Sigh, another political marriage! Jessica Bolton lamented inwardly, but outwardly he loudly expressed his gratitude: “Thank you for your grace, Father Emperor!”

The only thing Jessica Bolton could do now was pray that this general’s “tiger” daughter wouldn’t look too fierce, since the original book had left her appearance completely blank.

After talking with Jessica Bolton for some time, John Adams’s face gradually showed signs of fatigue. Jessica Bolton, reading the situation, tactfully took his leave. As he passed a pillar in the Zhaoxuan Hall, he suddenly sensed something, his brows furrowing, but he dared not linger and left straight away.

After he left, John Adams suddenly asked a seemingly random question: “What do you two think?”

At that moment, Charles King and William Clark emerged from behind the pillar in the hall. It turned out the two had been using William Clark’s Daoist arts to remain hidden, listening to the conversation between John Adams and Henry Adams in full. However, William Clark didn’t realize that his wood concealment technique had actually been vaguely sensed by Jessica Bolton; otherwise, he would have been quite shocked.

“It’s not flattery, but His Highness Henry Adams is truly talented and resourceful, both brave and wise. His many brilliant arguments have enlightened this old minister,” praised Charles King. “For Your Majesty to have such a son is a blessing for our dynasty and the hope for Great Shang’s prosperity!”

William Clark also nodded. “I’ve heard that after the Third Prince’s strange illness, his temperament changed drastically, as if reborn. Seeing him today, it’s indeed so. Not only is he braver than before, but his intelligence is outstanding. His strategy of ‘vertical and horizontal alliances’ to deal with the feudal lords is truly unprecedented. Though I have always prided myself on my abilities, I must admit I am not his equal. This must be the blessing of the sage ancestor Cheng Tang—Great Shang will have another wise ruler in the future!”

Hearing the most capable civil and military ministers of the court praise Henry Adams so highly, John Adams felt greatly gratified. “Since that is the case, when I am gone, I entrust you both to do your utmost to assist Henry Adams.”

William Clark and Charles King hurriedly knelt down. “Your Majesty is in your prime and has many years ahead. Please take care of your dragon body and never speak such words again!”

“You need not comfort me,” John Adams sighed, gazing at the starry sky outside the window, a faint weariness on his face. “I can sense it myself—my days are numbered…”

William Clark and Charles King both trembled, bowing low to the ground, and said in unison, “We shall devote ourselves utterly to assisting the Crown Prince, even at the cost of our lives!”

John Adams nodded in satisfaction, waving his long sleeve to signal the two ministers to withdraw.

Chapter 9: Jealousy and the Lonely White Rabbit

Ethan Smith, who had left early in the morning, knew nothing of what had happened later in Zhaoxuan Hall. He simply thought the Third Prince had overstepped, angered the Emperor, and suffered heavy punishment, likely to fall out of favor from now on. This thought delighted him, and that night he drank late into the night with Ryan Smith, parting only after much merriment.

The next morning, Ethan Smith, Ryan Smith, and Henry Adams were summoned to Longde Hall for the court assembly. Ryan Smith, seeing the Third Prince standing below him with a “haggard” face, couldn’t help but look pleased. Ethan Smith also smiled silently. However, what happened next chilled the two of them to the bone.

As soon as the ministers finished their greetings, Prime Minister Charles King, Grand Preceptor William Clark, Senior Minister Meibo, Zhao Qi, and other high officials jointly submitted a memorial, requesting that, since Henry Adams was the legitimate son of the Empress, the Emperor should establish him as Crown Prince. Normally, John Adams had always hesitated over the matter of appointing a Crown Prince, but today he agreed without a second thought.

After publicly announcing Henry Adams as Crown Prince, John Adams decreed that the formal investiture ceremony would be held in two months, inviting all the feudal lords to attend and offer their congratulations. At the same time, he issued an imperial marriage order, granting the youngest daughter of General Huang Gun, the mighty general, as a concubine to the Crown Prince, to be wed on an auspicious date. As soon as this marriage edict was issued, Huang Gun, who had just objected to Henry Adams’s appointment as Crown Prince, immediately fell silent, his expression extremely complicated, and in the end could only obediently kowtow and thank the Emperor for his grace.

Ethan Smith watched all this unfold with a face ashen as death, as if he had just experienced a nightmare in hell. Although he didn’t know what had happened in Zhaoxuan Hall after he and Ryan Smith left the previous night, the cruel reality was right before his eyes—he had lost, and lost utterly, both in the struggle for the throne and for the beauty. Ryan Smith, whose mood had hit rock bottom, mechanically followed the ministers in kneeling and offering congratulations, his expression blank, as if he didn’t know what to do.

After the court session, Jessica Bolton accompanied John Adams to the ancestral temple for a dizzying round of tedious rituals before finally being allowed to return home.

“Welcome, Your Highness the Crown Prince!” As soon as he entered, Jessica Bolton saw The Foster Family and The Miller Family leading the household in offering their congratulations. The two ladies had already received news of his promotion to Crown Prince.

“My two virtuous wives, please rise,” Jessica Bolton said cheerfully, stepping forward to help his smiling wives up. While the servants were still kneeling, he mischievously gave The Foster Family’s springy, shapely bottom a secret squeeze. Emily Foster never expected he would dare take such liberties in public; she almost cried out in surprise, but with so many servants present, she dared not make a sound and could only bite her lip and glare at him fiercely, making The Miller Family giggle on the side.

Everyone moved to the Hundred Flowers Garden in the back courtyard, where a sumptuous feast had already been prepared, with many dishes personally cooked by The Foster Family and The Miller Family.

“Allow me to offer Your Highness a toast, and congratulate the Crown Prince on this double happiness,” Emily Foster said, raising her cup and stepping before him. “I hear the young lady of the Huang family is beautiful, gracious, and exceptionally virtuous—she will surely be a worthy helpmate to Your Highness.”