Helen Thompson stood with his hands behind his back, watching Henry Clark being ‘hunted’ by Thomas Reed, and sighed, “I’m reminded of the days when my elder brother and I would sneak out of the house and play freely in Chang’an. Now, entangled by so many affairs, that innocence is gone forever.”

The advisor picked up on the undertone, realizing that this second young master was still attached to Chang’an, worried that someone there might simultaneously make a move against the Wang family.

Helen Thompson no longer felt sleepy and suddenly beckoned Henry Clark over.

Lily Thompson, in a huff, was escorted back to rest by her maids. As she was leaving, she asked, “Why don’t you come to the Wang family?”

Henry Clark hadn’t expected her to speak to him. After a brief daze, he replied, “I’m used to living in the mountains.”

After Lily Thompson left, Helen Thompson gave Henry Clark a careful look and asked, “Earlier, I saw you move as swiftly as the wind. What kind of technique have you practiced?”

If anyone else had asked this, it might have seemed too forward, but given Helen Thompson’s status, there was no way he’d covet a country boy’s technique. Instead, his words carried a sense of warmth.

Henry Clark didn’t know the name of the technique, but he knew he had to be cautious—how could a village boy have acquired such skills otherwise? Thoughts raced through his mind, but he kept a calm expression, his back slightly hot with nervousness, “I learned it from an old hunter. I once saved him in the mountains.”

There are countless examples of gratitude being repaid, but just as many of kindness being met with betrayal.

Helen Thompson nodded slightly. “It seems you have good aptitude. Do you want to study?”

The sudden change of topic left Henry Clark, already feeling guilty for lying, a bit bewildered. “Yes.”

Helen Thompson smiled and asked, “Why?”

The advisor smiled, thinking Helen Thompson’s question was a trap. Ask a hundred people, and you’ll get a hundred different answers, but deep down, everyone thinks the same: study to become an official, to rise above others.

But he saw Henry Clark actually pondering the question, and thought to himself, does this really require so much thought?

Henry Clark thought seriously about it. He recalled his experiences over the past fifteen years, and even more so, the narrow-mindedness of Edward Clark’s whole family. But he was different. He’d been scolded by the Wang family before, who said he and his three brothers were nothing alike. The difference wasn’t just in appearance, but even more in temperament and behavior.

At the time, he’d thought about it for a long while without an answer, but later realized it was the voice of the girl in the scroll that had taught him so much.

He answered sincerely, “Without studying, one is blind even with open eyes.”

Both Helen Thompson and the advisor were taken aback.

With their experience, they could tell Henry Clark was being sincere. But this answer was unlike that of most people. It was as if, while everyone else in the world was thinking about how to make money, a young man suddenly said he didn’t care for wealth—truly surprising.

The advisor suddenly laughed, a deeply moved kind of laugh. “When I studied, I wanted to stand out, to become an official, to get rich and marry a wife… all my classmates were the same. But you, young man, just want not to be a fool. Interesting, interesting. I hope that when I see you again years from now, you’ll still think this way.”

……

A seemingly endless stretch of city wall appeared ahead, so tall that one had to crane their neck to see the top. Soldiers atop the wall held weapons, looking imposing and extraordinary. Even the faces of the passersby radiated an emotion called ‘pride’…

When he saw Chang’an, Henry Clark’s mouth fell open and didn’t close.

The majestic city left this country boy dumbfounded, and the proud, confident passersby made him feel like a complete bumpkin.

Over a hundred riders charged out of Chang’an, and the soldiers didn’t even question or stop them. As they approached, they saluted, “Greetings, Second Young Master.”

These were people of the Wang family.

Helen Thompson nodded. “How is everything at home?”

The leading man replied, “All is well!”

Helen Thompson relaxed, then turned to Henry Clark and said, “Find a place to stay for now. I’ll arrange for you to enter the Imperial Academy soon.”

This was the Wang family’s token of gratitude, and Henry Clark accepted it with a clear conscience.

The carriage curtain lifted, and a maid poked her head out, saying fiercely, “My young lady says there are many cunning people in Chang’an. You’re so naive—be careful not to be tricked. If anyone tries to fool you, just give my young lady’s name, and she’ll make sure to avenge you.”

Avenge… what on earth is this!

Helen Thompson’s cheek twitched, while the advisor was enraptured, praising the sturdiness of the city walls…

The city gate was indeed sturdy. A man in his twenties squatted by the gate, a look of surprise on his face, and quietly said to the person beside him, “Helen Thompson has returned from inspecting the mines—why has he brought back a young man?”

The person beside him whispered, “I don’t know. It’s said the Wang family’s convoy was attacked, and after that, there were more sentries around, so our people couldn’t get close.”

The man yawned and rubbed his hungry stomach. “Helen Thompson spoke to him kindly, and even Lily Thompson, the Wang family’s pampered daughter, had her maid deliver a message. This boy must be something special. I’ll go report back.”

He wandered here and there, eventually making his way to the outer palace.

After verifying his identity, he entered the palace and kept to the right, going further and further into a remote corner, until he reached a small, seemingly dilapidated cluster of buildings. Bathed in the late spring sunlight, even these shone with a certain brilliance.