Ryan Carter, although determined to play dumb and act foolish, could not stand to see his own people bullied, even though he still didn’t know the name of the plain-clothed man. He slapped his forehead and said to Eagle Carter, “Oh! Turns out we’re supposed to pay for our meals. Hey, did we pay?”

　　Eagle Carter replied in a buzzing voice, “No, but it’s fine—no one in the whole place has paid.”

　　“So doesn’t that mean everyone here is eating for free?” Ryan Carter said in alarm.

　　“Exactly, the whole room is eating for free.” Eagle Carter said angrily. As the saying goes, one is influenced by those around them; after living with Ryan Carter for over a month, Eagle Carter had picked up many bad habits.

　　The guests nearby took a while to react. Seeing the master and servant pair acting so clueless, they figured it was probably unintentional. If they made a fuss, they’d only be admitting to being fools themselves. It was better to pretend not to know, swallow this silent loss, and comfort themselves by thinking it wasn’t worth arguing with idiots.

　　The master and servant secretly rejoiced, then continued to ask the plain-clothed man about the dishes. The man, seeing the two stand up for him, felt grateful and enthusiastically described all sorts of noble delicacies like “Duke of Yue’s Golden Cauldron,” “Duke Yu’s Sober Banquet,” “Duke Chengmei’s Preserved Crab,” “Marquis Han Chun’s New Moon Rice,” and so on. He explained everything from ingredients to cooking methods, from taste to artistic conception, quoting classics and letting his imagination run wild. The two listened with eyes shining green and mouths watering; often, before he finished describing a dish, the three of them would have already devoured it.

　　……

　　The three ate heartily, their manners naturally lacking. From afar, Chancellor Parker on the main seat saw this and was displeased. He hadn’t noticed the earlier quarrel between the two tables—of course, those people wouldn’t be foolish enough to air their own dirty laundry—so Ryan Carter managed to escape a disaster.

　　Chancellor Parker cleared his throat, and the noisy hall instantly fell silent. He raised his wine cup and, from afar, addressed the last seat: “Today, as I part with Mr. Cooper, I do not know when we shall meet again. I drink to you, sir.”

　　At first, Ryan Carter thought Old Parker was speaking to him. He was about to raise his cup, but realized the toast was meant for the man beside him. Embarrassed, he put his cup down and scratched his head awkwardly.

　　Eagle Carter saw this and was filled with admiration—His Highness’s acting was truly superb, so real, so natural. In His Highness’s own words, it was “enduring to the max.”

　　He would never know that the Fifth Prince he so admired hadn’t been acting at all just now, but had simply made a blunder.

　　……

　　The plain-clothed man addressed as Mr. Cooper stood up and raised his cup: “Thank you, Chancellor, for your kindness.”

　　After finishing his drink, the high and mighty Chancellor asked somewhat bitterly, “Is there truly no way for you to change your mind, sir?”

　　The plain-clothed man shook his head firmly: “My decision is made.” Ryan Carter could hear a note of desolation in his voice.

　　“What if I leave the position of Right Chancellor vacant for you?” The old man’s words were shocking. He was the Left Chancellor—what did it mean to leave the right vacant? The Right Chancellor was the Deputy Prime Minister of Qi, a nation with sixty million people and twenty thousand miles of territory.

　　The room fell silent; a pin drop could be heard.

　　One by one, the high officials and nobles swallowed hard, staring with burning jealousy at the lucky man, their eyes fierce, as if the moment he nodded in agreement, they would pounce and tear the newly appointed Deputy Chancellor to pieces!

　　The air was thick with tension; everyone waited for the man’s answer, Ryan Carter included.

　　Even Mr. Cooper could no longer remain calm. After a long pause, he finally broke the suffocating silence: “I am grateful for your undeserved favor, Chancellor, but I am disheartened. I only wish to forget the world in rivers and lakes, to find solace in mountains and waters, to admire the beauty of the land and savor the world’s delicacies. I will no longer bow for five pecks of rice.”

　　Everyone sighed.

　　Chancellor Parker’s expression did not change. After a moment’s thought, he burst out laughing: “It seems the people of the world are not destined to benefit from your great talent, sir. Once we finish this cup, our fate together ends here.” He drained his cup in one go.

　　Mr. Cooper swayed slightly, but quickly steadied himself, then laughed heartily: “If Heaven is ever just, I will one day erect a monument and write your story, so the world may know of the Chancellor’s virtue.” He too drained his cup.

Volume One: Grass on the Plain

Chapter Eleven: A Grasp that Wounds the Chancellor, A Cry that Startles the Heir

　　After Mr. Cooper sat down, he lost all interest in conversation and began drinking cup after cup. Ryan Carter and Eagle Carter stared at each other, not daring to comfort him.

　　Chancellor Parker maintained his usual calm demeanor and turned to ask Ryan Carter, “I heard that Lord Zhige was unwell a few days ago. Unfortunately, I was too busy with official affairs to visit. Are you feeling better now?”

　　Ryan Carter was annoyed that he kept being called ‘Lord Zhige,’ but on the surface he replied foolishly, “Mm! The big monk cured me.”

　　Chancellor Parker continued, “Has Lord Zhige been studying diligently? Who taught you etiquette?” His tone was kindly, like an elder of the clan, making people feel at ease.

　　Ryan Carter scratched his head, thought for a long time, and stammered, “I haven’t been to school these past few years, so I’ve forgotten most of it. My manners are just like this.” He was referring to how, after his aunt, Consort Qin of Qi, passed away, the inner palace reduced all his expenses to the bare minimum and naturally stopped paying his tuition.

　　Everyone thought to themselves, No wonder he doesn’t know the rule that ‘scholars and commoners do not sit together’—turns out he’s a wild child with no teacher.

　　Chancellor Parker then asked, “How have you been these past few years?”