Bringing William back to the Harris Residence was his decision. Although their Harris Family currently enjoyed great imperial favor, and his son Philip had been appointed Grand General and was about to become the governor of Songzhou, he remained very cautious. He did not want to be impeached by the censors over his son having an illegitimate child. He repeatedly instructed his son: there is no illegitimate child, William was born of a concubine. Unexpectedly, his son forgot to remind his daughter-in-law, and now the entire household knew that the illegitimate child had arrived, which made him furious.

Philip Harris, relying on his father’s military achievements, was granted the title of Pillar of State, holding the same second-rank official position as his father. Later, he was demoted by one rank to Grand General, still a high minister in the court. However, he did not establish his own residence; Thomas Harris preferred the whole family to live together. His Duke of Yue residence was as grand as a palace, spacious enough to accommodate himself and his sons’ families living together.

Thomas Harris entered the room, restraining his anger, and sat unceremoniously on the main couch. Philip Harris and Mrs. Walker had no choice but to stand behind him. He beckoned to William and said gently, “Come to your grandfather!”

Thomas Harris had a very good impression of William. Just now, the little fellow had clenched his tiny fists, fierce as a little tiger, quite formidable. As a general on the battlefield, he liked such tough children.

William knew that whether he would have a future in the Harris Residence depended on his performance at this moment. Although he usually concealed his maturity with silence, if he could display himself appropriately, he would not be seen as a monster, but as a prodigy.

He immediately stepped forward, knelt down, respectfully kowtowed three times, and said in a childish voice, “Grandson William kowtows to grandfather.”

Thomas Harris saw his calm demeanor and loud, clear speech, nothing like a three-year-old child. He felt a bit uncertain and glanced back at his son, as if to ask, are you sure?

Philip Harris nodded. As soon as William entered, he noticed the red mole under William’s left ear, his way of identifying his son—a detail even William’s mother didn’t know. More importantly, he had only been away from William for a year, and he remembered clearly what William looked like.

Seeing the confirmation, Thomas Harris immediately took a liking to William, hurriedly pulled him up, hugged him in his arms, and asked with a beaming smile, “Why are you called William?”

Leaning against Thomas Harris’s arm, William felt the solid muscles and the overwhelming aura of authority that made him feel oppressed. Yet, within Thomas Harris’s sternness, there was a trace of kindly laughter—a grandfather’s affection for his grandson—which put him somewhat at ease.

“Mother said I was born on New Year’s Day, so I’m called William.” This was what his uncle had told him on the way.

Thomas Harris had killed countless people in his life, blood soaking a thousand miles, his heart as cold as stone. But at this moment, feeling the child’s tender body—his own grandson, carrying his bloodline—a trace of warmth rose in his heart. Smiling, he nodded and asked again, “Do you know who your grandfather is?”

“I know, grandfather is the Duke of Yue.” William had just realized that the first seal character on the plaque should be ‘Yue’.

Thomas Harris was slightly taken aback, a bit surprised. “Who told you that?”

William had been waiting for this question. He immediately put on a cute smile. “Isn’t it written on the plaque above the main gate? Duke of Yue Residence.”

At this, not only Thomas Harris was stunned—even Philip Harris and Mrs. Walker exchanged glances in disbelief. A three-year-old child could actually recognize seal script!

“William, who taught you to read?” Thomas Harris asked him slowly.

“My mother taught me. She taught me to recognize many characters, and I can recite poems too.”

He immediately recited in a childish voice: “Chiluchuan, beneath Yin Mountain, the sky is like a dome, covering the vast plains…”

Clever and lively children are always loved by all. Thomas Harris had only intended to comfort William’s young heart, but unexpectedly, he was captivated by him. He became very interested in William, gently stroked his long beard, and smiled as he tested him, “Did your mother ever tell you that your grandfather is the Duke of Yue?”

William shook his head and, without missing a beat, offered a subtle compliment, “Mother never said so, but on the way here I kept hearing people say that the Duke of Yue is the greatest hero in the world. I didn’t know that was my grandfather.”

Although this flattery was simple and direct, its effect was powerful—depending on who said it. If a thirty-year-old adult said this, it would be nauseating, but from the mouth of a three-year-old, it was completely different. Its authenticity was convincing. Thomas Harris was overjoyed, stroking his beard and laughing heartily, “Good child, truly a prodigy!”

Beside him, Mrs. Walker secretly thought this was bad. This child was a little genius—if this went on, the old man would be completely charmed by him. She coughed lightly and said with a forced smile, “Father, how should we arrange for him?”

Thomas Harris didn’t much like his eldest daughter-in-law, because her aunt was Thomas Harris’s ex-wife, a famously fierce woman. In the fourth year of the Kaihuang era, one night, Thomas Harris and his wife quarreled in bed. Thomas Harris angrily scolded her, ‘If I were emperor, I would never let you be empress.’

His wife was not to be outdone. The next day, she reported these words to Emperor Yang Jian, resulting in Thomas Harris’s dismissal. If not for his campaign against the Chen dynasty, his career would have ended there. Not long after, Lady Zheng died, and Thomas Harris married the sister of He Ruobi, but he still held a grudge against his ex-wife and, by extension, disliked his eldest son’s wife.

Thomas Harris turned and glared fiercely at his daughter-in-law. “This child’s mother has passed away, so naturally he is to be raised by you. Is that even a question? Teach him well—I will come to check on him.”