Let’s not even talk about whether I can get out of this unscathed—after having set up Edward Carter so many times, how could he possibly trust that I would help him?

Alice Bennett pulled the fox-fur cloak tighter around himself and gave a self-mocking laugh. Besides, having ended up in such a miserable state, what face did he have left to go to him again?

Edward Carter probably just wanted to warn Charlotte Green, which is why today’s events happened. As for the future… Alice Bennett didn’t think Edward Carter would ever see him again.

He’d be too disgusted to even try.

Three months from now, everyone will go their separate ways, and they’ll probably never meet again in this life.

At the same time, in the Yu Prince’s residence, in the side courtyard, the Old Steward was attending to Edward Carter as he prepared for bed, speaking gently: “Did the young lord see Young Master Bennett today?”

Edward Carter nodded.

“I also caught a glimpse through the curtain—Young Master Bennett has grown much taller, and he’s even more handsome now.”

Edward Carter said nothing.

“There are all sorts of rumors about you and Young Master Bennett. Although the noble families just treat it as a joke and don’t believe it, it doesn’t stop them from wanting to form marriage ties with our household. Still, it’s not ideal. Meeting like this at night, away from others, is fine once, but if you keep meeting…”

The Old Steward trailed off, but Edward Carter smiled, understanding what he meant.

“You don’t want me to see him again?”

The Old Steward didn’t dare meddle in Edward Carter’s affairs and said softly, “I just think there’s no need.”

“No, there is a need.”

Edward Carter gave a playful smile. “I told him today: if he dares to laugh once, I’ll make him cry once. In a few days… I’ll have him pay it back.”

Chapter 6: I worked so hard to find your father for you, and yet you want to screw me

When Alice Bennett returned to the Qian’an Prince’s residence, dawn was just breaking. Because he hadn’t come back, most of the household was still awake. As soon as the carriage turned the corner, someone came out to greet him. The servants of the Qian’an Prince’s residence were stunned to see the Yu Prince’s carriage, exchanging glances.

“It’s… it’s fine…” Alice Bennett got off the carriage, his whole body weak. Leaning on a servant, he walked toward the residence, giving low instructions as he went, “Go tell the prince and… the two young masters that I’m fine.”

The servant beside him quickly agreed and ran inside to deliver the message. Alice Bennett’s mind was hazy; afraid he’d pass out and not wake up, he forced himself to stay alert and said, “Before I wake up, the residence is to close its doors to all visitors. Go tell Uncle Harris to find a way to bring… bring Mute here. I have something to ask.”

The servant didn’t understand and asked quietly, “Who is Mute?”

“Uncle Harris knows…” Alice Bennett coughed twice. “If it’s him who comes, be sure to wake me up.”

The servant had no choice but to agree, and as Alice Bennett relaxed, he immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Alice Bennett had many things weighing on his mind, and even in sleep he remained somewhat alert. His thoughts were a mess, one dream following another, making his rest very uneasy.

At one moment, he dreamed of the Emperor Charles bestowing a banquet, and he was forced to compete in drinking with that stubborn blockhead James Grant, cup after cup.

At the time, Alice Bennett was also quite hot-tempered, not knowing how to bend or adapt, and couldn’t manage even a bit of slickness. After a few sarcastic remarks from James Grant, he actually took the challenge seriously and started drinking with him. After drinking so much his soul was half gone, that brute James Grant still wanted to force more on him. In the end… it seemed that Edward Carter calmly said to James Grant not to lose composure in front of the emperor. James Grant, afraid of making a fool of himself before Emperor Charles if he kept drinking, finally stopped, though still disgruntled.

Then he dreamed of news from the northern frontier that Prince Howard had defected to the enemy, throwing the whole household into unease, and he himself was falsely accused of passing messages to Prince Howard and thrown into prison.

At that time, the spring imperial exam had just ended, and he had placed first in the provincial exam. For the previous three months, he’d been confined by Grand Tutor Parker in the The Parker Residence to prepare for the exam, forced to write an essay every day, even spending the New Year there. He hadn’t left the residence for three months—how could he possibly have passed messages to Prince Howard?

Alice Bennett knew very well that these people just wanted to use him, the “adopted son,” to get evidence of Prince Howard’s treason. Though young, he already had academic honors, so they didn’t dare torture him, but instead wore him down day after day—no good tea, no good food, interrogating and threatening him day and night, for over three months.

There were threats: “Young Master Bennett, if you keep silent, we’ll have to petition for an imperial decree and ask the Imperial Clan Court to assist in the investigation. When that happens, we can question Young Prince Samuel as well.”

There were temptations: “If you were deceived by Prince Howard, just say so! His Majesty is wise and has watched you grow up, always cherishing you. He’ll surely take your merits into account and not hold your past against you. Young Master Bennett… you’ve already passed the exams, and you’re just one step away from the final palace exam. In ten days, it’ll be the palace exam—if you confess now, it’s not too late for anything…”

Alice Bennett held out for a month, growing thin and haggard. Hearing this, he hung his head, his voice hoarse and barely human: “Samuel Grant is Prince Howard’s own son. With the prince in such dire straits, he’ll surely be implicated. The suffering that must be endured, I cannot bear for him. The punishment that must be taken, I can shoulder, and so can Samuel Grant.”

“You can go ahead and petition for a decree. I’d also like to see… if the Imperial Clan Court dares to interrogate a ten-year-old child.”

“The palace exam is in eleven days—I know better than you. Send me to the exam? Heh… I’m already stripped of my status. If you can send me to the exam, you must be very capable indeed…”

Another month passed, and Alice Bennett still didn’t confess. Worn down to the point of delirium, his interrogators thought they were just one step away, so they stationed someone at his cell door to repeatedly tell him: Prince Howard confessed yesterday, Prince Howard confessed yesterday, Prince Howard confessed yesterday.

They were just waiting for Alice Bennett’s spirit to break, so he’d confess in line with their story.