This verdict, in reality, completely cut off Edward Clark's path in the imperial examination this time. As for such a result, it was not unexpected, but it still left a chill in one's heart.

“Hmph!” As Charles Clark brushed past him, he muttered almost inaudibly, “Your little tricks may fool my father, but they can't fool me…”

“Yesterday, you had Grace help you cheat, didn't you? You and I both know each other's abilities, hmph!”

Edward Clark was a bit baffled. As he was thinking, he saw Charles Clark turn to the maid by the door and say, “Let's go! No need to stoop to his level.”

“Yes, young master!” The maid covered her mouth and laughed, glanced at Edward Clark, nodded at him, and then quickly caught up with her master.

Judging others by oneself?

Edward Clark suddenly realized that this person thought he had cheated. It was actually quite normal to think so—after all, this was his second time living as a fifteen-year-old, and although this body had the memory of reading books, it shouldn't have performed so outstandingly.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. He now understood his cousin's meaning. Although transmigrators don't mind copying, this time he was truly wrongly accused!

Edward Clark shook his head and followed the steward out of the courtyard.

Grace slipped out from under a big tree and nervously caught up. Edward Clark bluntly requested, “Steward Baker, allow me to speak with her alone so she can get familiar with the way.”

Steward Baker hesitated for a moment, considered William Clark's attitude again, then silently led the way, pretending he saw nothing. He also instructed the servants to take care of things in advance, and immediately some servants hurried off.

“I know the way!” Grace took a few steps back, quietly reminding the young master, but under Edward Clark's strange gaze, her voice grew softer and softer.

“You're too honest.” Edward Clark glanced at her sideways, grabbed her soft little hand, and wrote in her palm: “Still there?”

“What?” Grace blinked, then quickly understood. Her steps became a bit awkward, and she whispered with a blushing face, “Still there!”

Edward Clark didn't think much of it and felt relieved. Since that was the case, there was nothing to worry about.

In a moment, they arrived at the place of house arrest!

The so-called study under house arrest was a small courtyard, not far from his original residence. The main hall in the center was very spacious, paved with blue bricks, and there were side rooms on both sides.

Ironically, this was even better than the courtyard Edward Clark had lived in before. The main hall was full of books, and the No. 3 side room he was led to had complete bedding, clean and elegant.

Steward Baker ignored Grace who had followed along, and solemnly cupped his hands, “Young Master Qing, if you need anything, just let us know. But remember one thing—unless ordered by the family head, you must not step outside this courtyard. Any violation will be severely punished!”

Edward Clark simply nodded, watched him leave, signaled Grace to close the courtyard gate, and then looked up and smiled, “Actually, with food, clothes, books, and even female company, this place is really not bad.”

“Young master, how can you joke about your future…” Grace couldn't care about her young master's joke and hurriedly spoke.

“I know, the future is no joke. Grace, don't worry. Where's my cup?”

“Uh!” Grace immediately blushed, but turned and went into the side room.

After a while, Grace reappeared, still with a rosy face, but now she noticed something different in the room. The sound of the wind rustling outside the window was now clearly audible.

Looking closely, she saw Edward Clark already sitting calmly, reading a scroll. The fifteen-year-old boy looked youthful, but his demeanor was calm and elegant. Instantly, her expression became solemn, and she dared not disturb him.

Edward Clark squinted at the annotations, but was deep in thought.

In the Daoist classics, the three Dao Lords have the “Heavenly True Infinite Return to Truth Scripture,” the “Supreme Jade True High Scripture,” and the “Original True Supreme Profound Capital Scripture.”

The five Imperial Lords have the “Azure Virtue Grotto-Heaven Canon,” the “Red Virtue Salvation Canon,” the “Yellow Virtue Ascension Canon,” the “White Virtue Calamity Canon,” and the “Black Virtue Sin-Removal Canon”—all classics that imply the meaning of the Great Dao.

These are the fundamental Daoist scriptures of this world, truly supreme classics, but although they are widespread, no one can fully interpret them.

For ordinary people, just to become familiar with them takes at least three years, and to recite them fluently, so as to gradually grasp some true meaning of the Daoist school, is considered entry-level.

But to truly sense and comprehend the true meaning is extremely difficult, so one must rely on the annotations of predecessors, and these annotations naturally vary from person to person, with hundreds of schools and thousands of sects. Now, seeing these annotated versions on the bookshelf was quite beyond Edward Clark's expectations.

As he was pondering, he suddenly heard a shout: “Young Master Qing, your meal box is here!”

Startled, he turned to look and saw a burly servant bouncing over with the meal box. Even from afar, the aroma could be smelled.

Clan Hall

William Clark had been working continuously, handling all sorts of clan affairs as numerous as cow's hair—arranging the fields and houses for each branch, ordering inspections of the clan treasury, and instructing each branch and pavilion to bring all the account books for inspection.

Of course, the most important thing was the clan school for the clan's younger generation, especially those taking the children's exam this year, which was the top priority. He truly did not fear trouble or hardship, sleeping only three hours a day.

“Edward Clark is under house arrest, yet still studies diligently every day. That is truly commendable!” At night, William Clark received another report on Edward Clark's situation, handed up as a note. He read it carefully by the lamp, stroking the paper as he spoke.