Girl, There's Something Wrong With You - Chapter 33

Iron Man’s spectacular display of power was also captured by the surveillance of a military satellite overhead.

At this moment, the officials of Taicheng were collectively sitting in the cabinet conference hall, watching the battle scenes projected on the large screen.

They watched solemnly, occasionally whispering a few words to each other or taking a sip of tea or wine from the table, their brows furrowed.

Other officials stood on both sides, not daring to make a sound. This was because, in addition to top political figures like Yu Yuangui and Wang Maohong, there were also patriarchs from the Five Great Families such as Li Xuansheng and Cui Congyan, military leaders like Wen Taizhen and Xi Daohui, and even the young emperor, empress dowager, and the Princess of Nankang.

The aristocracy, the generals, the royal family—everyone who wielded significant power in the Jin Empire was present.

When the screen showed Cheng Jinyang deploying the Peacock Plume, Cui Congyan reminded, “It’s the Peacock Plume from the Hejian Xing family.”

“A Metal Storm weapon system?” Wen Taizhen frowned and asked.

“Yes,” Cui Congyan replied. “Metal pellets, pulse ignition, consuming a lot of ammunition, so it relies on mass effect to reduce weight for portability, otherwise it’s too wasteful.”

“But even if a Metal Storm is fully loaded, it can only fire once or twice at most,” Xi Daohui said in a deep voice. “How is his ammunition self-circulating? Collecting metals on-site to make casings—what about the primers?”

“He asked Bian Wangzhi for a batch of metallic hydrogen,” Cui Congyan reminded.

“Metallic hydrogen?” Wen Taizhen asked in surprise. “Isn’t metallic hydrogen required to be stored in a strict vacuum seal?”

“With a high enough level of metal manipulation, one can forcibly lock hydrogen atoms in a metallic state, preventing any reactions,” Wang Maohong said calmly.

“How high?” Yu Yuangui asked seriously.

“Sixth grade,” Wang Maohong answered. “Both computational ability and bloodline concentration are indispensable.”

“So Cheng Jinyang in this state has sixth-grade metal manipulation strength,” Yu Yuangui looked at Palace Attendant Chu Jiye beside him. “Jiye, if I recall correctly, your daughter is also staying with the Shendu Cheng family and went to the battlefield with him. What grade is she currently at?”

“She went back to the clan last month and was checked to be at the seventh grade,” Chu Jiye answered.

Upon hearing this, everyone was awestruck. Yu Yuangui asked this question, no doubt suspecting that Cheng Jinyang’s current metal manipulation originated from Chu Qingqing, who had also gone to the battlefield.

Looking at the information in hand, they found that all the abilities Cheng Jinyang had used matched exactly with the bloodlines of the noble young ladies he had taken to the Shenwu Army garrison.

“Make a list of these noble girls,” Wang Maohong said calmly. “Ask their respective families for detailed information on their grades.”

“Mm,” Li Xuansheng and Cui Congyan nodded in agreement.

Among the Five Great Families, the Cui and Lu families formed one faction, the Wang and Zheng families another, and the Li family stood alone. Most of the aristocracy would choose to side with one of these factions.

Now that Wang Maohong had spoken, and Li Xuansheng and Cui Congyan had agreed, this order would smoothly disseminate throughout the entire aristocratic circle.

Yu Yuangui remained silent on the side, merely squinting his eyes. Even though he had complete control over the empire’s central power, he still felt a deep sense of vigilance and fear towards the almost terrifying control Wang Maohong occasionally exhibited over the entire aristocracy.

“Zhongshu,” Empress Dowager Yu suddenly spoke, “Why does Cheng Jinyang bring so many noble young ladies to the battlefield?”

“Your Majesty,” Yu Yuangui replied solemnly, “It appears now that his multiple abilities rely on the bloodlines of these noble ladies to activate.”

“I understand,” the Empress Dowager frowned. “What I mean is, why are they all women?”

Yu Yuangui’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

This foolish woman!

As for the marriage of the Princess Nankang, he had, of course, tested Empress Dowager Yu’s opinion. As a statesman, Zhongshu Yu worried about Cheng Jinyang’s “unclear background,” given that his mother was once a demon.

However, Empress Dowager Yu’s focus was entirely different. Being an aristocratic woman herself, she had received education tailored to noble ladies from a young age.

Moreover, she was never groomed to be a core member of her family, so the Yu family didn’t teach her much about political maneuvers.

Empress Dowager Yu hadn’t considered this aspect at all. She simply felt that the Shendu Cheng family was too low-ranking, not a noble family, and marrying her daughter there would be “a disservice to her daughter.” She had even subtly expressed her opposition to Zhongshu Yu—naturally, her brother strongly advised against it.

Sister, do you know about the Iron Giant?

Even if we combine our strengths, we wouldn’t be able to withstand a single stomp from him! We mustn’t lose the trust of Cheng Jinyang, even if it means risking Su Zigao’s rebellion!

Seeing her brother’s firm advice, Empress Dowager Yu had nothing more to say, yet her thinking remained within the system, “I am the Empress Dowager; how dare the Cheng family rebel,” leaving Zhongshu Yu exasperated.

Now, as Empress Dowager Yu brought up the matter again, Zhongshu Yu immediately sensed her intent. She was trying to subtly express her dissatisfaction with the Shendu Cheng family through this issue!

But did she not realize that, below the young emperor, she was the sole authority of the royal power?

If she expressed this in front of so many political figures, how would they perceive the Shendu Cheng family?

They would think the royal family harbors animosity towards Cheng Jinyang!

“Your Majesty!” Zhongshu Yu gritted his teeth and growled, drawing the attention of the surrounding officials.

Just as he was about to risk the fallout of family discord to reprimand the Empress Dowager, the Princess Nankang interjected with a charming smile, “Mother, this should be the intention of Lord Wang’s daughter.”

“Lord Wang’s daughter?” Empress Dowager Yu looked surprised, casting her gaze towards Wang Maohong.

“Yes,” the Princess Nankang responded. “I don’t know the specific mechanism of the abilities, but these candidates should have been selected by Lord Wang’s daughter.”

The surrounding bigwigs suddenly realized the truth.

Indeed, looking closely at the list, aside from the women from the Five Great Families other than the Lu family, whose bloodline abilities were naturally powerful, the abilities of the Xing and Cheng families were the most compatible. The abilities of the Chu family formed the core of this tactic, and the abilities of the Yang family filled the detection gap.

It was clearly a carefully designed plan.

As for why Wang Wanrou chose all noblewomen, that made sense too. Women are more inclined to form alliances and are more likely to side with fellow women when dealing with strangers, a fact long verified.

Although Empress Dowager Yu’s brows remained furrowed, she said nothing more. She had initially wanted to question Cheng Jinyang’s promiscuity by pointing out the “all noblewomen” aspect but was deftly countered by her daughter.

More importantly, her daughter had subtly expressed her own feelings.

What on earth does Cheng Jinyang possess that has captivated my Nankang so much?

Lord Wang’s daughter, Lord Wang’s daughter…

Right, if Nankang can’t marry him, then the daughter of Lord Wang by his side—is she Wang Maohong’s contingency plan to win him over?

Empress Dowager Yu suddenly realized, the “Iron Giant” her brother had hinted at before resurfaced in her mind.