Leonard Harris, now over forty, already had some gray in his sideburns. Perhaps it was his early years in the military that made him sit so straight and upright as a pine tree under the shade.

Henry Foster sat with Leonard Harris under the tree, drinking tea.

Charles Grant was infuriated by Henry Foster, but couldn’t bear to witness his adopted son’s tragic death in the tenant’s house. To avoid suspicion, he took two injured family guards back to the manor for treatment first.

Under the mulberry tree sat the headman of Taowu Market, Michael Bolton, along with the yamen runners brought by Leonard Harris and family guards like Kyle Sullivan, sitting on either side.

Michael Bolton had also returned to his hometown to serve as headman after earning military merit and being awarded an official post. He felt it was a pity that Walter Grant died so violently, but also thought that James Sullivan should not be held responsible in this matter. However, he had no say in how the matter would ultimately be handled.

Judging by the situation, Henry Foster also understood that they were all waiting for his father David Foster’s definitive stance. In the end, as the young master, he truly had little weight—no one would really take him seriously.

Henry Foster had returned to Xuanzhou at the age of twelve and was only brought to Jinling this April to reunite with his father David Foster. Reflecting on this crucial gap, Henry Foster realized he didn’t really know what kind of person his father David Foster was. Yet, in his dreams, the history books of later generations spoke highly of his father David Foster, calling him “capable and forthright, daring to speak out and offer remonstrance.”

One day in the future, his mother would be beaten to death by Emperor Tianyou in the Wenying Hall for remonstrating—wasn’t that exactly “daring to speak out and offer remonstrance”?

Henry Foster thought to himself, if only he could get his father to be a bit smarter and not insist on “dying for remonstrance,” wouldn’t his ultimate fate be changed?

But if his father was truly as stubborn as the history books in his dreams described, how could he possibly persuade him not to risk angering the emperor?

……

……

It wasn’t until the sun was slanting west that they saw David Grant in the distance, riding that purple-maned horse, accompanied by three other riders, escorting a carriage along the muddy lakeside road toward the manor.

Seeing his father David Foster personally returning to the manor, Henry Foster went out with County Captain Leonard Harris and Headman Michael Bolton to greet him.

David Foster, looking hurried, saw County Captain Leonard Harris and Headman Michael Bolton salute, raised his hand slightly, and said, “I, Han, have failed to discipline my household servants, causing trouble in the area. I am truly ashamed. I ask the county to handle all matters impartially and not to show me any favoritism. I will never bend the law for my servants.”

Leonard Harris didn’t care whether David Foster meant what he said or not. As long as he had these words from David Foster, it would be easy to handle things. He immediately signaled the yamen runners to arrest Uncle Sullivan and James Sullivan father and son, and to load Walter Grant’s corpse onto an ox cart to be taken back to the county overnight. The two injured family guards had already been bandaged and were fine; they rode in the carriage to the county office as witnesses. With the family head David Foster’s words, they knew what to say at the county office.

Chapter 10: Struggling with Others

Night had fallen. In the east wing of Qiuhu Mountain Villa, the lights were bright.

“This old servant failed to teach his son properly and was unable to manage the manor well, which led to this disaster. I have let down the master’s trust, am filled with shame, and have no face to stay and serve the master and young master any longer.” Charles Grant knelt in front of the hall, sobbing and pleading to resign and leave the manor.

Henry Foster stood to the side, watching his father David Foster’s face flicker in the candlelight, knowing that his father David Foster, lacking capable people at his side, would absolutely hate to see the family guard Charles Grant, who had followed him for years, leave just like that—Charles Grant was different from the other family guards. He had earned his freedom through military merit in his early years and was free to come and go. For now, staying by David Foster’s side, he was considered a retainer.

“This was my fault—if I hadn’t been willful and agreed to let the tenants enter the mountains to cut wood and hunt without consulting Uncle Grant, today’s incident would never have happened. Uncle Grant bears no blame at all; if anyone is to blame, it’s me for being too headstrong. But what’s done is done. If the Han family were to take private revenge, it would damage Father’s reputation. Father always says the court is dangerous and one must tread carefully, never acting rashly. Uncle Grant is heartbroken at losing his son, and David grieves for his brother. I didn’t want things to go from bad to worse, so I said some harsh words to Uncle Grant, but I never truly meant them.” With a “thud,” Henry Foster also threw himself to his knees on the stone floor, immediately regretting it as the hard stone bruised his knees, cursing inwardly, but forced himself to say the words he had prepared.

With Henry Foster saying this, not only David Foster, but even Charles Grant was stunned, feeling a thousand grievances in his heart but unable to voice them.

What could he say?

Say that he was loyal and had no intention of seizing land?

Henry Foster had already said that he only spoke that way in public to prevent them from making further mistakes in their grief, and that he never truly meant it.

Say that the whole incident started because the young master Henry Foster recklessly promised the tenants they could enter the mountains to cut wood and hunt?

Henry Foster had already admitted it was his fault.

So, wasn’t the entire responsibility for the incident that Walter Grant completely disregarded the young master Henry Foster’s words and was too eager to drive the Sullivan father and son out of the estate?

What else could Charles Grant say?

At this point, even bringing up resignation again would make it seem as if Charles Grant was disregarding the master’s kindness and being ungrateful.

David Foster was also quite surprised as he looked at his son. The stubbornness that not even a donkey could drag back—now he knew how to admit fault?

He didn’t know how Henry Foster had changed, and all the words of reproach he had prepared were stuck in his throat, unable to be spoken.