The two remained silent, and Zhao Jiaqi did not inquire further.
She had no intention of keeping the two girls by her side or making decisions for them. Their affairs were for the authorities to handle; she was not needed.
"You two may rise. I deeply sympathize with your plight. As for the subsequent matters, the local authorities will handle them. You may leave now."
When the Prince of Xian and the Prince of Xiaoyao heard their elder sister-in-law speak this way, they immediately became nervous, their bottoms lifting from their chairs. However, due to their lost dignity moments ago, they felt too embarrassed to plead with their elder sister-in-law.
Gan Jiaojiao and Gan Yaoyao clearly understood this implication. They did not retreat upon hearing Zhao Jiaqi's words but instead pleaded again.
"Your Highness Consort, if we cannot be maids, then allow us to serve as loyal guards. To be candid, our ancestors were researchers of mechanism arts and weaponry. However, our family fortune declined over the past three generations, and there is no one capable left in the clan. In my generation, there is no legitimate heir."
"My sister and I pass our time in the family's library, reading books on these subjects. The more we research mechanism arts and weaponry, the more we might be able to assist Your Highnesses and Your Highness Consort."
Zhao Jiaqi was very surprised, and even the two princes were quite shocked.
Mechanism arts and weaponry were things that those in power dreamed of. With these two, while not guaranteeing absolute victory on the battlefield, it would at least prevent excessive loss of troops.
The Prince of Xian pondered for a moment and said to Zhao Jiaqi, "Years ago, I heard of mechanism arts. It is said that one could build something from mere wood that could withstand hundreds or thousands of people. I wonder if this is true."
As the Prince of Xian narrated, the Prince of Xiaoyao looked at him and added, "I've heard that the shields used by soldiers today were invented by a master. I just don't know who this master is. I read this in the historical records."
"Yes, there is such an account. I saw it too!" the Prince of Xian exclaimed in agreement, his eyes brightening.
Gan Jiaojiao looked at the two princes, a sense of pride in her eyes. She replied, "The master Your Highnesses mentioned is my ancestor. When he traveled and witnessed the fighting at the frontier, seeing countless soldiers killed and wounded, our ancestor found it too cruel and thus researched shields to protect the soldiers. These matters are recorded in the scrolls left by our ancestors."
The more she spoke, the more fantastical it became, making Zhao Jiaqi's scalp tingle.
She did not quite understand and asked, "If your family possessed such capabilities, why did your family fortune decline, and how did you two come to learn these skills? This does not align with reason or logic."
"To answer Your Highness, you are aware of the principle that prosperity inevitably leads to decline, so I need not explain it to you," Gan Jiaojiao paused, then continued, "The current head of the family only knows how to pursue pleasure. He has taken wives and concubines but has not produced a legitimate son. He is timid and fearful. Moreover, the family's secrets are quite astonishing. If they were to spread, it could lead to the annihilation of our entire clan!"
Seeing her sister speak so much at once, Gan Jiaojiao took over the conversation, continuing, "Initially, I was unaware of the family's secrets. My sister and I, having nothing to do at home, would visit the library to read. During our playful exploration, we accidentally touched a mechanism in the attic, which opened a secret chamber. The books stored inside documented the deeds of our ancestors. Thus, my sister and I learned of these matters and followed our ancestors' notes to conduct research, achieving some success."
After hearing the sisters' account, Zhao Jiaqi understood one thing: these two sisters had accidentally discovered the family's affairs; their patriarch had not willingly revealed them.
"Regarding what you know, besides your father, does anyone else in the family know about it?"
The sisters shook their heads in unison. "As far as I know, no one else in the family, among the sisters, is aware of this matter."
If they and their sisters had not disliked shopping and sightseeing in the past, they might not have discovered the family's secrets.
Fan Zehao, standing outside the door, heard every word the two sisters spoke and was equally shocked. If such talented individuals fell into the hands of someone with malicious intent, the consequences would be unimaginable.
He glanced at Xiao Ce and nodded, "Investigate this discreetly. See if their claims are true."
Xiao Ce replied, "I'll go now!"
After Xiao Ce departed, Fan Zehao entered the room, looked at the people on the ground, and said with a somber expression, "You two may leave for now. Someone will make arrangements for you. As for your unwillingness to return to the Gan family, I will respect your wishes."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Lei, who stood by his side, appeared before the sisters. He gestured for them to follow and led them away.
After the people left, Zhao Jiaqi's forehead throbbed with a slight pain. She rubbed it and asked, "If these were ordinary daughters of wealthy families, it would be one thing. But these two sisters, by saying what they did today, their words carry a hint of threat. If not handled properly, it could lead to endless trouble."
The three men in the room fell silent. Facing the brothers Huangfu Xu and Huangfu Xian, Fan Zehao had no pleasant expression.
He spoke first, "Wife, we cannot let these two go for now. I've asked Xiao Ce to investigate. If their claims are true, why not send them directly to the military camp to be companions for Mengmeng? What do you think of that?"
This seemed like a solution that benefited all parties. The Huangfu brothers' eyes lit up, and they both nodded in agreement.
Zhao Jiaqi, however, dismissed it with a single sentence, "Absolutely not. Mengmeng is in the military camp, which is a critical military zone. These two cannot be allowed inside. If these two are truly people with ulterior motives sent here, then if they enter the military camp, the consequences can only be imagined!"
It was better to be safe than sorry. Zhao Jiaqi dared not gamble with the military camp.
The four sat around the dinner table. Faced with the beautifully presented and fragrant dishes, they had no appetite to eat.
Some shook their heads, some sighed, some looked helpless. Everyone wore a different expression, yet frowning was a commonality.
Watching the brothers' demeanor, Fan Zehao recalled his wife's mention of the "honey trap." He turned to his wife and discussed, "How about we make an assumption? If these two women are part of a honey trap or have ulterior motives, why don't we play along with their plan and then use a counter-espionage tactic to completely detain them?"
"If these two women are truly innocent, then it's even simpler. We can directly use a 'lover's trap.' Wife, what do you think of this strategy?"
The "honey trap" in the Thirty-Six Stratagems does not state that only women can use it; men can too. Fan Zehao glanced at the two brothers before him, wickedly concocting ideas.
Upon his husband's reminder, Zhao Jiaqi's eyes suddenly brightened. She clapped her hands and praised, "This strategy is feasible."
His studies of the Thirty-Six Stratagems had truly paid off; he was applying them here.
As for the "honey trap," "playing along," and "counter-espionage trap" that the couple spoke of, the brothers listened with a sense of bewilderment. However, looking at their elder brother's gaze, they felt he was plotting something targeting them.