Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Chu Qinghan was silent for a long time, then asked, "Am I disturbing Lord Fang's elegant leisure?"

"No, no, do you have something to discuss? Please, come in and speak," Fang Zheng Yi hurriedly invited.

Chu Qinghan stood outside the door and said, "I wanted to tell Lord Fang that I feel the atmosphere in the city is a bit strange. It's still early, but the streets are deserted."

"I've spoken with merchants from the capital and those who have visited border towns and Pan Tai City. In my memory, their descriptions were different from what I'm seeing."

"I don't know if this information will be helpful to Lord Fang, but I thought it best to offer a reminder."

Fang Zheng Yi hummed in acknowledgment and frowned in thought.

It's not just him who thinks so. It seems there is indeed something strange...

"Qinghan, come in and let's talk. We can discuss it in detail."

"That's all I wanted to say. Then, I won't disturb Lord Fang's enjoyment of local specialties." With that, Chu Qinghan's beautiful figure had already disappeared from the doorway.

.....

"Second Prince, you've had a long journey. Was Fang Zheng Yi easy to get along with along the way?" Paba asked.

"Easy to get along with. Why are you in such a hurry to bring me into the palace, National Preceptor? Haven't things been settled over there yet?" Ali Bai asked.

"Oh, what did Fang Zheng Yi talk to the Second Prince about on the road?"

Ali Bai was currently confused. This welcome was so hasty, with the National Preceptor personally arriving and hurriedly bringing him in for a secret talk. He felt that something was strange.

"We didn't talk about anything much, just trade, right? Why make it so mysterious?"

"Oh, the Second Prince is overthinking things. This subject is just concerned about the matter, as it is of great importance. That Fang Zheng Yi is extremely cunning. It would be bad if he tricked the Second Prince into revealing information that would affect the negotiations between our two countries."

Paba felt a bit relieved and casually made up an excuse to gloss over the matter.

Cunning? How could my teacher, a man of utmost sincerity and integrity, be cunning?

Ali Bai furrowed his brow slightly, "National Preceptor, are you hiding something from me! Pan Tai City wasn't like this before I left. How come there's no one on the streets after I return? What exactly happened in the city?"

Paba seemed somewhat silent.

What else could it be? The Great Jin's preparations for war only began after the envoy's departure. To bring back Fang Zheng Yi, they had to conceal it from the Second Prince.

Otherwise, with his poor abilities and clumsy tongue, what if he said something he shouldn't have to the Jing country?

However, even though he's home, he couldn't be told directly. After all, everyone has a bit of pride, and he is the Second Prince...

"It's nothing, Second Prince, don't ask about it for now," Paba said blandly.

This casual statement instantly made Ali Bai's anger surge to the top of his head. He'd been abstaining from anger all the way, and there had been a fire pent up in his heart.

Now, seeing that Paba's attitude towards him was so indifferent, he became anxious, "What do you mean, 'don't ask about it for now!'"

"Am I not a member of the royal family?! My eldest brother and third brother can both attend court meetings, but I can't! You told me to go to the Jing country to deliver gifts, and I obediently went!"

"What do you take me for! Are you treating me like a tool, like a piece of trash!" As he spoke, Ali Bai had already begun to roar.

He had been praised all the way by Fang Zheng Yi, but when he returned home, he became a useless nobody again. The vast difference made it increasingly difficult for him to accept.

Paba stared at Ali Bai in shock, while also feeling somewhat inexplicable.

Hiss~! What's wrong with this Second Prince? What medicine did he take to become so hot-tempered? Wasn't he usually as docile as a little lamb?

He even asked himself why he couldn't participate in politics. They'd given up on you years ago. Didn't you have any self-awareness before?

"National Preceptor! Say something!" Ali Bai roared again.

"This... Second Prince, are you too tired? Go back and rest early," Paba said calmly, flicking his sleeve.

"I'm not tired. I can't release all the energy in my body right now. If you don't give me a reasonable explanation today, we're not done!" Ali Bai stared straight at Paba, his eyes wide.

Paba was somewhat at a loss from being shouted at.

It's over... the Second Prince must have some kind of problem. His temper has become so explosive...

"Second Prince, are you alright?" Paba felt his hair stand on end from his stare and couldn't help but swallow.

"I told you to speak, not to ask me," Ali Bai said, word by word, his anger fully displayed in his words.

"It's a curfew, it's just a curfew. Some petty criminals are causing trouble at night in the city. His Majesty has specially ordered a curfew for some time. That's why there's no one on the streets at this time. Is there anything else the Second Prince would like to ask?" Paba reluctantly told a lie.

If he didn't say something, he felt like he was going to get beaten up...

"So it's a curfew. What's the point of hiding it?"

Getting the answer, Ali Bai instantly relaxed a lot.

Paba forced a smile and sized him up, saying, "Second Prince, you've changed quite a bit on this trip! You've become much stronger! Your energy and spirit have all improved. Could it be that you've had some kind of extraordinary encounter?"

The National Preceptor could see it too? Sure enough! What the teacher taught me is all true!

"Is that so?" A smile appeared on the corner of Ali Bai's mouth, and he forcefully flexed his right arm in front of his chest, his biceps bulging high.

"I have indeed changed a lot. I learned a lot of things on this trip to Da Jing. I met a master who taught me a set of divine skills. I've been practicing all the way, and now I want to compete with my eldest brother to see who's stronger!"

"What! ?"

Paba's mind was shaken.

His temperament has changed drastically. Has he already gone this crazy? It's only been a few months. What kind of master did he encounter?

This matter definitely has nothing to do with Fang Zheng Yi, after all, that guy isn't good at martial arts.

Moreover, he's never heard of practicing martial arts warping someone's personality... Could it be some kind of demonic skill from strange tales?

Paba carefully asked, "May I ask what divine skill the Second Prince is practicing? Why does it feel like your disposition has also changed a lot?"

"That's right! I have indeed changed. I practice martial arts and cultivate my mind. I am no longer the muddleheaded person I was before!" Ali Bai couldn't help but recall Fang Zheng Yi's teachings in his mind, and his heart was warmed again.

Although he didn't understand most of the cultural lessons, he kept those inspirational words in his heart.

Ali Bai looked at Paba, smiled slightly, and said, "I am now... a young man with the temperament of a fierce wolf, pounding his chest with enthusiasm."

"Yesterday is history, today is the beginning, tomorrow no one can help!"

Paba took two steps back, with fear on his face, "The Second Prince has indeed changed."

Damn it, he's become sick!

"That's right, I've been practicing martial arts diligently, but unfortunately, there were no suitable opponents on the road. After I rest for two days, I'll go spar with my eldest brother. Hasn't Father Khan always disliked me for being weak? This time, I'll let him see my true strength!" Ali Bai was filled with pride.

"Second Prince, a few months of hard training is certainly valuable, but... the First Prince has been training for over twenty years. Fists and feet have no eyes, you should find someone else," Paba advised, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Hmph! A dull knife and a thin horse, what can he fight me with! A man has to challenge himself. Even if I lose to my eldest brother, it's nothing. When it rains in the sky and the ground is slippery, you pick yourself up when you fall!"

"Alright, National Preceptor, I won't say any more to you. I am indeed a bit tired from this journey, I'll go back and rest first."

After speaking, Ali Bai left the room in a whirlwind.

Paba looked at his back with worry and sighed deeply.

This won't do... he has to go see the imperial physician...