John Adams was taken aback for a moment, thought for a bit, and said, “I don’t have any particular requirements. It’s just Leonard Grant and me living together, so as long as it’s spacious, clean, and quiet, that’s enough. Oh, and it’d be best if someone can cook well—I can be a bit picky with food sometimes.”

　　Brother Bolton furrowed his brows.

　　“If it’s just about being spacious and clean, that’s easy enough. But providing meals… that’s not so simple.

　　By the way, you don’t mind living together with the landlord, do you?”

　　John Adams shook his head and said, “As long as their character is upright, I don’t really mind.”

　　“Hahaha, now that you mention it, I actually have a good place to recommend.”

　　“Oh?”

　　“There’s a residence in Chongde Ward, a standalone house with its own courtyard. The landlord and her son also live there.

　　You know, most students who come to Chang’an don’t like sharing with others, so it can be inconvenient, and that place has been vacant for a while. It’s not far from the Academy, the environment is nice and quiet, and the landlord is a great cook.”

　　John Adams looked at Brother Bolton, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

　　Brother Bolton’s expression was a bit awkward.

　　He spoke softly, “Please don’t take it the wrong way, Helen Grant. My family isn’t well-off. It was only thanks to Edward Lincoln’s appreciation that I got a position at the Imperial Academy, but I have to cover all my own expenses. You know how hard it is to live in Chang’an—I have to find ways to earn money.”

　　Yesterday, when they checked in, Brother Bolton had been unexpectedly enthusiastic.

　　John Adams had thought that was just his nature, but hadn’t realized…

　　But so what? As Brother Bolton said, for an ordinary person to study at the Imperial Academy is no easy feat. And since he has to pay for everything himself, in a place like Chang’an, if you don’t find other sources of income, it really is hard to get by.

　　“In that case, I’ll trouble you to make the introduction, Brother Bolton.”

　　“Alright, I’ll take you there right now.”

　　Brother Bolton was very enthusiastic and immediately went ahead to lead the way.

　　Leonard Grant gently tugged on John Adams’s sleeve, but John Adams shook his head at him, so he kept quiet.

　　He knew his young master’s temperament very well.

　　Besides, Brother Bolton was a Taixue student—if he really had bad intentions, it would be hard for him to stay at the Imperial Academy in the future. Still, he wasn’t sure if this Brother Bolton was reliable. By comparison, Leonard Grant trusted the brokers more, since the city office could vouch for them.

　　But since John Adams had already decided, there was no harm in going to take a look.

　　Thinking this, Leonard Grant hurried a few steps to catch up with the other two.

　　Brother Bolton, whose full name was James Bolton, courtesy name Jack Manning, was from Xiangzhou.

　　He was twenty-six years old, five years older than John Adams. He had also come to the Imperial Academy two years earlier than John Adams, making him a senior student.

　　James Bolton was very sociable and extremely enthusiastic.

　　He had lived in Chang’an for over two years and was very familiar with the city.

　　As they walked, he introduced things to John Adams.

　　The three of them walked out of the West Market ward gate, heading straight for Chongde Ward.

　　“This used to be the residence of Prince Xiao of Qin, Yang Jun, in the previous dynasty. Later, it was converted into two Buddhist nunneries.”

　　As they entered Chongde Ward, James Bolton led the way and explained the situation inside to John Adams.

　　“The west gate is called Jidu Nunnery; the east gate is Daode Nunnery.”

　　At this point, James Bolton suddenly lowered his voice and said quietly, “Last year, after Emperor Taizong passed away, Daode Nunnery was renamed Chongsheng Temple, which became a separate temple for Taizong and is still under renovation. The nuns from Jidu Nunnery at the west gate were relocated to Xiushan Temple in Anyefang. Now, Jidu Nunnery has been converted into Lingbao Temple, where the late emperor’s concubines have all become nuns and practice Buddhism.”

　　John Adams was a bit stunned as he listened, stopping to glance at the tightly closed temple gate.

　　“So, there are no security issues in Chongde Ward.”

　　As James Bolton spoke, he pulled John Adams into a cross alley, then turned into a winding lane.

　　The residential wards of Chang’an had their own standardized layout.

　　Within each ward, a main cross street divided it into four large sections, and each section had its own cross alley. This way, the whole ward was divided into sixteen areas, each with winding lanes—what we’d traditionally call alleys—connecting the entire ward together.

　　James Bolton led John Adams through the winding lanes, just skirting the main gate of Lingbao Temple, and brought them to the back gate.

　　“It’s very close to the temple here, so most people don’t come by, making it very quiet.”

　　He smiled as he introduced the place to John Adams, then walked into another winding lane, turning back to wave at the two of them.

　　“Come on, it’s just ahead.”

　　John Adams and Leonard Grant exchanged a glance and followed James Bolton into the lane.

　　The three of them arrived in front of a house. James Bolton said, “This is the place. What do you think, Helen Grant?”

　　“Let’s take a look inside first.”

　　James Bolton nodded, stepped forward, and knocked on the door, calling out loudly, “Mrs. Lane, it’s James Bolton, I’ve brought someone to see the house!”

Chapter Three Miss Lane

　　This was a very typical Chang’an residence.

　　Separated only by a shoulder-high, rammed-earth courtyard wall, John Adams could see everything clearly.

　　In the square, one-mu courtyard, there was a main house with a hall and two side rooms. On the left was a wing with two rooms, on the right a kitchen, and there was also a small stable. However, the stable was empty, and from the cobwebs at the entrance, it was clear it had been abandoned for quite some time.

　　According to Tang law, a family of three was entitled to one mu of residential land.