“Since you’re not feeling well, let’s not go. We should head back and get some rest early!” Edward Clark immediately said upon hearing this.

“That’s fine, but let me catch my breath before we go back. And don’t tell Mother, so she won’t worry!” William Thompson also gradually calmed down at this point. He took a few deep breaths to steady his nerves, and slowly, some color returned to his face.

Seeing William Thompson’s condition improve, Edward Clark finally felt relieved. Still, he had someone fetch some hot water from a nearby shop for William Thompson to drink, which made William Thompson feel a bit better.

Originally, William Thompson thought that since he had already died once, he should be able to take life and death lightly. But when he saw, with his own eyes, living people being beheaded one after another, he suddenly realized he had overestimated himself.

In fact, William Thompson’s reaction was quite normal. The reason those onlookers watched such a brutal spectacle as beheading with such excitement was because they knew the blade wouldn’t fall on their own necks. If they, like William Thompson, knew they would become a ghost under the blade in half a year, their reaction probably wouldn’t be much better than William Thompson’s.

“Cousin, what happened to you just now?” Seeing William Thompson’s expression improve, Edward Clark couldn’t help but ask again. He wasn’t stupid—William Thompson’s reaction didn’t seem like illness, but more like fright.

William Thompson was feeling extremely down. Hearing Edward Clark’s question, he was silent for a moment before finally forcing a bitter smile and saying, “I was thinking, if one day I’m also escorted to the execution ground and beheaded, would there be so many people watching?”

“Cousin, what nonsense are you talking about!” Edward Clark immediately rebuked upon hearing this. William Thompson’s words were just too inauspicious.

“Nonsense? Let’s just call it nonsense then!” William Thompson gave another bitter smile. He didn’t really know how to explain this.

“How could you think that way? No matter what, your grandfather is the founding hero of our Ming dynasty, and the first Grand Chancellor of the court. Even if your relationship isn’t great, as long as you have that connection, it’s impossible for you to end up on the execution ground, right?” Edward Clark calmed down and patiently analyzed with William Thompson, still worried that William Thompson might overthink and have some mental issue.

“What does being Grand Chancellor matter? Cousin, have you forgotten about Hu Weiyong?” William Thompson hesitated for a moment but finally voiced what was on his mind. Some things were just too painful to keep bottled up, and Edward Clark was someone he could trust. Maybe he’d have some perspective, since the onlooker sees more clearly.

“Hu…” Edward Clark was also taken aback at the mention of Hu Weiyong, but quickly shook his head and said, “It’s not the same. How can Hu Weiyong be compared to your grandfather!”

“Why not? In terms of the power of a Grand Chancellor, Hu Weiyong actually had even more power when he was in office!” William Thompson gave another bitter smile. Hu Weiyong monopolized power, pushing the authority of the Grand Chancellor to its limits, which led to conflict between imperial and ministerial power, and ultimately to his tragic end.

“It’s just not the same!” Edward Clark insisted again. At this point, he seemed to think of something, slapped his thigh, and said, “It just so happens we’re on the way. I’ll take you somewhere, and you’ll understand as soon as you see it!”

After saying this, Edward Clark gave a few instructions to the coachman. The carriage soon turned and arrived at a wide street, but stopped at the corner. Then Edward Clark opened the carriage window, pointed outside, and said to William Thompson, “Look, what’s that!”

William Thompson turned to look and saw, not far ahead, a luxurious mansion. Two stone lions stood tall before the grand gatehouse, but what was even more eye-catching was the long line of people stretching from the gate all the way to the end of the street.

What shocked William Thompson was that most of those in line were well-dressed, some even in official robes of seemingly high rank. Yet here they were, standing meekly in line at the gate. When their turn finally came, they respectfully handed over their calling cards, while the gatekeepers looked down their noses at them, showing not the slightest courtesy to these visiting guests.

“Could this be…” William Thompson was astonished at the scene before him. The carriage was a bit far from the gate, so he couldn’t see the characters on the plaque, but he had a vague guess whose mansion this was.

“That’s right, this is your grandfather’s Duke of Han estate. Look at all those people at the gate—they’re all here to visit your grandfather. But as far as I know, no matter how lavish their gifts, it’s very hard for them to actually see your grandfather. At most, they’re invited in for a few sips of tea. Yet even so, they keep coming, and you can’t even drive them away!” Edward Clark explained again.

But upon hearing this, William Thompson gave Edward Clark a strange look and asked, “Cousin, do you really think this is a good thing?”

“Of course it’s a good thing! Your grandfather has been Grand Chancellor for so many years, with students and former subordinates all over the country. Any official transferred to the capital, the first thing they do is visit your grandfather. Every year on your grandfather’s birthday, even if His Majesty doesn’t come, he’ll send the Crown Prince to offer congratulations. Other families’ iron immunity tokens only spare themselves from death, but your grandfather’s can spare two lives—his own and his son’s. Among all the civil and military officials, only your grandfather enjoys such an honor!”