Forcing the Palace!

A dead-end situation.

Even the gods could not save it.

Pu Mingzhu clearly agreed with this assessment, her voice inevitably tinged with resentment: "Qin Yanying is truly a reckless woman. She had to stir up this mess right before the Ten Thousand Races Imperial Examination, and she even saved those people, completely disrupting the Imperial Princess's plans!"

Li Xingluo sighed softly: "She has her own convictions. There is no use in saying more; go quickly!"

In truth, Pu Mingzhu was right.

If this matter had occurred after the Ten Thousand Races Imperial Examination, once the negotiations between the various parties had settled, things would not have been so thorny.

Or, if she had intentionally held back, allowing some casualties among those pregnant women and children, there would have been room to maneuver the case.

However, she also knew that the shadow over Qin Yanying's life was the deceased Qin Yanting, along with that city of children she had failed to save in time.

Asking her to stand idly by.

Was no different from betraying her own past.

It was just that doing so was truly reckless.

Li Xingluo could not protect her.

Or rather.

She could, but the price was too high, too difficult to bear.

"Sigh!"

Pu Mingzhu let out a sigh and walked quickly toward the outside of the estate.

Protecting the families of those victims was nothing more than shielding them from threats, preserving the possibility of them testifying for Qin Yanying.

But how could they possibly remain untouched by threats and temptations?

Besides, even if these people dared to testify, what could it change?

One could only blame Qin Yanying for being too stupid!

She could have been a key link in the Imperial Princess's layout, yet she had self-destructed so easily.

She shook her head and stepped out of the gate.

Unexpectedly.

The moment she stepped out, she heard a voice filled with ecstatic joy.

"I've done it! I've done it! Hahaha!"

The puppet walked toward her, enthusiastically grabbing Pu Mingzhu's wrist: "Daoist Kongxu, I've done it!"

Pu Mingzhu was somewhat puzzled: "Daoist Kongxu, what have you done?"

"The new weaponry, naturally! Come, come, let me demonstrate it for you and the Imperial Princess."

"..."

"Imperial Princess! Imperial Princess!"

The puppet's voice was full of excitement as he pulled Pu Mingzhu's hand and strode into the main hall.

Li Xingluo also put on a smile: "I heard the master's laughter from far away. Has something good happened?"

"Of course! The weaponry... it's done!"

"Which weaponry?"

Li Xingluo became interested. During their long talk that day, this puppet master had proposed many concepts for new weaponry that had quite intrigued her.

Although those weapons could only be used by ordinary combatants and could at most threaten experts around the sixth rank.

But on the battlefield, soldiers below the sixth rank made up the vast majority. If the new weaponry could truly be mass-produced and threaten large areas of enemy troops on the battlefield, it would inevitably be a qualitative improvement in combat capability.

It was just a pity that the concepts were too novel, and even Li Xingluo felt they were difficult to realize.

She had not expected that in less than half a month, this Daoist Kongxu would actually have a breakthrough.

Under her gaze.

The puppet took a small square box from his bosom and placed it on the ground.

The bottom of the small square box was fitted with several miniature repeating crossbows and engraved with some unfinished formations; it was clear that these were meant for attack.

The top was somewhat strange, with three fan blades mounted on each of the four corners, though their purpose was unknown.

Li Xingluo was puzzled: "Master, what is this for?"

The puppet laughed: "The Imperial Princess may guess first!"

Li Xingluo stared at the small square box, pondering for a moment, and ventured: "A combat airship?"

When they chatted that day, the thing she cared about most was the combat airship, because she knew very well that a significant reason why the Demon Official performed so strongly on the battlefield was that certain races could seize air superiority.

If a combat airship could be made, the human army could do the same.

For a moment, she felt a surge of excitement.

The puppet laughed and sighed: "The Imperial Princess is truly peerlessly intelligent!"

Li Xingluo felt a flicker of joy, yet asked in confusion, "But I see no wind-riding formation on this flying vessel; how can it..."

The puppet waved a hand dismissively. "Wind-riding formations are too expensive, and they interfere with the spiritual power circuits, weakening the offensive formations on board. What use are they?"

"Then how does it manage to fly?"

"Imperial Princess, please watch!"

"Whirrrrr..."

Before the words had even faded, the four fan blades on the small square box began to spin rapidly, lifting the box into the air. Then, following the flick of the puppet's fingers, it moved wantonly through the sky.

Li Xingluo: "!!!"

She hurriedly asked, "Sir, setting aside the repeating crossbows, formations, and spiritual cores, what is the cost of this combat flying vessel?"

The puppet crossed his arms and leaned back tactically. "Not much! Ten taels of silver. If the craftsmanship is further refined, it could be even cheaper."

Li Xingluo: "!?!?!?"

Her heart began to pound violently. With such a low cost, if the price of the spiritual cores and formations could be suppressed, it could even be used as a consumable on the battlefield.

What did that equate to?

It equated to trading money for a batch of fearless, absolutely loyal, low-grade Demon Race beasts capable of flight.

As long as this craftsmanship matured, it would be a top-tier strategic resource.

It could even be... a political bargaining chip!

The value of this chip might even outweigh Qin Yanying.

She suppressed the excitement in her heart. "Sir, you haven't told anyone else about this, have you?"

"No!"

The puppet seemed unaware of the point she was focusing on and continued to chatter excitedly, "And I have some ideas to bring down the costs of the spiritual cores and formations, and furthermore..."

Just as Li Xingluo was listening with growing excitement.

The puppet's voice suddenly cut off.

Li Xingluo's heart skipped a beat. "Sir!?"

The puppet did not respond.

Li Xingluo called out several more times, but the puppet remained completely unresponsive.

She grew somewhat panicked. Could something have gone wrong with the true body of Daoist Kongxu?

At such a critical juncture...

"Sir!"

"I am here!"

"..."

Li Xingluo let out a long sigh of relief. "Sir, you startled me. What just happened?"

The puppet's mood seemed to have suddenly plummeted. He beckoned, and the small square box landed quietly in his palm.

Seeing his unusual demeanor, Li Xingluo couldn't help but ask, "Sir, this is..."

The puppet said in a deep voice, "Just now, I saw some unpleasant things on Xuanwu Street. Has the Imperial Princess heard?"

As he spoke.

His gaze fell upon Li Xingluo's face.

It seemed to carry a hint of scrutiny.

Li Xingluo: "..."

In that instant.

She thought of many things.

That day, the puppet had come to visit for a long talk.

Although this puppet hadn't displayed much political ambition, his attitude toward the Demon Race was clearly one of repulsion, which was the reason she had opened up a significant portion of her precious resources to him on the very first day.

Conversely, their shared stance on the Demon Race was likely the reason for "Daoist Kongxu" choosing to pledge his allegiance.

And now...

Almost at the exact moment the conflict erupted between the Qin Family and the Demon Official, Daoist Kongxu's combat flying vessel had achieved a breakthrough.

Li Xingluo didn't quite believe this was just a coincidence.

This was a test, or rather...

An attempt to confirm whether she was the person worth following.

Her excitement gradually calmed. She pondered seriously for a long time before finally saying with gravity, "I have heard about the matter regarding the Qin Family. It is quite thorny, but there may yet be room for maneuver. General Qin cares for the common people; you and I should do our utmost to assist. Does Sir agree with me?"

"The Imperial Princess is righteous!"

The puppet bowed. "With those words from the Imperial Princess, this Daoist is reassured. It is only a pity that this Daoist is of low status and little influence, ignorant of state affairs, and possesses no strengths other than tinkering with gadgets. If the Imperial Princess needs me to do anything, just say the word, and I shall do my utmost."

Li Xingluo nodded with a smile, "That goes without saying!"

"The flying ship still requires many refinements, so I shall take my leave now!"

"Safe travels, Daoist!"

She watched the puppet depart.

Pu Mingzhu's expression turned grave, "Is Daoist Kongxu forcing your hand?"

Li Xingluo smiled faintly, "He has the qualifications to force my hand! With such immense talent, if he were compliant in everything, I would be afraid to use him instead! The fact that he is willing to stand up for the Qin Family today actually makes me hold him in higher regard. Those Demon Official are not the type to be driven away by the spineless!"

Pu Mingzhu sighed softly, "Does the Imperial Princess have a countermeasure?"

"None!"

"Then..."

"The Emperor has always doted on me; I shall head to the palace later to sound him out."

Li Xingluo smiled indifferently, "If all else fails, I will offer up the flying ship. At the very least, it will ensure Qin Yanying has a peaceful time in prison."

Pu Mingzhu was startled, "Imperial Princess! The flying ship is no trivial matter. If you offer it up..."

Such a strategic resource served as a bargaining chip while kept in one's own hands. If presented to the Emperor, it would certainly be nationalized. It would surely fetch some short-term benefits, but to trade it merely for Qin Yanying's comfort in prison was far too wasteful.

"With such a master at my side, the flying ship is merely an added bonus."

Li Xingluo's smile was radiant as she looked at Pu Mingzhu, "Nanny, once you have finished with these matters, look into whether there has ever been a genius puppet master who shared a close relationship with the Qin Family."

"Understood!"

Pu Mingzhu nodded solemnly.