Cooper naturally would not sit and wait for death. He was aware of the recent stirrings in the capital and had intended, through the young prince, to meet the powerful Iron Boss behind the scenes, hoping to win a slim chance of survival for himself. Who would have thought, by a twist of fate, he would witness this master and servant pair playing the fool to outwit their enemies.

　　……

　　After a long while, Cooper continued, “It’s laughable that Richard Parker not only lacks tolerance but is also so blind with age that he mistakes a true dragon for a mudfish. Your Highness has used brilliant tactics, persuading the Queen Dowager of Qi and the State Preceptor to plead on your behalf, while Chancellor Parker still thinks you are naive and ignorant. How ridiculous! Years from now, it will be Your Highness who destroys Qi.”

　　Ryan Carter shook his head and said, “That will only happen if I live to see those years. Didn’t you just say I’m doomed?”

　　Eagle Carter glared at Cooper and interjected, “We’ve already fooled that old bastard. His Highness said they’ll beat drums and gongs to send us back.”

　　Cooper picked up a fennel bean and teased, “They’re sending you down the road to the underworld.”

　　Ryan Carter stood up and bowed, respectfully saying, “Please, sir, teach me.”

　　Cooper stood and returned the bow, replying seriously, “If not for Henry Clark, Your Highness would surely have your wish. But Lord Smith and Chancellor Parker hold opposing views. Lord Smith favors waking the Qi people from their self-indulgence through war, and with the Smith's Army undefeated and at full strength, your country’s declaration of war plays right into his hands. Do you think he’ll just watch you return home safely?”

　　Ryan Carter pressed on, “Henry Clark will oppose my return?” Eagle Carter also looked anxiously at Cooper.

　　Cooper shook his head, “No. If they disagree in court, it’ll just be a war of words, and as a man of arms, he’s not eloquent—he’ll likely lose the argument. They’ll choose a more direct approach, one more fitting for a warrior…”

　　At that moment, the wind picked up. Ryan Carter looked out the window; dark clouds pressed down on the city, threatening to crush it.

Volume One: Grass on the Plain

Chapter 13: Within Reason, Beyond Expectation

　　The rain began suddenly, drumming on the eaves and gathering into strings of pearls that fell to the ground.

　　Ryan Carter recalled the stormy night when he first arrived. Things were much better now, he told himself.

　　Adjusting his mood, he instructed Eagle Carter to fetch James Sullivan.

　　The conversation with Cooper concluded, and, tipsy from the wine, Cooper went to the side room to sleep. The prime minister had already issued an order to disperse the guests at today’s banquet, so he was now free, even moving his luggage over.

　　The rain grew heavier, the sky so dark it was impossible to tell the time. When James Sullivan arrived, Ryan Carter had already lit the lamps.

　　He took James Sullivan’s umbrella and, seeing that most of him was soaked, handed him a towel and apologized, “If it weren’t for the last-minute change, I would never have troubled Uncle like this.”

　　James Sullivan smiled and said, “Your Highness underestimates your uncle. In past years, I’ve traveled far and wide, often eating in the wind and sleeping in the open, hugging ice and lying in snow—I’m not that delicate.”

　　Ryan Carter took the teapot off the peat stove, and Eagle Carter quickly took it from him, pouring out a strong ginger soup. Ryan Carter first handed a bowl to James Sullivan, then gestured for Eagle Carter to have some as well.

　　Ryan Carter had James Sullivan and Eagle Carter change out of their wet clothes, and after drinking three large bowls of ginger soup, he recounted in detail his conversation with Cooper.

　　James Sullivan pondered for a moment, frowning, “So, Your Highness means our people shouldn’t set out yet?”

　　Ryan Carter nodded, “Since the Smith's Army is now involved, the original plan won’t work. We can’t let our people die in vain.”

　　At that moment, Eagle Carter, who was standing guard at the door, signaled that Mr. Cooper was awake.

　　Ryan Carter looked at James Sullivan, who nodded. Ryan Carter then instructed Eagle Carter, “Go invite Mr. Cooper.”

　　After Cooper arrived, he exchanged greetings with James Sullivan, and the two introduced themselves. Only then did Ryan Carter learn that Mr. Cooper’s real name was Michael Bolton, a native of Yunzhou, a disciple of the Yunzhou recluse Shenjizi, and three years younger than James Sullivan.

　　Time was short, so the conversation quickly turned to the main topic.

　　Ryan Carter said to James Sullivan, “Uncle, why don’t you share our strategy with sir, so he can help us refine it?”

　　James Sullivan nodded and said to Cooper, “Half a month ago, His Highness made the plan and personally contacted Master Huineng’s chief disciple, Monk Bennett. I visited the chief secretary George Walker at the prime minister’s residence, and previously, our Great Qin’s Young Thompson visited the Qi emperor’s personal eunuch, Mr. Brooks. Using some underhanded means, we leveraged the Empress Dowager’s longing for her grandson to reach the Qi Queen Dowager, the Zen master, and the prime minister.”

　　Eagle Carter thought to himself how fake these people sounded. Just the three thousand Eastern pearls given to Mr. Brooks cost a million taels of silver. If that’s a “small trick,” he wondered what a big one would look like.

　　“With His Highness’s efforts, we first met Huineng. The Zen sect is trying to spread its teachings in Great Qin, but if war breaks out, all his efforts will be wasted. We promised that once we return, we’ll help the Zen sect preach, and also donated a hundred thousand taels of gold to gild his Buddha statue. In the end, he agreed to speak to the emperor on our behalf.”

　　“Later, we used a coral screen as a gift to meet the Qi prime minister and explained the disadvantages of going to war at this time. Today, we finally used a ten-thousand-year-old ginseng to see the Qi Queen Dowager, stirring her familial feelings. Only then did Qi reach a consensus to send our prince home.” Speaking of the screen and the ginseng, James Sullivan looked pained—these had achieved what even a hundred thousand taels of gold could not.

　　He was a bit long-winded, but anyone who had spent so much money and met so many important people would feel the urge to talk about it.