“This time, my humble son John Foster went a bit too far and caused the two young lords much humiliation. However, this was because you two injured my younger son William Foster first. As the saying goes, an eye for an eye—why don’t we just let this matter rest as it is, what do you say?”

David Harris and James Thompson said nothing, only glaring resentfully at the mother and son. They had actually been so frightened by John Foster that they lost control of themselves—this was utterly unprecedented and the most humiliating thing imaginable. When had they ever been threatened like this before? Although they hadn’t suffered any physical harm, both felt as if their dignity and self-respect had been thrown to the ground and trampled upon.

“Wretch, vile woman, just wait until I get home—I'll have my mother go to the palace and file a harsh complaint against you... How can I possibly swallow this humiliation!”

“The Fang brothers are truly bold, truly bold! They actually dared to try to kill us right here in the marquis’s residence! Once I leave, I’ll have my father send troops to surround the Marquis of Sifang’s residence at once!...”

Though their eyes flashed with schemes, neither said a word aloud. They only filled their hearts with vicious threats. Having grown up learning to read people and assess situations, they were no strangers to such skills. At this moment, to act tough would be courting death.

Who was Lady Huayang? She managed such a grand marquisate—what schemes hadn’t she seen? How could the thoughts of these two possibly escape her notice?

“After you return, you two young lords had best not think about having your mothers go to the palace. If this matter really reaches the Empress, who wins and who loses is far from certain. Though the Huayang family is not as illustrious as the Lady of the Marquis of Zhen’guo or the Lady of King Pingding, I am still a first-rank titled lady personally granted by the court. You two keep calling me ‘wretch’ and ‘vile woman’—I can overlook it because you’re young, but what does that make of the royal family? What of the authority of the imperial house? If this really reaches the Empress, I’ll file a memorial as well. Regardless of who wins or loses, once the memorial reaches Her Majesty, you two will not escape the grave crime of showing contempt for the court, and will be thrown into prison, locked in the imperial dungeon.”

David Harris and James Thompson turned deathly pale at these words. In the laws of the Great Zhou, showing contempt for the court was punishable by mutilation.

“And that’s the least of it. If this reaches the Grand Preceptor and the court ministers get involved, even the Empress may not be able to protect you. The first to be punished will be your mothers!”

Their faces, already pale, drained of all color at this. Even their lips began to tremble.

“My lady, you misunderstand us... We absolutely never had such intentions,” stammered David Harris, no longer daring to treat the beautiful woman before him as an ordinary woman.

Though the Great Zhou was founded on martial strength, it valued both civil and military affairs. The military protected the nation, while the civil officials governed it. The army and the civil ministers each had their own roles and did not interfere with each other.

Confucianism emphasized benevolence and, above all, propriety. From grand sacrificial ceremonies to the attire and decorations of nobles, all fell under the jurisdiction of the court’s civil officials. Even if a prince in the capital had a tryst with a concubine and there was the slightest breach of protocol, these officials would be at his door the next day to accuse him.

Though the Marquis of Pingding and the Marquis of Zhen’guo held high military rank and were revered in the army, they had no influence in the civil bureaucracy. The civil officials in court gave no face to military men. Even the Empress herself had to weigh her words carefully before them, never daring to overstep.

Seeing that Lady Huayang had not relented, David Harris quickly nudged James Thompson with his elbow. Only then did James Thompson come to his senses and hurriedly say, “My lady, I swear, we absolutely never had such intentions.”

Only then did Lady Huayang nod. “Since everything has been made clear and we know it was a misunderstanding, let’s leave it at that. Young lords, please return to your residences quickly, lest your mothers worry.”

At this point, David Harris and James Thompson dared not say another word. Hearing Lady Huayang relent, they felt as if they had been granted amnesty and nearly scrambled out the door in a panic.

“Wait a moment!” William Foster suddenly called out.

David Harris and James Thompson froze at the threshold, not daring to move. When they realized it was William Foster and not John Foster, they exchanged glances, both seeing surprise and astonishment in the other’s eyes. What was this timid boy doing stepping forward?

William Foster jumped down from the bed, took a few steps, and said to John Foster, “Big brother, I know you mean well. But this time, I want to handle it myself, with my own hands.”

“Little brother...” John Foster looked confused, not knowing what his brother intended.

“David Harris, James Thompson, listen carefully.” William Foster fixed his gaze on them, his calm tone carrying a special kind of conviction that made one want to hear what he had to say.

“For what happened today, I don’t want to rely on my big brother’s help—that would be bullying you. Nor do I want to use my family’s power—that would be oppressing you. In half a month, I’ll see you again at the academy. Then, I’ll use my own fists to defeat you myself!”

“Hmph, save it! There’s no way we’ll lose. If we do, we’ll be your servants, whatever you want!” After all, as sons of marquis households, they still had their pride. No matter what, they couldn’t believe they would be beaten by a sickly boy.