“Hehe~ That won’t do. The imperial consort personally instructed that until your amnesia is cured, you must take your medicine every day. Otherwise, I’ll be punished.” Anna said with a smile. Back in the palace, she had heard of Duke Howard’s notorious reputation. When Grace Howard assigned her to serve Louis Thompson, she had even secretly cried a few times out of fear. But unexpectedly, after this Duke Howard contracted amnesia, all his former arrogance and unruliness vanished, and he became courteous and polite, even treating servants like her with kindness. After a few days together, both she and Emma had become much bolder, and sometimes even dared to joke a little with this Duke Howard.

Although he had not yet met the mysterious Grace Howard from history, he could already feel how doting this mother was toward her son. For example, when George Thompson got into trouble with the marriage arrangement, as soon as he woke up, he was scolded by Abraham Lincoln and put under house arrest. But Grace Howard, as his mother, not only didn’t blame him, but sent people to comfort him, saying she would find a way to break off the engagement so he wouldn’t have to worry. In Grace Howard’s view, marrying a concubine’s daughter would be a disgrace to her son, making it impossible for him to hold his head up among the royal family, so she was determined to find a way to call off the marriage.

What surprised William Thompson even more was that just after he sent away the maids around him, Grace Howard sent over Anna and Emma, along with a message: if you didn’t like the previous maids, that’s fine—Anna and Emma were raised by her from childhood, and are even more beautiful than the others. She had planned to give them to him in a couple of years, but since he had no one to serve him now, she sent them early.

And on the very night Anna and Emma arrived, the two girls put on quite a show by coming to serve him in the nude, which startled Charles Thompson so much that he hurriedly stopped their further ‘advances’, or the consequences would have been very serious. He even frightened the two girls into tears, thinking that this Duke Howard didn’t like them, but finally Brian Thompson managed to coax them into smiles. With such a doting mother, it’s no wonder the historical Duke Howard was so notoriously unruly.

“Your Highness, Duke Howard has come to visit you.” At that moment, Emma ran in from outside, a little out of breath from running too fast, her round little face flushed red, looking very cute. Since Anna and Emma were personal maids sent by Grace Howard, their looks needed no further mention—they were both top beauties. Anna was more quiet and delicate, while Emma was lively and adorable.

“Why is Third Brother here? Didn’t Father forbid anyone from visiting me?” Brian Thompson muttered to himself in confusion. Abraham Lincoln had confined Carl Thompson for three months and forbade anyone from visiting, not even allowing Grace Howard to see her son. So why would Henry Thompson come today? Wasn’t he afraid of being punished by their father?

Chapter 3: The Bad News Brought by Henry Thompson

Although he was puzzled, Eric Thompson still went out to greet Henry Thompson. What he found hardest to adapt to after returning to ancient times was the excessive etiquette. For example, he and Henry Thompson were real brothers, and by George Thompson’s modern standards, Henry Thompson could just come in directly. But Eric Thompson still had to go out to welcome him. The Howard Manor covered a vast area, and without cars or motorcycles, every trip left him drenched in sweat—coming and going was extremely inconvenient. But that was the etiquette; even real brothers couldn’t neglect it.

“Third Brother, didn’t Father forbid anyone from visiting me? Aren’t you afraid of being punished?” Carl Thompson asked directly upon entering the living room. As soon as he came in, he saw Henry Thompson already sitting there enjoying tea. He had met Henry Thompson on the first day he regained consciousness, so they were fairly familiar.

Mark Thompson sat comfortably on a chair. Normally, people in the Tang Dynasty sat on their knees, and although chairs had already appeared, not many people used them. Of course, someone like Edward Thompson from modern times wasn’t used to kneeling, so he had craftsmen make several types of modern furniture, including chairs.

“Hehe? This style of folding chair is quite ingenious and novel!” Henry Thompson didn’t answer, but instead looked around at the chairs and tea table in the living room, expressing his surprise. In the Tang Dynasty, chairs were also called folding stools, and could be used for sitting or lying down, so they were usually large and heavy. The kind of chair Adam Thompson had made wouldn’t appear until the middle or late Tang Dynasty, and with their fine materials and craftsmanship, it was no wonder Henry Thompson found them ingenious and novel.

“Hehe, just a little trinket. If you like it, Third Brother, I’ll have some more made and sent to your residence.” Paul Thompson said with a smile.

“Then thank you, Sixth Brother!” Henry Thompson replied without ceremony, picking up his tea bowl, taking a sip, and setting it conveniently on the tea table.

“Third Brother, you still haven’t answered my question.” Jack Thompson reminded him again, seeing that his brother was only interested in the furnishings.