Charles Clark saw that the sun had risen outside, so he went to open the door. A ray of sunlight shot into the attic, instantly brightening the room. Outside, a maid was lingering with a food box in her hand. When she saw Charles Clark open the door, she immediately quickened her steps and came in. It turned out she had seen the newlyweds in their bridal chamber and, fearing they had slept late, was worried about coming too early and disturbing the young lady and her new husband’s sweet dreams, so she had been waiting outside all along.

Ethan Foster had combed her hair, carrying the serene demeanor of a new bride. She accompanied Charles Clark for breakfast, and then they went out together. When they reached the gatehouse, they happened to run into Yvonne Foster, who was heading out with dark circles under her eyes. Ethan Foster was walking with Adam Sullivan, so she called out, “Where are you going, Chenruo?”

Yvonne Foster glanced back, a blush sweeping across her pretty face. Remembering what happened last night, she stammered, “I... I... I have something to do...” With that, she dashed off like the wind.

Charles Clark shook his head at Yvonne Foster’s retreating figure and said, “My little sister-in-law really has the strangest temper. Yesterday she was fierce with me, and now she’s actually shy. Look at those dark circles under her eyes—could it be she was up last night listening to people in the bridal chamber?”

Ethan Foster, hearing this, her pretty face instantly flushed bright red, and she said nervously, “How... how could you say that?”

Charles Clark immediately comforted her, saying, “That’s impossible. Little sister-in-law is very well-behaved; I doubt she’d do something like eavesdrop on a bridal chamber.” But in his heart, he thought, “As if! That little girl is the quirkiest of all—better keep my distance from her.” He added, “Besides, with how loud you were last night, even those who didn’t want to hear probably heard everything.”

Ethan Foster gave Charles Clark a gentle pinch, blushing and pouting, “Nonsense, it’s all your fault.”

Charles Clark chuckled, took Ethan Foster by the arm, and left the gatehouse. They boarded the carriage that had been prepared in advance. The carriage was fairly spacious, but the two of them sat close together. Newlyweds as they were, they couldn’t help but be a little clingy. Seeing that no one was around, Ethan Foster shyly leaned against Charles Clark. As the carriage began to jolt along, Charles Clark chatted with her, and before they knew it, they had turned down several streets.

Once they got in the carriage, Ethan Foster’s face grew even paler. Charles Clark, worried she couldn’t handle it, let her rest her head on his lap for a while. As the carriage bumped along, Charles Clark began to think—so much had happened in the past two days, looking back, it all felt like a dream.

Now he was a married man. Though the Wen family was wealthy, Charles Clark didn’t want to live off others. But if they moved out, would he have to go back to making a living by writing calligraphy on the street? Ethan Foster was frail; he couldn’t let her suffer with him.

Thinking this, Charles Clark felt an unprecedented sense of urgency. No matter what, he needed a career. The days of barely scraping by on his own were over. He needed to earn money, to have status—that was a husband’s responsibility.

But what should he do next? He was just a scholar who had lost his official title, with no capital for business and no hope for an official career. Charles Clark shook his head, thinking, “I’ll have to take the long view. I refuse to believe that a man like me can’t find a place for himself here.”

Lost in thought, the carriage swayed to a stop. Ethan Foster woke up, opened her eyes, and gave Charles Clark a gentle, apologetic smile. “Did my head make your knee sore, husband?”

Charles Clark shook his head, got out of the carriage first, and helped her down, saying, “Your health is so poor, you’d better finish offering incense and go home to rest.”

Ethan Foster responded softly, taking Adam Sullivan’s outstretched hand as she got off the carriage.

It was early morning, and there weren’t many people at the temple. Xizhao Temple was a famous temple in the capital, and Charles Clark had been there a couple of times before. Familiar with the place, he entered the temple with Ethan Foster. When they reached the Mahavira Hall, Ethan Foster first sent the maid to buy incense, then knelt on a prayer mat and silently prayed to the golden Buddha statue.

Charles Clark watched from the side, not disturbing her, only thinking how beautiful she looked with her eyes closed and lips gently moving in prayer.

When Ethan Foster finished praying, she said to Charles Clark, “Husband, you should offer a stick of incense too.”

Charles Clark knelt on the mat as she said, silently prayed, and after offering incense, helped Ethan Foster up. He asked her, “What did you just pray for?”

Ethan Foster smiled and said, “If I tell you, it won’t come true.”

Charles Clark said, “Whose rule is that? It only works if you say it out loud.”

Ethan Foster couldn’t resist him, and with a shy look, said, “I prayed to the Buddha to let me give you a child soon.”

Charles Clark was surprised, thinking how strong the thinking of people in ancient times was. But seeing Ethan Foster’s earnest expression, he couldn’t help but feel touched. He said, “Guess what I prayed for.”

Ethan Foster giggled, “I can’t guess.”

Charles Clark said seriously, “Is ten thousand taels of silver a lot?”

Ethan Foster looked confused, “And then?”

Charles Clark smiled wryly, “I seemed to hear the Buddha reply: ten thousand taels of silver is just a single hair to him, not worth mentioning. So I wept and prayed, begging the Buddha to grant me a single hair, and then...”

Ethan Foster couldn’t help but smile, “And then what happened?”