The next day, Abraham Lincoln rewarded the troops. Aside from the Li Bei cavalry outside the city and the Qidong garrison, a banquet was also held in the palace, where he led the ministers in feasting the military commanders.

Andrew Bennett changed into court attire. As he took his seat, he swept away the scholarly elegance of the literati around him; the lion-and-cloud embroidery on his robe exuded a fierce aura. Yet, when he sat down to speak with others, he was all roguish charm.

The civil officials around him, heads lowered as they drank, kept stealing glances at him. As the saying goes, "A tiger father begets no dog son," but why was it that only Young Master Bennett had truly inherited his father's spirit?

They silently nitpicked Andrew Bennett's every move, feeling that his wild and unrestrained air was overwhelming—so different from the dignified Charles Bennett seated at the head.

"Don't try to stay out of this," Benjamin Harris, seated beside him, reminded. "Since His Majesty has rewarded you, he will surely call on you later."

Andrew Bennett rolled a walnut in his palm, looking a bit weary.

Benjamin Harris turned to look at him and said, "You went out drinking last night, didn't you?"

"Seize the day," Andrew Bennett replied, slouching in his seat. "If someone dares to draw their sword later, I'll take advantage of my drunkenness and play the role of Fan Kuai before the emperor. Wouldn't that be perfect?"

"That would work," Benjamin Harris poured him wine. "But drinking is bad for your health. If you want to be a good commander, you should break this habit."

"Born at the wrong time," Andrew Bennett tossed a walnut to Benjamin Harris. "Now that all four great generals' seats are filled, there's no chance for me to play the hero. If you ever can't go on, let me know in advance—I'll quit drinking then."

Benjamin Harris said, "Then you'll be waiting a long time."

The two laughed for a while. Halfway through their wine, they heard the conversation at the banquet shift to the Shen family of Zhongbo.

Benjamin Harris held the walnut, listening intently for a moment, then asked, "Didn't they say last night that the man was done for?"

Matthew Lee, behind them, whispered, "Yes, young master, didn't you say you'd sent him on his way to the underworld?"

Andrew Bennett flatly denied it: "Did I say that?" The other two looked at him in silence. He said, "What?"

Benjamin Harris said, "He's not dead."

Matthew Lee said, "He's not dead."

Andrew Bennett met their gazes for a moment and said, "What does his tough life have to do with me? The King of Hell isn't my father."

Benjamin Harris looked up and said, "Let's see how His Majesty handles it. He really is hard to kill."

Matthew Lee, kneeling behind, lowered his head again to eat, and said casually, "Someone must have helped him in secret."

"Even if he lives, he'll be crippled," Andrew Bennett said coldly, glancing at the Hua family table not far away. "The Empress Dowager is old now and can only go to great lengths to keep a stray dog alive."

"What a sin," Matthew Lee said emotionlessly, stuffing a piece of rib into his mouth.

After several rounds of wine, Abraham Lincoln saw the atmosphere was agreeable and finally spoke: "Charles."

Charles Bennett bowed and awaited orders.

Abraham Lincoln, leaning on the dragon throne as if overcome by drink, said, "Shen Wei's defeat in battle—there is still no conclusive evidence of treason. That Shen..."

Edward Foster leaned in and whispered, "Your Majesty, William Sullivan."

Abraham Lincoln paused for a moment but did not continue. Instead, he turned to the Empress Dowager and said, "Mother, what is your opinion?"

The hall fell silent; all the civil and military officials bowed their heads, awaiting orders.

The Empress Dowager wore a black gauze headband embroidered with golden cloud-dragons and pearls, with golden threads, emerald leaves, and strings of large pearls hanging in dazzling splendor. She sat in regal dignity, her neatly combed, glossy hair already touched with frost. No one in the hall dared to look up at her directly.

Only the Empress Dowager spoke: "In the battle of Zhongbo, morale was crushed, all due to Shen Wei's hasty blunder. But now he has burned himself in shame, and all his sons have died in battle—only this illegitimate son remains. To eradicate the family would be against benevolence and righteousness. To spare his life and teach him gratitude is not out of the question."

The hall was quiet. Suddenly, Benjamin Harris said, "I do not think it appropriate." He stepped out, knelt in the center of the hall, and continued, "Your Majesty is merciful, but the battle of Zhongbo is unlike any before. Though there is no proof of Shen Wei's treason, there is suspicion. Since this son is a remnant, sparing his life may bring trouble in the future."

The Empress Dowager looked at Benjamin Harris for a moment and said, "Marshal Biansha guarded the desert for decades, but he did not win every battle."

Benjamin Harris replied, "Though my father was not invincible, in all those years, no foreign enemy ever broke through the border."

The large pearls by the Empress Dowager's ear swayed gently. She said, "Precisely for this reason, he should be taught propriety and virtue, so he understands the harm this battle has caused. Killing one is easy enough; the Biansha cavalry trampled Zhongbo and have already killed tens of thousands of our people. The national humiliation is unavenged—what crime has the child committed?"

"I also think it inappropriate."

The vice chancellor of the cabinet, Thomas Grant, who had been silent, rose with the help of the table and knelt as well.

"Your Majesty is kind-hearted, but this matter is of great importance. Even if Shen Wei did not commit treason, he should be executed after this defeat. Moreover, this son has been interrogated three times, and his testimony is inconsistent—he insists Shen Wei did not betray us. Since he was raised elsewhere, if he didn't know of Shen Wei's treason, how can he be so sure Shen Wei was innocent? Clearly, he is cunning and untrustworthy. As General Harris said, he is a remnant of the Shen family—spare him, and he may become a threat in the future!"

The Empress Dowager was not angered. Instead, she said, "Grand Secretary Grant, please rise."

After Edward Foster helped Thomas Grant up, the Empress Dowager said, "All your words are reasonable. My own thoughts were indeed biased. This matter is entirely up to His Majesty."