As long as one touches Your Majesty's reverse scale, in that very instant, there will be no place for burial in death.

At this moment, the young eunuch continued, “Of course, this is just what I’ve heard from others... hehe...”

This was to leave himself a way out, after all, the other party was the father and son of the Marquis of Nanhe, so he couldn’t speak too definitively.

But in the end, as if to further prove his point, he added, “I also heard that in the past couple of days, this little ancestor has been restless again, actually running off to the East Market to set up a stall, claiming to sell ebony, and at ten times the market price, Your Majesty, isn’t this not just coercion but bullying honest commoners?”

Although Emperor Washington might not dare claim to love the people as his own children, he could at least be called a virtuous ruler. Upon hearing of bullying the people, his face immediately showed disgust.

George Washington was kneeling to the side. Seeing Father Emperor like this, he was secretly delighted. So it’s that Charles Foster again—how bold, daring to be even more unruly than this crown prince! Last time, he made me copy “On Debating Traitors” dozens of times, and I haven’t even settled that score with him yet. Now he’s provoked Father Emperor’s wrath—no one in the world could save him now.

“Is there really such a thing?” Emperor Washington said furiously, “This is outrageous! Even I dare not seize the people’s wealth lightly—where does he get the nerve? He is an unfilial son, I have long heard of him, but for the sake of his father and grandfather’s merits, I have been lenient. But now he’s getting worse—how can I tolerate this? This matter must be thoroughly investigated!”

As his words fell, Emperor Washington suddenly remembered something and looked at James Clark: “Where is he selling ebony by force?”

“East... East Market...” James Clark was already overjoyed in his heart. This Charles Foster is finished!

Heh, serves you right for being rude to me!

Chapter 0013: Traveling Incognito Out of the Palace

Emperor Washington pulled a long face, his gaze drifting, but then fell upon that article again, and his eyes immediately grew deep and thoughtful.

Transforming native chieftainships into regular administration...

This truly is a fundamental solution! How could a brat have such foresight? And besides, are there really such great villains in the world?

He narrowed his eyes slightly, a trace of doubt flashing through the slits.

After a long while, Emperor Washington suddenly said, “Prepare the carriage, I want to go to the East Market. However... if this disturbs the people, I would feel uneasy. I’ll go in plain clothes, just select a few dozen men to protect me in secret. I want to see for myself, just who this Charles Foster is!”

James Clark was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped. The current Your Majesty is not the kind of emperor who likes to tour outside the palace. First, he doesn’t want to disturb the people, and second, he is busy with state affairs, working tirelessly day and night, unable to spare the time.

But who would have thought, today, for the sake of one Charles Foster, Your Majesty would actually leave the palace.

But then, James Clark felt secretly pleased. He knew all too well what kind of person Charles Foster was. Your Majesty was already furious just hearing about his behavior—if he saw it with his own eyes, wouldn’t he want to kill him on the spot?

So he hurriedly said, “I will go make the arrangements at once.”

Kneeling quietly to the side, with his head lowered and eyes downcast, George Washington raised his brows: “I ask Father Emperor to allow your son to accompany you.”

...

Charles Foster had set up a stall in the East Market, with only a sample of ebony on display and a flag behind it reading, “Top-quality ebony, priced at one hundred taels.”

Of course, the hundred taels meant silver, and ebony was usually sold by the log. In other words, this guy dared to sell a single log of ebony for one hundred taels of pure silver.

Ebony was expensive, but the current market price was only about thirteen or fourteen taels. At first, passersby found it novel, and thought Charles Foster and William Carter, who was squatting in the corner, were performers or buskers. Curious onlookers gathered around, pointing and laughing.

Selling ebony like this—how could it possibly sell? This was madness.

As for Charles Foster, he sat cross-legged, eyes on his nose, nose on his heart, looking like a Buddhist monk selling wood.

But among the crowd, someone whispered, “Isn’t that the young master of the Marquis of Nanhe’s household, Charles Foster... Young Master Foster...”

As soon as these words were spoken, the once lively stall suddenly emptied like leaves swept by a gale, and the crowd scattered in all directions.

Young Master Foster’s notorious reputation was so great that it could clear the streets and stop children from crying at night.

William Carter had caught a cold, sniffed, spat on the ground by the wall, and seeing the street suddenly deserted, was about to say something to Charles Foster.

But Charles Foster glared at him, looked in disgust at the filth in the corner, and said bitterly, “Be civilized, damn it, you dog! Look at how ugly you are, and yet you’re still so uncivilized, with no virtue at all. Now look, you’ve scared everyone away!”

“Oh.” This was one good thing about William Carter—he never argued with Charles Foster. He slapped his own face and said with a fawning smile, “I deserve to die. But Young Master, everyone says I’m not ugly, just a bit short and a bit rough-skinned.”

Charles Foster sighed inwardly, feeling he was becoming more and more like that damned prodigal son. He subconsciously took out his Xiangfei fan, fanned himself, and looked at the now deserted street, feeling a sense of dejection and frustration. Bearing the reputation of a prodigal, it seemed he would never have a chance to rise in life. Would this affect his chances of getting married in the future?

This... was really quite a headache.