Learn from him to serve the country and the people? Stop joking, will you?

Edward Clark was both amused and exasperated, but there was nothing he could do. In fact, thinking calmly, old Arthur Reed had really struck a chord with the common people. Everyone was terrified of war after so much fighting; if it could be avoided, it should be. Nothing was more precious than peace.

Edward Clark was no longer so angry. There was nothing wrong with learning from Arthur Reed, but it had to be done secretly—absolutely not getting mixed up with him, or else he’d never clear his name in this lifetime. After all, of all the things Arthur Reed shouldn’t have done, the worst was serving as a lackey for the Khitans. Even if there were ten thousand reasons at the time, it would still be hard to convince everyone. Having traveled through time only to end up as a traitor—what a loss... Edward Clark squatted in the corner, lost in wild thoughts, not noticing that, as the saying goes, speak of the devil and he appears: Arthur Reed arrived with William Harris.

Outside the Jixiang Nunnery, William Harris tumbled off his horse and rushed straight into the room where the bodies were kept. All he could see were spirit tablets, each inscribed with a name. Every name he saw felt like a knife stabbing into his heart.

These were all his family!

Among the many spirit tablets, there was one that pained him the most.

William Harris staggered to his wife’s coffin. He gently pushed open the half-closed lid, and there before his eyes was his wife, Lady Chai, Chai Shouyu!

At this moment, she lay there, her complexion almost unchanged from when she was alive, her expression peaceful, as if she were merely sleeping.

William Harris opened his mouth, but no sound came out. His body trembled uncontrollably with grief.

After a long time, he suddenly wailed, clutching the coffin and weeping bitterly, stamping his feet and beating his chest!

“My wife, you are gone—what use is this vast land to me now? The pain is killing me!”

Chapter 11: Elder Harris Overwhelmed with Mixed Emotions

The so-called “clearing the emperor’s side” has, from the day it was invented, been a synonym for rebellion and a fig leaf!

Once Kaifeng was taken, William Harris would be the emperor!

Ruler of the world, his word would be law!

A vast land, countless people, all in the palm of his hand!

What an exalted position that would be!

But William Harris would rather have none of it, if only his wife could be by his side, to grow old together in peace... As the saying goes, young couples are companions in old age; when one grows old, one cannot be left alone!

When Yang Guifei died at Mawei Slope, Li Longji spent his days in longing, tormented by the sound of bells in the night rain, his heart broken—this was no empty phrase. William Harris now understood what it meant to have his heart torn apart by grief. He had lost not only the wife who had shared half his life, but also his son, daughter, nephew, and many relatives—his heart was shredded!

He gazed quietly at his wife’s face, just as it had been when they parted. The mortician’s skill was truly remarkable!

William Harris reached out and gently stroked her forehead, murmuring, “This is fate. Rong’er is your nephew and my adopted son. I will not pass the throne to anyone else, only to Rong’er! Shouyu, rest assured—once I have settled everything, I will come to join you. We will be buried together, husband and wife for all eternity, in every lifetime...”

While Elder Harris wept bitterly inside, Edward Clark waited outside. He guessed that, given William Harris and Lady Chai’s deep affection, he would wait at least several hours. But in reality, William Harris came out in just half an hour.

It wasn’t that he was heartless, but there were simply too many matters to handle. He had already resolved to hand the realm over to the Chai family; his determination and feelings were as steadfast as the mountains and seas, enough to move heaven and earth!

When he emerged, aside from a paler complexion, William Harris showed little change. He bowed to Arthur Reed, saying, “Thank you, Grand Preceptor, for your protection, which spared my family from being left exposed in the streets, and for sending people to wash and dress them. You truly went to great lengths, and I, Harris, am deeply grateful!”

Standing at the edge of the crowd, Edward Clark stared wide-eyed, fuming. Elder Harris, you’re thanking the wrong person! Old Arthur Reed didn’t do anything—it was me, I did it all!

Could it be that when Arthur Reed welcomed William Harris, he took all the credit for himself?

If that were true, the old man would be utterly shameless!

Edward Clark was furious. There were thousands of commoners who saw it with their own eyes, not to mention Albert King and others, who were William Harris’s former subordinates. If Arthur Reed wanted to steal the credit, he’d have to see if the others would allow it!

Edward Clark was full of confidence. He wanted to see if this survivor of six dynasties had gotten by on shamelessness!

Sure enough, Arthur Reed wasn’t that low. He hurried to explain, “This was not my doing. Li Ye, Su Fengji, and the others committed heinous crimes, bringing disaster to the people and incurring heaven’s wrath. The people, filled with righteous indignation, took it upon themselves to collect the bodies of the victims and drove away the yamen runners who came to cause trouble. Facing blades and axes, they showed no fear. Chancellor Harris’s grace benefits all under heaven, and the people are grateful and repay kindness. This is truly a fine story. I dare to suggest that Chancellor Harris generously reward these righteous citizens.”

Arthur Reed truly did not claim the credit. Instead, he took the initiative to bring Mark Brooks and Edward Clark before William Harris.

“These two young men were the first to come and collect the bodies,” Arthur Reed said with a smile, turning to Edward Clark: “He did the most—cleaning wounds, stitching bodies, applying makeup and powder—it was all his work.”

William Harris nodded. He smiled, “Grand Tutor Reed does not wish to claim credit, but I know that if not for the Grand Preceptor’s thoroughness, that scoundrel Simon Bennett would never have given up so easily. Kaifeng would have been awash in blood. The Grand Preceptor cares for the people and has rendered great service. On behalf of the elders of Kaifeng, I thank you, Grand Preceptor!”

Once again, William Harris bowed to Arthur Reed.