Alice Bennett knew he couldn’t afford to lose his mind—if he let go, not a single person in Lord Howard’s household would survive.

Alice Bennett was certain that Lord Howard would never betray the country. He held onto a sliver of hope that Lord Howard was still alive, enduring just as he was.

If Lord Howard could hold on, why couldn’t he?

At the time, Alice Bennett was so tormented he couldn’t eat a single bite. Afraid he’d lose his sanity, he tried to keep himself occupied—leaning against the wall, he broke the steamed buns into small pieces and, through the cell door, expressionlessly hurled them at the faces of those chanting scriptures at him.

The people chanting were so startled by the attack that they didn’t even react at first. After being pelted for a while, they finally erupted in angry curses, humiliated and furious, unable to dodge, and then got a headful of soup and broth thrown at them.

His interrogators didn’t dare let him starve to death, so before long, more food was brought in. Alice Bennett saved it up, ready to throw it at whoever came.

Half a month passed, and the Minister of Justice came to question him in person. Alice Bennett reported the previous interrogators for abusing their power and manipulating the imperial exams. The next day, the person who had promised him a chance at the palace examination was arrested and locked up in the cell next to Alice Bennett, getting pelted with food and doused with soup by Alice Bennett every day.

Another month went by, and Lord Howard died in the northern frontier. Alice Bennett coughed up blood in his cell, and the next day, he was demoted to slave status.

For someone like Alice Bennett to fall into slavery, some people were indignant, some pitied him, some sighed, but most just watched for the spectacle.

Alice Bennett was only in his teens, famously handsome. Trading the servants of convicted traitors was common, but with him, there was an added air of ambiguity.

Alice Bennett’s talent was the talk of the capital. To buy someone like him into your household and trample him underfoot was truly something to boast about.

There were plenty of young nobles with no scruples, and even more with special tastes. As soon as news broke that Alice Bennett’s case was closed, people were lining up at the prison door, passing notes to buy him.

At that time, Alice Bennett was barely alive, but vaguely heard someone wanted to buy him to expand their household opera troupe.

Alice Bennett thought listlessly, Fine, I’ll go sing “The Young Widow Visits the Grave” for you.

He also heard someone wanted to buy him as a gift for a wealthy southern gentleman. Alice Bennett thought, forget it, he didn’t want to leave the capital.

He also heard that the Fourth Prince, James Grant, had sent someone as well, but his mother found out and gave him a thorough scolding.

After months of experiencing the fickleness of human nature, when Alice Bennett heard that James Grant wanted to buy him, he actually managed a rare smile.

James Grant had no other interest in him; to risk a beating from his mother just to buy him, it couldn’t be just to humiliate him.

It wasn’t worth it.

James Grant didn’t hate him that much.

Alice Bennett felt a bit comforted, thinking this drinking buddy was worth having. He pulled himself together and had someone bring a message to James Grant: “With your talent, you’ll never match me in your whole life.”

It was said that James Grant was so angry he nearly climbed onto the roof.

People kept coming, and even started making deals inside the prison. Alice Bennett was amazed—so many people wanted to sleep with him.

Truly… he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Alice Bennett waited quietly, the prison guards watching him day and night, afraid he’d try to kill himself.

Alice Bennett sneered—why would he want to die?

He wasn’t a woman, and even if he were, at this point, who could still care about chastity?

Those three children… who knew how they were doing.

Alice Bennett had no time to worry about himself, only wanting to get out of there as soon as possible.

After a few more days, Alice Bennett was finally taken away.

The person who bought him seemed to be from a prominent family, very proper, tight-lipped—he couldn’t find out anything. The carriage rocked for a long time before finally arriving.

Alice Bennett got out of the carriage, looked up, and nearly coughed up blood again.

The Prince Yu’s residence.

Of all the possibilities, Alice Bennett never imagined that Edward Carter would want to sleep with him too!

Truly, you can’t judge a book by its cover, or the sea by a bucket.

If James Grant tried to buy him, he’d get a beating, but Edward Carter could withstand both Princess Anguo and Prince Yu, and smoothly bring him over—truly a young hero.

……

In his dreams, Alice Bennett smiled, frowned, and turned over, feeling someone pulling his hand.

Alice Bennett struggled to open his eyes, and after a while, saw that it was Charlotte Green.

Charlotte Green looked anxious, checking Alice Bennett’s pulse and wiping his forehead. Alice Bennett managed a weak smile: “It’s nothing… just got chilled. Help me up.”

Charlotte Green half-knelt and helped Alice Bennett sit up.

Alice Bennett didn’t know how long he’d slept, but his fever had subsided and he felt alright.

Alice Bennett raised his hand and pointed to the writing desk nearby. “Go… get paper and brush, I have something to ask you.”

Charlotte Green brought them over, but Alice Bennett took them himself—he wanted to write.

This residence was arranged by Emperor Chong’an, so Alice Bennett couldn’t speak freely.

Alice Bennett wrote quickly: You were the last person to see the prince that year. What were his last words? Repeat them, write them down, not a single word wrong.

Charlotte Green paused, took Alice Bennett’s brush, and wrote: Tell Guiyuan, things have come to this, take care of yourself, don’t do anything foolish for me. I have three or four blood relatives, ask him to protect them well.

Alice Bennett frowned slightly and wrote: Three or four blood relatives?

Charlotte Green nodded.

Alice Bennett continued writing: The princess died early, the prince only had three children, that’s clear—why not just say three, but say three or four?