Alice Carter replied stiffly, “It’s not hard.”

Grace Turner looked slightly troubled. “If the blood in my veins were not from the Lou family, I would have taken your place and suffered for you.” She turned her head and asked Little Page, “Before watching the snow, who entered the Star-Picking Pavilion?”

Little Page answered, “Your Majesty, it was the late Third Prince.”

Grace Turner let out an “Oh,” her delicate brows furrowing as she sighed softly, “How pitiful that the heirs of Chu have such ill-fated lives—some die young, some die of illness. The late emperor passed away so suddenly, leaving you without a single brother or blood relative. You’ve always been frail, sensitive to cold and pain, so delicate. The demons in the Pagoda grow more violent each year. I truly don’t know what to do next year.”

Alice Carter pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

Grace Turner’s eyes reddened at the corners as she raised her sleeve to gently dab her eyes, then continued, “But a few days ago, the High Priest sent word—finally, some good news. I’ve prayed at the Hall of Worldly Affairs for three years for this. The High Priest searched the ancient texts and found a way to completely subdue the demons. Now he’s searching for clues in the Eastern Continent. If we can destroy that Pagoda, you won’t have to endure this torment year after year.”

…Now, what was he supposed to say in this script of a loving mother and filial son?

Alice Carter thought for a moment, then still replied woodenly, “Thank you for your concern, Mother.”

The Empress Dowager lowered her hand and shook her head, the shark-pearl in her hair gleaming with a cold luster. “But subduing the demons is still an uncertainty. If you truly care for your mother’s worries, then be obedient for once and put the matter of selecting a consort on the agenda.”

A consort selection?! Alice Carter had to use all his willpower not to glance at William Clark.

Grace Turner’s eyes were still slightly red as she spoke softly, “Our Lou family has so few heirs left—now only you remain. Every day I live in fear that something might happen to you. If I can’t even keep you safe, and the royal bloodline ends with your generation, I’d have no face to meet the late emperor in the afterlife.”

Alice Carter: “……”

He began to zone out.

Actually, Alice Carter wasn’t afraid of Grace Turner; he was just afraid that any slip in his behavior would implicate William Clark.

But even his stiff responses earlier hadn’t aroused Grace Turner’s suspicion, so he simply let himself drift, remaining silent.

Fortunately, Grace Turner didn’t need his response.

She and her Little Page could gently finish the conversation on their own.

She leaned back and asked softly, “Your Majesty, are you over fifteen now?”

Little Page replied respectfully, “Yes, just last month.”

The woman on the phoenix throne nodded, her brows sorrowful and gentle as autumn water, sighing, “William, now that you’re over fifteen, how can the harem still be empty?”

“Tomorrow I’ll have someone bring the list of suitable candidates. After you make your selection, I’ll prepare the list for you. At next month’s Spring Banquet, you should meet them properly.”

But she quickly remembered something else and chatted casually, “It seems that several generations of Chu’s emperors and empresses all fell in love at first sight at the Spring Banquet, didn’t they?”

Little Page: “Yes.”

Grace Turner smiled slightly, satisfied, then asked gently with concern, “William, what do you think?”

Alice Carter: “……”

Before coming here, he’d imagined all sorts of scenarios facing this top boss of the harem. Maybe she was born noble, flamboyant, dazzling, and domineering; or perhaps she was strictly educated and thus stern and rigid; or maybe a gentle white lotus?

But truly, seeing is believing. A woman whom William Clark would call “crazy” was not someone ordinary people could understand.

As he silently analyzed Grace Turner in his mind—

William Clark’s cold voice came: “Agree to her request.”

Alice Carter was stunned.

Just then, Grace Turner’s questioning gaze swept over.

Alice Carter immediately snapped back, his fingers curling slightly as he lowered his eyes and replied hoarsely, “Your son will follow whatever Mother decides…”

Grace Turner smiled, letting out a long breath, a weight lifted from her heart.

She looked as youthful as a maiden, her eyes curving like they held bright light.

“Wonderful. Now that you’ve agreed, I can rest easy.”

She sat upright, speaking softly, “William has just come out of the Star-Picking Pavilion and must be tired. Go to the bathhouse to dispel any ill fortune, get a good night’s sleep, and rest well.”

Alice Carter couldn’t wait to leave and stood up. “Your son takes his leave.”

As he left, separated by the screen—

Alice Carter saw Grace Turner, her worries resolved and in a great mood, lazily reclining on the phoenix couch, her lips so red they seemed to drip blood. Amid the silent, delicate scent of sandalwood, she said to Little Page, “Tell the Imperial Kitchen to change the name. ‘Quanke Danggui’ doesn’t sound good—I don’t like it.”

Her voice was actually very gentle, but when she said this, it was languid and cold, like the glint of blades in the afternoon.

“Yes, ma’am.”

After leaving, Alice Carter was especially curious. “What exactly is this ‘Quanke Danggui’ dish?”

William Clark rubbed his temples with his fingers and smiled. “Guess what ‘Quanke’ means.”

Alice Carter: “What does it mean?”

William Clark curled his lips. “‘Quanke’ is another name for the merfolk.”

8. Lingguang (II)

Alice Carter was dumbfounded.

What the hell…

‘Quanke’ is another name for the merfolk?? Then this ‘Quanke Danggui’ dish—did Grace Turner eat merfolk flesh??

He looked at William Clark in disbelief.

At that moment, a palace maid beside them lowered her head and gently urged, “Your Majesty, please board the sedan chair to the bathhouse first.”