Clark sighed and quickened her pace. As she approached, she nodded to Scott and Joyce, speaking softly, “Please don’t worry. Licheng has always abided by the family rules and acted with composure. The so-called crime is nothing but slander by petty people. His Majesty is wise and mighty—he will surely clear Licheng’s name and restore the Zhang family’s innocence.”

“Eldest sister-in-law, please rest assured. Elder brother will definitely be safe and sound. Right now, our two uncles are out everywhere seeking news… Elder brother will be fine.” Henry Bolton also smiled gently and spoke quietly from the side.

Scott lifted her eyes slightly and glanced weakly at Henry Bolton, not taking to heart the words of this younger brother-in-law who had always been so dissolute. Her spirits were so low that she couldn’t even be bothered to respond. Instead, she stepped forward and threw herself into Clark’s arms, sobbing sorrowfully.

Samuel Bolton’s two children, seeing this, also ran over crying, one on each side, clutching at Clark’s dress and wailing in grief.

……

……

Henry Bolton quietly retreated to his own small courtyard.

The so-called rear courtyard of the Zhang residence was a general term, roughly referring to four or five separate small courtyards lined up side by side, with Clark, Samuel Bolton, David Bolton, and Henry Bolton each occupying one. Although Henry Bolton was not yet married, he also had his own.

With such a major incident in the Zhang household, Henry Bolton had not returned, so Ruyan and Ruyu dared not slack off, standing respectfully in the courtyard waiting. When they saw Henry Bolton drift into the courtyard, they hurriedly greeted him with deference, “Third Young Master!”

Henry Bolton nodded to the two delicate and lovely young maids, then strode into the house, sat down at the sandalwood desk, and fell into deep thought, silent and unmoving.

The two girls dared not make a sound and stood obediently to the side. From their angle, Henry Bolton, dressed in fine clothes with a face as handsome as carved jade, showed not the slightest trace of the lewdness he was rumored for. Instead, he appeared clear-minded, elegant, and refined to the utmost.

“Third Young Master is actually quite handsome,” Ruyan murmured, rubbing the corner of her skirt, stealing glances at Henry Bolton’s striking features. The graceful curve of his nose, sharp as an eagle’s or a falcon’s, stirred a faint ripple in her heart.

Ruyu, meanwhile, lowered her head slightly, but her bright eyes kept darting over Henry Bolton, and a subtle blush crept onto her pretty cheeks.

These two young maids, not very old but already influenced by the amorous atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty, found themselves more and more delighted the longer they looked, completely forgetting the despair and sorrow they’d felt just two days ago when they were first assigned to this small courtyard. The Third Young Master before them, whom they had recently feared like a wild beast, now seemed rather handsome and charming.

It couldn’t be said that the two girls were infatuated. For them, whether Henry Bolton was a wastrel or a scholar made little difference—their fate as maids was already sealed, and all they hoped for was a stable outcome.

Though they hadn’t spent much time with Henry Bolton, their sensitive hearts vaguely sensed that this master was not as bad or heartless as the rumors and the tales from other maids suggested. With this in mind, as they “re-examined” Henry Bolton, they felt a bit more pleasantly surprised and at ease, and a bit less fearful and anxious.

This Third Young Master was actually not bad. If only he wouldn’t be so heartless and fickle, discarding them like worn-out shoes after tiring of their bodies, it would be even better. This was the genuine, unspoken thought of both girls at that moment—a kind of spiritual self-consolation, perhaps.

The budding feelings of Ruyan and Ruyu for Henry Bolton were, of course, unknown to him. At this moment, he was lost in endless contemplation.

The memories of two lifetimes surged forth and gradually merged into one. He had to focus his mind and sort through his slightly chaotic thoughts, hoping to find valuable information to plan and “guide” his survival and development in this era.

His previous life as a historian and a modern official had given him a clear mind, profound learning, and decisive political acumen. In retrospect, this was actually advantageous for integrating into this era, and it gave him an unparalleled, unique innate edge.

Li Linfu, Li Longji, Crown Prince Li Heng, Ji Wen, Yang Guozhong, the entire Zhang family… One unfamiliar face after another, the historical records of this particular time, the analyses and judgments of later generations, even the anecdotes and various tales from unofficial histories—all flashed through his mind.

Henry Bolton’s gaze was sharp as a blade, his brows tightly furrowed.

Then, he slowly reached out to the desk, groping for something, but came up empty. The movement was gentle, but in the eyes of Ruyan and Ruyu, it seemed a bit odd.

Henry Bolton pinched his fingers together, then brought two fingers to his lips, and couldn’t help but give a wry smile. In his previous life, he had a heavy smoking habit, especially when pondering major issues—he couldn’t do without a cigarette. But from now on, he would have to quit this bad habit. In fact, not just smoking—many of his living habits would have to be broken and slowly adapted to anew.

Henry Bolton let out a long breath, forcibly suppressing his craving for a smoke.

Just then, Ruyu walked over softly, her face showing a shy yet joyful smile. Her slender, delicate hands held a finely crafted celadon teapot as she knelt beside his desk.