James Grant's heart tightened once again, and the conviction that had already wavered in his heart became even more blurred. He turned his head aside a little awkwardly, then suddenly let out a long laugh: “Alice Linton, you are overthinking it. I have no intention of avoiding the eight envoys; you have simply misunderstood me. However, throughout history, the envoys have always been the king’s advisors, and it is naturally best to have no outsiders present when discussing confidential matters.”

He then put on a friendly face, gestured for Henry Linton to sit to the side, and only then stood with his hands behind his back, the signs of age on his face vanishing without a trace. “Since my ascension to the throne, I have constantly wished to restore the glory of Zhongzhou and make all the people of the world submit to the king’s way. Yet, with the four kingdoms in turmoil, even though I control nearly eighty percent of the land of Shenzhou, my royal command reaches only as far as Huadu. Even in other parts of Zhongzhou, my orders are obeyed in name but not in spirit. Over time, these constraints have become more severe, and I feel increasingly powerless. The current situation is even more dire than I imagined.”

Seeing that Henry Linton's expression did not change in the slightest, he could not help but feel a bit anxious and displeased, but he continued, “Now that you, Alice Linton, have emerged as the envoy, you can assist me in achieving unprecedented feats. Alas, if the envoys of previous generations had not lacked ambition, how could Zhongzhou have fallen to its current state?”

Henry Linton digested James Grant's words one by one, his mind a complete blank. Having just arrived in this world, apart from the memories in his mind, he had no understanding whatsoever of the situation among the various states—how could he possibly make any promises? Although the emperor before him was full of passion, how could he guarantee that he was not as scheming as David Wood? After all, as a thirteen-year-old boy, there was truly very little he could do.

“Your Majesty, I cannot give you any definite answer.” After pondering for a long time, Henry Linton finally stood up and replied, “Zhongzhou has been weak for a long time; it cannot be restored by my status alone. You say you are heavily constrained—am I not the same?” After much thought, he decided to reveal a little of his intentions. “Though all things in the world are done by people, not everything can be decided by oneself. I have only just entered the world and have not even grasped the basics, let alone possess any talent for governing or saving the world. If Your Majesty permits, please assign wise and capable people in the country to teach me about the grand situation, and allow me to read various classics. Since Your Majesty has such lofty ambitions, then I, Henry Linton, though of meager ability, will do my utmost to assist you!”

James Grant finally turned back to scrutinize this seemingly ordinary youth, and waves of shock surged in his heart. He had judged countless people in his life and prided himself on being able to see through others at a glance, yet he had failed with Henry Linton. In front of the Hall of the Honored Envoy, the reason he had handed over his sword was not only to win the hearts of the people, but also as a test, and Henry Linton had given him the best answer. This meeting at the Pavilion of Trust was yet another test of the other’s character, but the answer he received was again completely unexpected. “David Wood, oh David Wood, you made an extraordinary choice, but do you really know who the true victor is?” After pondering for a moment, James Grant slowly nodded, then raised his hand and laughed: “Very well, I agree. Let us seal it with a handshake!”

A smile finally appeared on Henry Linton's face, and he raised his right hand as well. After a crisp clap, the two of them suddenly burst into laughter together. The complex emotions in their laughter were understood only in part, even by the two involved.

Chapter Eight: Confrontation

When they walked out of the Pavilion of Trust, King Hua James Grant and Henry Linton were both all smiles. In Samuel Johnson's eyes, this was naturally a great joy, but for David Wood and the others, their hearts sank. They all knew that Henry Linton was merely an impostor, and their original intention was to prevent him from getting too close to the emperor and the ministers, for fear that he would give himself away. Unexpectedly, Henry Linton and King Hua James Grant had sat together in the Pavilion of Trust for half a day, not even touching any food. Aside from a harmonious relationship between ruler and subject or some secret plot, there was no other explanation. Everyone knew that Henry Linton had previously been a commoner from the countryside—how could he possibly understand the affairs of the world? The so-called harmony between ruler and subject was a joke; thus, the only conclusion the eight envoys could draw was the word “conspiracy.”

Henry Linton bowed deeply to King Hua James Grant to take his leave, then immediately turned and left, not even greeting David Wood and the others. Sensing trouble, the eight envoys hurriedly followed after him. David Wood's gaze was sharp, and he even noticed a strange, mocking smile on King Hua James Grant's face. Thinking he had everything under control, he could not tolerate anything slipping from his grasp, and secretly resolved that once they returned to the Hall of the Honored Envoy, he would make sure Henry Linton understood who was truly in charge.

King Hua James Grant watched the group’s departing figures, standing silently in place for a long time, as if deep in thought. After standing quietly for a full quarter of an hour, he finally said to Samuel Johnson, “Today I finally understand why the former kings who had the assistance of envoys all enjoyed a reputation for wisdom. With such a shrewd and cautious person by one’s side, how could an emperor dare not to give his all? Hahahaha!” He suddenly threw his head back and laughed, and the hearty sound of his laughter sounded especially grating to the ministers standing below.