Qu Dubian's troops arrived at Ling'an Village in Bai County.
The small village had about a hundred residents, with dark grey bricks and tiles, and orderly, neat houses.
They arrived in the evening, with a blanket of mist hanging over the settlement. The barking of dogs and crowing of chickens painted a picture of tranquility.
Qu Dubian did not go to the Bai County magistrate's office. Instead, he had someone notify the county magistrate to come directly to Ling'an Village, so both the magistrate and the village chief were present.
The village chief, leading over a hundred villagers, greeted the imperial army sent to suppress the bandits with trembling reverence.
"Commander, we have finally awaited the arrival of the imperial forces. The people of Ling'an Village are saved," said Magistrate Wu, who was no longer young, with sagging skin that made him look perpetually worried even when he smiled.
His eyes reddened with emotion, "For half a year, the villagers of Ling'an and the surrounding settlements have suffered greatly. Stationing my yamen officers here has been useless."
The army camped outside the village, with twenty soldiers left by his side for personal protection.
Qu Dubian followed them into the village: "Since the bandit problem is so severe, why not have the villagers in this area relocate?" Especially Ling'an Village, which had suffered the most.
The village chief said bitterly, "How can we move? Everything we've accumulated in a lifetime is here. Our farmland, houses, and the nearly ripe grain in the fields—we cannot bear to part with any of it."
Qu Dubian: "Not even a temporary relocation?"
Magistrate Wu: "It's no use. Even though several young men have already died in clashes, the villagers are unwilling to leave."
They led Qu Dubian all the way to a temporary resting place.
It was the village chief's house, the only reasonably well-built house in the village, with dried fish hanging on the fence to sun.
Magistrate Wu had also brought quite a few county yamen officers, about twenty, who now also gathered around the village chief's house.
Qu Dubian considered the information he had compiled from the bandit suppression records and roughly formed a plan in his mind.
He sat in the courtyard, gathering Magistrate Wu, the village chief, Adjutant Zhang, and Zuo Tianlang together.
Qu Dubian: "We will launch a surprise attack on the Black Butcher Fortress tonight."
Adjutant Zhang was startled for a moment: "Tonight? Isn't that too soon? You haven't learned anything about the situation yet."
"It is indeed soon, but," Zuo Tianlang frowned, "if handled well, it might be an opportunity."
Qu Dubian nodded: "Yes, on the journey I gained a general understanding of the bandit situation here. Launching an attack is like striking while the iron is hot."
He looked at the village chief: "What does the village chief think?"
The village chief was hesitant: "This humble person doesn't really understand. The esteemed officials should decide. If anything is needed, we will certainly cooperate."
"Have the villagers retire early tonight and not go outside."
"At this hour, everyone is already home."
Qu Dubian: "Magistrate Wu, your officers should be very familiar with this area, right? Can they serve as guides?"
Magistrate Wu: "Naturally, they can."
The old man with the worried face said confidently, "They often patrol this area to intimidate the bandits. They know the mountain paths clearly."
Qu Dubian checked the simulator's time and decisively said, "Good. Then we depart in half an hour. Adjutant Zhang, I trouble you to muster the troops and inform the brothers."
Adjutant Zhang hesitated briefly but still said, "Yes."
A surprise attack only half an hour from now?
And the Seventh Prince had just arrived here. Without even inquiring about the situation of the Black Butcher Fortress's three leaders, he was going straight into an attack. Wasn't this too hasty and poorly planned?
The Provincial Governor believed the Seventh Prince was not some pampered noble from the capital, that his eyes were sharp, and he had seen through their act of testing that night. That's why the Governor felt assured enough to assign two thousand elite troops.
But whether the Seventh Prince actually knew how to command soldiers, the Governor didn't know, and neither did he.
However... the Seventh Prince probably wasn't the type to disregard soldiers' lives.
Remembering the plague in the three prefectures two years ago, Adjutant Zhang's heart settled slightly.
If the Seventh Prince truly knew nothing of military strategy, he would then follow the Provincial Governor's private instructions and make his own arrangements.
At the village chief's courtyard.
After sending Magistrate Wu away as well, Qu Dubian pulled Xi Zixing and Zuo Tianlang into the inner room.
He said in a low voice, "Commander Zuo, the surprise attack tonight is a feint. In a quarter of an hour, go notify Adjutant Zhang. Then take a few men and wait on the essential paths up or down the mountain. See if you can catch anyone."
Zuo Tianlang's eyelid twitched. "Your Highness, you mean...?"
Qu Dubian patted his shoulder. "I appreciate your hard work."
Zuo Tianlang clasped his fists. "Your Highness, you honor me too much. I came to Qingzhou with you precisely to assist you in successfully suppressing the bandits."
With that, he left the room directly to find Adjutant Zhang.
Xi Zixing was holding a blank notebook, copying a roster into it, and said leisurely, "Half a year, and they've failed to catch the bandits every single time. It's too strange. There must be someone colluding with the bandits, secretly passing messages."
Qu Dubian walked a circle around the room.
It was a folk house built with straw and yellow mud. The dim oil lamp cast human shadows on the wall, the light halo swaying gently. On the bed was a clean, thin quilt, surprisingly without patches.
"Let's see how many can be caught."
Black Butcher Fortress.
The Great Leader, with a face full of bushy beard, held a bowl of rice, chewing.
A man dressed in the uniform of a Bai County yamen officer stood about five meters away from him, saying, "Great Leader, I've told you all I know. The court has sent the Seventh Prince to suppress the bandits. They will launch a surprise attack tonight... but I don't know from which direction. However, they have many men. You can prepare in advance."
The Great Leader took out a small piece of gold from his robe and tossed it on the ground.
The officer immediately picked it up with a delighted smile. "Well then, Great Leader, this humble one will take his leave!"
Great Leader: "Be careful not to get caught. Next time, change your clothes."
The officer said, "Time was tight today. But it's fine, I can just pretend to be scouting the route. Changing into other clothes would be more suspicious."
He cupped his hands and withdrew.
The Second Leader was lean and wiry, with a long scar on his face. "Idiot."
The Great Leader finished his rice, wiped his mouth. "Originally thought someone formidable was coming. The Seventh Prince? Just lucky in his birth. If everyone were born in the mud, he probably wouldn't even survive. Not as good as that... that Provincial Governor surnamed Ji."
Yu Ruo hurried in after hearing the news. "Where's the informant?"
The Great Leader laughed. "Third Brother, you're here! Come, come, sit."
Yu Ruo: "What did the informant say?"
The Great Leader repeated it. "Pah, it's nothing. There are only four paths up the mountain anyway. I'll have men set up rolling stones in advance. They won't be able to come up."
Yu Ruo took a deep breath. "Immediately, right now, catch up with that informant."
Seeing his expression, the Great Leader was taken aback, then became serious. "Third Brother, is there a problem?" It was no wonder he became serious; in the half year since the Third Leader had joined Black Butcher Fortress, he had solved many troubles for them from the authorities.
So they listened to what he said.
Yu Ruo: "You don't know, but I have information. The Seventh Prince is definitely not some reckless fool who attacks blindly upon arrival."
When he heard Gu Xin say that the usual informant had gone up the mountain again, he felt something was wrong.
He didn't believe that after the Seventh Prince issued the order for a surprise attack, the news would still come from a mole's mouth.
There was trickery involved.
The Seventh Prince was cleansing the internal spies.
The bandit chief immediately stood up. "Quick, go after him! Catch him and bring him back, lock him up in the stronghold, don't let him—"
"There's no difference between a soldier disappearing without a trace, with no body found, and outright exposure," Yu Ruo narrowed his eyes. "After you catch up, kill him directly. Then send another team down the mountain to attack, disguising the informant as someone accidentally killed by bandits."
"Otherwise, I'm afraid all the tongues we've planted will be plucked out one by one."
A team of bandits immediately gave chase.
The village chief's house.
Qu Dubian fiddled with the incense Liuliu had given him in the small box, estimating the time in his heart.
"It should be about time now."
As soon as the words left his mouth, a commotion arose outside the village chief's house.
Zhang Canjun and Zuo Tianlang entered the courtyard dragging a man with an arrow wound in his back, throwing him heavily onto the ground.
The man screamed in pain, but with his hands tied behind his back, he could only writhe on the ground.
Zhang Canjun stood outside the courtyard, announcing loudly with a cupped-hand salute: "Reporting to the Commander, we actually caught a bandit coming down from the mountain! Fortunately, we discovered him in time, otherwise this arrow in his back would have pierced his heart."
His doubts about the Seventh Prince's capabilities had largely dissipated.
From this moment on, he began to seriously regard the Seventh Prince, not yet of age, as the Bandit-Suppression Commander.
Qu Dubian was about to go out when Xi Zixing stopped him. "Didn't you hear? The captured man is injured."
Qu Dubian: "It's fine. I can hold my breath using internal energy for a while."
He patted Xi Zixing's arm and went out directly, glancing at the wailing soldier on the ground.
"A county yamen soldier. Where is Magistrate Wu?"
Magistrate Wu, sweating profusely: "Your Highness, I am here."
Qu Dubian: "Tonight's disguised surprise attack was merely to see if there were any traitors within the government offices leaking information to the enemy. I didn't expect there actually would be. Magistrate Wu, what are your thoughts?"
"Your Highness! This man is named Dong Tian. He's usually very honest. I never imagined he would collude with the enemy!" Magistrate Wu said indignantly, kicking Dong Tian. "You treacherous scum! How many people have you gotten killed because of you!"
Dong Tian was still making excuses: "I didn't!" He kowtowed, tears streaming down his face. "Your Highness, please investigate clearly! I was just going up the mountain to scout the path for everyone!"
Qu Dubian raised his hand: "Search him."
Zuo Tianlang immediately began the search.
No one could hide anything under a body search by the Imperial Guard Commander. Soon, the gold he had hidden on his person was found.
Qu Dubian: "I've seen the county yamen's roster of soldiers. Dong Tian, you come from a humble background. Your salary is only enough to support your family. Where did this gold come from?"
"I really didn't, I've been wronged, my lord!"
Qu Dubian pressed a finger to the bridge of his nose: "Take him away. If he doesn't confess, severe punishment awaits."
He turned and went back inside the house. Ye Xiaoyuan found someone to splash water and wash away the blood in the courtyard.
Qu Dubian leisurely lit a stick of incense inside the house.
Around midnight.
Zuo Tianlang finally brought in a list.
"Your Highness, this is what Dong Tian confessed—the people within the county yamen who were bribed by the bandits. Six in total. Three of them came here with Magistrate Wu for the suppression campaign."
Qu Dubian: "Trying to suppress bandits right under their noses, no wonder it was doomed to fail."
"On one hand, they were greedy for money; on the other, they were afraid that if they refused, their families would face bandit reprisals," Zuo Tianlang said with admiration. "But now that Your Highness has rooted out all the spies, our future movements won't be exposed right under the enemy's eyes."
"It's not over yet."
Qu Dubian handed the list to Xi Zixing. "I have a task for you."
Xi Zixing: "Your orders, Your Highness."
Qu Dubian: "Take my personal token and a hundred soldiers to Baixian's county yamen. On the surface, arrest people. Privately, investigate Magistrate Wu's background."
If Dong Tian alone named six moles among the soldiers, the entire yamen was likely corrupt.
After establishing their princely estates, each prince had a unique personal token. Qu Dubian's was a bluish-green seedling token, with a large numeral 'Seven' in the bottom left corner.
Xi Zixing took the token: "Leave it to me. However, it will require some time."
Qu Dubian: "There's no hurry here. First, probe and test, figure out the situation. The formal engagement with them will take at least two months at the latest."
Xi Zixing: "Sooner is better than later. I'll leave now. Be careful yourself."
Qu Dubian nodded.
After Xi Zixing left, Zuo Tianlang asked, puzzled, "What Your Highness meant by 'not over yet' probably wasn't referring to the county yamen, was it?"
Qu Dubian walked to the window, looking at the small, inconspicuous piece of dried fish hanging on the fence outside.
In the night, it was somewhat hard to see clearly.
He asked calmly, "Commander Zuo, tell me, would people in a village accustomed to being robbed forget to hide their food and leave it hanging outside?"
Zuo Tianlang was startled.
...
...
Heitu Stronghold.
"Dong Tian is finished. The moles we planted in the county yamen are almost all useless now."
The bandit chief lamented: "So close! Third Brother, from now on we won't know the government's movements. What do we do?"
"If one is crippled, there are others."
Yu Ruo pondered: "Tell the brothers in the stronghold to be careful lately. If they go down the mountain, first check if there are any lookouts at the foot."
"If they don't move, we won't move either."
The second-in-command said solemnly: "Alright, I'll take charge of keeping watch."
Dong Tian and the other two bribed moles were taken into custody.
The villagers, hearing of this, were furious.
The most vocal and tearful was Old Lady Cui, who sat crying in front of Magistrate Wu's lodging early in the morning: "So it was you! You informed those bandits, that's why the authorities couldn't catch them!"
"If they had been caught earlier, my son wouldn't have had to die! We still can't even find his body, burned to ashes alive... If the County Magistrate doesn't pay for this life, this old woman will dash herself to death right here today."
"Let the official from the capital see how you force good citizens to their deaths!"
Those who had lost family members gathered there, wanting the County Magistrate to give an explanation.
Upon hearing this, Qu Dubian had the villagers gathered outside the village chief's house.
He leapt up, landing lightly on the fence, making himself visible to the hundred or so villagers.
"Everyone."
Old Lady Cui, eyes red, said tremulously: "My lord, please uphold justice for us! There was only one able-bodied man in the family, everyone depended on him for work, but he was burned to death by bandits... We had resigned ourselves to bad luck, but to think there were traitors in the government... How are we supposed to live?"
"That's right, that's right."
"Everyone, don't be anxious," Qu Dubian raised a hand to quiet them. "Magistrate Wu will compensate you for your losses, all according to the law. This I guarantee."
Old Lady Cui, somewhat dissatisfied, tried to speak again, but Qu Dubian continued: "But right now, there is a more important matter."
"To prevent the leakage of military movement information, from today onward, villagers are forbidden from going up the mountain. Every ten households will form a group, mutually monitoring and reporting on each other. Once any abnormal activity or anyone going out is discovered, report it immediately to Zhang Canjun."
"Within a group of ten, if one household causes trouble, all ten will be held jointly responsible. Not only will they face caning, but their descendants will also be forever barred from taking the imperial examinations."
The villagers began murmuring amongst themselves.
Someone couldn't help but ask, "Sir, why?"
"Why?" Qu Dubian recalled a saying and revealed a mysterious smile. "Because there are bad elements among the masses."
After the order that one family's crime would implicate ten neighboring families was issued, the atmosphere in Ling'an Village grew subtly tense.
Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants.
Forbidding descendants from taking the imperial examinations was like poking right at the most sensitive point for many village elders.
The imperial exams were the path to heaven.
Toiling in the fields for a lifetime, to put it bluntly, if just one scholar emerged from a family, the whole family would rise. If a provincial graduate emerged, the entire village would benefit.
Anyone who caused trouble at this critical juncture was their enemy.
Only when their own vital interests were at stake would people truly commit to something.
Chewing on licorice root while working the fields, they wished they had eyes in the back of their heads to watch the movements of the families tied to their own.
Even going to the latrine, they would ask others where they went, then go to the spot to sniff around and verify the story.
Even the chickens didn't dare wander off into the hills anymore, for fear of being suspected as enemy chickens or bandit chickens.
Half a month passed.
During this time, Qu Dubian contacted the Provincial Governor of Jizhou.
Heitu Fortress.
Two thousand soldiers were stationed in the nearest village, Ling'an, yet there had been no movement.
Nor any news.
Like a sword suspended but never falling; as time dragged on, people grew restless.
The Big Boss stood on the high ground of the fortress, squinting into the distance.
The tiny village of Ling'an was almost invisible.
"Has that Seventh Prince gotten cold feet?"
Second Boss: "There's been no news. Waiting like this isn't a solution. Let the Cui family send someone down to take a look."
Big Boss: "Didn't Third Boss say not to move rashly?"
Second Boss: "With so many mouths to feed in the fortress, being cooped up on the mountain isn't sustainable. If we can't raid this area, we go elsewhere. Let's first send someone to see what's happening."
"Alright," the Big Boss pondered for a moment. "Then tell the Cui family man to return late."
"Good."
Ling'an Village.
Late at night.
After a burst of barking.
A dark shadow scaled the wall and entered Old Lady Cui's courtyard.
The visitor knocked on the door and whispered, "Mother, it's me."
A few seconds later, hurried footsteps sounded from inside the room. Old Lady Cui didn't even light a lamp, pulling him inside as soon as she opened the door.
Cui the Second: "Mother, why no light?"
Old Lady Cui's voice was urgent: "Son, I need to tell you something. Listen, then go back immediately. You must never come back again!"
Cui the Second was puzzled: "Why?"
"That official from the capital..."
BANG!
The gate to the Cui courtyard was kicked open.
Village elders rushed in holding torches, illuminating the courtyard brightly.
"Old Lady Cui! Come out! Who entered your house?!"
No answer came from inside. The head elder sneered coldly, and immediately someone kicked the inner door open as well, releasing dogs inside.
A dog bit Cui the Second's leg, and two young men grabbed him from left and right, throwing him to the ground outside. "Elder! We got him!"
The head elder took a close look at the face and exclaimed in shock, "You... Cui the Second?! Weren't you dead?!"
"Old Lady Cui said you burned to death in a fire! How can you be here?!"
Old Lady Cui forced a smile: "A misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! He didn't die, just got injured and went into hiding for a while. He only sneaked back tonight."
Head Elder: "Tie them all up. You can explain when the official arrives."
Qu Dubian was awakened in the middle of the night.
He shook off his sleepiness and arrived at the scene.
By now, the Cui courtyard was packed with villagers. Twenty or thirty torches were held aloft, their heat making the summer night sweltering.
Old Lady Cui and Cui the Second knelt in the center. Behind them knelt a woman holding a four or five-year-old child, her eyes full of terror.
Qu Dubian was terribly sleepy. He had someone bring a chair, sat down, propped his elbow on the armrest, and rested his head on his hand.
"Commander, the household head on duty tonight heard the dogs barking and came to check. He saw someone climbing into the Cui family's yard from outside, so we came to arrest them."
"Hmm."
After hearing the gist, Qu Dubian glanced at Cui the Second, noticing the curved knife at his waist.
He wasn't in a hurry to interrogate yet.
He addressed the woman: "You are Cui the Second's wife?"
The woman nodded timidly: "Yes."
"Then the child in your arms is his, I presume?"
"...Yes."
"What's his name?"
"Xiao'an."
Qu Dubian lazily beckoned. "Bring the child over. Let me see."
Cui the Second's pupils contracted. He struggled violently but was pressed down hard by the soldiers behind him. "Stay still!"
Adjutant Zhang brought the child over. Perhaps because he looked too fierce, or perhaps because the child was scared being away from his mother, the boy began to wail.
The woman's eyes instantly reddened.
Adjutant Zhang placed the child before Qu Dubian.
Qu Dubian took the child's hand, looked at his tear-streaked, frightened face, sighed, straightened up slightly, and leaned forward.
"Why are you crying? Is your big brother that scary?"
He took a piece of candy from his robe, placed it in the child's palm, and wiped his face with a handkerchief.
"There now, don't cry, alright?"
The child clutched the candy, pursed his lips, and seemed less afraid.
"You're called Xiao'an, right?"
"Yes."
Qu Dubian: "Hmm, good boy. Xiao'an, do you like studying?"
The child nodded firmly. "I do."
"Then has Xiao'an heard of 'a son pays his father's debts'? For example, if your daddy owes me two pieces of candy and he doesn't want to pay, would Xiao'an be willing to pay for him?"
The child couldn't grasp the hidden meaning in Qu Dubian's words, but the adults could.
Cui the Second roared like a provoked beast: "You corrupt official! Damned corrupt official! What do you want? Come at me! Don't touch my child!!"
The moment he shouted, Qu Dubian used his palm, infused with inner strength, to cover Xiao'an's ears.
He sighed inwardly. In a scene like this, with words like these, anyone who didn't know the truth would think he was the villain oppressing the common people.
Xiao'an was still pondering. Qu Dubian said to Cui the Second, "I can tell at a glance you're a tough one, not the type to confess easily."
"But this matter can't just be left like this. Your son... seems quite bright. I'll take him with me in a moment. Hmm... my residence is still short of someone to feed the dogs."
He meant a kennel boy, but in this context, to Cui the Second's ears, it sounded like he was going to feed his son to the dogs.
Xiao'an made up his mind: "I'm willing to pay for daddy. Daddy works hard to support the family. He loves Xiao'an very much. Xiao'an will work hard to earn two pieces of candy."
Tears immediately streamed down Cui the Second's face.
Qu Dubian stopped covering the child's ears, smiled, and patted his head. He picked Xiao'an up. "Then come with big brother. Big brother has lots of candy at home."
Xiao'an looked back reluctantly, but Qu Dubian stopped him.
They hadn't taken two steps before he heard a hoarse cry: "I'll talk! I'll tell everything! Leave the child..."
Only then did Qu Dubian stop and return the child to the woman. "Don't stay here for what comes next. Banban, take her to where I'm staying. Let the child pick a jar of candy."
Ye Xiaoyuan nodded. "Madam, this way, please."
After everything was settled, Qu Dubian turned his gaze to Cui Er and Old Lady Cui.
"Speak."
Only then did Cui Er confess the truth.
It turned out that bandits had found them, saying they wanted to recruit them into the stronghold. They were to tell outsiders they had died, and could even claim compensation money from the authorities.
The spoils from their raids outside could support their families, and when they plundered, they would skip their own homes, only robbing others.
Adjutant Zhang was furious upon hearing this: "Are there any accomplices?!"
In the crowd, a few people's eyes began to dart about, and they lowered their heads, wanting to slip away.
Qu Dubian: "Speak."
Cui Er: "The third son of the Liu family, the nephew of the Li family, the Zhang family's Cripple Six, the village chief's grandson..." He named five households in a row.
The families named turned pale with fright, only to be set upon by the surrounding neighbors.
A chaotic melee of arresting people throughout the village lasted for about half an hour before all the villagers who had secretly colluded with the bandits were rounded up.
The people holding torches glared at them with furious eyes, wishing they could pounce on these neighbors who usually greeted them with smiles, drink their flesh and suck their blood.
They demanded that all the looted goods be returned to them.
If it weren't for Qu Dubian and the soldiers keeping order here now, these people probably wouldn't live to see tomorrow morning.
The terrifying aspect of village clans lies in the fact that they sometimes uphold clan law more sincerely than the law of the land.
Magistrate Wu was filled with hatred: "So when you demanded compensation from me this morning, it was just extortion!"
"I treated you with such care, and my conscience was fed to the dogs," he turned to Qu Dubian, kneeling on the ground, "Your Highness, please severely punish these unruly commoners!"
"Enough, Magistrate Wu. You are not clean either."
A clear, resonant voice came from the doorway. Xi Zixing, who had been sent away for half a month, had finally returned. In his hands were two account books and a small chest of jewels and pearls.
He threw them down with a clatter in front of Magistrate Wu.
Magistrate Wu's face instantly turned deathly pale.
Xi Zixing handed the account books to Qu Dubian, "Take a look at how much bribery our Magistrate Wu here accepted from the Black Butcher Stronghold."
Qu Dubian: "Well done."
Xi Zixing leaned in closer: "I handled things quite efficiently, didn't I?"
Qu Dubian pushed his head away and handed the account books to Adjutant Zhang.
"I am only responsible for suppressing bandits, not investigating cases. Have someone escort Magistrate Wu and these villagers to the Provincial Administration Commissioner. Submit all the evidence. Bai County falls under Lord Ji's jurisdiction; let him review it."
"He didn't even know that officials under his jurisdiction were colluding with bandits and needed me to root them out. Ask him on my behalf if he still wants to keep his head on his shoulders."
Adjutant Zhang lowered his head in shame: "Yes, I understand, Your Highness."
From the initial suspicion during the surprise attack, to the realization after catching the internal traitors, then the order for collective punishment of the villagers, and finally now, uprooting the entire nest of informants and moles within the county office and the villagers.
It had all taken less than half a month.
He truly hadn't expected Bai County to have been infiltrated to such an extent—everything usually seemed so normal. Nor had he expected the Seventh Prince, despite his young age, to be so patient and methodical in first cleansing the internal threat.
Adjutant Zhang was thoroughly convinced.
All the unearthed moles were bundled up and sent off to Ji Huan. Qu Dubian stretched lazily and walked out of the Cui house.
"I'm tired, time to sleep. Get ready, things won't be so leisurely from now on."
Watching his retreating figure, Adjutant Zhang quietly moved to Zuo Tianlang's side. "Are all the princes from the capital this formidable? Do they all have so many schemes up their sleeves?"
Zuo Tianlang's expression was exceedingly complex.
Having watched the Seventh Prince grow up and knowing what he was like as a child, the impact he felt during this period was even greater.
He said with melancholy, "The Seventh Prince used to be the weakest."
Adjutant Zhang: "?"
Zuo Tianlang turned and walked away, pondering and worrying about how to write the report on the Seventh Prince's recent activities for His Majesty.
If he wrote the truth, would the Emperor even believe it?