“You’re actually mistaken. I believe your grandfather definitely remembers you, because your illness was caused by him.” Edward Clark sighed as he heard William Thompson’s words and interjected.

“My illness was caused by him?” William Thompson showed a look of surprise again upon hearing this.

“This is a long story, and it also involves several elders in your family, so your aunt wasn’t in a position to tell you. Only I can explain it…”

Edward Clark sighed again, and then finally told William Thompson some things.

William Thompson’s father, Richard Thompson, was a concubine-born son of Samuel Thompson, ranking third in the family. Because he was born of a concubine, and William Thompson’s biological grandmother died early, Richard Thompson was not valued at home. He was even often bullied when he was young, until he grew up and married William Thompson’s mother, after which he moved out and finally enjoyed some peace.

However, at the end of last year, it happened to be Samuel Thompson’s seventy-fourth birthday. Richard Thompson brought William Thompson back to the Li residence to celebrate. At the birthday banquet, they happened to run into Richard Thompson’s second brother, Robert Thompson.

Robert Thompson was the legitimate son, and he always looked down on the concubine-born Richard Thompson. He had bullied Richard Thompson a lot in the past, and at this birthday banquet, he again mocked and ridiculed Richard Thompson. Originally, Richard Thompson didn’t want to cause trouble, so he just pretended not to hear Robert Thompson’s words.

But Richard Thompson forgot that young William Thompson was hot-blooded. Seeing his father being bullied, he immediately slammed the table and angrily retorted a few times at Robert Thompson. Robert Thompson, unable to out-argue William Thompson, became unreasonable and ordered his three sons to go up and beat William Thompson. Even when Richard Thompson tried to intervene, he was punched a few times by his own nephews, his nose bleeding.

With such a thing happening at the birthday banquet, of course Samuel Thompson was furious. By rights, as a father and grandfather, even if he couldn’t be completely impartial, he shouldn’t be too biased. After all, the fault was originally with Robert Thompson, and he even let his sons beat people. Even if this was reported to the authorities, they would be in the wrong.

However, in Samuel Thompson’s eyes, only Robert Thompson, his legitimate son, mattered. He treated the concubine-born Richard Thompson and his son like servants. Without asking for details, he immediately had William Thompson seized and punished according to family law, claiming he had disrespected his elders. Yet, even though Robert Thompson’s sons had beaten Richard Thompson, he turned a blind eye.

In the end, poor William Thompson was beaten with twenty strokes. Richard Thompson, heartbroken for his son, lay over him to take the blows for him, but Samuel Thompson showed no mercy, having both father and son beaten together. In the end, they were both thrown out of the birthday banquet, and even the birthday gift Richard Thompson had prepared was tossed out. It was utterly heartless—just short of expelling them from the family and severing all ties.

William Thompson was the only son of Richard Thompson and his wife, usually doted on, and he was also very intelligent. At a young age, he had already entered the Imperial Academy, earning quite a reputation among the youth, so he was a bit proud. But this time, he suffered utter humiliation at his grandfather’s house—a blow that was almost devastating for a teenager.

Actually, it’s understandable. William Thompson is only fifteen this year—in modern terms, he’s in adolescence, both physically and mentally immature. Now, after such a huge emotional shock, he simply couldn’t handle it. There’s even a medical term for this: adolescent schizophrenia, a psychological disorder unique to teenagers.

Under these circumstances, not long after returning home, William Thompson went mad—what the famous physician called mania. The once clever William Thompson could no longer study, often sat in a daze or slept with his head covered, dressed sloppily, filthy, sometimes laughing at his reflection, talking to himself, and even occasionally lashing out and smashing things.

As for what happened after William Thompson went mad, there’s no need to go into detail. Anyway, today, William Thompson had another episode, ran out, accidentally fell into the river and drowned—and then William Thompson transmigrated over.

After hearing all this, William Thompson once again showed a pensive expression. He hadn’t expected his family situation to be so complicated, nor that his predecessor had been driven mad by Samuel Thompson.

But no matter how bad the relationship between his family and Samuel Thompson was, it couldn’t change their blood ties. So in half a year, he probably still wouldn’t be able to escape that fatal blow.

Thinking of this, William Thompson was speechless. Not only did he not benefit from Samuel Thompson, he was discriminated against and bullied by him, and in the end, even got dragged down to die with him. No matter how you look at it, it’s just too damn unfair.

Chapter 3: I’m Done Playing

Edward Clark chatted with William Thompson for a long time and also had dinner at William Thompson’s house. At the dinner table, Richard Thompson and his wife saw that although William Thompson had lost his memory, he was no longer as deranged as before, and both showed relieved expressions. After all, William Thompson was their only son, and as long as he was healthy, nothing else mattered.

After dinner, Edward Clark took his leave. William Thompson, using the excuse of being tired, also went back to his room early to rest. But in fact, lying in bed, he wasn’t sleepy at all, and his mind was busy digesting the information he’d gotten from Edward Clark.

Besides matters concerning William Thompson’s family, Edward Clark also introduced his own family situation. As it turned out, Edward Clark, the young marquis, was the real deal, but his family’s title was a bit special, because it wasn’t earned through military merit, but was exchanged for a piece of land.