“Is there an injustice? Then go to the court and appeal... Move, take him away! I still have to return to the palace to report.” The young eunuch glanced disdainfully at Samuel Bolton, waved his hand, and turned to leave.

Immediately, several bailiffs, fierce as wolves and tigers, rushed forward and seized Samuel Bolton, dragging him away.

Between the back courtyard and the front courtyard’s open space stood an arched garden gate. Henry Bolton quietly stood to one side of the courtyard wall, watching with wide eyes as chaos erupted in the front courtyard, his expression growing increasingly grave.

Currently, within the Zhang residence, Clark was in charge of internal affairs, while externally, the eldest son Samuel Bolton acted as the spokesperson. For the eldest son to be suddenly arrested by imperial decree and taken to prison was, for the Zhang family, like half the sky collapsing—how could it not throw the household into turmoil?

And that was not all.

“Falsely claiming omens, slandering the throne”—this basically meant using the pretense of divination to attack and insult the emperor, with the suspicion of plotting rebellion. In an era of imperial power, this was an extremely serious crime, so severe that it could implicate the entire Zhang household and even the whole Zhang clan, threatening their very existence.

“Falsely claiming omens, slandering the throne... What a vicious and heavy accusation! This is saying Samuel Bolton is plotting rebellion!” Henry Bolton leaned heavily against the wall, his mind in turmoil, a fine sheen of sweat breaking out on his forehead.

If Samuel Bolton were convicted of treason, how could the rest of the Zhang family escape implication?

He never imagined that, having transmigrated into the prestigious Zhang family of Chang’an in the flourishing Tang dynasty for less than a day, disaster would strike so suddenly.

He naturally felt no affection for Samuel Bolton, nor any sense of belonging to the Zhang household, but... under a toppled nest, how could any eggs remain intact? If the Zhang family fell, what good days could he possibly have?

“Samuel Bolton himself...” Henry Bolton steadied himself, his thoughts racing.

He quietly sorted through the memories left by the original owner of this body and the historical knowledge from his previous life. Connecting Samuel Bolton’s official position and the fact that he served that famously unfortunate figure in Tang history—the current crown prince, future Emperor Suzong, Li Heng—Henry Bolton formed a fairly direct and clear judgment in his heart, likely not far from the truth.

Li Heng’s tragedy began with having an overly powerful and talented father, Emperor Li Longji. After being made crown prince in the twenty-sixth year of the Kaiyuan era, he lived in constant fear of being deposed, as the miserable fate of the previous crown prince, Li Ying, was still fresh in everyone’s mind.

Li Heng’s misfortune was compounded by the “siege” and exclusion from powerful ministers at court. First there was Li Linfu, and later Yang Guozhong.

Thus, Li Heng’s days were far from easy.

In the first month of the fifth year of Tianbao, because he secretly met with Huanfu Weiming, the military governor of Longyou, and the influential official Wei Jian, Li Linfu seized upon this as a pretext to make a fuss. As a result, Li Linfu impeached Huanfu Weiming and Wei Jian, accusing them of conspiring to install the crown prince privately. Huanfu Weiming and Wei Jian were thus demoted and died tragically, their ends miserable.

Frightened, Li Heng tried to clear himself by submitting a memorial in his own defense, and, citing his lack of affection with Wei Jian’s sister, the crown princess Wei, requested a divorce to show that he would not bend the law for family. Li Longji agreed, Wei was sent to a convent, and from then on, she and Li Heng were like strangers.

By the end of that same year, yet another conspiracy implicated Li Heng. Li Linfu, directing his cronies to impeach, seemed determined not to rest until Li Heng was deposed. With no other choice, Li Heng once again sacrificed his own woman, Du Liangdi, and divorced her.

Only a few years of peace followed before this incident involving Samuel Bolton, the Crown Prince’s Left Admonisher, “falsely claiming omens, slandering the throne” erupted... Henry Bolton pondered, understanding in his heart that this was most likely the work of Li Linfu’s faction, and Samuel Bolton was probably just a pawn being used as a scapegoat.

They arrested Samuel Bolton, but their real target was Li Heng.

...

...

Henry Bolton’s mother, William Bolton’s widow, and the matriarch of the Zhang household, Clark, was just over forty, with a plump figure, attractive features, and a lingering charm.

She came from an official family; her father, Liu Yi, had once served as governor of Yongzhou. Now, at this moment of life and death for the family, this woman, usually gentle in temperament, displayed a certain composure in the face of crisis.

She looked at the second young master of the Zhang family, David Bolton, who was not her biological son, and spoke softly but firmly, “Yi He (David Bolton’s courtesy name), Li Cheng (Samuel Bolton’s courtesy name) has met with disaster and been accused of a crime... There’s no time to lose. You must personally go to your two uncles’ residences and invite them here to discuss the matter.”

David Bolton suppressed his panic and bowed, “Yes. I will go to my uncles’ residences at once to deliver the message and ask them to come and make a decision.”

David Bolton turned and hurried to leave by carriage, but heard Clark add, “Also, Yi He, on your way, stop by Chancellor Chen’s residence and request an audience with him... Beg Chancellor Chen to intercede on our behalf.”

The Chancellor Chen Clark referred to was Chen Xilie, the Left Chancellor, who had served in court with William Bolton for many years and had a fairly good personal relationship. With trouble befalling the Zhang family, it was natural for Clark to think of Chen Xilie.

However, when David Bolton heard this, he paused slightly, a helpless, bitter smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

This Chen Xilie was no longer the man he once was. Now, as Left Chancellor, Chen Xilie echoed Li Linfu at every turn, wielding immense power, and whatever friendship they once had was long gone.

Back when David Bolton wanted an official post outside the capital, he had approached Chen Xilie once, but Chen Xilie refused to even see him and had him turned away at the door.