Tang Ziqian laughed, "To fall into Li Dong’s hands, it’s a bit embarrassing!"

"You recited ’Sun Tzu’ before the Four Books in your youth, yet this time you were careless and underestimated the enemy," Tang Shigong said blandly.

Tang Ziqian restrained his smile, "I know my mistake."

Thinking of the reason that made him careless, he couldn’t help but clench his hand beneath the blanket.

Perhaps due to the sudden exertion, the pain from the wound spread to his heart.

"Are you certain about going to Hedong?" Tang Shigong, oblivious to his unease, asked indifferently.

"I’ll go," Tang Ziqian said with a casual smile, "Returning to the Capital City for more than a year, my bones have become lazy."

"You won’t move your bones even if you go." Tang Shigong replied.

Tang Ziqian raised his brows in inquiry.

"The Crown Prince attaches such importance to this Hedong bandit suppression, I bet he plans to go in person—"

...

"I want to personally make a trip to Hedong—"

Li Mu finished speaking and saw the little girl in front of him widened her eyes in surprise, then mist gathered in her eyes, turning them red.

"Don’t cry..." He panicked in an instant, wanting to wipe her tears, but the little girl’s tears hadn’t fallen, just quivering in her eyes, looking extremely pitiful.

"I’ll go and come back quickly, it’s alright... I’ve been practicing martial arts well these two years, actually learned a lot from Mo Ji, Mo Ji’s martial arts are the best... Mo Ji and Mo Huan will also go... I will definitely return safely, don’t cry..."

Tang Xiaobai blinked away the mist in her eyes, showing a comforting smile, "I’m happy!"

Yesterday he whispered in her ear, "Taiyuan is a place of elite soldiers in the world."

She didn’t know geography or military affairs, but she understood the meaning of this sentence.

Hedong Dao, led by Taiyuan Prefecture, is a place easy to produce elite troops.

She initially thought their plan was to send Tang Ziqian to Taiyuan, to recruit and train soldiers under the pretext of bandit suppression, but didn’t expect the young master to also go.

He was only fourteen, yet ambitiously planning to build his own army!

He had just sworn at the Imperial Court to win the top rank in science, yet he still wanted to build his own army!

Tang Xiaobai felt both heartache and pride in such a short time, moved almost to tears.

"Truly happy!" Tang Xiaobai marveled at the young man who had grown tall and handsome, "Ah Xiao has grown up!"

Li Mu: "..."

How come he doesn’t like hearing this sentence?

"When approximately are you leaving?" Tang Xiaobai asked, having calmed down.

"Before September."

"So soon?" Tang Xiaobai was a bit worried, "Brother’s health hasn’t recovered yet..."

"I’ve sent a message to Ren Zhi Palace, planning to pick up Doctor Feng along the way."

Tang Xiaobai blinked in surprise, "This... is it alright? The Crown Prince doesn’t need Doctor Feng anymore?"

Li Mu nodded, "Just be careful not to let others find out."

Tang Xiaobai nodded repeatedly, then asked, "Is Crown Prince Li and Miss Qin going?"

Although the presence of the young master, Mo Ji, and Mo Huan has already raised the safety level by several notches, it would be great if the male and female leads could come!

"Li Xingyuan will go, Qin Rong is not convenient to accompany," Li Mu said.

This time Tang Ziqian was injured, he had no experience in leading troops, having Li Xingyuan would be more stable.

Qin Rong was unnecessary.

"Uh..." Tang Xiaobai contemplated before saying, "I think, Miss Qin is blessed by fate, if possible, take her..."

Li Mu didn’t want to contradict her, just said, "She might not want to go herself—"

...

"I will go to Hedong with you all—" Qin Rong said.

Tang Xiaobai was still considering how to persuade her to go together, didn’t expect Qin Rong to volunteer it.

The decree for suppressing bandits in Hedong had just been issued yesterday.

After various obstacles and beauties, Prince Jin, Li Shu, disappeared for a full three days as expected.

By the time he returned to the Capital City in a daze, the candidates for bandit suppression had been finalized.

Prince Qing, Li Dong at the head, supported by Left Guard Middle General Tang Ziqian, and several Yuwen Family disciples.

Especially noteworthy was that the emperor personally named "Qin Xiao" to accompany them.

The intention to cultivate him was clear as day.

"The Yuwen Family are all worthless, by then you’ll have to suppress bandits and recruit soldiers, manpower might not be enough." Qin Rong had the demeanor of a female lead when not flirting insincerely, calm and composed, with perceptive eyes, she could make people trust her even before speaking.

For instance, by the time she got here, Tang Xiaobai was already nodding in agreement unconsciously.

But her next words made Tang Xiaobai want to take back his previous nods: "The young master’s injury was always due to me, it’d be good if I go to take care of him."

Saying this, she gazed intently at Tang Ziqian.

Tang Ziqian was originally lying on a bench in the courtyard sunbathing with his eyes closed, unsure if he sensed Qin Rong’s gaze or what, he happened to open his eyes just then.

The moment their eyes met, Tang Xiaobai gave a heavy cough.