"Looks like we're going to have to admit defeat today?" Fourth Master and Master Miao exchanged a glance, then Fourth Master said with a smirk.

“I’m taking this horse back today, no doubt about it,” Miao Shou replied with a smile.

Suddenly a gust of wind came from behind, and a man threw a punch. Fourth Master dodged and then hooked the man with his foot, sending him sprawling forward like a dog falling flat on his face.

The next second, the group of people who had surrounded them attacked together. Miao Shou and Fourth Master each took on two opponents and began fighting.

People on both sides of the road quickly moved away, just standing at a distance watching; no one dared to come over and try to break up the fight.

However, Fourth Master and Master Miao didn't need anyone to stop them. They beat up the Uyghurs who were bullying and dominating the market. When they saw that things were not going well, they knelt down and begged for mercy.

"As for this Akhal-Teke horse, I'd like to..." Miaoshou clapped his hands, about to say he would ride it away, but the Xinjiang man interrupted him, saying, "It's for you, sir, please ride it away!"

Fourth Master roared at the group, "I'm sure the Prefect of Jinan will be coming for you soon."

The men kowtowed repeatedly, like pounding onions, before Miaoshou, leading the horse, said to Fourth Master, "Fourth Master, please. I will follow behind!"

Fourth Master said, "You were the one who wanted this horse, but my horse is over there!"

Miao Shou looked closely and indeed saw a tall black horse standing under a tree not far away, and then he understood.

The two rode their red and black bikes through the streets of Jinan, and soon they reached the outskirts of the city.

"Does Fourth Master want to ask about the Emperor's condition?" Miao Shou suddenly asked.

The two rode horses and strolled along the country lanes.

"No, I came to ask if you wished to become my confidant in the pavilion?" the Fourth Prince said. "Since Father Emperor said that you must not reveal your illness to anyone, I, the Prince, will not force you to do so."

Miao Shou glanced at the Fourth Prince and said, "Fourth Prince, you are wise and decisive, truly a man destined for great things. Wang Shouzhi is over sixty, but he still harbors a passion to find someone to spend his life with!"

Fourth Prince clasped his hands in a fist salute to Master Miaoshou and said, "Since you have taken a liking to me, sir, why don't we swear an oath here and now to be friends for life and never betray each other!"

Wang Shouzhi said excitedly, "To be able to become friends with the Fourth Prince is truly the greatest fortune of my life!"

Sometimes, two people don't need much time to get to know each other, yet they can quickly see through each other and determine if the other is someone they can trust and rely on, just like the Fourth Master and Wang Shouzhi, known as "Master of the Hands," at this moment.

After that, the Fourth Prince was able to quickly learn of the changes in Kangxi's health thanks to information conveyed by this man named Wang Shouzhi. Of course, that's a story for later, so let's leave it at that.

Three days later, Emperor Kangxi, along with the Fourth Prince and others, disguised in plain clothes, quietly headed towards the capital. They posed as merchants; Kangxi was the merchant master, the Fourth Prince was his son, and Li Wei was his attendant and enforcer; Wang Shouzhi was his advisor, while Su Peisheng, Nianxue, and a few others were his servants. In fact, they weren't the only ones; Kangxi's guards followed behind, protecting them from a distance.

Meanwhile, the Eighth Prince, accompanied by his entourage, had already arrived in Yulin with Emperor Kangxi's entourage. As an imperial envoy, he inspected the Yellow River estuary and received a warm welcome from the local officials. The Eighth Prince was humble and courteous, yet decisive in his actions, and quickly established a very good relationship with the local officials. His reputation as a "wise prince" once again spread far and wide throughout the Northwest.

But just when none of them expected it, a momentous event occurred in the capital that could shake the entire court—the Crown Prince was having an affair with Zheng Chunhua, a concubine of Emperor Kangxi!