Under the watchful eyes of all, Abraham Lincoln coughed weakly and violently. He took the handkerchief passed by Edward Foster, covered his mouth, and was silent for a long time before finally speaking.

"Mother Empress is not without reason; the child is innocent. But David Sullivan did abandon the city after defeat. Considering that only this one bloodline remains of his nine clans, let this child have a chance to atone and reflect. Ryan Carter."

"Your servant is here."

"Escort this child into the Zhaozui Temple and keep him under strict guard. Without orders, he is not to leave!"

Andrew Bennett tossed the broken walnut into the dish.

Matthew Lee said, "Young master, aren't you going to eat?"

Andrew Bennett replied, "It's already broken and ruined, who would want it?"

Matthew Lee's eyes followed the dish, and he said in a low voice, "Isn't this a happy ending for all? We didn't get what we wanted, and neither did anyone else."

"Better to keep him locked up than let him out," said Benjamin Harris as he returned to his seat.

"Not necessarily," Andrew Bennett pointed at himself, "Aren't I locked up too?"

Benjamin Harris and Matthew Lee said in unison, "It's not so bad."

Chapter 6: Confinement

The day William Sullivan entered Zhaozui Temple, it was a rare sunny day in Qu City. White snow covered the palace tiles, vermilion walls reflected green plums. Sunlight streamed through the eaves, casting a line of shadow and light at his feet.

He had just recovered from a serious illness, so thin his bones showed. The dreams of his fifteen-year-old past were like ashes, swept clean by the cold northern wind as soon as he opened his eyes.

Sophia Reed went down the steps first, turned to look at him, and said, "It's getting late."

William Sullivan held onto a pillar and slowly walked down the steps. Exposed to the sunlight, he was neither used to it nor afraid. The boyish innocence seemed to have been crushed into the pallor; apart from his frailty, nothing else could be seen.

Ryan Carter was waiting at the gate of Zhaozui Temple, with Little Jack by his side. Little Jack looked up at the ancient temple in wonder, exclaiming, "What a grand and strange temple! It really doesn't look like a place to imprison people."

"You don't know its past," said Ryan Carter. "Zhaozui Temple was originally a place for the royal family to offer incense, and once housed an imperial edict from Lord Guangcheng. At its peak, all the eminent monks of the land gathered here, and the lively debates were all the rage."

"Why haven't I heard your master mention it in recent years?" Little Jack sized up the temple gate. "It looks rather dilapidated, hasn't been repaired in a long time, has it?"

Ryan Carter paused for a moment and said, "It's been twenty years. Back then, the Crown Prince of Sin incited the eight major camps of Qu City to rebel. After defeat, he shrank back here, fought like a trapped beast in the temple, and finally splattered blood on the Buddha statue and killed himself. Since then, the late emperor never set foot here again, removed the temple's name, and reinstated the name Zhaozui."

"Twenty years, huh." Little Jack pinched his throat in mock surprise, "I wasn't even born yet! Mr. Carter, you had just joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard, right?"

Ryan Carter didn't answer, but turned to the back and scolded, "Why aren't they here yet?"

Little Jack was still circling the stone tablet inscribed with 'Zhaozui', and finally asked Ryan Carter, "I've never heard of anyone being imprisoned here?"

Ryan Carter seemed a bit impatient and said, "All those imprisoned were ministers implicated in the Crown Prince of Sin's case. Civil and military officials alike were executed along with their nine clans; those who survived are very few. It's been twenty years—who still remembers!"

At that moment, the prison cart approached. Sophia Reed saluted Ryan Carter and said, "Sir, the person has been brought."

"Take him in," Ryan Carter said to William Sullivan. "After today, I'm afraid there won't be another chance to meet. The emperor's grace is vast; you should be grateful for the rest of your life."

William Sullivan ignored him. He entered Zhaozui Temple, and the peeling vermilion doors rumbled shut. He stood inside, looking at Ryan Carter. Ryan Carter felt uneasy under his gaze and was about to lose his temper, when he saw a smile appear on William Sullivan's freshly washed face.

He's gone mad.

Ryan Carter thought instinctively, but then heard William Sullivan speak.

"Mr. Carter." His voice was calm. "Until we meet again."

The vermilion doors slammed shut with a bang, raising clouds of dust. Little Jack covered his nose and coughed, retreating again and again, but saw Ryan Carter standing motionless where he was.

Ryan Carter was called several times before he came back to himself. He quickly mounted his horse, the sunlight shining on his back, and finally said, "...Tch, what bad luck!"

* * *

Andrew Bennett rode his horse down the street and ran right into Ryan Carter. He reined in his horse and laughed loudly, saying, "Old Carter, aren't you on duty before the emperor?"

Ryan Carter eyed Andrew Bennett's warhorse with envy and said, "Today I was escorting that remnant into the temple, now I'm heading to the palace. Second Young Master, that's a fine horse! I heard you trained it yourself?"

"Nothing better to do," Andrew Bennett snapped his whip, and the saker falcon in the sky swooped down onto his shoulder. He said, "Training hawks and horses, that's all I'm good at."

"After the New Year, once you take up your post, you'll be busy," said Ryan Carter. "A new noble in Qu City! I'm off duty tomorrow, shall we go for a drink together?"

Andrew Bennett said, "If the wine's no good, I'm not going."

Ryan Carter burst out laughing, "It's good wine, definitely good wine! Who would dare invite you, Second Young Master, if it wasn't? I'll come invite you in person later. Will the heir have time to join us?"

Andrew Bennett rubbed his bone ring and said, "My big brother? He doesn't like these things. What, just me isn't enough for face?"

Ryan Carter quickly said, "I never said that! Second Young Master, it's settled then."

Andrew Bennett agreed, about to ride off, when he suddenly remembered and asked, "How did that remnant look? Can he walk?"

"He can walk," said Ryan Carter, "but he doesn't look too nimble. Few escape a court beating without lasting injuries; being able to walk is already his good luck."