The princess, upon hearing that he was the very William Thompson her father often praised, couldn’t help but scrutinize him closely.

William Thompson, hearing them mention his name, had no choice but to turn around. He saw the three of them all wearing bamboo hats with veils covering their faces. The one in front was tall, her skin faintly visible like snow beneath the hat, dressed in a spotless white long dress, a longsword slung across her back. Though her face was hidden, the coldness in her eyes could be felt even through the veil, her entire being exuding a chilling murderous aura that made one afraid to look too closely. Earlier, William Thompson had heard the steward address her as princess, and he vaguely guessed that she must be the emperor’s sister, the famous cold princess Lucy Carter. Rumor in the city had it that she was the beloved disciple of Baiyun Chan Master, the number one expert in Song, who was regarded by the people as a near-immortal, said to be cultivating deep in Mount Emei, Sichuan.

The girl in the green dress beside Megan Carter should be the daughter of the Prince of Lanling—Princess Wanping, Sophia Carter. Coincidentally, she was also lifting her veil to look at him. As their eyes met, William Thompson was suddenly shaken, the long ladle in his hand slipping to the ground as he stood there in a daze.

“Grace!” he blurted out.

Suddenly, the tragic image of Miss Sun’s death flashed through William Thompson’s mind, and pain burst forth in his eyes.

Suddenly, a flash of silver streaked before William Thompson’s eyes, and a lock of hair drifted down from his head.

“If you dare shout again, or look at her one more time, I’ll cut out your tongue and gouge out your eyes!” The voice was so cold it seemed to come from ice a thousand years old.

Startled, William Thompson snapped out of his trance. He lowered his head, but his heart was filled with sorrow. The cycle of fate spanning a thousand miles was once again torn open, pain surging like a tide, savagely gnawing at his soul. He no longer looked at Sophia Carter, silently turning away.

Sophia Carter stood there in a daze. It was the first time in her life she had seen such an expression: extreme joy suddenly twisted into extreme pain, the two emotions tangled and then gradually faded, leaving only a deep sorrow. That sorrow seemed to have been cultivated for a thousand years, slowly settling in the river of time. In that instant, she too seemed touched by that gaze, a string deep in her heart suddenly quivering.

“Little Sophia!—Little Sophia!”

A blush swept across Sophia Carter’s cheeks. She quickly replied, “What is it?”

“Hurry up! The carriage is here.”

Lucy Carter glanced at William Thompson again and gave a heavy ‘hmph!’ before mounting her horse and leaving.

Sophia Carter slowly got into the carriage, but couldn’t help pulling back the curtain to steal another look at William Thompson. Seeing that he didn’t look back at her, she suddenly felt a pang of loss. Her hand loosened, and the curtain fell with a ‘thud!’

Chapter Ten: Poisoning the Great Khan (Part One)

In the year 1231 AD, the second year of Shaoding under Song Emperor Lizong, the sixth year of Zhengda under Jin Emperor Aizong, the Mongols once again turned their gaze southward. In February, the Mongol cavalry broke through the key city of Fengxiang, and the balance of war gradually tipped in their favor. In May, Ögedei returned to the Ninety-Nine Springs of Guanshan to convene the princes and generals to discuss the strategy for destroying Jin. In the end, Ögedei adopted Tolui’s plan and decided to attack Jin from three directions.

Ögedei Khan personally led the central army, heading south from Wanzi City across the river to attack via Luoyang. Wotie Chijin Nayan led the left army, attacking from Jinan. At this time, Tolui led the right army of thirty thousand cavalry to occupy Fengxiang, attacking Jingzhao, and swiftly captured Tongguan, forming a pincer movement with Ögedei against Luoyang. In July, Tolui suddenly changed strategy, abandoning the attack on Luoyang and turning south, entering the upper reaches of the Han River from the Weishui basin, seizing Nanzheng of the Song, and continuing along the Jialing River in Sichuan. Then, he turned northeast, crossed the middle reaches of the Han River, and suddenly appeared near Dengzhou in southern Henan, within Jin territory.

In the Baoning region of Sichuan, Tolui’s forces encountered fierce resistance from the Song army and civilians. The Mongols, enraged, massacred city after city, killing nearly a million Sichuanese, leaving no living thing in their wake. By the time news reached Lin’an, the Mongol army had already left Song territory and arrived at Dengzhou.

Song Emperor James Carter, upon hearing that the Mongols had swept through Song and Jin lands with only thirty thousand cavalry as if no one could stop them, was greatly alarmed. He immediately summoned Minister of War Robert Bell and General Edward Bennett. As the three were discussing the Mongols’ passage, a eunuch entered to report:

“Chancellor Stone is here.” As soon as the words fell, Richard Stone had already burst in.

“Your Majesty, this old minister has urgent news!” He suddenly saw Robert Bell and Edward Bennett also present, and a flash of anger crossed his face. Having controlled the court for many years, he was displeased that Robert Bell and Edward Bennett dared to report directly to the emperor without going through him.

“Prime Minister, you’ve come at just the right time. We are discussing the Mongol situation.”

“There’s no need to discuss the Mongols any further. I have the latest information to report to Your Majesty.”

“Oh? What is it? Prime Minister, quickly tell Us!”

“I have just received a message from the Great Khan Ögedei of the Mongols. He wishes to ally with our Song to destroy Jin. If our court is interested, he will officially send envoys to negotiate.”

“Your Majesty! This must not be allowed!”

Richard Stone turned to see that it was General Edward Bennett who objected.

“Marshal Bennett, why not? The Jin have an irreconcilable enmity with our court. Have you forgotten the humiliation of Jingkang? Back then, Yue Wumu also sighed, ‘Let us reclaim our lost lands from the beginning.’ I am a civil official and do not fear death—how can you, the grand marshal of all the armies under heaven, be so afraid for your life?”