After the successful bandit suppression at Jiulan Mountain, the emperor issued an edict sending the crown prince there, accompanied by the crown princess. Anyone with eyes could tell that they had come to seize the credit.
“This is going too far!” Song Xingzhi slammed his palm onto the table, his voice particularly agitated.
“Now that the bandit suppression is nearly complete, the emperor has sent the crown prince over. It is obvious that he wants to help the crown prince establish prestige among the people and seize the credit for the bandit suppression.”
“This isn’t the first time he’s done this.”
When Song Xingzhi heard the news, he exploded on the spot. His peach blossom eyes glared viciously at the eunuch who had come to deliver the imperial edict, frightening the man so badly that his human legs trembled. After announcing the edict, he turned and fled.
He was afraid that Young General Song might lose his temper and chop off his head to vent his anger.
Song Xingzhi knew that the emperor was biased and disliked their prince, but no one under heaven was more biased than him.
The bandit suppression at Jiulan Mountain was exceptionally dangerous. Whenever a problem arose, the emperor, that dead old man, would issue imperial edicts one after another, urging their prince to complete the bandit suppression as quickly as possible, completely disregarding the prince’s safety.
After the successful bandit suppression, he nominally sent the crown prince to assist, but in reality, he intended to later bestow credit upon the crown prince for suppressing the bandits and then widely publicize it.
How many times had he used this trick already? What a damn bastard.
Song Xingzhi paced back and forth furiously, feeling that his prince had been treated unfairly. In his heart, he cursed the emperor as a wretched scoundrel with a short life countless times.
“Xingzhi, watch your words.”
Zhou Jin knew that Song Xingzhi was indignant on his behalf, but Song Xingzhi was too young and hot-blooded, unable to conceal his emotions. He might leave behind a source of trouble.
A great tree attracts the wind. Those hiding in the darkness might be keeping watch on their every word and action at all times.
Zhou Jin naturally understood the emperor’s intentions. The emperor needed to use him, but also needed to suppress him, refusing to allow his faction to become dominant.
The emperor was someone who had murdered his elder brother and father. How could he be a benevolent person? Normal human ethics were simply beyond discussion with him.
Song Xingzhi was still too young. He had only seen the first layer and failed to see the second.
Zhou Jin clearly knew that the emperor’s action appeared to be paving the way for the crown prince, but in reality, it carried another profound meaning.
“Hmph.” Song Xingzhi’s cheeks puffed up with anger as he dropped heavily into a chair. He cast a sidelong glance and spotted Xu Bao'er leisurely eating fruit.
The target of his anger immediately shifted to Xu Bao'er.
“A-San, you aren’t even saying a word in the prince’s defense. You’re the prince’s Person now.”
As soon as Song Xingzhi said this, Zhou Jin raised an eyebrow and looked toward Xu Bao'er, his eyes filled with teasing. He wanted to see how Xu Bao'er would answer.
“I am indeed the prince’s Person. Compared with matters concerning the crown prince, I am more concerned with how the follow-up work for the bandit suppression should proceed.”
Xu Bao'er knew what Zhou Jin wanted to hear, and she did not mind granting his wish.
Men also needed to be coaxed.
Sure enough, the moment he heard “I am indeed the prince’s Person,” the smile in Zhou Jin’s eyes could not be concealed at all.
So the living yama of the battlefield could also be handled this easily.
Although the jiulan mountain bandits had been suppressed, their stronghold chief, Xu Shaofei, had escaped. The number of captured mountain bandits was enormous, and many common people were implicated as well. They had to be handled properly, or unrest would break out.
How to properly deal with these mountain bandits was the true difficulty of bandit suppression. Suppressing bandits was easy; eliminating them for the long term was difficult.
Today there could be a Xu Shaofei; tomorrow, a Liu Shaofei or a Li Shaofei could emerge.
“This really is difficult to handle.”
“Little Clever One, have you thought of any countermeasures? Hurry up and tell us.”
Song Xingzhi was practically a genius at deploying troops and formation deployment, but when it came to handling these matters, he truly knew nothing at all.
“First, deal with the mountain bandits and the relatives who sheltered them according to the regulations. Next, promulgate a law to pacify the people and seek more means of livelihood for the common people of Baiqu County. Use the relief funds allocated by the Imperial Court for resettlement, reducing land rents, and other such matters.”
“Once every family can eat its fill, public order will naturally stabilize.”
The main reason Baiqu County had so many mountain bandits was that it had many mountains and little farmland, leaving the common people poor. With no food to eat and the chance to make a fortune as mountain bandits, they had formed groups and taken up banditry.
Killing all those mountain bandits would only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. Only when the common people could all eat their fill and no new bandits emerged would it be possible to eliminate banditry for the long term.
After Xu Bao'er finished speaking, Song Xingzhi stared at her with eyes like a doggy’s, full of admiration.
“A-San, you really are a remarkable talent.”
“If only I had a younger sister. Then you could become my brother-in-law.”
“A-San, do you have a younger sister?” Song Xingzhi moved closer to Xu Bao'er, his manner extremely ingratiating. “If you have a younger sister, she must be as beautiful as you and exceptionally intelligent.”
“I am not yet married. How about considering me?”
“Hey, prince, why are you pulling me by the collar?”
Song Xingzhi broke free, having no idea what had gotten into their prince. He was working hard on a major matter concerning his life, after all. Besides, hadn’t the prince always urged him to start a family as soon as possible?
“Handle it according to Bao—” Zhou Jin paused. “According to Zhang San’s intentions. This prince still has important matters to discuss with him.”
“Oh.” Song Xingzhi understood that Zhou Jin was trying to drive him away.
Song Xingzhi obediently walked out, sneaking glances at Xu Bao'er as he went.
“A-San, if you have a younger sister, you must introduce her to me.”
“I will definitely treat her well.”
The moment he finished speaking, Song Xingzhi fled at top speed, as if he had wind-fire wheels beneath his feet, afraid that the prince would reprimand him.
After Song Xingzhi left, the study, which had been lively moments before, instantly fell silent.
“Does it still hurt?” Zhou Jin stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm, but the reddened backs of his ears betrayed the unrest in his heart.
Xu Bao'er knew what Zhou Jin was asking about and said softly, “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Her voice was soft and sweet, as though she were Acting coquettishly.
“This is for you.”
Zhou Jin handed Xu Bao'er a brocade box. He did not dare look at her expression and, using business as an excuse, left.
Xu Bao'er had not expected Zhou Jin to be so drastically different once he was being in love. Despite his cold, frosty face, he was actually a pure-love God of War.
He was so easily embarrassed. How adorable.
The brocade box Zhou Jin had given her was exquisitely made, with a golden brocade surface bearing hidden lotus and auspicious-cloud patterns. The brocade was a superior product offered as tribute offering by a foreign state.
The value of the box was clearly extraordinary at a glance, so the item inside was naturally even more precious. The box was also quite large, and not light in weight.
Xu Bao'er placed it on the table and opened it, only to be stunned. It was packed completely full, as though someone had feared leaving even the slightest empty space.
She casually picked up a ruby ring. The ruby was almost as large as a quail egg.
“Host, look at that set of jadeite jewelry. It’s the national treasure of the Wuque Kingdom. Full imperial green of such rarity, with jade so translucent and color so even—he really is willing to give it away.”
“The cloud-end jade pavilion golden hairpin in the upper-left corner was crafted by the supreme artisan Xundaozi. It is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Wearing it on your head would be incredibly striking.”
“Why is there so much? There’s far too much. I can’t possibly look through it all. They’re all such wonderful things.”
The system was envious to the point of losing all composure. The moment it saw the treasures, its eyes gleamed with golden light, and it stopped pretending to be dead.
Xu Bao'er could practically hear the system drooling. As expected, wherever a man’s money was, there his love was too.
Prince Duan had fought in campaigns across the realm and possessed a glorious reputation and immense wealth. Yet when Xu Bao'er had been the Princess Consort of Prince Duan, even the steward had kept records of every few hundred taels of silver and refused to give her more.
Now that she had entered Zhou Jin’s heart, without her even asking, this entire box of jewelry and gems had been given to her in one go, as though it cost nothing.
It had been packed completely full, as though he feared he had given her too little.
Naturally, receiving gifts made her happy. However, the crown princess was coming. How was she supposed to conceal her true identity?
Xu Bao'er was somewhat troubled. She still did not want to expose her identity. It was more interesting to wear an alias identity while controlling the entire situation.