The Seven Princesses' Journey Across Time

Although she suppressed her feelings for Prince Yu, she was even more determined to change her fate. She knew that only through hard work and opportunity could she get closer to him. A marriage like the Fifth Prince's could not be decided by him alone, but Prince Yu was so powerful that he could definitely make it happen if he wanted to.

At the same time, Yongqi seemed to sense Xiaoyanzi's gaze and turned to look in her direction. However, just as their eyes were about to meet, Xiaoyanzi's gaze had already turned away, avoiding Yongqi's gaze. This caused them to miss the eye contact, and also made Yongqi feel a little bitter.

Night fell quietly, and the streets and alleys of the capital were bathed in a shimmering light, a dreamlike beauty. They all came to their senses and admired the bustling scene before them. They strolled through the bustling streets, their eyes curiously scanning the dazzling array of goods, their hearts filled with a sense of wonder. Ziwei was drawn to a quaint antique shop. Excitedly, she grabbed Xiaoyanzi's hand and together they entered to select the items they desired. Liu Qing and Liu Hong stood outside, enjoying the street performers' captivating performances with great interest.

Just as they were immersed in the joyful atmosphere, a sudden, noisy quarrel shattered the peace. Everyone looked over and saw a large crowd gathered not far ahead, seemingly watching something. Xiaoyanzi's curiosity was instantly piqued, and she eagerly squeezed through the crowd to find out what was going on. A thief had been caught red-handed by the stall owner and was facing accusations and condemnation from the crowd.

The thief, with a grieved expression, pleaded with the stall owner, explaining his difficult circumstances. Xiaoyanzi, seeing his pitiful appearance, felt a surge of sympathy. She approached the stall owner and whispered, "Sir, could you please let him go? I'll pay for his groceries!" The stall owner hesitated for a moment, but ultimately agreed.

Xiaoyanzi took out some small change from her pocket and handed it to the stall owner. Then, turning around, she sternly said to the thief, "This will teach you a lesson. Don't steal anything again!" The thief was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. He nodded and thanked her repeatedly, promising to change for the better. The people around her also gave Xiaoyanzi a thumbs-up and praised her kindness.

It was already very late, and everyone said goodbye and left. Although the palace gate curfew was delayed, it was not advisable to return too late.

Qing'er sat in her study, carefully reading through the list of talents she had gathered. She couldn't help but feel a little worried. She realized that the existing talent pool was still insufficient, especially as they were about to conquer other countries. They had to train talents in advance to avoid being caught in the dilemma of war again.

While many talented individuals have been trained over the years, most have been assigned to various regions, leaving only a handful remaining. Military commanders needed for warfare are relatively easy to train, while management talent is much more difficult. Most of these individuals hold official positions at the imperial court, while the number recruited from the public in recent years is far from sufficient.

Qing'er began to wonder if there were still undeveloped talents she could reserve. Suddenly, she remembered a remarkable figure in history. Although he was considered a corrupt official, this might be due to his childhood experiences. With today's stable society and peaceful people, perhaps this person hasn't developed into a corrupt person yet? But where could she find such a person now?

Qing'er: "Mianmian, check Heshen's current situation."

Mian Mian: "Huh, I thought you forgot about me! You only think of me when you need to locate the enemy during a battle. I have nothing to do with you normally."

Qing'er: "How can you blame me for this? You said at the beginning that you would not help cheat in a war. I have been fighting all these years, what can I do? But now it's okay, please help me check Heshen's situation first."

Mianmian grumbled, but she was actually quite willing to help. She quickly began searching for information about Heshen. It wasn't long before Mianmian found detailed information about Heshen.

Mian Mian: "Heshen is nine years old and lives in the slums of the capital. His father died young, leaving him and his mother alone. But neighbors say Heshen has been very clever and resourceful since he was young, often helping his mother solve various problems."

After hearing this, Qing'er was moved. If such a smart child could be well trained, he would definitely achieve great things in the future. She secretly made up her mind to visit Heshen in person to see if it was possible to recruit him as her own disciple.

The next day, the weather was clear and sunny. Qing'er, dressed in plain clothes, decided to go look for Heshen herself. She wandered the streets of the capital, taking in the city's prosperity and bustle. However, when she came upon a dilapidated residential area, she was surprised. Despite the capital's prosperity, such poverty still existed.

After asking around, Qing'er finally found Heshen's home. It was a simple, small house, noisy and crowded. Qing'er knocked gently on the door, and it slowly opened a crack. A little head popped out, looking at her curiously.

Qing'er smiled and said, "Excuse me, is this He Kun's house? I'm his friend and came to visit him."

The little boy was stunned for a moment, looking a little confused. Then he opened the door completely and asked doubtfully, "Who are you? Why have I never seen you before?"

Qing'er squatted down and replied gently, "My name is Qingshu. I heard you're very smart, so I came here to play with you."

Hearing this, Heshen's eyes lit up and a delighted smile appeared on his face. Heshen was deeply excited. He had never imagined that this man called Qingshu was actually the famous Prince Yu! Who in the world didn't know the name of Prince Yu? At such a young age, he had made great military achievements and made great contributions to the country, especially in expanding the territory. For Heshen, meeting such a great man was like a dream. The man before him was a role model for all men today! He was even hailed as the man that all women most wanted to marry! Heshen's mother looked at Qing'er who had come to visit, a warm and friendly smile on her face, and hurried forward to greet him. Qing'er smiled and explained her purpose. After listening to her, Heshen's mother's eyes flashed with surprise and gratitude.

Qing'er and Heshen began chatting, and she quickly discovered that Heshen lived up to his reputation for intelligence and insight. Heshen took Qing'er to his room and showed her some of his handmade inventions. These were ingeniously designed and meticulously crafted, and Qing'er couldn't help but admire Heshen's ingenuity.