Taking the towel handed over by Eagle Carter, Ryan Carter stood up and jumped out of the wooden tub, dried himself off, casually wrapped himself in a robe, and said, “Our situation has become very dangerous now, but only through change can there be opportunity. If things stayed the same as before, I’d probably end up spending the rest of my life in Shangjing. The greater the crisis, the greater the opportunity. Big Brother Carter, trust me, we won’t just muddle along waiting to die.”

Eagle Carter saw the confident look on Ryan Carter’s face and guessed he must have an idea, so he didn’t say much more.

After that, the sound of pig slaughtering rang out as usual, and the guards outside had long since become deaf to it.

After finishing the massage, Eagle Carter blew out the candle and got up to take his leave.

Darkness enveloped the bedroom. This time, Ryan Carter did not fall into a deep sleep, but instead stared blankly at the beams above. Although he had comforted Eagle Carter, he was just as frustrated inside.

He hadn’t expected things to end up like this. He had always thought that, as a dispensable hostage, there was nothing about him worth the two countries’ adults fighting over. If the emperor of Qin had even a shred of familial affection, he would have taken him back, especially since he had served as a hostage for sixteen years—if not for merit, then at least for hardship!

Once the two countries went to war, he would lose all value and would likely become a tool for Qi to vent its anger, disposed of with a single stroke. So he had to act quickly and take a gamble.

“You chess players want to abandon me, this piece, but you’ll have to see if I agree to it.” In the darkness, Ryan Carter clenched his fists tightly and muttered through gritted teeth, in a voice only he could hear.

Volume One: Grass on the Plain

Chapter Six: Meeting Shaoqing—Ryan Carter Seeks Counsel, Farewell Among Hostage Princes

Early the next morning, Ryan Carter asked Eagle Carter to invite William Thompson again.

This time, William Thompson did not decline and arrived quickly.

Ryan Carter waited for him in the small study where they usually met. Seeing that Ryan Carter looked as usual, William Thompson felt a bit more at ease. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Ryan Carter pulled a sheet of paper from the book “New Records of the Three Kingdoms” and handed it to him, saying with some distress, “I don’t know who to turn to. Please, sir, advise me.”

William Thompson took the paper and saw five names on it: Dr. Miller from the Imperial Medical Bureau of Qi, Mr. Brooks the eunuch, Monk Bennett from Baoguo Temple, Edward Harris from Mount Longhu, and Howard Carter from the Central Capital Guild Hall—five unrelated people.

Looking at the five names, William Thompson showed no confusion; clearly, he was aware of the situation.

This was the result of William Thompson’s quick thinking at the time, having Ryan Carter feign amnesia. The original plan was to use the assassination attempt on Ryan Carter to gain more leverage in negotiations, and this list of visitors and healers was a byproduct.

Unexpectedly, the situation changed rapidly, the negotiations ended in haste, and feigning illness lost its purpose. Now, Ryan Carter intended to use this byproduct to save himself.

He shifted his gaze from the paper to Ryan Carter. This prince had been sent as a hostage to a foreign land just a month after birth. If not for the careful care of the princess married to Qi, he might not have survived. After the princess passed away, he was left utterly alone, bullied to the extreme by Qi, and now even abandoned by his own country.

William Thompson sighed inwardly, his expression growing heavier.

Ryan Carter handed William Thompson a cup of tea and quietly stood aside, waiting for him to collect his thoughts.

After a long while, the middle-aged official let out a deep sigh and said hoarsely, “Your Highness, do you know why Great Qin hastily signed the treaty?” Without waiting for Ryan Carter to answer, he continued, “Great Qin has already completed its preparations. At most, there is only one month left before war breaks out.”

Ryan Carter nodded. So it was as he thought. He just didn’t know what had caused such a sudden change. He smiled self-deprecatingly—this wasn’t really a secret. Henry Clark, the Hundred Victories Duke of Eastern Qi, had already rushed back to Shangjing from the front lines overnight, likely to urge the Qi emperor to mobilize for war.

Ryan Carter smiled and said, “So that means there’s at least a month left.”

Seeing that the prince could still joke, William Thompson nodded and said, “Heaven never seals off all exits. There are three people on this list you can use.” He tapped the paper three times: Mr. Brooks, Monk Bennett, and Howard Carter. “Mr. Brooks is a close attendant of the Qi emperor, Bennett is the chief disciple of the national master Huineng, and Howard Carter could become a strong ally.”

Ryan Carter nodded lightly, a bit troubled. “Ever since my aunt left, my situation has become more and more difficult. Now I’m even under house arrest, unable to act. If there were fewer Qi soldiers outside the Hostage Residence, I could try to fight my way out, but now there are two hundred Golden Guards. I’m confident, but not arrogant enough to challenge hundreds of strong men with just two people.”

William Thompson stroked his beard and pondered, “Mr. Brooks and I have some acquaintance; I’ll handle him. But I must depart for home the day after tomorrow, so you’ll have to contact the other two yourself.”

Ryan Carter smiled and said, “I’ll still need your help to make the introductions.”

William Thompson acted quickly and sent word by noon that it was done.

With his departure imminent and many affairs to handle, this was all he could do. From here on, Ryan Carter would have to rely on himself.

……

That noon, the skilled Qi chef prepared a table of Western Qin dishes: four meat, four vegetable, and two soups, all with excellent color, aroma, and taste. It seemed Ryan Carter’s genuine praise for his cooking had greatly inspired the chef’s enthusiasm.

Western Qin cuisine was similar to the Sichuan food of Ryan Carter’s original era, known for its numbing spiciness and rich flavors: bright vegetables and enticing slices of semi-fatty meat paired with various Sichuan pepper seasonings, all expertly cooked into a spread that made one’s mouth water at the sight, intoxicated at the smell, and cry out in delight at the taste—a truly authentic feast.