Ryan Carter stood up with a smile, tossed a chess piece onto the board, took Bennett's hand, and said sincerely, "Then I'll leave it to the master."

After saying this, he saw Bennett off. On the chessboard, after Ryan Carter casually threw down a piece, the situation was completely reversed—the black pieces miraculously came back to life, and there was no longer any danger of the main group being killed. However, Bennett had his view blocked by Ryan Carter and didn't see it, and Eagle Carter, who did see it, didn't understand chess.

……

After that day, Ryan Carter no longer received any guests, only occasionally instructing Eagle Carter to do some seemingly random things: for example, sending some strange weapons and unusual clothing designs to James Sullivan; going to the market to buy all sorts of odd things, like needles and thread, Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and so on. He vaguely felt that His Highness was still up to something martial—collecting sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal couldn't really be just for making firecrackers, could it? Although in Eagle Carter's mind, those things could only be used for firecrackers.

……

When Eagle Carter saw Ryan Carter put on the strange clothes sent by James Sullivan, and then skillfully attach those weapons to himself, he finally believed that His Highness must have had some extraordinary encounter during that coma.

Not long after Bennett left, Ryan Carter had Eagle Carter announce to the public that the master Bennett from Baoguo Temple had cured his "madness."

Half a month later, at noon, the gatekeeper Parker's Soldiers respectfully handed Eagle Carter a gilded invitation.

Ryan Carter was having lunch, and today's main dish was braised deer hoof. The chef from Qi was quite skilled, pairing the deer hoof with peanuts, dried chili, chopped chili, red pepper, ginger, scallions, chili oil, bay leaves, star anise, salt, and pepper, braising it until the meat was tender, the color bright, and the sauce rich and flavorful. Those who had served in the army all loved this dish.

Ryan Carter put down the bone he had gnawed clean, wiped his hands haphazardly with a towel, took the invitation, glanced at it, and tossed it back to Eagle Carter, saying, "Looks like this Uncle Sullivan is something else! In just a few days, he's caught the attention of the highest official in Qi."

Eagle Carter frowned as he took the invitation, now stained with grease from Ryan Carter's hands. He opened it and saw, written in beautiful regular script on tribute cloud paper: "To the honorable Lord Zhige: I am delighted to have a grandson, and will prepare soup noodles on the sixth day of the sixth month at the hour of Si. I respectfully invite your presence. Sincerely, the old man Richard."

Eagle Carter was furious, clutching the invitation tightly and exclaiming, "That Parker scoundrel, how could he insult someone like this?"

Ryan Carter picked up his teacup, rinsed his mouth, and said indifferently, "Isn't it just an invitation? We'll go." In truth, he couldn't really understand the content of the invitation and could only guess at its meaning.

Only then did Eagle Carter remember that His Highness had forgotten many things. He explained bitterly, "Your Highness may not know, but this title of Lord Zhige was given to you by the Emperor of Qi when you first arrived in Qi as an infant. First, for someone of your status to accept a mere duke's title is an insult, implying that our Great Qin is a rank below Qi. Second, the title 'Zhige' (Stop the Spear) is a mockery, suggesting that our Great Qin is so weak that only women and children can keep us from war." The more he spoke, the angrier he became, slamming his hand on the table and making the dishes jump and soup splash.

As the training progressed, Ryan Carter's movements became more agile. With a casual shift, he didn't get splashed at all. Ryan Carter was rather pleased with his own skills. He sat cross-legged on the chair, sprawled over the backrest, and enjoyed the rare long-winded speech from Commander Carter.

Eagle Carter's anger did not subside. Waving the now crumpled invitation, he said gruffly, "That's why our Great Qin strongly protested, and Qi never used this title again. Who would have thought that today, that old scoundrel Richard Parker would so brazenly write it on paper? It's simply intolerable! What's more, sending someone to deliver the invitation is itself an insult! Your Highness, you must not go!"

Ryan Carter reached out and took the now-mangled invitation, trying hard to smooth it out. After a few attempts with little success, he tossed it aside and asked, "What kind of reputation does this Chancellor Parker have?"

Eagle Carter thought for a moment and said, "That old Parker is known for his wisdom, said to respect the virtuous and treat the humble well, gentle, courteous, frugal, and considered a model for all under heaven." He did not distort Chancellor Parker's image despite his earlier anger.

Ryan Carter stood up and stretched his arms, saying, "Someone with such a reputation would be most concerned about his own image. Would he really do something so crude?"

Eagle Carter also found it odd. "It is a bit unusual."

"Unusual things always have a reason! This old Parker is testing us," Ryan Carter mused.

"So, are we going?" Eagle Carter asked.

"Yes, and we should go with great enthusiasm!" Ryan Carter said firmly.

"But this invitation..." Eagle Carter glanced at the pitiful invitation on the table.

"Can we go without the invitation?" Ryan Carter asked weakly.

"No, we'd be turned away at the door," Eagle Carter replied with certainty.

"Then please trouble yourself to restore it to its original state!" Ryan Carter laughed heartily and went off for his nap.

……

Before meeting the Prime Minister of Qi, Ryan Carter first met with James Sullivan, carefully learning about the various high officials and nobles of Qi, and inquiring about the progress of affairs, so he could make his plans.

August 8th at noon arrived quickly. Eagle Carter, clumsy as ever, dressed Ryan Carter in the formal attire of a Qi noble. The elaborate outfit was clearly not something a rough man like Eagle Carter could handle—he couldn't remember whether to fasten the front first or hang the tassels, nor did he know where each piece of jade should go. If James Sullivan hadn't arrived, the Fifth Prince's first banquet would have been ruined for a ridiculous reason. James Sullivan not only helped Ryan Carter adjust his clothes, but also applied a layer of powder to his face and drew around his eyes.

James Sullivan would not accompany Ryan Carter to the banquet; he had to meet someone even more distinguished.