Samuel Lewis only now understood the whole story. This matter was reasonable and made sense, so there was nothing wrong with it. However, since Madam Zhang was not in a position to step forward, was he any better suited to do so? He simply smiled faintly and said, “I understand. But as for this time’s county-level exam, I won’t get involved. Young Master Thompson, you may go find the assistant magistrate.”

After speaking, he pushed the lid of his cup and said, “See the guest out!”

At this point, it was clear that County Magistrate Lewis was already eighty percent in agreement; all that was left was the final push. That push was the heavy silver in Emily Thompson’s pocket. But even giving gifts required some finesse—if he were to recklessly pile the silver on the table, he’d be thrown out of Samuel Lewis’s house on the spot. Even if no one found out, where would that leave County Magistrate Lewis’s reputation? After all, he was a distinguished jinshi, a court official with a reputation for integrity. The gift had to be accepted, but not directly from outsiders. And the way in—hadn’t the magistrate just pointed it out? The assistant magistrate!

With a way in, everything became much easier. The assistant magistrate was a frequent guest at the Zhang residence. Though his official rank was not high, he had many mouths to feed at home, and being over fifty with no hope of promotion, he valued silver all the more. Emily Thompson simply said the magistrate had sent him, and the assistant magistrate immediately understood, accepting the two bundles of one hundred taels of silver each, and even joking that Young Master Bolton could come take the exam without worry.

When Emily Thompson left the assistant magistrate’s house, it was already dusk. Heavy clouds hung low in the sky, blocking out the stars and moon. Except for a few brothels and restaurants in the west of the city that let out a bit of light, the entire street was swallowed by darkness. Occasionally, a few stray dogs fighting over food would dash past his feet, barking, then whimper and disappear into the distance. The roads in the small county were paved with bluestone slabs, and the friction of his shoes against the gravel made a soft ‘shh-shh’ sound. Having been in the Tang Dynasty for several months now, Emily Thompson’s mindset had fundamentally changed. When he first arrived, he thought about changing history, manipulating the world, and trampling it underfoot. But reality had left him frustrated. It was as if he lived in an isolated little county, with no identity, no household registration, like a great scholar full of knowledge facing a group of illiterate commoners.

Emily Thompson gave a bitter smile. He was easygoing by nature, able to adapt to circumstances, and his career had taught him to plan before acting. Since he had come to this era, he had to adapt first, to know what to do and what not to do. If he rushed off to Chang’an without knowing the situation, he might not even see the dawn before being swallowed by the night. The road was quiet, but Emily Thompson’s thoughts were in turmoil. What should he do first, and then what next? He needed a detailed plan. But what exactly should he do first? Where was the starting point? He felt like a drowning man, grasping at the surface of the water but unable to get a hold of anything solid. His thoughts returned to the upcoming county-level exam. The Tang Dynasty was a world for scholars, unlike later times when even an actor could stir up storms. Here, only scholars could enter the upper class, unless one had a powerful backer. But Emily Thompson had neither. Suddenly, Emily Thompson had a moment of clarity: no matter what he wanted to do in the future, he had to have the status of a scholar.

Once he figured this out, his thoughts gradually became clearer. After obtaining the qualification of a county-level scholar, Madam would arrange for Brian Bolton to study for a year at the Xianyu residence, where there was said to be a very learned teacher. Why not take this opportunity to study hard himself? Emily Thompson’s spirits lifted, and he quickened his pace toward the Zhang residence. After crossing Farewell Bridge and passing through a grove of willows, his steps slowed again. It was here that he had nearly lost his life. In his mind, Emily Thompson saw the sinister steward Frank Bolton, the vicious Second Madam, and the brutal cook Henry Bolton. His heart gradually turned to ice, and a deep hatred flashed in his eyes. Before leaving, he had to settle this old score.

Half a month later, the results were posted. Brian Bolton ranked third from the bottom. Though his ranking was poor, he had still qualified for the provincial exam. This behind-the-scenes maneuver also gave Mr. Bolton and Mrs. Bolton a new appreciation for Emily Thompson’s abilities, and they formally recognized his position as tutor.

Chapter 9: Repaying Injustice with Integrity (Part One)

“Young Master Thompson, you don’t need to handle these chores—I’ll do it! I’ll do it!”

Charles Bolton snatched the broom from Emily Thompson’s hand and complained, “If Master or Madam sees this, they’ll dock my monthly pay again.”

Ever since Master had handed the official letter of appointment to Emily Thompson in front of the whole household and announced that Emily Thompson would enjoy the same treatment as the steward, everyone’s attitude and the way they looked at him had changed—envy, jealousy, admiration, flattery, all sorts of things.

“It’s fine, really. There’s nothing much to do, and if I stay idle too long, I’ll get sick.”

In his previous life—let’s just call it his previous life—Emily Thompson was the office junior, always the first to arrive every morning. Sweeping, mopping, fetching water, making tea for the older colleagues—these were all his tasks. Suddenly not doing them after coming to the Tang Dynasty felt a bit strange. That morning, when he saw a few dead leaves swirling in the courtyard, he couldn’t help but pick up the long-unused broom.

“Brother Cai, you—” His words were cut off by an anxious, flustered voice, “No! No! Young master, just call me Charlie. I’m a year younger than you, I really can’t accept that.”

Emily Thompson smiled and said, “So, was the method I taught you effective?”

A look of gratitude flashed in Charles Bolton’s eyes. “The method you taught me really worked. Last night, Hehua, she, she—” His face turned red, and he mumbled, unable to finish.