`` i will ask zhao lien at once , '' temeraire said , eagerly , and shot to her side ; she looked more than a little anxious-small wonder ; laurence could well believe she would not like in the least to return to china with the news she had lost a celestial , and even a dubious sort of imperial prince-but there were nearly twenty guns established in the exposed position , and she could not fail to see the advantage of knocking such a hole in the french artillery .