William Carter grabbed Robert Grant's hand and walked toward the inner room.

Robert Grant was still in that dazed state at this moment, and was thus pulled into the inner room by William Carter.

Robert Grant was undoubtedly a most diligent and responsible steward.

Although he had always opposed William Carter associating with merchants and wandering knights, he truly regarded William Carter as his own lord.

Over the past year, the income and expenses of William Carter's household, the tributes from merchants, the relief for those in need, and even the arrangements for the wandering knights—all were managed by him alone.

He handled matters with great care and meticulousness. Although his efficiency was not high, he rarely made any major mistakes.

"Master Guo."

William Carter smiled and said softly, "I lost my birth mother at birth, and was thus resented by my father. I am of concubine birth, and my brothers at home do not get close to me. Though as a son I should not speak ill of my father, my father truly cannot be called a good man. Just among the household slaves, he drove two to their deaths."

"It was not until I came to Yuancheng and met you that I finally felt I was no longer alone."

"In these past years, you have probably been the only person in the world who cared about me."

"Thank you for all your care during this time! I am deeply grateful!"

William Carter stood up and bowed to Robert Grant.

Only then did Robert Grant come to his senses and hurriedly stepped aside.

"This is all what I ought to do... Lord Cao, what do you mean by this?"

"Nothing else, I just feared I might leave some regrets. I should have thanked you long ago."

William Carter sat down again and said seriously, "By refusing Wang Su this time, I have essentially refused Sima Shi. Not everyone has the privilege of declining three times."

"I do not know whether today might be my last day..."

"Would Sima Shi dare..."

Robert Grant suddenly stood up, as if he had thought of something, but then, like a deflated ball, slumped back into his seat.

"Hahaha, Master Guo, if only everyone in the world were as observant of propriety as you."

William Carter continued, "Even if he doesn't kill me, he won't let me off easily. This title is probably lost, and we won't be able to spend much more time together."

"Why are you unwilling to inherit the throne?"

"Though it may not conform to ritual and law, I know you are wise, benevolent, kind, and magnanimous. If you became emperor, it would be a blessing for all the people under heaven!"

William Carter took a sip of bitter wine.

"I cast a divination for this matter, and immediately saw the future clearly—it is a road to death..."

Robert Grant frowned. "Human affairs are fundamental, the will of heaven is secondary. There is no mandate of heaven in this world; all is determined by human action!"

"You are quite right, but the current situation is beyond the power of man to change."

"Now, I am like a bird in a cage, a fish in a net! I can only watch as disaster draws closer step by step, powerless to do anything. If I were in the palace, the confinement would be even worse—better to be a commoner in the wild."

Robert Grant looked at the unwilling expression on William Carter's face and was greatly astonished.

"I never knew you thought this way!"

"Then what exactly do you want to do?"

"I want to cast off my title, break free from control, go to the frontier, secretly build up my strength, and wait for the right moment!"

Robert Grant was silent for a long time.

"You intend to hide away?"

"Lord Cao, I know you are capable, but if you give up your status as a member of the imperial clan, even a mere pavilion chief could arrest you and charge you with a crime."

"Today the realm is divided into three, though not yet unified, but it is not like the old days of regional warlords—there is no longer a chance for heroes to rise."

"You just said you refused Sima Shi. Even if he doesn't kill you, he will never let a rebellious member of the imperial clan slip from his grasp."

"To speak of living in obscurity is pure wishful thinking."

"Moreover, today the emperor is in peril and the nation in chaos. You, as a noble of the imperial clan, should be thinking of ridding the country of traitors and bringing peace to the people—how can you think of hiding away?"

William Carter picked up his wine cup and drained it in one gulp.

"Do you think I have never wanted to rid the country of traitors? If only things were as simple as you imagine."

"How am I supposed to get rid of the traitors? Do you know what kind of formidable hero Sima Shi is?"

Robert Grant was as serious as ever. "If you act, there is a chance of success; if you do not, there is none."

"Everyone says Sima Shi is a hero. I have never met him, but I think that anyone who would choose Lord Cao as his puppet cannot be very clever."

"I have heard that all men must die, some deaths weightier than Mount Tai, others lighter than a feather!"

"Before, you could draw your sword against a county magistrate for the sake of a commoner. Now, can you not draw your sword against the Sima clan for the sake of the people of the world?!"

"Why does it smell like wine in here?"

Suddenly the door was pushed open, and the foul-smelling Andrew Young staggered in.

Robert Grant frowned.

Andrew Young paid him no mind, sat down directly to the side, and reached for the wine cup in front of Robert Grant.

Robert Grant stood up and said to William Carter, "In today's world, propriety has collapsed and music is in disarray. The court is ruled by powerful ministers, petty men hold power, loyal and virtuous men are suppressed, the talented cannot use their abilities, the loyal are repeatedly persecuted. The mansions of local magnates are connected for hundreds of houses, their rich fields fill the countryside, they have thousands of slaves and tens of thousands of followers, yet the common people have not even a place to plant a single awl!"

"In Yuancheng, you can protect the people of one city. If you were in Luoyang, you could protect all the people under heaven!"