"Thank you, County Magistrate."
"..."
...
Leaving the Commandery Mansion, returning to the Chu Mansion.
"Chu Ming, there were some things that were inconvenient to say at the Commandery Mansion."
Shen Yu, rare for him, had not jumped straight into martial training upon returning, but instead looked at Chu Ming with a grave expression.
"I know you chose to join the First-Grade Cold Family to travel to the Qin Capital because of Commander Xiang and Fang Xiao, but behind the First-Grade Cold Family, stands the Crown Prince."
"Have you considered why the Crown Prince established the First-Grade Cold Family—why he's recruiting commoners from the thirteen counties?"
Chu Ming's gaze flickered, his voice deep: "Ambition."
"Right. That Crown Prince's ambition is enormous," Shen Yu lowered his voice, as if afraid of eavesdroppers through the walls, "First-Grade is the highest official rank in the Great Qin Dynasty. For such officials to be selected from commoners—what does that mean?"
