Her chest finally relaxed, Olivia Clark's face flushed with shyness, and she said with a mix of embarrassment, laughter, and playful reproach, "You rascal!" James Brooks gazed at his wife's lovely, charming face, his heart fluttering. He gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist and couldn't help but lean in for another kiss.

"Thud!" But just then, William Brooks stretched out his little foot from his mother's arms and kicked him in the stomach.

"Hahahaha... what a domineering little fellow." The two of them burst out laughing together.

Light, quick footsteps approached. "Master, Madam, all the distinguished guests have arrived. The Old Master requests that you both come over." A delicate-featured maid stood behind them, gently reminding them.

"Oh, got it. Go tell the Old Master that we'll be there right away."

"Oh hohoho, is this the young master? This is my first time meeting the little one since I returned from my diplomatic mission to Fengming this year. Hohoho, here's a little trinket, just a token of respect." As James Brooks and his wife carried their son into the main hall, a jade ruyi, gleaming green, was already being handed to little William Brooks.

"Mr. Sullivan, you've worked so hard on your diplomatic mission. How could we dare accept such a generous gift from you? Please, take it back," James Brooks said politely.

That Mr. Sullivan was an elderly man with a white beard, dressed in fine brocade robes, his hair and beard meticulously groomed—clearly someone who paid great attention to his appearance. William Brooks opened his eyes curiously, just in time to see Mr. Sullivan pretending to be displeased, puffing his beard up high.

"General Brooks, that's not right. This is a birthday gift for the young master, not for you, General Brooks. With so many censors present, you don't need to worry about being impeached by the Censorate." Everyone burst out laughing and chimed in.

Joking aside, James Brooks currently held immense power, second only to the emperor himself. Who among the censors would be foolish enough to risk their life by challenging him? Impeach him? That would be a death wish! The censors secretly grumbled: This Old Mr. Sullivan sure knows how to make us break out in a cold sweat with his jokes!

"Haha, since that's the case, it would be rude to refuse. Then I, Brooks, will shamelessly accept it on behalf of my son." James Brooks smiled, not taking it to heart at all.

"Not at all, not at all, it's an honor for me that the General would accept it." William Brooks's big, dark eyes rolled around, thinking this guy was just a pure flatterer, probably not from a rival faction.

"Has the little one been named yet?" Another elderly man, also with white hair but a youthful face, came over. William Brooks was taken aback. He'd been born for a whole year, and this was the first time someone dared call him "little one" in front of his grandfather and father. Clearly, this Old Fellow was no ordinary person.

"Hehe, Old Thompson, my father personally chose the name—William Brooks. Quite a resounding name, isn't it?" Grandfather Charles Brooks chuckled and stepped forward. The more William Brooks listened, the more he sensed something was off. Though Charles Brooks's tone was full of laughter, William Brooks could still detect a deep chill beneath it. Looks like this Old Thompson... is no simple character.

"Clap, clap," Old Thompson applauded lightly, praising, "As expected of Old Lord Brooks, even the name he gives his grandson is so imposing. Excellent, excellent, what a powerful name! Hahaha, I aspire to William Brooks—yes, a fine name indeed!"

At these words, the dozens of people in the hall instantly fell silent!

What Old Thompson said was truly provocative. The current emperor is the Son of Heaven, yet Charles Brooks named his grandson William Brooks ("to surpass the heavens"). Though spoken with a smile, it was undoubtedly an accusation of treason.

"Hohohoho, Grand Preceptor, you're too kind. Just like your grandson Edward Thompson—when I first heard the name, I was startled, thinking the The Thompson Family had produced a Son of Heaven! Hohohoho..." A cold glint flashed in Charles Brooks's eyes as he retorted without backing down.

William Brooks suddenly understood: so this Old Fellow was none other than Charles Thompson, head of the The Thompson Family, the only one among the six great families who could rival the The Brooks Family in the Kingdom of Chengtian. No wonder he had such a punchable face! William Brooks thought angrily.

"Hahaha, by Old Brooks's logic, does that mean ordinary families can't use 'dragon' or 'phoenix' in their children's names? Isn't Old Brooks being a bit too nitpicky?" Charles Thompson stroked his goatee and squinted as he spoke.

"Hohohoho, if I say one word it's nitpicking, but when you, Old Thompson, talk about my grandson, that's perfectly reasonable?" Charles Brooks was annoyed. Damn it, when Old Thompson's grandson was born, he went to congratulate him in person, but not only did Old Thompson not return the favor, he even chose today, the day before his own grandson's first birthday, to come and make snide remarks! If only he'd known, he would have ruined Old Thompson's grandson's full-month banquet last year!

The two old men glared at each other like fighting cocks, neither willing to back down an inch. The civil and military officials around them exchanged nervous glances, not daring to make a sound.

These two were both giants in the Kingdom of Chengtian, and none of the others dared provoke them. One was the head of the The Brooks Family, the kingdom's foremost duke, father of the imperial consort and the top general; the other was the head of the The Thompson Family, the current prime minister, father of the empress, and the emperor's father-in-law!

If anyone was foolish enough to butt in, they'd be courting disaster. Those standing closest to the two old men quietly wiped their sweat and edged away. They'd come with good intentions to curry favor, only to find themselves caught in a clash of titans. Everyone secretly bemoaned their bad luck.