Chapter Fourteen: The Heiress Buys a Horse by Examining Its Bones

"So what if I am?"

The thug dropped the pretense. Since Zhou Hao had already stripped away his facade, he decided it was better to simply resort to robbery.

"You pampered young master, what are you doing in a filthy place like this? You’d better watch your back in the next life."

As he spoke, the thugs lunged forward, gripping their wood-chopping blades, intent on severing Zhou Hao’s head in a single stroke. But how could Zhou Hao let them have their way? He was no longer that lethargic, spineless First Prince!

Zhou Hao raised his hand, gripping the thug’s wrist with a vice-like hold, and landed a fierce kick directly into the man’s knee. With a cry of agony, the thug’s grip loosened, and the blade clattered to the ground. Zhou Hao didn't hesitate; he snatched up the blade and slashed it across the thug’s chest.

A splash of crimson erupted, causing the other thugs to freeze in their tracks. If even their boss could be cut down so easily, what chance did they have?

Zhou Hao had no patience for such trash. With a sharp kick, he sent the thug’s body sprawling into the rest of the pack, then said coldly, "Come on! If you have the guts, come again!"

These thugs had long since hollowed out their bodies with wine and debauchery. They could bully women and children, but against Zhou Hao—a man who had been a legendary elite soldier in his past life—even if they swarmed him all at once, they were no match.

Looking at their leader, who was gasping his final breaths, and then at the murderous aura radiating from Zhou Hao, the thugs scrambled away, dragging their leader’s body out of the alley. One particularly greedy thug even stopped to pry the loose silver coins from the ground before fleeing.

"Are you alright?" Zhou Hao dropped the blade and looked at Mistress Li.

"I’m fine. But tell me, sir, who are you? Bringing trouble upon our family because of those thugs is no small matter." Despite her dire circumstances, Mistress Li remained kind-hearted, still urging Zhou Hao to leave quickly at this critical moment.

"Is your husband’s name Li Tie?"

Li Tie? Mistress Li became immediately guarded. Was this some old debt of her husband’s? Or was someone looking for him? Yet, looking at Zhou Hao’s demeanor, she realized he already knew the truth; denying it now would only make her seem dishonest.

"Yes, but sir, you don't have any connection to my husband, do you?"

Connection? Zhou Hao smiled calmly. "Of course I do."

With that, he pulled several taels of silver from his robes and placed them in Mistress Li’s hand.

"You needn't worry. I am the current First Prince, and I have come today specifically to see your husband."

The First Prince? Mistress Li trembled, her eyes wide with shock. "This humble woman greets the First Prince. Our home is so wretched, I fear it may offend your eyes..."

Before she could finish, Zhou Hao pushed past her and walked through the gate. The courtyard was hauntingly empty, making him wonder if the place had been ransacked. It was clear this family was struggling immensely. Understanding this, he pushed open the inner door and stepped inside.

Lying in the room was a man with a severed arm, his face pale and his forehead beaded with cold sweat. It was evident he was severely ill. As he opened his eyes and saw Zhou Hao, he immediately recognized his status. Such clothes were not something an ordinary person could wear; he had to be the Prince. But why would the Prince be looking for him?

"This humble commoner, Li Tie, pays his respects to Your Highness." As he spoke, Li Tie attempted to roll off the bed to kneel before Zhou Hao.

"There is no need for that. You are gravely ill; it is better to rest." Zhou Hao stopped him, pressing him back onto the bed. "You recognized me?"

Li Tie gave a bitter smile. His time in the military had exposed him to many dignitaries, so he was naturally familiar with the attire of the imperial family. "Though this commoner never attained any official rank, I am familiar with the appearance of those of your noble status."

Zhou Hao didn't waste time with formalities, choosing to go straight to the point. "I have come to you today to ask for your help in training new recruits. Would you be willing?"

New recruits? Li Tie had his reservations, but given his current state, he was in no position to refuse. "This commoner is willing to give his life for Your Highness, but my health..."

Zhou Hao patted Li Tie’s shoulder, his expression softening. "It doesn't matter. I will take you to a clinic for treatment shortly. And there is no need for you to stay in this place any longer. Come back to my manor with me; your family of three can settle in there for now. We can discuss other matters once we reach my fief."

Although Zhou Hao hadn't mentioned a salary, for Li Tie, escaping this crumbling pit of despair was the greatest fortune he could hope for.

"This commoner thanks you for your holy grace." Li Tie struggled, trying to kowtow to Zhou Hao, but Zhou Hao, with his sturdy physique, firmly pressed him back down.

"That's enough. Rest well here; I am going to rent a carriage." As he spoke, Zhou Hao placed a few more taels of silver beside Li Tie. "Use this for your daily needs for now." With that, he turned and left.

Seeing Zhou Hao depart, Mistress Li gathered the courage to enter the room. "Husband, why did the First Prince come..." Before she could finish, she saw the silver left by the bedside.

"The First Prince needs someone to train troops and thought of me. It's nothing, really."

"But what happened to you? Did those thugs come back?"

At the mention of those thugs, Li Tie’s face was filled with resentment. Had he not been ill, those thugs would never have dared to approach. But his severe illness left him powerless.

"That First Prince has extraordinary skills; he beat those thugs away in an instant," Mistress Li said, clutching Li Tie’s only remaining arm. "If it weren't for him, I likely would have been dragged off to a brothel today."

Li Tie’s gratitude toward Zhou Hao deepened. If not for Zhou Hao, his family would have been ruined, and he likely would have died of illness in this dilapidated shack.

Zhou Hao returned quickly, having left the carriage rental to the servants he brought with him. He feared the thugs might return to take revenge on Li Tie. If he weren't there, would the first subordinate he had successfully recruited be lost before he even began? As for Luo Xu, he didn't count as a subordinate; he was merely a transaction of interests with the Prime Minister. Only when Luo Xu could prioritize Zhou Hao’s affairs over the Prime Minister’s could he be considered a true follower.

The carriage arrived swiftly, and Zhou Hao took them to the same clinic the Great General had taken him to the day before. The doctors there were discreet and highly skilled. It would be a waste not to use them. Li Tie’s illness was not incurable—it was primarily a result of malnutrition and a severe cold, which had combined to wreak havoc on his body.

After the doctor prescribed a few packets of medicine, Zhou Hao brought Li Tie back to the First Prince’s manor.

"You will live here from now on. In the coming days, I will have the servants prepare nourishing meals to help you recover your lost vitality." Zhou Hao smiled, his gaze toward Li Tie filled with genuine warmth. If he could win over Li Tie, he wouldn't need to personally search for other disabled veterans. To buy a horse’s bones with a thousand gold pieces—Li Tie was that horse’s bone. Once he regained his health, donned proper attire, and was given a bit of silver, he would be the key to everything else.