A Prefect's Calling Card

The Eastern Palace had many officials. The Director of Judicial Affairs was Principal Seventh Rank and oversaw part of the military affairs.

No wonder Cen Rubai had such extensive connections among the wandering folk. Perhaps when the Eastern Palace fell into misfortune, quite a few of its military officers had drifted into the martial world and remained in contact with Cen Rubai.

Su Ziji gazed at him, then reached out after a moment to help him up. With a sigh, he said, "These years have been hard on you."

Those words alone brought tears to Cen Rubai's eyes.

Cen Rubai hurriedly wiped them away, looking as though he were smiling and crying at once. "To see you, to know that His Highness the Crown Prince still has descendants in this world—even if this servant died without regrets, having waited until this day, it was not hardship."

"So that was it." Seeing them formally acknowledge their bond and learning the circumstances, Luo Pei and Governor-General Zhao could not help but sigh with boundless emotion.

Luo Pei said nothing. Such a situation was not unheard of in this age. Though loyalty was praised and passed down as a fine tale, it was precisely because it was so rare that everyone extolled it.

A thought arose within him. The Crown Prince has been gone for nearly twenty years, yet so many former subordinates still stubbornly hold fast and refuse to serve. Alas, if the Crown Prince were still here, how could Prince Shu ever have risen to prominence?

Seeing the officials sent to receive the ship looking over in surprise from time to time, and knowing they surely still had things to say, he said, "Imperial Grandson, your identity is not suitable to be announced at present, nor is it suitable to exchange