"You should be worried about your other children," Zhang Lie suggested to the king of the realm.

The king of the realm glanced toward his youngest son with benevolence. "Learn well from your master. I'm too old to be able to protect you much any longer. I know the ambition in your heart, but I didn't want to embroil you in this mess."

Zhang Lie seemed unperturbed. "Such is the fate of royalty. You might want to free him from that fate, but others won't necessarily agree."

The king of the realm nodded. "With you at his side, I'm far less worried."

That was the end of the conversation. Zhang Lie waved at the king of the realm and the ninth prince bowed. The two of them then walked...