Outside the palace, Talented Bennett, who had almost achieved the top three honors in the imperial exams, stood in the cold wind and sneezed.

"It's so cold..."

Alice Bennett had already been waiting for two hours. The charcoal in his hand warmer had long burned out. Afraid his legs would go numb from the cold, he simply got out of the carriage to walk back and forth, moving his hands and feet.

It was already the fifth watch; the sky was pitch black. From a distance, Alice Bennett glanced at the palace gates, but in truth, he wasn't anxious.

In the worst-case scenario, the emperor would keep Ethan Grant as a hostage, but even that was unlikely.

It made sense to keep the heir of a feudal lord who held military power in the capital for "education," but what would be the point of keeping Ethan Grant? Guarding against what? Guarding against Samuel Grant gathering a few dozen people in Qian'an to rebel?

Qian'an was vast, sparsely populated, and so poor that it frequently needed disaster relief from the court. If Alice Bennett were the emperor and heard of a rebellion in Qian'an, he'd be the first to agree—he'd be glad to see that bunch of paupers go off and set up their own mountain stronghold, saving the court years of relief efforts.

Alice Bennett rubbed his hands stiffly. His hands were so frozen he couldn't feel them anymore; now he was relying solely on the heat in his chest to keep going.

Suddenly, the sound of carriages and horses came from afar. Alice Bennett perked up and looked over.

The carriage gradually approached, the lanterns hanging from it swaying. The character "郁" was boldly printed on the carriage lantern.

Alice Bennett's heart skipped a beat.

The carriage from the Yuwang Residence drew closer, and Alice Bennett's mind raced with thoughts.

Princess Anguo had her own carriage; it couldn't be her.

As for idle branches of the Yuwang Residence, there was no way they'd be coming out of the palace at this hour.

The only ones who could be in that carriage were Lord Carter and that other person.

Alice Bennett took a deep breath and silently chanted in his heart, Lord Carter, Lord Carter, Lord Carter...

The lantern hanging from the carriage beside Alice Bennett bore the mark of the Qian'an Prince's Residence. The other party couldn't possibly miss it. If it was Lord Carter in the carriage, he wouldn't bother to pay attention and would just pass by. But if it was Edward Carter...

No matter how favored Edward Carter was, he hadn't inherited the title yet. Upon seeing the Qian'an Prince's carriage, he would still have to stop and yield.

The Yuwang Residence's carriage drew closer and closer. In the cold wind, Alice Bennett's back broke out in a cold sweat.

Moments later, the carriage stopped.

Alice Bennett closed his eyes. Damn it, it's over.

Edward Carter's carriage slowly pulled over to the side of the road. A steward got out, bowed from a distance, then straightened up and jogged over.

Alice Bennett was secretly pleased. In this freezing weather, Edward Carter wouldn't want to get out of the carriage. He'd probably just send the steward to ask a question, and once he found out there was no one in the carriage, he'd naturally leave.

The steward came up, looked up, and was stunned.

He immediately recognized Alice Bennett and called out loudly, "Zhong... Young Master Zhong?!"

Alice Bennett was mortified. Could you keep your voice down?!!

Alice Bennett clenched his frozen hands, took a deep breath, and forced a faint smile. "It's me. The prince has entered the palace and hasn't come out yet. Please, Young Lord Carter, go ahead."

"I guessed as much." The steward looked Alice Bennett up and down, his tone excited. "I'll go tell my master right away. You're here!"

"No, no, no..." Alice Bennett was choked by the cold wind and started coughing. "No, no..."

But the steward had already dashed back as if riding on the wind.

Alice Bennett clutched his collar, coughing so hard he couldn't catch his breath, wishing he could eat that steward alive.

He watched from afar as the steward ran to Edward Carter's carriage and bent over, whispering something.

It's over, it's over, it's really over this time...

Alice Bennett's heart pounded wildly as he tried to figure out how to deal with Edward Carter in a moment.

The steward stood in front of Edward Carter's carriage for a long time—so long that Alice Bennett began to wonder if Edward Carter was already arranging for the Imperial Guards to come and shoot him.

"What... is he doing?"

Alice Bennett was so cold he could barely speak. He squinted at Edward Carter's carriage.

After about half a cup of tea's time, the steward called out, and the Yuwang Residence's carriage started moving again, slowly driving away.

They're leaving just like that?

Alice Bennett quietly watched the Yuwang Residence's carriage recede into the distance, only to be suddenly hit by a gust of cold wind that filled his lungs, making him cough violently again.

The servant accompanying him hurried over to support Alice Bennett, anxiously saying, "Why don't you go back first? This... this..."

"It's... it's nothing." Alice Bennett leaned on the servant and took a while to recover, then gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I was just scaring myself, overthinking things."

Alice Bennett watched as Edward Carter's carriage moved farther and farther away and smiled.

Whether Edward Carter's temperament had changed or not had nothing to do with him anymore.

Even if he knew he was here, so what?

Would he get out and reminisce with him?

If that happened, by tomorrow, everyone in the capital would know that he and Edward Carter had met at the palace gates.

Alice Bennett couldn't help but laugh. If that happened, he'd never be able to clear his name.

Alice Bennett took a few breaths of the cold wind, his chest icy, his body seeming to heat up again. At such a critical moment, Alice Bennett didn't dare risk his health. If he collapsed now, those children would truly be left without support.

Alice Bennett didn't dare to tough it out. He listened to the servant and had him call for a sedan chair.

Alice Bennett didn't let anyone accompany him and got into the small sedan alone.

Leaning back in the sedan, Alice Bennett let out a gentle sigh.

Seven years had passed. The once talented and dashing young man had become a "cut-sleeve" in the storybooks.

There was nothing left to see.

Alice Bennett felt alternately hot and cold, as if he was half-asleep, half-awake, drifting in and out of dreams.