Samuel Grant's brows were full of worry. He glanced back at Alice Bennett, felt a bit more at ease, and nodded before getting into the carriage.

Alice Bennett mounted his horse, turned its head to look at Grace Grant again, and after making sure everything was fine, let out a long whistle. The long caravan slowly began to move. The Prince of Qian'an's household was never one for ostentation—no one beat gongs on the left, no one shouted on the right. The group set out quietly, even the yellow dust kicked up on the street seemed lighter than that of others.

Two months later, they arrived at the outskirts of the capital.

In just half a day, they would enter the city. The Prince of Qian'an's entourage took a short rest. Alice Bennett, having been jolted for two whole months, ached all over. He was leaning in the carriage, dozing off, when suddenly the carriage dipped. Alice Bennett looked up, still a bit weary: "Uncle Harris? What's wrong..."

Alice Bennett sat up, and before he could lift the curtain, someone slipped inside.

Alice Bennett was overjoyed: "Charlotte Green!"

Charlotte Green was very agile; he got into the carriage without alerting anyone else. He knelt before Alice Bennett, but Alice Bennett quickly pulled him up. "Is everything ready?"

Charlotte Green nodded and took out a travel permit from his chest.

Alice Bennett took it and smiled. "My indenture is still at... still at the Prince of Yu's residence. If someone checks when we enter the city, as a registered slave, I might get into trouble. With this, things will be much easier."

Charlotte Green was mute and couldn't speak. Hearing this, he smiled slightly and gestured for Alice Bennett not to worry.

Charlotte Green had been Alice Bennett's study companion in the Zhong household since childhood. After the incident with Prince Ning, he was sold into the Prince of Yu's residence along with Alice Bennett. Later, Alice Bennett went to the southern frontier with several of Prince Ning's young sons, while Charlotte Green stayed in the capital, secretly handling matters for Alice Bennett.

Sign language was too slow, so Charlotte Green took out pen and paper and wrote down everything he needed to tell Alice Bennett, who read each note and burned them in the hand warmer as he went.

The carriage swayed gently, the interior was very quiet. Only the creaking of the wheels and the occasional crackle of burning charcoal could be heard. After an hour, Alice Bennett let out a soft breath. "It's about what I expected."

Charlotte Green signed: Everything is well prepared, no need to worry.

Alice Bennett nodded, then after a moment of silence, hesitated: "That person..."

Charlotte Green looked quietly at Alice Bennett, patiently waiting.

Alice Bennett gave a self-deprecating smile and said softly, "I mean... the young Prince of Yu."

Charlotte Green looked at Alice Bennett, waiting for him to continue.

Alice Bennett grumbled inwardly that Charlotte Green couldn't speak or read expressions, and wouldn't move unless prodded, so he had to ask directly, "The young Prince of Yu... how is he?"

Charlotte Green was sparing with words: He's fine.

The two sat in silence for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

Suddenly, Charlotte Green seemed to understand and signed: Master wants to know how he is?

Alice Bennett replied awkwardly, "After all... he's nominally my lover. We're about to enter the capital, so it's not strange for me to ask about him, right?"

Charlotte Green thought for a moment, then picked up the pen and began to write.

Alice Bennett read slowly.

"He's a year younger than me." Alice Bennett placed each page into the hand warmer as he finished, speaking softly, "He's twenty-three this year as well, so... why hasn't he married yet?"

"Could it be... he's been implicated by my 'scandals'?"

Charlotte Green shook his head: No.

Charlotte Green wrote again: Three years ago, when the young Prince of Yu came of age, the Emperor and Princess Anguo selected many noble ladies for him, but he refused them all, saying he didn't like any of them.

Charlotte Green listed quite a few noble ladies, and Alice Bennett frowned, "He doesn't like any of them? Then what kind of person does he want?"

Charlotte Green continued writing: The young Prince of Yu said he wanted Princess Huiyang.

Princess Huiyang, the current Emperor's fourth daughter.

Alice Bennett choked, "Huiyang is only nine... is he crazy?"

Charlotte Green shook his head: Not crazy, he's actually quite nice.

Alice Bennett couldn't help but laugh, "The Emperor dotes on him so much, did he actually agree?"

Charlotte Green wrote: No, the Emperor was furious and almost struck the young prince.

Alice Bennett's heart stirred, and he said softly, "When I was young, I studied in the palace with Samuel Grant, and I heard a secret rumor..."

Charlotte Green nodded: There's always been talk that the young Prince of Yu is actually...

"Shh..."

Alice Bennett shook his head.

Charlotte Green paused, then continued writing: The Emperor was so angry he nearly stripped the young prince of his title. It was only because the princess went to the palace overnight to plead for him that, in the end...

Charlotte Green wrote: The young prince is so favored that the matter was dropped. The Emperor ignored him for two months, but after that, the favor returned as usual, and his marriage was delayed just like that.

Alice Bennett smiled, "The Emperor probably doesn't have such a good temper even with his own sons."

Alice Bennett frowned again, "The young Prince of Yu may have a bad temper, but not to this extent, right? He knew the marriage couldn't happen, so why deliberately provoke the Emperor?"

Charlotte Green shook his head.

Alice Bennett didn't understand, "What does shaking your head mean?"

Charlotte Green didn't write further. He looked up at Alice Bennett seriously and signed:

I don't know the details, but in recent years, the young Prince of Yu's temperament has changed drastically.

Unless necessary, you shouldn't see him.

Chapter 3

After being questioned by the Emperor and then by the princess, the young Prince of Yu's face was so dark it was frightening.

"His temperament has changed drastically..."

Alice Bennett repeated softly, his brows slightly furrowed.

Proposing marriage to a nine-year-old princess—this really didn't seem like something he would do.