Worry appeared on Wang Yang's face:
"If Tao Rui was communicating with the enemy, wouldn't Yingzhou know all our army's strengths and weaknesses?"
After a brief hesitation, the Prince of Badong murmured assent, then echoed Wang Yang's concern:
"Though we haven't yet found any letters in which that villain divulged military secrets, if he dared collude with the enemy and sow discord, what wouldn't he dare do? We have to take precautions..."
As he spoke, he watched Wang Yang's expression.
Seeing Wang Yang remain silent, his brows drawn in grave thought, he hesitated briefly, then clasped Wang Yang's hand. He held it tightly, as though afraid the man would vanish the moment he let go. He forced down the anxiety in his voice, which even carried a hint of almost humble pleading:
"Zhi Yan, what happened before was my fault. Don't resent me-"
"I've never resented you, Your Highness-"
The Prince of Badong tightened his grip, his expression growing more urgent:
"Zhi-"
"Your Highness, hear me out-"
Wang Yang clasped the prince's hand in return and looked at him with sincere, earnest eyes:
"I mean it when I say I don't resent you. The army is yours, Your Highness, and the authority is yours. That I was allowed to participate and put my learning to use was a kindness born of your trust in me. Once removed from office, I merely returned things to their rightful owner.
"Suppose a householder owns a residence and entrusts it to a steward, who oversees construction and repairs and manages receipts and expenses. He is merely doing the work on the owner's behalf. The residence still belongs to the householder. If one day the owner wishes to take charge of the keys himself, that is only right and proper! What is there to resent?