In the Forbidden City, Lucas Bennett was a rather special person. Aside from the emperor John Adams, only he could wander around freely—because he was only seven years old! Meanwhile, his fifth brother Abraham Lincoln, who was also titled Prince Xin, was already fourteen, which in this era was considered an adult. Although they lived in the Forbidden City together, he could not enter or leave the harem at will.

"Greetings to Prince Howard Your Highness."

Along the way, eunuchs and palace maids bowed one after another. In the entire palace, no one was unaware that His Highness Prince Howard was a little troublemaker, notorious for holding grudges, and the consequences of offending him were quite "serious"!

Lucas Bennett walked up to the entrance of Kunning Palace and saw a palace maid coming out carrying a tray. He had a thought and asked with a smile, "Big sister, when will the Old Ancestor return?"

The "Old Ancestor"—everyone in the palace knew—referred to the emperor John Adams's wet nurse, Katherine, the Lady of Divine Grace. Inside the palace, she was called this, while outside she was known as "Old Ancestor of a Thousand Years"!

The maid's pretty face flushed slightly. She curtsied gently and replied with pursed lips, "Your Highness, the Old Ancestor is only halfway through her family visit and will return in half a month."

Lucas Bennett waved his hand grandly and said with great flair, "Good, come to my palace tonight to receive your reward!"

"Thank you, Your Highness," the maid replied joyfully, lips pursed in delight.

"Your Highness, aren't you going in yet? Her Majesty is angry," at this moment, another palace maid in charge came out and hurriedly said to Lucas Bennett, then turned to the other maid and snorted coldly, "Get back to your duties."

The maid shuddered all over and quickly replied, "Yes."

Watching her back, Lucas Bennett raised an eyebrow and thought to himself, "Girl, your information is really up to date—even I didn't know that."

He then turned to the head maid and said, "Send someone to my palace to fetch the bird's nest porridge I made for my imperial sister-in-law, so she can nourish herself."

"Enough, keep it for yourself," at this moment, a young woman in palace attire, looking just over twenty and carrying herself with dignity, walked out, waved at the maid, and then said to Lucas Bennett, "You—can't you let His Majesty and me worry a little less?"

Lucas Bennett giggled and walked into Kunning Palace, wandering around.

"Stop wandering. I had Henry hide all the good stuff last night," Queen Thompson said with a smile as she watched Lucas Bennett looking around. "Did you spend money for His Majesty again?"

Lucas Bennett rolled his eyes and said, "Ten thousand taels! Henry is great at everything, except she's too stingy."

Queen Thompson picked up a piece of pastry and handed it to Lucas Bennett, saying, "Eat, Henry made it."

Lucas Bennett's face lit up with joy, and he stuffed it straight into his mouth.

Henry was Queen Thompson's personal maid, raised in the palace since childhood, clever and skillful, and had "battled wits" with Lucas Bennett countless times.

Watching Lucas Bennett wolf down the food, Queen Thompson sat upright, smiling gently. If you looked closely, you could see a trace of kindness in her eyes.

Queen Thompson was just over twenty this year. If she had had children earlier, she would indeed be about the same age as Lucas Bennett.

"Imperial sister-in-law, have you felt any nausea lately?" Lucas Bennett mumbled, already calculating in his mind—according to history, Queen Thompson did become pregnant around this time.

Queen Thompson was taken aback. "Nausea?"

Lucas Bennett took a sip of tea, wiped his mouth, and suddenly grinned, "If not, that's good. Imperial sister-in-law, I still need a maid over at my place. Could you let me have Henry?"

Queen Thompson frowned, glared at Lucas Bennett, and said irritably, "If you like something, just move it yourself."

"Alright, thank you, imperial sister-in-law!" Lucas Bennett jumped up and ran straight to the Song dynasty blue-and-white vase he had just set his eyes on, picked it up, and dashed out.

As Lucas Bennett's figure disappeared, the curtain of the side door was lifted, and a young maid in a blue dress, about eighteen or nineteen, came out. She walked over to Queen Thompson with a smile and said, "Your Majesty, I told you, His Highness must have come to snatch something again."

Queen Thompson also stood up with a smile, but suddenly her body swayed.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" The maid was none other than Henry. Seeing Queen Thompson unsteady, she hurried over to support her.

Queen Thompson touched her smooth forehead, waved her hand, and said, "I'm fine, maybe I caught a chill. Later, make some hot soup for His Majesty and remind him to keep warm."

Henry still looked at Queen Thompson with concern. Only after making sure she was alright did she reply sweetly, "Yes, Your Majesty."

On the way back to Jinghuan Palace, William Carter followed behind Lucas Bennett, carrying the blue-and-white porcelain, and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, everything is arranged. Ethan Lawson is already waiting."

Lucas Bennett nodded slightly, squinting up at the sky.

George Washington, oh George Washington, I have high hopes for you—don't let me down! But before that, let me give you some proper training!

"Let's start with the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Lucas Bennett muttered, then raised his voice, "Let's go, out of the palace! Oh, and bring the blue-and-white vase too."

William Carter was taken aback. "Your Highness, why bring this?"

"To give it away," Lucas Bennett said with a smile.

"Prince Howard Your Highness." The two had not gone far when a eunuch came out to block their way.

Lucas Bennett looked at his attire and guessed he was a junior supervisor from the Directorate of Ceremonial. "Eunuch, what is it?"

The eunuch bowed and said, "This servant is Liu Shimin, Left Junior Supervisor of the Directorate of Ceremonial. His Majesty asks Your Highness to come to the imperial study early tomorrow."

Lucas Bennett was surprised. "Has something happened?"

"I do not know," said Simon Lewis.