After entering the main gate and passing two screens, Jack Thompson saw Harold King dressed as a beautiful woman, half-reclining on the couch reading a book, with several palace maids attending her. The woman on the couch was stunningly beautiful, tall and slender, with her head bowed and a swallowtail-shaped hairpin in her hair, dressed in a light green gauze long skirt. Her entire being exuded an air of calm detachment and ethereal elegance, as if she were an immortal descended from the heavens, untouched by the mortal world.

This fairy-like beauty must be his mother, Grace Howard. David Thompson couldn't help but understand why his mother was so favored by Abraham Lincoln. With such unparalleled beauty and noble birth, old Comrade Li was truly blessed. Thinking of this, even Scott Thompson couldn't help but feel jealous of his own father. He wondered if his underage fiancée was as beautiful as his mother.

“Scott, why did you take so long? Mother has been waiting for you for such a long time!” The voice of Brian Thompson interrupted Grace Howard, who was reading. When she saw Louis Thompson, she immediately jumped off the couch and hugged Paul Thompson, calling out. The previous air of calm detachment vanished without a trace, and she transformed into a doting mother overflowing with affection.

“Ahem~ Mother, please let go of me, I can hardly breathe!” He hadn’t expected his pampered mother to have such strength, hugging him so tightly he could barely breathe. Besides, George Thompson was already over ten years old, and being suddenly hugged by a young woman he’d just met left Charles Thompson feeling awkward and embarrassed, hastily finding an excuse for Grace Howard to let go.

“Oh dear, I forgot that Scott just recovered from his injury. Quickly, tell mother, how are you feeling now?” Grace Howard hurriedly let go of Edward Thompson, pulled over George Thompson, and anxiously examined him.

“It’s nothing, your son is fine now, I just can’t remember things from before.” Peter Thompson tried to pull away Grace Howard’s hand, but failed, and could only let his mother ruffle his hair.

“My poor child, wuwu~~, it’s all that scoundrel Cheng’s fault, damn him…” Although Grace Howard had long known about Louis Thompson’s injury, hearing her son say it himself made her heart ache and she began to cry, cursing the Cheng family as she wept. At this moment, Grace Howard had lost all her fairy-like grace and was no different from a shrew cursing in the street. But Louis Thompson was deeply moved; from this beautiful Grace Howard, he once again felt that long-lost motherly love.

After a few curses, Grace Howard couldn’t continue, as she had spent almost her entire life in the palace and didn’t really know how to curse, repeating the same few phrases. Steven Thompson comforted her with a few words, finally stopping Grace Howard’s tears. Henry Thompson, watching from the side, felt jealous, thinking his mother was truly biased—when he was injured riding a horse, she hadn’t shown such concern.

Afterwards, Grace Howard held Mark Thompson’s hand and, unsurprisingly, the conversation turned to the Empress Zhangsun’s illness. Grace Howard lavishly praised Philip Thompson, saying that she was well cared for in the palace thanks to the Empress, and that the two of them were as close as sisters. Seeing her “sister” tormented by illness, she had cried countless times in secret. Now, with Thomas Thompson’s efforts, the Empress’s condition had improved a little, and Grace Howard could finally be at ease. She was also very gratified that her youngest son had finally grown up and become sensible! Listening to this, Louis Thompson broke out in a cold sweat—if Grace Howard knew that the son before her was no longer her original son, who knows how she would react?

Later, Grace Howard talked about some matters concerning George Thompson, and Henry Thompson occasionally chimed in. However, Brian Thompson noticed that Grace Howard’s words weren’t entirely reliable, as in her account, Peter Thompson was simply a gentle and honest child, completely unrelated to the notorious and lawless Prince Liang known to the outside world. But this was understandable; in the eyes of all doting mothers, their sons were always pure and flawless angels.

Both lunch and dinner were spent with Grace Howard in the Wangyun Hall. In her good mood, Grace Howard personally made chicken soup, and Howard Thompson found it delicious, finishing it all in one go, making Grace Howard beam with joy, while Henry Thompson could only gloomily eat the tasteless leftover chicken.

It wasn’t until the palace gates were about to close that Grace Howard finally let the two brothers leave the palace, giving them many gifts as they left, especially new clothes for both, all hand-sewn by Grace Howard herself, with fine stitches and exquisite workmanship, fitting them perfectly. This made Charles Thompson once again marvel at old Comrade Li’s good fortune—if you’re going to marry, you should marry someone like Grace Howard, not only beautiful but also skilled in both cooking and needlework, truly the ideal woman for both the drawing room and the kitchen.

Henry Thompson and George Thompson lived in the same direction, so they parted ways only when they reached Henry Thompson’s Prince of Shu residence. After returning to his own place, Eric Thompson sorted through everything he had seen and heard that day: he had met the historical Emperor Taizong, his father, and the stunning beauty Grace Howard, his mother. Although Abraham Lincoln wasn’t particularly affectionate towards him, overall things weren’t bad—at least he still arranged for his son to return to school.

Thinking about having to go to the palace tomorrow to study with a bunch of little kids, Steven Thompson felt both amused and helpless. In his previous life, he had attended school for over ten years and could be considered an educated person, but now, in the Tang Dynasty, he was shamefully starting over with a group of children. It was truly a disgrace to the education department of the future Celestial Empire!