The next day was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the academy was on holiday. Charles Carter set out early with the old servant to the Grand General’s residence to collect the festival “allotment,” which consisted of daily necessities and a small amount of silver. This was his main source of livelihood.

The old servant took the items home, while Charles Carter went to the front courtyard, waiting for arrangements as he did every year.

Every year on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Carter family would hold a grand family banquet, but not everyone was qualified to attend. Especially for the grown sons and grandsons, the Grand General rarely allowed them to interact with the women of the inner quarters—not even from a distance.

As expected, Charles Carter was not selected this year either. Like his other brothers, he received a jug of wine, drank a cup in public, and could take the rest home—this was considered fulfilling the bond between father and son.

The Grand General William Carter seemed to have forgotten about this son again, which was not unusual for him.

The wine was excellent. Charles Carter thought of saving it for guests, but by evening, he realized he rarely had visitors—even his good friend Victor Mason seldom came by. So he had the old servant heat up some dishes and finished the jug of wine himself. Still unsatisfied, he took up his sword and practiced in the courtyard. After stopping, he gazed up at the bright moon, faintly hearing the sound of music from the Grand General’s residence across the alley, which stirred up a wave of emotion in him.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. The old servant had asked for leave to meet with his drinking friends, so there was no one else at home. Charles Carter went to open the door himself.

“I guessed you’d be home, Brother Chu,” Victor Mason greeted with a cupped-fist salute outside the door, bringing wine, meat, and another guest.

Victor Mason had inherited his father’s marquisate. Though his family was not wealthy, he was still better off than Charles Carter, who had a family but no official post. So he always brought his own food and drink, never imposing on others.

Charles Carter happened to still be in high spirits from the wine and, after a bout of swordplay, his throat was parched. Seeing the wine, his mouth watered, so he quickly put away his sword and invited the guests in. “Brother Ma, what brings you here tonight? When did Brother Guo return?”

The guest Victor Mason brought was surnamed Guo, named Franklin Grant, a bit older—about twenty-eight or twenty-nine. He had also studied at the Youxue Academy, graduated a few years ago, but failed to secure a position in Luoyang, so he traveled the world and hadn’t been heard from in years.

Franklin Gordon was a bit plumper than before, his face beaming with good cheer. He cupped his hands and said, “It’s been several years since we parted in the Eastern Capital. The dashing youth of that time is now a fine gentleman. Brother Chu, were you practicing swordplay and admiring the moon at home?”

The two had not been close before, but now Franklin Gordon called him “Brother Chu” without the slightest reserve.

Charles Carter put away his sword and smiled, “Just practicing some flowery sword moves for fun.”

Neither Victor Mason nor Franklin Gordon had brought servants; they carried the food and wine in themselves, and Charles Carter lit a lamp for illumination.

Victor Mason looked around. “Where’s your old simpleton?”

“He’s out with his drinking friends tonight.”

“Perfect.” Victor Mason set out several dishes and pointed at Franklin Gordon, “This is the man I mentioned. I was planning to get together in a few days, but Brother Guo said, ‘No day like today, better early than late,’ so here we are. Sorry for the sudden visit, Brother Chu.”

The three sat down and toasted each other. Charles Carter did not mention the matter of regicide; Franklin Gordon was the first to speak: “Are you still hesitating, Brother Chu? With a foolish ruler on the throne and treacherous ministers in power, eliminating the tyrant is not just for our own fame and fortune, but to rid the world of a great evil.”

“I’m afraid we may lack the strength, even if we have the will.”

“If it were any other emperor, the three of us wouldn’t even dare dream of such a thing. But the current emperor is different—though he sits on the throne, he has the heart of a commoner. Rumor has it—” Franklin Gordon lowered his voice, “that the emperor has taken a liking to going out incognito since a few years ago, and it’s become more and more frequent. He often disappears from the palace for three or five days at a time, spending the night in commoners’ homes. To kill such a foolish ruler, one sword per man would be enough.”

Charles Carter had heard the rumors and guessed that Victor Mason’s plan must be based on this. He said, “It’s not that easy. Though His Majesty often leaves the palace in disguise, his whereabouts are secret and outsiders have no way of knowing. How could we just happen to run into him in or outside the capital? Even if we did, the emperor is surely accompanied by guards. One sword per man may not be enough.”

“That depends on the man and the sword,” Victor Mason interjected, his expression very serious. “I happen to know someone with the courage to face ten thousand men, always full of righteous zeal, willing to rid the world of evil, even at the cost of his life.”

Charles Carter looked at Franklin Gordon, who quickly waved his hands, “Not me—I can’t even handle fancy sword moves.”

“This man is always elusive. When everything is ready, I’ll introduce him to you, Brother Chu, so you’ll see there really are people in this world who can take the enemy general’s head amidst ten thousand troops,” Victor Mason said confidently.

“And the emperor’s whereabouts?” Charles Carter asked.

“That’s where we’ll have to rely on you, Brother Chu,” Victor Mason replied with a smile.

“Me?” Charles Carter was very surprised.

“To be precise, your esteemed brother John Carter.”

“Third Brother?” Charles Carter was even more shocked. Third Brother Henry Carter was the legitimate eldest son of the family, now a general of the central army, holding high rank and power, but addicted to drink, not good at leading troops, and not much involved in affairs.

Franklin Gordon smiled, “Doesn’t the Carter family value brotherhood? Brother Chu, you don’t seem to know much about your esteemed brother.”

“There are many brothers in my family. Who knows when another one will pop up? We don’t interact much. You two expect me to get information from the central army general…” Charles Carter stopped, wondering if he could ever gain Third Brother’s trust.

“It’s a difficult task—only you can do it, Brother Chu,” Victor Mason leaned in. “Your esteemed brother John Carter is highly favored. Every time the emperor leaves the palace, he is always by his side.”