Chapter 65: How Is It You Again?!

Prince Ning ate snow ginseng every day, holding a golden hairpin; after more than ten days, not only did his hand stop trembling, but his whole body's condition was far better than before, and he left home again to go to the merchant firm.

In these ten‑plus days, two major events occurred in the Imperial Court, shocking officials and the populace alike.

First, the Son of Heaven, upon seeing the Ministry of Justice's report concerning the Minister of Works, was greatly enraged and issued an edict for severe punishment.

"Minister of Works Zhao Heng, embezzled two taels of river‑project silver, allowed his wife Lin to hire assassins to plot against Prince Ning's son, and also caused deaths within the household; the evidence is conclusive, the crime is heinous!"

"Strip all official titles and honors, confiscate property, behead and display publicly. Lin, behead on the spot! All her children are to be exiled three thousand li, never to return to Jingcheng!"

Second, the Son of Heaven issued an edict for Prince Ning to return to the army.

"The nation's great affairs, the foundation of military matters, lie in training. By special command, Prince Ning Xiao Yuanhang is appointed Jingji Daying Inspector, to oversee the drills of all camps in the capital region, weeding out the weak and retaining the strong, to strengthen the state. All camps must cooperate fully and not slack."

This imperial edict is especially thought‑provoking; with it, Prince Ning may return to the army, yet not with the same authority he once held.

At the Ning Prince's Mansion, in Yangzheng Pavilion.

Cheng Ru'an furrowed his brow slightly: "Prince, the Son of Heaven's decree …"

Xiao Yuanhang dismissed it: "Just imperial politics. Now the four corners are peaceful, the seas calm and rivers clear; there is no need for me to lead troops into battle."

"The most likely vice to grow in the army is the arrogance born of merit, the tendency to form cliques. Since they cannot use me yet do not want me far away, this is merely a compromise."

"No problem, no need to worry. Xun Er returned to the academy, Yuan Er went to the merchant firm; I happen to have taken this post, so I'll take Cheng Er to the army. Let him become familiar with military affairs."

"This child resembles me the most; he will surely become a famed general one day. If it weren't for the leg injury he suffered a few years ago, and my own bedridden illness, he should have already been in the army."

Cheng Ru'an nodded: "Cheng Er also intended to enlist, but didn't you say, Prince, that the army is not the same as before? If Cheng goes now, he will surely face many obstacles; what should we do?"

Xiao Yuanhang laughed aloud: "Obstacles are ever‑present! When facing the enemy, isn't that the very moment of life and death? If today's hurdles cannot be overcome, how will we wage war on the battlefield later?"

Cheng Ru'an sighed softly: "Then we'll follow your wishes, Prince. I only hope the nation prospers and the people are at peace; it would be best if neither you nor your son went to the battlefield."

Xiao Yuanhang looked at his wife, his gaze turning exceedingly gentle: "Indeed, with the nation thriving and the people at peace, my whole life of campaigning has been for the country's everlasting prosperity and the people's comfortable livelihood. I'll go tell Cheng." With that, he rose and headed toward Cheng Zhenxuan.

The person had not yet entered the courtyard when a daughter's laughter was heard: "Second brother is awesome! Higher! Higher!"

Xiao Yuanhang laughed at the sound, looked up, and saw Xiao Ningchen lifting his sister single‑handed over his head, while his other hand held a heavy sandbag.

"You're good at coaxing her to play."

"Daddy!" Tuan Tuan saw him and stretched out her little arms toward him.

Xiao Ningchen thrust his arm, flinging his sister toward their father; Xiao Yuanhang extended his arm and caught the daughter in his embrace, and Tuan Tuan giggled uproariously.

Xiao Ningchen, sweating profusely, set down the sandbag: "Tuan Tuan isn't as heavy as the sandbag yet; she likes being lifted, so I was just using her to train my arm strength."

Xiao Yuanhang cradled his daughter, kissing her face and pinching her little arms in a playful rub; Tuan Tuan laughed nonstop, clinging to his neck: "Daddy, you're so naughty!"

Xiao Yuanhang held her steadily in his arms and explained his plan to his son.

Xiao Ningchen was very excited: "Great! I'll go with father tomorrow."

"Where are you going?" Tuan Tuan didn't understand.

Xiao Yuanhang replied: "We're going to the camp to take a look; there are many of my former troops there. It's been years since I saw them, so I'll pay a visit. Your second brother will one day make great achievements there. I'll take him so he can get acquainted."

"I want to go too!" Tuan Tuan didn't know what a camp was, only that Daddy was taking Second Brother out, and how could she be left behind!

"You can't go! It's full of rough men; you couldn't possibly manage. As a little girl, you should stay at home with mother—that's proper." Xiao Ningchen disagreed.

"I won't, I'll go! Big brother and Third Brother aren't home; wherever you go, I'll go too!" Tuan Tuan pouted, shaking her little head vigorously.

Xiao Yuanhang thought for a moment: "Very well, we'll go take a look tomorrow; that's fine."

Xiao Ningchen shook his head helplessly; his father truly could not bring himself to refuse Tuan Tuan at all.

The next morning, the three arrived at the Jingji Daying Camp.

The soldiers at the gate, seeing Xiao Yuanhang, shouted excitedly: "Prince is here! Prince is here!"

Xiao Yuanhang, holding his daughter in his arms, nodded slightly: "Are you all well?"

The veteran soldiers who heard the call gathered, and some, unable to hold back, wept: "Prince! Are you well now?"

"We have all been waiting for your return!"

Xiao Ningchen silently followed behind his father, watching these excited faces, deeply feeling their admiration for their father.

The three walked to the outside of the commander's main tent, only to see a man lying shirtless on a bench outside the tent, with two men standing beside him, each holding a military staff, as if about to punish him.

The man heard the surrounding voices, leapt from the bench: "Prince! You finally returned!"

Xiao Yuanhang recognized him as his old subordinate Zhang Wu'an: "What crime have you committed? Why are you being subjected to the military staff?"

Zhang Wu'an was about to speak when the main tent's curtain was pulled back, and two people stepped out.

Older Tuan Tuan didn't recognize him, but the young one was far too familiar, though she hadn't remembered his name: "Wow! You gave me three kowtows! Why are you here?"

"Thanks for the snow ginseng! Big brother ate it, and his health is great now!"

The crowd, hearing this, looked at the young man with puzzled faces: "Deputy General Lv? When did he kowtow to this little kid? This child is still in the Prince's arms, is she a child of the Ning Prince's Mansion?"

"Why is it you again!" Lv Zheng's face flushed bright red, a mix of shock and anger, yet he could not find words to defend himself.

The gambling pact at Xuanqiong Temple was his lifelong disgrace; after being punished by his father, he was ordered to undergo training at the camp, forbidden from mingling with the decadent youths of Jingcheng.

He, pampered and spoiled, at the mere thought of being sent to the camp to suffer, initially refused outright, begging his grandfather and pleading with his grandmother to speak on his behalf, hoping to change his father's mind.

But upon reconsideration, the gambling pact had already spread throughout Jingcheng; he feared that once he stepped out, he would be ridiculed and lose face. The camp is sealed, known to few, making it a genuine place to hide.

Moreover, his father is the Jingji Military Commander, overseeing the Jingji Daying Camp; if he went, he would be a deputy general, so he wouldn't suffer much—that's why he came.

Never did he expect to run into Tuan Tuan here again! And with a single sentence he blurted out his most shameful secret.

He stared at Tuan Tuan, his face turning the color of pig liver, speechless, both angry and embarrassed.

"Deputy General Lv, step back!" The older man's complexion darkened, he spoke up to intervene, and with a bow to Xiao Yuanhang said: "Your Highness Prince Ning, I am the Jingji Military Commander Lv Huairen; what brings the Prince here today?"