"Yesterday, I heard rumors that Wusheng Mountain had committed every evil under the sun, preyed upon passing merchants, and even came to disrupt a wedding celebration. Their crimes deserve execution!"
"As the Crown Prince of the Qianlong Dynasty, I should restore peace to the realm and give the Situ Family justice!"
Situ Taili and Cang Sheng repeatedly expressed their thanks.
They all knew that the Crown Prince's real aim lay elsewhere.
Still, the Crown Prince had shown consideration, so father and son led him inside to dine.
During the meal, Cang Sheng's grandfathers repeatedly invited the Crown Prince to sit at the seat of honor.
Yet the Crown Prince respectfully but firmly declined every time.
He was afraid!
By the end of the meal, the Crown Prince was drenched in sweat.
He had come only to verify whether the rumors were true.
He had not expected these people's presence to be even more formidable than the rumors described.
The Crown Prince could now be certain that any one of these middle-aged old men could effortlessly sweep away the entire Qianlong Dynasty.
It left him with thorns at his back and needles beneath him.
For the first time, he understood how tiny the Qianlong Dynasty was. For the first time, he understood what it meant for strength to be king.
These people were not opponents who could be checked or restrained through sheer numbers.
The only thing to do now was to befriend and curry favor with them—to keep Cang Sheng and the Situ Family happy.
Fortunately, Cang Sheng was very courteous toward the Crown Prince.
Seizing the opportunity, the Crown Prince swore brotherhood with Cang Sheng, and the two became sworn brothers closer than brothers born of the same father.
With Cang Sheng's support, the Crown Prince happily returned to