The cruel little princess

Shen Youyou handed all the dozen or so drawings to Master Wang with satisfaction, "Here, take a look at them. If you assemble them according to this, you should be able to fire ten crossbow arrows continuously at a time. If you make it bigger, so that it can be made into a crossbow bed that can be fixed on the ground, or a crossbow cart pulled by a carriage, the power will be even greater! The range should be more than 100 meters, or even more than 200 meters! You can make a few small ones to demonstrate first. If you think it's okay, make a big one." Shen Youyou said to Master Wang calmly.

"Is the Ruian County Lady serious?" Master Wang asked excitedly, holding the blueprint. He had originally thought it was just an ordinary weapon improvement, but now it seemed like a major invention. If it were truly as the County Lady said, their army would have a powerful long-range attack weapon. This would make both sieges and defenses much easier. Master Wang couldn't help but get excited at the thought, and he quickly picked up the blueprints and studied them carefully. Each drawing was extremely detailed, with various dimensions and structural details marked. The more he looked, the more feasible it seemed, and his joy became increasingly difficult to contain.

"You'll know if you try it yourself!" Shen Youyou yawned as she spoke. She hadn't slept well the previous night, having cared for Prince Jin. After so much going on today, she felt even more exhausted. "Let's do this for now. You guys try it yourself. If it doesn't work, I'll improve it." Shen Youyou said, turning around and walking back.

As soon as she turned around, she was caught off guard by a strong embrace. Shen Youyou was startled and subconsciously tried to break free, but found herself being held tightly. She looked up and saw His Royal Highness Prince Jin looking at her nervously.

"Be careful!" Prince Jin said softly, a hint of concern in his voice. His hand gently supported her waist, as if he was afraid she would fall.

Shen Youyou's face flushed crimson instantly, and her heartbeat quickened involuntarily. She had never imagined she would have such close contact with His Royal Highness Prince Jin in public, and for a moment she was at a loss.

Prince Jin quickly withdrew his hands as soon as she had regained her footing. They still needed to avoid suspicion in front of outsiders. Shen Youyou nodded somewhat dejectedly. She was too embarrassed to look up at Prince Jin's expression, so she simply lowered her head and said, "Thank you, Prince Jin. I'll take my leave!" Shen Youyou bowed and took Chuntao back to the tent to rest. As she walked, she thought about what had just happened, and a ripple of emotion welled up in her heart.

Prince Jin watched the receding figure, his heart in a state of turmoil. He wanted to catch up and escort her back to the tent, but ultimately decided to stay and examine the blueprint. He knew the importance of this blueprint. If he could truly create the so-called Zhuge Crossbow, it would be a great invention that would benefit the people.

He quickly walked up to Master Wang, and all the blacksmiths knelt down and saluted: "Greetings, His Royal Highness Prince Jin!"

"No need to be polite!" His Royal Highness Prince Jin waved his hand casually, his eyes fixed eagerly on Master Wang. He asked, "Are you confident you can make the 'Zhuge Crossbow' that the County Lady just drew?"

Master Wang exchanged a glance with the other blacksmiths, then hesitantly replied, "Your Highness, the question remains unanswered. However, we have all reviewed the drawings drawn by the County Lady, and the key points are vivid and clear. We believe there is a chance of success."

"Could it be finished tonight?" Prince Jin asked anxiously. Even he could see the impact the Zhuge Crossbow could have on the battlefield, so naturally, these blacksmiths would know it.

"We, too, want to try it out tonight!" Master Wang and his companions were eager to try it out. Seeing a new weapon, they were like little boys seeing their favorite toys, eager to try it out.

"Well, I'll wait here for your good news!" His Royal Highness Prince Jin immediately ordered An Yi to bring a chair over, and he sat there with his arms and legs spread, waiting nervously.

After the blacksmiths exchanged greetings, they quickly gathered together to carefully examine the blueprints and engage in a lively discussion. They each shared their ideas and experiences, and after about half an hour of deliberation, they finally settled on a rough plan. Next, they lit the fire. The whirring of the bellows and the pounding of the iron blended together, like a stirring song of anticipation.

As dawn approached, the sky gradually brightened, and the sky in the east was turning pale. His Royal Highness Prince Jin stood there, hesitant. He didn't know whether to stay here and wait, or go to the mountain with Shen Youyou to practice martial arts. Just then, a cheer broke out, shattering the morning tranquility.

"It worked! It worked! I didn't expect it to actually work! The Rui'an County Master is truly an amazing person!" Master Wang and the others cheered excitedly, not hiding their admiration for Shen Youyou. Their voices echoed throughout the courtyard, as if to pass on this joy to everyone.

Prince Jin, upon hearing the voice, strode over to them with great strides. His eyes gleamed with anticipation and eagerness as he asked, "Is the Zhuge Crossbow finished?" His voice trembled slightly, revealing his inner nervousness and excitement.

"Your Highness, it has been successful!" Master Wang respectfully raised the object in his hand and presented it to His Royal Highness Prince Jin so that he could observe it closely.

Prince Jin examined it carefully. He saw that the Zhuge Crossbow was slightly larger and heavier than ordinary crossbows. However, it possessed formidable firepower, capable of firing ten arrows simultaneously without reloading. This design gave it immense destructive power on the battlefield, effectively suppressing the enemy.

"Excellent! Excellent!" His Royal Highness Prince Jin praised repeatedly, his eyes filled with joy. He knew full well the importance of this new weapon to warfare, and a surge of ambition surged in his heart.

Then, His Royal Highness Prince Jin issued an order: "Immediately recopy these drawings in detail, and record the problems encountered during tonight's research and their solutions. Write down every detail, no matter how big or small. I will send the drawings and the Zhuge Crossbow to the capital!" His mouth curled up uncontrollably. He hoped that through this experiment, he could not only produce more Zhuge Crossbows, but also continuously improve and perfect this technology.

As the sun gradually rose, its light bathing the earth, a new day began. Prince Jin gazed into the distance, his heart filled with confidence and determination. He knew that with this batch of advanced weaponry, his army would be even more powerful, bringing greater glory and peace to the nation. All of this was inseparable from Shen Youyou's wisdom and hard work. He decided to thank her and seek her advice on military strategy and weapon refinement.

"As you command!" Master Wang and the others were also very excited. They gathered together and immediately began to review the problems that occurred during the forging process last night, recording them one by one. They also included some points and details that needed attention during the forging process, as well as methods for improvement. They hoped that these would be utilized in the next forging, resulting in even more sophisticated and advanced weapons and equipment. Afterwards, they respectfully handed the record to His Royal Highness Prince Jin.

After An Yi received the blueprint, His Royal Highness Prince Jin returned to his tent with the Zhuge Crossbow. Next, His Royal Highness Prince Jin needed to write a memorial and send it to the capital. After washing his hands, His Royal Highness Prince Jin held his breath and concentrated, unfolding the memorial. He carefully picked up the brush, filled it with thick ink, and then respectfully wrote the reasons for this weapon improvement. He knew full well that even the most outstanding tree in the forest will be destroyed by the wind, so he attributed all the work to Shen Youyou, his mysterious master. He placed all the blame on that all-powerful yet enigmatic master. After all, if the master couldn't be found, the credit would go to the apprentice. It was a case of those who planted trees, and those who came after them would enjoy the shade.

Meanwhile, Shen Youyou got up and exercised as usual. However, she discovered that His Royal Highness Prince Jin was not around. So, she asked An Er about his whereabouts. An Er explained, "The prince was watching over the weapons camp last night until he successfully crafted the Zhuge Crossbow you drew. Now, he is writing a memorial to send to the capital. He will come to see you after he finishes it. If you are in a hurry to leave, you can go ahead and don't have to wait for the prince."

Shen Youyou nodded, expressing her understanding and agreement. She said to An Er, "You can send a brother to inform the prince and tell him that he doesn't need to come back after writing the memorial and to rest. Also, don't forget to change the dressing." With that, she turned around, mounted her horse, and galloped away in a heroic manner.

An Er suddenly realized that Miss Shen actually cared deeply about her own prince. She and the prince were simply a perfect match made in heaven!

The villain in An Er's heart bit his handkerchief tightly, wishing that the two of them would immediately bow their heads and get married on the spot! But reason finally prevailed. An Er knew that impatience can't eat hot tofu. His own prince and Miss Shen might have a long way to go, and there was still a lot of waiting!