Frank Carter was startled. He hurriedly grabbed Charles Carter's arm. "How can brothers draw knives and swords against each other? Third Brother actually loves you very much... When you were unconscious last time, he visited you every day. When the Imperial Physician said you might never wake up, he cried very sadly..."

"He cried because he had no one left to bully, right... But that has nothing to do with what I'm talking about."

Charles Carter explained, "I saw Mother weaving winter clothes for us, working so hard... So, I want to make her a new spinning wheel. It's actually very simple—just change the current one-spindle spinning wheel into a multi-spindle one... But Mother won't let me touch her spinning wheel, and I don't have any tools."

Frank Carter looked at Charles Carter with a strange expression, as if to say: Only a fool would believe your nonsense.

Charles Carter was quite anxious.

He really wasn't lying.

In those hazy memories, he had worked on oil wells in his previous life, so with such simple machinery, he could easily spot problems after just a few glances. In his memories from the future, he liked to take things apart when he was young. His grandmother once had a treadle loom, one of those old-fashioned ones, and to understand how it worked, he had taken it apart himself.

With such a simple loom as this, there was so much room for improvement. If he could just find some tools, he could make a very advanced loom, and Mother wouldn't have to work so hard.

But the problem was, he really couldn't get any tools.

First of all, a prince of his age wasn't allowed to leave the palace at will, and inside the palace, the only people he could interact with were eunuchs and palace maids. Eunuchs were forbidden from bringing anything from outside the palace in—if they did, it was punishable by death.

Although the Han Dynasty had made some corrections to the laws of the Qin Dynasty, the laws still originated from the Qin, and punishments like "shaving beards," "repairing the palace," and "chopping off toes" were all part of the package—comprehensive service, highly efficient. Only the bravest of the brave would dare break the law.

Charles Carter wanted to improve the spinning wheel, and while he could do without other tools, he absolutely needed a woodworking knife.

Frank Carter just shook his head. He couldn't get a knife for Charles Carter, and even if he could, he would never give it to him.

In response, Charles Carter made a concession. "Fine, if I can't have a knife, then get me an axe. How about that?"

"Not happening..."

"If you're so filial, why not just ask Mother directly?"

"You don't understand... It's called a surprise!"

Charles Carter frowned. How could he find a decent tool in the heavily guarded palace?

Suddenly, he seemed to think of something. His gaze slowly turned toward Changxin Palace. If he remembered correctly, there were quite a few guards there, and they were all fully armed... Charles Carter suddenly lowered his head and gave a "sinister" smile.

"Little brother... Whatever you're thinking, you must absolutely not do it!"

Frank Carter said earnestly.

"I remember Third Brother has a sword. Why not borrow it from him?"

Suddenly, someone spoke up.

Charles Carter turned around and only then noticed that the person who had spoken was David Carter.

"You startled me! When did you get here?"

"I've been here the whole time..." David Carter lowered his head, hands twisted together, and answered softly.

Richard Carter did indeed have a sword. Richard Carter was a very special prince—because he was deeply favored, he could leave the palace, he could wear a sword, and he could go see George Carter without any notice... But borrow from Richard Carter? He had just kicked him earlier, making him fall flat on his face—would he really lend him his sword?

If he went to borrow a sword, Richard Carter would probably want his head in exchange.

Charles Carter hesitated a bit. He said goodbye to Frank Carter and returned to Jiaofang Hall, deep in thought.

George Carter was someone who loved lively gatherings and disliked solitude, so he loved to host banquets—sometimes drinking and feasting with his old friends, sometimes eating and drinking with his family.

Tonight, George Carter decided to hold another family banquet. Charles Carter really enjoyed these feasts, because there would be lots of delicious food. Even though he was a prince, his daily meals weren't that great—mainly millet or wheat, yellow wheat porridge that was hardly appetizing.

Occasionally, he would have a steamed bun, but it was soft and mushy, tasteless, like eating sand.

The meat wasn't very good either—usually dog, chicken, or pork, with no seasonings at all, making it almost impossible to swallow.

Only at the banquets could he eat all kinds of fruits and vegetables, as well as beef, mutton, and even horse meat.

To prepare for this banquet, Charles Carter hadn't eaten anything since morning, quietly waiting for the evening feast.

When Martha Clark led Charles Carter to the banquet, almost everyone had arrived: Paul Carter, George Carter, Mrs. Howard, Mrs. Carter, Miss Foster, Mrs. Wright, Arthur Wright, The Stone Beauty, Miss Campbell, and others. The Crown Prince, Richard Carter, Henry Carter, and Frank Carter were of course present as well.

At the moment Martha Clark arrived, everyone except for Old Mr. Carter and his wife and George Carter had to rise and pay their respects. Mrs. Carter was sitting right next to George Carter, her body almost pressed against his. When Martha Clark entered, she sprang up as if shocked by electricity.