Alice Bennett let out a sigh.

Alice Bennett said softly, “It was my fault. At the time, I was determined to find you, but news from Prince Yu’s residence couldn’t get in or out, I… never mind, it’s all in the past.”

Samuel Grant said worriedly, “If he asks me, if he asks me…”

“He won’t ask you anything that would put you in a difficult spot. Old matters from years ago—he’s even less willing to bring them up than you are.” Alice Bennett said seriously, “He just wants peace of mind. Just let him be at ease. If he really wanted to get rid of you, it would be as simple as sending a pot of poisoned wine to Qian’an—why bother calling you here? Does he think the history books don’t have enough material already?”

Hearing this, Samuel Grant’s expression eased a little. Alice Bennett said gently, “It’s all over now. Come back… I’ll see you off.”

“Really?” Samuel Grant’s eyes lit up. “You’ll go into the palace with me?”

“Of course not.” Alice Bennett laughed. “I’d like to, but could I even get in? I’ll wait for you outside the palace.”

Samuel Grant smiled helplessly, but finally felt a bit more at ease.

At the hour of Shen, someone from the palace did indeed arrive, summoning only Samuel Grant and Ethan Grant.

Alice Bennett posed as a servant and followed, but was stopped before even reaching the palace gates. Samuel Grant and Ethan Grant got out of the carriage and followed the palace attendants inside.

The two of them followed the eunuchs, treading carefully, winding through corridors for who knows how long before finally meeting the emperor and bowing their heads to the ground.

Samuel Grant didn’t dare lift his head at all. He answered whatever was asked, his voice barely louder than a mosquito’s, and had to rely on the old eunuch to repeat his words loudly.

By contrast, young Ethan Grant responded more appropriately. He had only been two or three years old during the Prince Ning incident and didn’t remember it, so he’d grown up carefree these years. He was much bolder than his older brother. When the emperor questioned him, he even looked up at the emperor, secretly surprised.

This “Imperial Uncle” was much older than he’d expected—he looked at least sixty, old enough to be Ethan Grant’s grandfather.

In recent years, Emperor Chong’an had begun to show his age, his voice lacking some strength. He looked closely at young Ethan Grant, smiled kindly, and asked about his studies.

Before Ethan Grant could answer, Samuel Grant was already breaking out in a cold sweat.

Back then, Emperor Chong’an had asked Samuel Grant the same question, and the next day, he and Alice Bennett were sent into the palace.

Would Emperor Chong’an… use this as a pretext to keep Ethan Grant in the capital?

While Samuel Grant was anxious, Emperor Chong’an casually quizzed young Ethan Grant a few times, and Ethan Grant answered each question.

Emperor Chong’an nodded in satisfaction and said warmly, “Very promising. Is the tutor your brother hired for you good? How is his learning? Is he strict?”

Ethan Grant lowered his head and replied, “There was no tutor hired. I studied with…”

Although Ethan Grant was young, he instinctively felt he shouldn’t mention Alice Bennett’s name, so he paused and said, “I studied with a literate steward at home.”

Emperor Chong’an was silent for a moment, then asked, “Is it Guiyuan who is teaching you?”

Alice Bennett, courtesy name Thomas David.

Ethan Grant frowned in confusion—how did he know that?

Emperor Chong’an said slowly, “With him teaching you, there’s no way you’ll go wrong.”

Emperor Chong’an spoke very slowly, as if lost in thought. After a long while, he said, “If only he had entered the palace examination back then…”

Young Ethan Grant listened quietly, not daring to respond. After a long wait, Emperor Chong’an didn’t continue. He waved his hand, asked no more about their studies, and Samuel Grant secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After a bit more small talk, dusk was falling. Emperor Chong’an seemed a bit weary, granted them a table of imperial dishes, and had the old eunuch take them away.

Samuel Grant and Ethan Grant were brought to a small warm chamber. With no one else around, Ethan Grant asked in a low voice, “Why is it that as soon as His Majesty hears about Alice Bennett, he…”

The old eunuch serving by the emperor’s side entered with the attendants carrying the food. Ethan Grant immediately fell silent. The old eunuch’s lips curved slightly, pretending not to have heard, and began serving the dishes for them.

“I just heard,” the old eunuch said with a smile. “Is it true that Young Master Bennett personally tutors the young prince in his studies?”

Ethan Grant was surprised. “Eunuch, you know Alice Bennett too?”

A young attendant behind the old eunuch covered his mouth and laughed silently.

The infamous Alice Bennett, known for his romantic exploits—who didn’t know of him?

Young Ethan Grant had naturally heard those stories as well. Realizing they were making fun of Alice Bennett, his face turned a little pale with anger.

Samuel Grant shot Ethan Grant a look: The eunuchs serving by Emperor Chong’an’s side were not people they could afford to offend.

Ethan Grant lowered his head and ate stiffly.

The old eunuch glanced at the young attendant, then, while serving the dishes, said unhurriedly, “Of course I know. The youngest successful candidate in the imperial exams in our dynasty—who hasn’t heard of him?”

Ethan Grant looked up. He hadn’t known Alice Bennett was so impressive and was momentarily stunned. “Ah?”

The old eunuch smiled and said slowly, “Though the Bennett family has fallen, Prince Ning raised him as his own son. A young master from such a noble family, with such a background and talent—what government office in the Three Departments and Six Ministries would be closed to him in the future? But Young Master Bennett was proud and ambitious, determined to take the imperial examination route, and rose swiftly through the ranks… top scorer in the spring exam, top scorer in the autumn exam—if not for…”

The old eunuch left the rest unsaid. “I heard the youngest top scholar in the previous dynasty was eighteen. If Young Master Bennett had entered the palace examination that year…”

“He would have been the youngest top scholar in several dynasties.” The old eunuch drew out the horsetail whisk at his waist and turned to strike the clueless young attendant. “You ignorant fool, get out!”