Until this moment, Mrs. Howard's expression finally changed slightly. Her ability to hold the Imperial Ancestral Temple did not rely on numbers, but on the ministers' reverence for the Han ancestors. Once this taboo was broken, she and Mrs. Howard would be utterly defeated.

The palace maid guarding the princes opened a wooden box, took out a short sword, placed the box on the ground, and strode up to Mrs. Howard. David Williams closed his mouth, hoping that this time the ministers would be resolute and not repeat the mistake at Dongqing Gate.

The two rows of eunuchs and palace maids guarding the door collapsed at the first charge. Several people strode over the threshold, and the palace maid bent her knees slightly, determined to block the enemies alone.

"Put down the sword, it's me!" William Turner stood at the door, his back to the sunlight, followed by five or six attendants. This was the second deep impression he left on James Foster, the exact opposite of the first, which had been cold and gloomy.

The palace maid glanced back at Mrs. Howard, sheathed her sword, and returned to her place.

William Turner stepped forward to Mrs. Howard, and said calmly, "The negotiations are done. The memorial can be drafted immediately. As soon as the new emperor ascends the throne, the imperial seal can be affixed at once."

"What has been negotiated?" David Williams asked loudly, but received no answer.

Mrs. Howard let out a long breath. "We can't be careless. Has the Grand Marshal of the Southern Army handed over his seal?"

"It's in progress. Lord Jing is overseeing it."

David Williams was even more puzzled. "Cui Hong, the Grand Marshal of the Southern Army, is my own uncle. Why would he hand over his seal?" Still, no one answered. Suddenly, he realized, "I see, the Shangguan family wants the position of Grand Marshal of the Southern Army, and my uncle has agreed. In exchange, I get to become emperor!"

Still, no one responded. James Foster looked up at William Turner. Although his mother had told him not to trust anyone, he felt full of confidence in this eunuch. Something was about to happen to him, he thought, but he couldn't say for sure whether he truly wished for it.

Someone else ran into the hall—this time it was Henry Clark, sweating profusely. "The ministers have agreed to compromise and are withdrawing from the Ancestral Temple in an orderly fashion!"

"Thank you, Mr. Clark." said Mrs. Howard. Henry Clark beamed, took out a handkerchief, and wiped the sweat from his face, looking greatly relieved.

David Williams kept muttering that he was about to become emperor, casting threatening glances at the sword-wielding palace maid. The maid was not afraid at all, her gaze sweeping the room, remaining fully alert.

About half an hour later, just as David Williams was about to lose his patience, sitting and standing in turns, Samuel Clark finally arrived. As soon as he entered, he knelt before Mrs. Howard and the two princes. "There is an edict from Mrs. Howard: the new emperor is to be honored in the Ancestral Temple immediately. With the ancestors' spirits above, may Heaven bless Great Chu."

David Williams laughed several times, jumped to the ground, and prepared to receive his title.

"As you command," said Mrs. Howard. She stepped forward a few paces, turned, knelt before the prince, and the sword-bearing palace maid also knelt, placing the sword on the ground.

"Isn't this a bit too simple? There will be a formal grand ceremony later, right?" David Williams asked.

"Please have Prince Song offer sacrifices to the ancestors," said William Turner.

"Who is Prince Song? I am David Williams Han Shu." David Williams turned to look at James Foster, and suddenly understood. "This can't be. My mother and uncles would never agree... Samuel Clark, you said I would definitely become emperor, that's why I came to the palace with you."

Samuel Clark prostrated himself on the ground and said coldly, "This old servant does not recall ever saying such a thing."

The palace maid quietly came over, grabbed David Williams's arm, and forced him to kneel. In the grand hall, only James Foster was still sitting on the round stool, as if petrified with fear.

After a while, William Turner kneeled forward to the stool, and said softly, "Your Majesty must first offer sacrifices to the ancestors before ascending the throne."

"I want my mother to enter the palace," James Foster finally spoke.

William Turner forced a slight smile and replied in an even lower voice, "Now is not the time."

"Then what can I do?"

"What does Your Majesty wish to do?" William Turner asked.

James Foster looked around, then pointed at David Williams, who was being forced to kneel on the ground and was struggling in defiance. "I want him to stay in the palace."

"As Your Majesty wishes."

"I'm not staying! I want to go home!" David Williams cried, hating everyone in the palace.

James Foster still sat motionless on the stool. William Turner glanced back at Mrs. Howard, who nodded, then led the way to the door. The others, including David Williams, also withdrew, leaving only William Turner still kneeling before the stool, looking up at the thirteen-year-old prince. "If Your Majesty has anything to say, please tell this old servant."

James Foster said, "Will I be killed?"

William Turner was taken aback and pretended not to understand. "Everyone dies."

"I mean 'be killed.'"

William Turner could no longer feign ignorance and awkwardly asked, "Your Majesty... why would you think such a thing?"

James Foster looked toward the door at David Williams. "Everyone has their own advantage. My advantage—maybe it's that after I'm killed, no one will care?"

William Turner was greatly shocked. Everyone had misjudged this prince, and this would bring many variables, even bloody storms, to the court that had only just regained stability. He regretted it; he should not have insisted on recommending James Foster, but now there was no turning back.

"An emperor will not be killed," William Turner said. "A true emperor will not."

Chapter Five: Fasting