29: Chapter 29 Fourth Life, All-in Failure? Watch Me Turn the Tide (Part 6)

After all, those princes in favor never lacked people to add flowers to their embroidery, and only the destitute Heir Xiao Heng would remember the kindness of someone offering charcoal in snowy weather.

Only by standing by his side when he was at his most downtrodden and desperate could one become his sole reliance, and completely bind one's own honor and disgrace to this prince.

Moreover, eight years of secret observation had long allowed Wang Shi to figure out the true nature of Heir Xiao Heng.

He was not cowardly; he was forbearing. When the Prince's Mansion tested bone potential back then, Heir Xiao Heng clearly possessed superior bone potential with a full eight points of talent, yet unexpectedly, no special constitution appeared.

Others only felt a sense of regret, but Wang Shi felt that was not necessarily the case; perhaps it was simply recessive.

The suppression he had faced from the other princes over these years might very well have contained a hint of probing.

And the fact that Heir Xiao Heng could live safely until the age of fourteen under such circumstances naturally did not rely on blind tolerance, but on forbearance and mental fortitude far beyond his years.

What he lacked was never ability, but opportunity—a person who could trust him, accompany him, and help him crawl out of the mire.

And that person could only be him, Wang Shi.

Having figured all this out, Wang Shi no longer held a shred of hesitation in his heart.

On the day of graduation from Yingwu Hall, the steam forging press on the training ground was still emitting a dull hum, and white steam filled half the training ground.

Several familiar collateral descendants of the Prince's Mansion gathered around him again, still inviting him to follow them as a deputy and promising many benefits.

Wang Shi still smiled, but for the first time, he clearly and politely declined, his tone courteous yet firm, cutting off everyone's hopes.

Amidst everyone's surprised gazes, Wang Shi turned and left the training ground, heading straight for the Third Prince's private residence.

Liu Quan lived there.

Liu Quan was drinking tea in the room, with faint tea foam floating in his coarse ceramic tea bowl. Seeing Wang Shi enter, he was just about to greet him with a smile when he heard his words.

"Uncle Liu, I would like to ask you for a favor: please transfer me to serve in the Third Prince's courtyard."

"Pfft..."

Liu Quan spat out a mouthful of hot tea, splattering the entire table.

He widened his eyes, looking at Wang Shi as if he were an idiot, and it took a long while before he found his voice: "What did you say? You want to go to the Third Prince's courtyard?"

He put down the tea bowl, stood up, pulled Wang Shi two steps into the room, lowered his voice, and said with a tone full of frustration at his lack of ambition: "Are you crazy, kid? You were brought up by me. I know how you've treated me all these years, so I won't give you any empty talk.

What kind of place is the Third Prince's courtyard? It's a cold courtyard! The place in the Prince's Mansion least favored by anyone, with absolutely no future, and no one knows if they'll be dead or alive in the future!"

"I am a person brought by the Third Prince's mother's family; I'm bound here for life. I'm old, unwilling to move, and have nowhere else to go.

But you are different!" Liu Quan patted Wang Shi's arm, his tone earnest, "You are still young and just graduated from Yingwu Hall.

I've heard of your skills, and several young masters from the collateral branches are competing to have you as a deputy. Those are paths with proper futures!

Even if you are afraid of offending people and don't choose anyone, staying in the Guard Battalion to build up your seniority is still better than coming here!"

Wang Shi's expression did not waver in the slightest, and he bowed deeply to Liu Quan.

His tone was sincere, yet carried an unshakable certainty: "Uncle Liu, I understand your intentions. But it is precisely because I have thought it through clearly that I have come to ask for your help."

He raised his head, his face revealing a touch of appropriate self-deprecation, and said half-truthfully:

"You know my talent, and I am cultivating the 'Rock Skin Refining Method'. If I can even touch the edge of the Copper Bone Realm in this life, I'll have burned high incense."

As for actually breaking through to the Copper Bone Realm, it's basically impossible.

Nowadays, the Prince is getting closer and closer to the threshold of the Silver Marrow Realm, and the struggle for succession is about to enter a white-hot stage.

A low-level guard like me only has a bit of cleverness; even if I went to the First Prince or the Second Prince, I am destined not to be valued.

If I were thrown in, I wouldn't even cause a splash; in the end, I would either be a transparent person or cannon fodder for others.

As for those young masters from the collateral branches, following them might allow me to ascend to the position of deputy in one step, which counts as a small official position.

But I would still inevitably have to take sides, and I would be even more unable to control my own fate. For a small character like me, if anything really happened, I would be the first to be pushed out to take the blame."

Wang Shi lowered his voice even further, "I don't have any great ambitions; I just want to seek stability.

No matter what, the Third Prince is the Prince's own son and a legitimate master.

Plus, I originally came out of the Third Prince's courtyard; my background is clean, and I can be considered one of his own. Moreover, with you, an elder, looking after me here, coming here is always better than being elsewhere."

"If the Third Prince has any good fortune in the future, as an old hand who followed him from the beginning, I might even have a chance to break through to the Copper Bone Realm and be promoted to a mid-grade guard; that would be bringing honor to my ancestors."

These words were reasonable and sincere, perfectly expressing the image of someone who had a little talent but also self-awareness, only seeking to get by and avoid trouble.

At the same time, it struck a chord in Liu Quan's heart.

He looked at the youth he had watched grow up before him, and after a long while, he slowly sighed, the expression on his face softening.

"You kid, you see things more clearly than anyone."

He shook his head, "That's true. The Prince's Mansion looks glorious, but in reality, every step is a pit. Your mindset is actually more secure than those who sharpen their heads to drill into popular places."

Liu Quan paced two steps in the room and finally made up his mind: "Since you have this intention, I will help you with this.

Here is what we'll do: I will first check your experience at Yingwu Hall over the past eight years according to procedure. Once confirmed that there are no issues, I will risk my old face to beg the Head Steward of the courtyard.

At the very least, I will get you transferred to serve in front of the Third Prince; it counts as a decent enough future."

He paused, and his gaze toward Wang Shi held a bit more expectation: "I am old, and I don't have many years left to live in this Prince's Mansion. My children are all useless, and in the future, I might need to rely on you to look after them a little."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shi was overjoyed and, without a shred of hesitation, knelt on the ground with a thud.

He kowtowed three solid times to Liu Quan, his voice trembling with emotion: "Uncle Liu! I, Wang Shi, will never forget the care you have shown me all these years!

If you don't mind, from now on, you will be my godfather!

I will definitely provide for you in your old age and see you to your final rest. In the future, your family's affairs will be my, Wang Shi's, affairs. I will never fail to repay the kindness of your guidance today!"

Liu Quan already had this intention, and seeing this, he hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, his face full of gratified smiles: "Good! Good! Good! I truly didn't misjudge you, this kid who knows how to repay kindness!

Get up. I accept this title of godfather!"

Having acknowledged this relationship, the two got along even more harmoniously, and matters proceeded logically.

Liu Quan had stayed in the Third Prince's courtyard for decades. Although he didn't have much power, he was familiar with everyone and had wide connections. Plus, Wang Shi's resume at Yingwu Hall for the past eight years was spotless.

Although the Head Steward was surprised that he would give up a good future and insist on coming to serve in this cold courtyard, he did not block him too much.

After half a month of twists and turns, the transfer order finally came down.