He never touched the Shangshu again and began trying to do some evil deeds.

Colluding with bandits, associating with merchants, funding wandering knights, bullying the market all day, showing no respect for elders, acting recklessly.

He tried to stop it many times, but never succeeded. The entire residence was occupied by a group of ruffians and knights, and he simply couldn’t control these people!

Thinking of this, Robert Grant was filled with guilt—it was all because he hadn’t taught The Lord well!

“The Lord, you are a dignified Duke of Great Wei. How can you associate and befriend such lowly people from the streets?”

William Carter was taken aback, then smiled and asked, “You mean I should make friends with a group of virtuous and renowned scholars, and invite those with a good reputation to the residence as guests?”

Robert Grant hurriedly nodded, “That’s how it should be.”

“But the court has a decree forbidding the nobles from associating with guests. We are not allowed to befriend those scholars or invite them as guests. If the court holds me accountable, should I say it was on your orders?”

Robert Grant widened his eyes and quickly shook his head again.

“I can’t bear such a heavy responsibility. The court has its own reasons... Even if The Lord doesn’t associate with scholars, you shouldn’t be with these people either. That’s also against the law...”

“Gentlemen, am I really associating with you?”

The rough men around burst into loud laughter. “We are merely servants under Mr. Carter. How could that be considered associating?”

Robert Grant immediately blushed, stammering, “Even so, just now a few merchants brought money... It’s also forbidden for nobles to befriend merchants or engage in business.”

“I have never done business, nor have I befriended merchants.”

“I just saw that they were pitiful, so I gave them some advice, taught them how to do business and get rich, and help the local people. They thanked me of their own accord and brought me money. Is that wrong?”

Robert Grant looked at William Carter in confusion, “It’s not wrong.”

William Carter laughed, “Then please help count the money they brought. There are more and more places where money is needed. Only with money can we help the local people and do more good deeds, don’t you agree?”

“This...”

In the end, Robert Grant obediently went to do the work.

William Carter was actually very satisfied with him. A gentleman can be deceived by righteousness.

This official in charge of supervision truly regarded his duty as teaching. In fact, he could have forcefully ordered William Carter around, and if William Carter didn’t listen, he could have reported to the Three Departments.

But he never did that. He would still seriously reason with William Carter, yet was always left speechless by William Carter’s twisted logic.

When William Carter walked past the front hall, he saw someone sitting under a distant tree.

This man was not young, dead drunk, his clothes open, eyes dazed, legs stretched out as he sat on the ground, reeking with a foul stench.

William Carter greeted him with a smile.

“Mr. Young!”

The man opened his eyes, glanced at William Carter, then turned his head and continued to sleep.

This old man was William Carter’s Supervisor of State Affairs.

He was originally an official responsible for supervising William Carter and reporting to the court.

But, this old man was truly a bit odd.

He never cared about government affairs, was always sloppily dressed, muttering to himself all day long.

But William Carter could understand.

The entire Eastern Han dynasty was founded on apocryphal prophecies.

Because Liu Xiu revered such prophecies, superstition permeated the whole Eastern Han. By the end of the Han, it became mainstream. At this moment, Confucian scholars all seemed like charlatans, talking about strange things all day, linking every natural phenomenon to politics.

By the Wei dynasty, metaphysics flourished, and a large group of scholars who valued freedom and did nothing emerged.

The seeds of later self-abandonment had already appeared.

Many scholars’ spiritual pillars had collapsed, and with the Sima family’s harsh suppression, they developed a strong sense of escapism and world-weariness, behaving in absurd and unrestrained ways.

Han dynasty scholars strictly observed ritual and law, but as rituals collapsed, they began to despair of and abandon them. Later generations often called this the “Wei-Jin elegance.”

As for whether it was truly elegant, only they knew.

This Mr. Young probably didn’t want to be an official. After becoming Supervisor of State Affairs, he did nothing proper, drank all day, took powders, and lay under the tree year-round, muttering to himself like a madman.

But William Carter rather liked him. Who wouldn’t want such a Supervisor of State Affairs?

Sitting in the Kerang Hall, William Carter looked at the people around him, feeling much more at ease.

At least he now had a little bit of power.

He still remembered when he first transmigrated here, he was all alone, with only seven or eight old soldiers and two officials by his side, and not enough money in hand to even maintain the palace.

After the fusion of two souls from different eras, William Carter finally understood how difficult his situation was.

Great Wei kept a tight watch on the imperial clan, guarding them as if against thieves.

For William Carter to reach his current position was truly not easy.

It could be said that among the entire imperial clan of Great Wei, no one lived as comfortably as he did.

He never lacked money, opened a manor, specially received destitute heroes, and in the greenwood world of Hebei, he was a famous hero, known as the “Protector of Hebei” in the Great Wei, or “Little Whirlwind The Great Carter.”