Charlotte Green thought that Alice Bennett had listened, and began to talk about other things.

In another hour they would enter the city, and Charlotte Green would have to leave soon. Alice Bennett didn’t dare waste time, suppressed his doubts, and forced himself to listen to Charlotte Green “speak.”

Charlotte Green wrote: At the beginning of the year, the Third Prince fell ill again, almost died. The Third Prince has been frail since childhood, he’s thirty-four this year, and still has no heir. The imperial physicians dare not say it outright, but... he probably won’t last many more years.

Alice Bennett frowned. The Third Prince might be gone soon too.

Speaking of which, the Emperor has been unlucky as well. The first two princes both died young—the eldest at twelve, the second at three. Two princesses died in between as well. It was hard enough to have the Third Prince, who was weak and sickly from birth, raised so carefully until now, and yet he too might not make it.

The Emperor is nearly sixty this year, and only three princes remain, with not even half a grandson. Besides the Third Prince, there are only the two healthy sons left: the twenty-two-year-old Fourth Prince James Grant and the twenty-year-old Fifth Prince Julia Grant.

Charlotte Green hesitated, didn’t write, and slowly signed: Years ago, a physiognomist said that the Emperor’s ascension to the throne was unclear, not ordained by Heaven, so he could not rule the world as a true sovereign. Forcibly changing fate would harm his descendants’ fortune, so most of the Emperor’s children could not survive.

Alice Bennett said indifferently, “But didn’t several survive? There are two adult, healthy princes—that’s enough.”

Charlotte Green frowned.

“I know what you mean.” Alice Bennett smiled. “The Emperor’s children keep dying young, so you’re worried that seeing Samuel Grant and Ethan Grant will upset him and make him suspicious. The Emperor suddenly summoned us to the capital this year, probably because of this.”

Charlotte Green nodded.

Alice Bennett reassured him, “That’s why, before we came, I exaggerated all these things to Samuel Grant, scared him so much he couldn’t eat or sleep for days. He’s been worried sick the whole journey, lost weight, looks listless and haggard. When the Emperor sees him like that, he’ll definitely be at ease.”

Charlotte Green couldn’t help but laugh.

“So we had to come this time.” Alice Bennett said calmly. “No matter how we try to avoid it, it’s useless. He has to see for himself to believe, and only then will he let them go.”

Charlotte Green felt a bit relieved.

Charlotte Green then asked about Alice Bennett’s health. When they parted years ago, Alice Bennett was so ill he couldn’t get out of bed, and Charlotte Green had always been worried.

Charlotte Green felt Alice Bennett’s pulse and signed: I heard from Uncle Harris that you’ve had lingering illness since then, always falling sick when it’s cold. It’s already winter now, you...

“Just a minor problem, I’m almost fully recovered.” Alice Bennett waved it off, his mind not on himself. “You just said...”

Charlotte Green waited quietly.

“You said...” Alice Bennett pressed his lips together. “You said he... has changed completely...”

After going in circles, it came back to Edward Carter.

Alice Bennett had known Edward Carter since he was thirteen, studied together for three years, then spent another half year together day and night. He knew him well, and couldn’t imagine how he could have changed.

Charlotte Green knew Alice Bennett wouldn’t believe it, so he picked up the paper again and wrote quickly: The first year after you left, the Lord Howard affair ended, and things were peaceful in the capital. A year later, out of nowhere, Young Lord Carter suddenly petitioned the Emperor, asking to be stripped of his title as heir.

Alice Bennett was stunned, and after a while said, “Why... why would he do that?”

Because after Princess Helen gave birth to Edward Carter, she couldn’t have more children. The Emperor, pitying Lord Carter for having so few heirs, granted him a few concubines. Lord Carter had two illegitimate sons, so if Edward Carter lost his title, one of them would take his place.

Charlotte Green shook his head: Don’t know.

Alice Bennett gave a dry laugh. “Never mind whether the Emperor would beat him to death—what about the Princess? Didn’t she die of anger? How did she punish him?”

Charlotte Green wrote: Don’t know what the Princess said, but the Emperor was furious and put Young Lord Carter under house arrest in the palace for two months before letting him out.

Alice Bennett couldn’t help but laugh and cry. “He grew up in the palace—how is that even house arrest?”

Charlotte Green continued: After that, Young Lord Carter requested to go to the northern frontier.

Alice Bennett: “...”

Alice Bennett was amazed. “Impressive, is he trying to rebel for his father?”

When the late Emperor founded the dynasty, he granted six non-imperial princes their titles, but only The Carter Residence survived. The Carter family not only survived, but thrived in court. But as a non-imperial prince, many things were sensitive. Lord Carter understood the ways of ruler and subject, and always avoided suspicion in military matters. He never thought Edward Carter would break that rule.

Charlotte Green: Lord Carter brought the royal seal to the palace that very day, knelt outside the main hall for an hour, and no one could persuade him to get up. In the end, the Emperor himself had to come and help him up.

Alice Bennett muttered, “First he offends the Princess, then touches Lord Carter’s bottom line—does he have a death wish...”

Charlotte Green continued: He does have a death wish.

Alice Bennett smiled helplessly.

Charlotte Green went on: A year later, Princess Helen accidentally discovered that Young Lord Carter was taking Hanshi San...

“What?!” The smile vanished from Alice Bennett’s face. “He’s taking what?”

Charlotte Green drew a circle around the words “Hanshi San.”

“He...” Alice Bennett gnashed his teeth. “Why doesn’t he just go eat arse{nic? What happened after that?”