chapter 4

When my grandfather was executed, I was only ten years old.

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After that day, I never listened to my father again. I would run around the city and do whatever I wanted. I disguised myself as a boy and spent my days causing trouble. I was punished many times for doing those things, but I never stopped. Every punishment only made me more determined. I wanted to see the annoyed look on my father's face. If I could not make him suffer, then at least I could make him angry.

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For five years, I lived like that.

Meanwhile, the war between our country, the Kingdom of Yue, and the neighboring Great Yan Empire continued to grow worse. The war had already lasted for five years, and our country was losing. There were not enough soldiers left to fight, and the army was growing weaker with every battle.

In response, the Emperor issued a decree.

Every noble household was required to send one man to fight in the war, and that man had to be the next heir of the family. The Emperor believed that if the heirs of the noble families were on the battlefield, those families would invest more money and resources into the war effort in order to protect their heirs.

My father had a son with Ming Suyin.

He was not much younger than me—only two months younger. His name is Li Yujin .My father had already declared him the next heir of the Li family. However, to My father, his precious son was far too valuable to be sent to war.

The Kingdom of Yue was known as a nation of scholars. We excelled in politics, literature, and administration, but we were not famous for our military strength. Because of this, it was easy to predict that our country would eventually lose the war.

My father now had a headache. Because the emperor has only give 4 month for preparation.

He did not want his beloved son to suffer even the slightest bit.

Then his most trusted secretary gave him an idea.

Since I loved disguising myself as a boy so much, they decided to use me as their pawn. For years, I had been running around the streets and ruining the Li family's reputation with my reckless behavior. The secretary suggested that my father send me to the battlefield in my brother's place while disguised as a boy.

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meanwhile, I had no idea about any of this.

As usual, I disguised myself as a boy, stole some money from my father, and spent the day fooling around in a brothel. I was enjoying myself when several of my father's men suddenly appeared.

Before I could escape, they grabbed me and dragged me back .

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When I arrived, at the manor, I was brought before my father and his trusted secretary.

My father looked at me coldly.

"This man will be your master from now on," he said, pointing toward the secretary.

I stared at them in confusion.

I had no idea why he would suddenly become my master.

I had no idea what I was supposed to learn from him.

And I certainly had no idea that they were preparing me to take my brother's place in a war that could very well cost me my life.

Then the training began

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