The palace attendants hurriedly rushed toward the lake, but suddenly they heard William Thompson say, "Wait."

"Your Majesty?" Brian Clark looked up in surprise and doubt.

William Thompson's gaze darkened, but only for a moment.

He quickly glanced again at the bubbling water, pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance, and said, "...Forget it, fish him out."

Author's note:

William Thompson: Treacherous officials must be executed!

Edward Harris: Blub, blub blub...

William Thompson: ...Forget it, fish him out.

Chapter 5: Secret Investigation

The palace attendants clumsily pulled the bubbling Edward Harris out of the water and pressed the water from his chest.

Edward Harris was laid flat on the ground, still unconscious. His wet hair and court robes clung to his body, his complexion pale as jade, his lips tinged with a sickly red.

William Thompson glanced over, "Summon the imperial physician."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Brian Clark directed the attendants, looking around, "First carry Lord Harris... over to the pavilion."

Several eunuchs carefully lifted him up.

A fair wrist slipped out from his sleeve. As they passed in front of William Thompson, the emperor suddenly spoke, "Wait."

William Thompson paused for a moment. "Take him to the side hall."

...

In the side hall of the imperial study.

Edward Harris was placed on the couch, his wet clothes already changed.

The imperial physician, under William Thompson's watchful gaze, nervously took his pulse and applied acupuncture needles. He was secretly wondering why His Majesty was here as well, when William Thompson asked, "How is he?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, Lord Harris is not in any serious danger for now."

William Thompson pressed his lips together. "Check his brain as well."

The imperial physician, "?".

"Yes." The physician dared not ask further, and could only dutifully examine Edward Harris's head. After a while, he said, "Lord Harris previously suffered a cranial injury, so there may be lingering issues. But this time, he fainted simply due to excessive drinking and cold from nearly drowning..."

"I understand."

The physician fell silent at once.

William Thompson said coolly, "All of you, leave."

Since he said "all," none of the attendants dared remain, and they all left with the physician.

Brian Clark was uncertain, trying to gauge the emperor's mood. "Then this servant..."

"Wait outside the hall."

"Yes." Brian Clark quickly bowed and withdrew.

Before leaving, Brian Clark sneaked another glance at the person lying quietly on the couch—he thought of the questioning in the imperial study earlier, the sudden imperial edict of reassignment, and that low "Wait" by the lake at nightfall.

The more Brian Clark thought about it, the more alarmed he became, completely unable to fathom the emperor's intentions.

What exactly is His Majesty's attitude toward Lord Harris?

All the palace attendants quickly withdrew.

In the side hall, only William Thompson and Edward Harris remained.

Edward Harris was covered with a thin quilt, his snow-colored underclothes almost blending with his skin. His face was turned toward William Thompson, his long lashes drooping weakly.

William Thompson stood before the couch, looking down in contemplation. "What are you scheming this time..."

The person lying on the couch furrowed his brow unconsciously.

William Thompson leaned down, lifting the man's face. "Did you really knock your brain loose?"

The sleeping man did not wake, but his lips moved twice, faintly forming a single word: "Pah."

William Thompson, "..."

He let go, pulled the quilt up to cover half the face, and turned to leave the side hall.

...

Edward Harris had no idea how long he had been unconscious.

When he woke, he had only one thought: I'm falling apart.

His head throbbed painfully, his throat hurt, and every breath triggered a fit of coughing that made his vision swim. Only when the young eunuch handed him a cup of water and Edward Harris drank it down in a few gulps did he finally recover.

He looked around and found himself lying on an unfamiliar couch.

The room was elegantly and grandly furnished, with the floor heating on.

"Lord Harris is awake," the young eunuch said with a bow.

"And you are?"

"This servant is Little Rowan, ordered by His Majesty to watch over you here. Do you feel unwell, my lord?"

Edward Harris struggled to sit up. "I feel unwell everywhere... Where is this?"

It was the first time Little Rowan had met someone so blunt. "To answer my lord, this is the side hall of the imperial study. After you fell into the water, His Majesty summoned the imperial physician to treat you, and the prescription has already been sent to your residence."

Fell into the water...

Edward Harris's waterlogged brain finally started working.

He remembered that after the palace banquet, he had gone to the lakeside for some air and ran into William Thompson. After they parted, he had been so dazed he hadn't watched his step and slipped into the lake.

Edward Harris muttered to himself, "I have to say, the flowers by the lake were quite bright, and that bridge..."

Little Rowan listened on the side, his heart pounding in fear.

What flowers and bridge? What Lord Harris saw was probably the flowers of the underworld and the Bridge of Helheim!

Edward Harris didn't notice Little Rowan's horrified expression. He put on his shoes and stood up. "May I ask, Eunuch Rong, where is His Majesty?"

Little Rowan looked at him with awe and respect. "To answer my lord, His Majesty is in the imperial study reviewing memorials!"

"Thank you, Eunuch."

Edward Harris got up, straightened his clothes, and headed toward the imperial study.

·

When he saw William Thompson, the latter was sitting behind his desk, meticulously reviewing memorials. His brow was slightly furrowed, and his young face bore the calm and steady air of an emperor.

As if nothing could shake him.