This finally enraged William Monroe, who ordered someone to cover Thomas Jefferson with a large bronze cauldron. But Thomas Jefferson was so strong that he almost overturned the cauldron, so William Monroe simply lit a fire around it, turning Thomas Jefferson directly into roast duck.

It could be said that when it comes to courting death, if Thomas Jefferson claims to be second, no one would dare claim first!

Thinking of Thomas Jefferson's fate, John Adams let out a long sigh. What was even more unfortunate was that he happened to be Thomas Jefferson's legitimate eldest son, the heir to the Prince of Han, personally appointed by George Washington.

In other words, the fates of John Adams and his father Thomas Jefferson were tightly bound together—if one prospered, both prospered; if one suffered, both suffered. In the future, when Thomas Jefferson rebelled and was killed, John Adams would surely not escape the same fate.

In fact, that's exactly what happened. In history, when Thomas Jefferson rebelled and was killed, all his sons were executed as well, not a single one left alive. In this regard, William Monroe was even more ruthless than George Washington, who at least did not wipe out all of Benjamin Franklin's sons.

“How should I evaluate this cheap old man Thomas Jefferson? The number one expert at courting death in history? The most familiar face in the Ming dynasty? The cauldron-topping youth?”

John Adams muttered to himself again. Whether in official or unofficial histories, there was nothing good to be said about Thomas Jefferson, yet he just happened to be his son.

Of course, John Adams himself was no saint either. As the heir to the Prince of Han, the former John Adams was also arrogant and domineering. In the capital, just mentioning the name John Adams would make almost everyone tremble with fear.

If Thomas Jefferson's reputation stank for eight hundred miles downwind, then John Adams's stank for seven hundred and ninety-nine. The father and son were well matched, birds of a feather.

The only thing that comforted John Adams was that it was now the thirteenth year of Yongle, the very peak of Thomas Jefferson's life.

Especially last year, when a group of crown prince supporters were thrown into prison for being slow to welcome the emperor, James Madison was left isolated, and his position as crown prince was on the verge of collapse. Thomas Jefferson was just waiting for George Washington to return and make him the new crown prince.

But John Adams knew that once his “cheap grandpa” returned, he would arrest Thomas Jefferson and hold him accountable. At that point, not to mention the crown prince's position, even his original military power would be stripped away.

Change Thomas Jefferson's fate, or even help him ascend to the position of crown prince?

John Adams had thought about this question, but no matter how he considered it, he couldn't come up with a good solution. After all, he had transmigrated too late, and Thomas Jefferson had already done all the wrong things he could possibly do. Even now, Thomas Jefferson was still going around boasting, comparing himself to Emperor Taizong of Tang, with the crown prince James Madison naturally being likened to Li Jiancheng.

This alone showed how brainless Thomas Jefferson was. He wanted to be Li Shimin, but George Washington had no intention of being Li Yuan, and certainly didn't want to be confined in the palace by his son, making clay figurines all day!

“Forget it, there are just over ten years left before his rebellion wipes out the whole family. Even if I can't change his fate, I should be able to figure out a way to escape myself. If worst comes to worst, I'll follow Zheng He on his voyages, snatch a few more women, and create a new nation overseas!”

In the end, John Adams swore fiercely.

“Your Highness, it's time to take your medicine!”

A young servant hurried upstairs, holding a tray with medicine and presenting it to John Adams.

Looking at the bowl of foul-smelling medicinal soup, John Adams frowned, but still took it.

As a transmigrator, when John Adams woke up, he was completely in the dark about his surroundings, so he could only pretend to have amnesia. Because of this, Thomas Jefferson invited famous doctors from everywhere, and during this period, John Adams was rarely without medicine.

“Ethan Brooks, is there any news in the city lately?”

John Adams asked the young servant while drinking the medicine.

Ethan Brooks was a personal attendant whom Thomas Jefferson had just assigned to him. Previously, the people around him had failed in their duties, causing John Adams to have an accident, so Thomas Jefferson replaced them all.

“If you want to talk about news, the biggest is that Your Highness was blessed by a divine being and woke up at a critical moment, thus preventing a great disaster in the city. Now, all the citizens are deeply grateful to you, every household has set up longevity tablets for you, and I hear the price of wood in Nanjing has gone up several times…”

“Can you ever say something truthful?”

John Adams impatiently interrupted Ethan Brooks. This kid was good at everything except speaking—he only said what sounded nice, just like a sycophant beside a foolish ruler. Even if the country was about to fall, he could still praise the ruler as the greatest emperor of all time.

“Well… heh, my words may be a bit exaggerated, but it’s true that you saved the people from disaster. If not for you, who knows how many would have died in the city.”

Ethan Brooks was thick-skinned as a city wall. Even after being exposed by John Adams to his face, he didn’t blush at all, and could even keep boasting.

“Enough, I want the truth. If you keep fobbing me off with this crap, I’ll skin you alive!”

John Adams had no choice but to put on the airs of the Prince of Han’s heir.

“Yes, yes, I deserve to die!”

Ethan Brooks was quick-witted. After admitting his fault, he hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

“Your Highness is blessed with great fortune. Many doctors say you were only in a false death before, which is why the prince made such a big mistake. But there are also quite a few people gossiping behind your back. They say… they say…”

“What are they saying?”

Seeing Ethan Brooks hemming and hawing, John Adams helplessly pressed him again.