and said eagerly.

After all, it was her item, she could handle it as she wished.

However, after exerting all her strength to smash it for a while, Ning Zhen still couldn’t break it, the gold only got deformed.

"Cut it open." Shen Ruoxi suggested loudly.

"Ah? Can it be cut?" Ning Zhen asked in bewilderment, knowing that cutting this gold would not be easy.

"I have Cold Frost, I should be able to give it a try."

Ning Zhen knew she had a dagger that could cut through iron like mud, so she nodded in agreement.

Even with Cold Frost, it wasn’t easy to cut open the gold quickly.

With much effort, Shen Ruoxi finally managed to see the core inside.

Seeing this, everyone was momentarily stunned because the color inside was not the golden hue it should have been, but rather a pitch black.

Ning Zhen’s hand trembled slightly, she cautiously dug it with Cold Frost, and surprisingly dug out a small iron ball.

The ball was so small it could spin freely in the palm.

Ning Zhen was dumbfounded, pondering what this item truly was.

Shen Ruoxi was also puzzled, wondering what purpose a tiny iron ball hidden inside a piece of gold could serve.

"Could there be something else inside?" Ning Zhen asked with a furrowed brow, full of confusion.

Shen Ruoxi shook her head, "This little thing is so small, what could it possibly contain?"

"Should I try cutting it with Cold Frost?" Ning Zhen inquired, looking at Shen Ruoxi for approval.

Shen Ruoxi nodded, "Sure, after all, it’s yours, you can do as you please with it."

With permission granted, Ning Zhen once again raised Cold Frost and struck it hard.

"Bang"

A muffled sound echoed, and the small iron ball burst open, a puff of smoke suddenly flew towards Ning Zhen’s face, frightening her so much that she shrieked and leaped away.

As the sound exploded, Jun Moling instinctively shielded his wife tightly in his arms.

"What’s happening?" Shen Ruoxi was full of shock and surprise in her voice.

Covered in soot and still shaken, Ning Zhen said, "I don’t know, why did it suddenly explode? Thankfully, it seems like it’s not too serious, the thing feels like a firecracker, not lethal but it sure gave me a scare."

Shen Ruoxi, peeking out from her husband’s warm embrace, couldn’t help but chuckle when her eyes landed on Ning Zhen’s appearance.

Jun Moling, filled with curiosity, looked back, and his lips couldn’t help but twitch. If not for his self-restraint, he probably would have laughed too.

Ning Zhen, however, was unbothered, she carelessly walked over and picked up the remnants of the small iron ball, questioning with sincere curiosity, "How could it be a firecracker?"

Shen Ruoxi also wanted to go over for a closer look, but Jun Moling quickly stopped her, his expression tense yet gentle, "Beloved, don’t go over, I’ll have the teacher come to check it out."

Shen Ruoxi knew he was worried about any accident happening to her, especially because she was pregnant now, so her husband was extra cautious with her. Thus, she obediently agreed, "Alright, I won’t go over, you all see what it is."

It wasn’t just Shen Ruoxi who was puzzled; everyone present wore a look of confusion, unable to comprehend why Ning Zhen’s father would hide a firecracker inside a small iron ball.

Not long after, Zhai Wen hurriedly arrived and examined the object carefully before saying, "Judging by the power, it’s just an ordinary small firecracker, and it’s the mildest type, it won’t harm anyone. There’s no gunpowder left inside so it won’t explode again."

Everyone exchanged glances, puzzled. Ning Zhen furrowed her brows deeper, muttering to herself in confusion, "Why in the world would my father put that thing in there?"

However, nobody could answer this question. Seeing that there was no more danger, Shen Ruoxi went over.

She said to Ning Zhen, "Give me the small iron ball, I will see what kind of explosive it’s loaded with."

Knowing Shen Ruoxi was knowledgeable, Ning Zhen hurriedly handed over the deformed small iron ball.

Everyone’s gaze was now fixed on Shen Ruoxi.