Mrs. Howard revealed a smile. “That’s right, I remember now too. Back then, you were only this tall. Children grow up so fast—now you’re almost as tall as I am.”

“Mother often complains about my height, saying it’s because of me that she can’t go pay respects to the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort every day.”

The Imperial Consort nodded with a gentle smile, her gaze shifting to James Foster. “I don’t think I saw you at that family banquet.”

James Foster had no idea what family banquet they were talking about, so David Williams quickly answered, “Three years ago, when Father ascended the throne, it should have been a time of celebration for all. But Lady Wang was found weeping in the palace, which was deemed a grave disrespect, so Father didn’t invite her and her son to the family banquet at all.”

The Imperial Consort nodded, her smile fading a little, and asked, “Why did you try to escape?”

James Foster raised his hand and pointed at David Williams, just about to say he’d been framed, but David Williams cut in again, “He wanted to return to Lady Wang. From the moment he entered the palace, he kept crying and saying he missed his mother. Isn’t that right, James? Didn’t you say that?”

James Foster was still thinking about how to answer this half-true, half-false question when the Imperial Consort laughed, “So grown up, yet still such a child at heart. Come with me, I’ll take you both somewhere else.”

“When will we get to see the Empress Dowager?” David Williams immediately became alert.

The Imperial Consort smiled but didn’t answer, turning to leave the warm chamber. David Williams had no choice but to follow, with James Foster behind him, then the maid carrying the box, and Henry Clark holding a lantern, following closely behind the Imperial Consort.

In the main hall, two palace maids stood guard at the entrance to the east warm chamber. The Empress Dowager was inside. She had summoned the two princes but had yet to appear. David Williams and James Foster couldn’t help but glance that way. David Williams slowed his steps, then suddenly rushed toward the two maids at the door, shouting, “Empress Dowager! I am David Williams, I want to see you!”

The box-carrying maid stepped forward, gently pushing David Williams, who involuntarily stumbled toward the door, nearly tripping over the threshold. The maid turned to stare at the other prince. James Foster quickened his pace to walk out, secretly puzzled—this maid looked very strange, not the least bit graceful, more like… a man.

Mrs. Howard turned and smiled, “The smarter the child, the more disobedient.”

David Williams paid no attention to the maid, sobbing, “I miss my mother too, that’s why I lost control. The Empress Dowager is my real mother.”

Mrs. Howard smiled without saying a word.

Outside the palace, a sedan chair waited, surrounded by a dozen or so eunuchs and maids. The Imperial Consort signaled for the two princes to get in, while she herself walked alongside on foot.

The sedan chair jolted as it moved. David Williams nudged James Foster, whispering in terror, “Do you get it now?”

“Get what?”

“The Empress Dowager hasn’t shown up for so long—she’s probably… already been killed. We’re not under house arrest, we’ve been kidnapped! Maybe…” David Williams pressed tightly against James Foster, as if that could shield him from a sudden attack.

James Foster thought for a moment. “If both of us die, who will be emperor?”

“Idiot, of course someone from the Shangguan family.” David Williams realized how foolish that sounded and quickly corrected himself, “They’ll pick a puppet from the royal clan, someone really young—two or three years old, who can’t even talk yet. That’s right, things like this have happened in past dynasties… Oh God, I’m going to be killed!”

David Williams gripped James Foster’s wrist tightly, his body trembling slightly.

James Foster struggled a few times but couldn’t break free, so he tried to comfort him, “It won’t happen. If the Cui family is really as powerful as you say, the Empress Dowager wouldn’t dare kill you.”

“Are you sure? Oh, right, killing me would force the Cui family to rebel, ha…” David Williams let go of James Foster, but still felt uneasy, and didn’t say another word the rest of the way.

The sedan chair came to a stop. The eunuch Henry Clark lifted the curtain and poked his head in, “We’ve arrived at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Please step out, Your Highnesses.”

David Williams, excited, nudged James Foster again, “The Imperial Ancestral Temple is where we worship our ancestors. I really am going to be emperor!”

Chapter Four: The Deal in the Imperial Ancestral Temple

The main hall of the Imperial Ancestral Temple was vast and gloomy, incense smoke curling in the air. The ancestral tablets were enshrined deep within the wall niches, like hunters lurking in the shadows. But today, the power of these spirits was useless—a group of people, under their watchful gaze, were committing acts of disrespect.

The temple doors stood wide open—a very rare occurrence, happening only two or three times a year. More than thirty eunuchs and maids lined up in two rows, blocking the entrance. Judging by their expressions, they looked like cattle and sheep about to be offered to the ancestors of Great Chu. Five temple ritual officials lay flat on the ground, chanting nonstop, begging the spirits for forgiveness. They dared not stop these intruders, nor could they.

The two princes sat side by side on small round stools, their faces bloodless. Mrs. Howard stood before them, resting her hand on a young maid’s shoulder, listening to one messenger after another report.

“Over three hundred officials have gathered inside the Chuyang Gate, making a commotion. There are also large crowds of commoners outside the gate.”

“The officials have already broken into the inner palace and are heading toward the Empress Dowager’s quarters.”

“A group of officials, somehow having gotten wind of the news, are heading straight for the Imperial Ancestral Temple!”