Charlotte Green wrote: The princess was furious and locked up Young Lord Carter for a full six months. Lord Carter obtained an imperial decree and swept through all the pharmacies in the capital and all the Taoist temples in the suburbs, executing quite a few villains who secretly sold this medicine. It wasn’t until half a year later, when Young Lord Carter recovered, that Lord Carter finally stopped.

　　Charlotte Green thought for a moment and continued writing: Another year passed, and Young Lord Carter...

　　...

　 For the moment, he couldn’t finish writing.

　　Alice Bennett watched quietly, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.

　 Just now, he had wondered how Edward Carter could have proposed to marry the nine-year-old Princess Huiyang, but now, seeing this, it didn’t seem so outrageous after all.

　 “He...” Alice Bennett murmured, “What’s happened to him these years? What could be so troubling that he’d go to such extremes?”

　 Edward Carter was the only son of the Princess of Anguo, born the year the late emperor passed away. That year, the Princess of Anguo was pregnant and in mourning for the nation, grieving so deeply that the child was nearly lost. Later, the princess went to guard the late emperor’s tomb, and when her due date approached, she didn’t even have time to return to the capital—she gave birth at the imperial mausoleum’s villa. Perhaps her health was harmed, for she never had another child.

　 The princess had only this one son, naturally cherishing him like a treasure. The empress dowager and the current emperor also valued this child greatly. Both Edward Carter’s given name and courtesy name were chosen by the emperor himself. When Edward Carter was one year old, he was made heir apparent; at two, he was brought into the palace, where his daily life was just like that of a prince.

　 Just like a prince, yet not the same. The princes had to compete openly and secretly for the throne, but as the only legitimate son, Edward Carter was born heir apparent, destined for both wealth and honor, with nothing to worry about.

　 What could possibly make him so unhappy that he’d treat himself this way?

　 In Alice Bennett’s memory, Henry Carter had an excellent character.

　 Compared to others, Edward Carter was just a bit more withdrawn, not fond of socializing, always seeming to have a lingering worry between his brows. Unlike the shrewd and calculating Lord Carter, Edward Carter was upright and forthright, deeply understanding what a gentleman should and should not do. Otherwise... Alice Bennett wouldn’t have survived until now.

　 Charlotte Green saw Alice Bennett lost in thought and picked up the pen to write: In recent years, Young Lord Carter seems like a different person—eccentric in his actions, gloomy in temperament. Last year, after entering the Court of Judicial Review, his methods became terrifying. Once, I failed in my duties and fell into his hands; I was nearly killed by him on the spot.

　 Alice Bennett felt a chill in his heart.

　 Charlotte Green, afraid Alice Bennett would worry, hurriedly added: It’s fine. I informed Fourth Prince in advance, and Fourth Prince transferred my case to the Ministry of Justice. It was resolved as a minor issue, and after a brief investigation, I was released.

　 Fourth Prince is Xuanjing; Charlotte Green has been hiding in his residence these years.

　 Charlotte Green wrote heavily on the paper: Young Lord Carter does not value old friendships.

　 Alice Bennett took a deep breath and nodded.

　 Alice Bennett leaned against the carriage window, silent for a while, still unable to understand. He whispered, “Then five years ago, why did he...”

　 Charlotte Green looked at Alice Bennett in confusion, not understanding.

　 Alice Bennett spoke slowly, “Four years ago, when the prefect of Qian’an, Benjamin Sullivan, came to the capital to report on his duties, he used my name to seek favors at The Carter Residence. He... really did help out.”

　 Charlotte Green remembered this and wrote: It was indeed strange. Maybe at that time, Young Lord Carter hadn’t gone mad yet?

　 The paper finally ran out. Charlotte Green signed: Speaking of which, it was this incident that confirmed the rumors about you and Young Lord Carter.

　 Alice Bennett was full of thoughts and looked up. “Huh?”

Charlotte Green gestured: It was because of this that people in the capital believed the rumors about the two of you. Everyone thought Young Lord Carter was truly infatuated with you, which is why he treated you so indulgently.

Alice Bennett was silent for a moment, then said, “Say it again?”

Charlotte Green, being mute, couldn’t speak, so he had to gesture again: It was because of this that people in the capital believed the rumors about the two of you. Everyone thought Young Lord Carter was truly infatuated with you, which is why he treated you so indulgently.

Charlotte Green thought Alice Bennett didn’t understand some sign, so he pulled over a piece of paper and was about to write it down, but Alice Bennett stopped him with a smile.

“All your sign language was taught by me. How could I not understand?” Alice Bennett’s eyes curved with amusement, holding back a laugh. “I just wanted to hear you ‘say’ it again.”

Charlotte Green couldn’t help but laugh and cry, but thinking it over, he felt a pang of sadness.

Alice Bennett, however, looked as calm as ever.

Charlotte Green thought for a moment, then gestured again: When the rumors first spread in the capital, it was quite a sensation for a while. Everyone was talking about it, and I heard that when Young Lord Carter first heard the rumor, he was so angry that he actually fell ill.

Alice Bennett coughed, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

Charlotte Green gestured again: I heard from Fourth Prince that one day the emperor was in high spirits and even asked Young Lord Carter about it directly.

Alice Bennett choked.

Charlotte Green patted Alice Bennett on the back and continued: That day, Young Lord Carter left the palace with a livid face. When he returned home, he neither ate nor spoke. The princess thought he had contradicted the emperor again and specially called him to the princess’s residence that night to question him—probably about this as well. When he came out of the princess’s residence, Young Lord Carter’s face was pitch black... very, very black, so dark it was scary. Luckily, he was handsome, or else he would have been terrifying.

Alice Bennett tried so hard not to laugh that his stomach hurt.

Charlotte Green said: Naturally, only the emperor and the princess could ask Young Lord about this face to face. Others, seeing him like that, didn’t dare mention even a word about you in front of him. But later...