He hesitated, and Henry Foster suddenly darkened his face. “Mr. Carter, are you making fun of me just because I’m a kid?”

David Carter shook his head. “How could I? Reader Foster, following Your Highness, your future is limitless. I—I’ll write it down!”

He lowered his head, gritted his teeth, wrote a few words saying Stephen Mason was informed, then stamped it and signed his name... finally feeling relieved.

“Reader Foster, now you can tell Your Highness, right?”

From his tone, it sounded as if he were coaxing a child.

Henry Foster reached out and took the written document, reading it carefully three times to make sure there were no mistakes. Suddenly, he felt that being young had its advantages—if he had a full beard, David Carter definitely wouldn’t have been fooled so easily.

Now, with evidence in hand, he felt much more at ease.

“No rush! There’s something I’d like to ask you, Mr. Carter. You said the emperor enters through the Dong’an Gate—so who is the Daming Gate for?”

David Carter was suddenly stunned. What did that mean?

Could this kid know something?

He was utterly shocked, but still tried to keep calm. “Reader Foster, perhaps you’re mistaken. The emperor does indeed enter through the Dong’an Gate. With so many people in the Ministry of Rites, how could we get it wrong?”

“Is that so?”

Henry Foster suddenly burst out laughing, turned his head, and called over a young eunuch.

“Go invite Old Clark over and let him see if that’s really the case!”

What?

Old Clark?

Which one? David Carter’s forehead instantly filled with question marks.

He’d never heard of any Old Clark.

Can someone tell me what’s going on?

Just as he stood there dumbfounded and flustered, an old man walked over briskly.

It was none other than the former chief secretary of the Prince of Xing’s residence, Philip Clark. Nearly seventy, yet full of vigor, with a smile on his face.

“You little rascal, what trouble are you up to now?”

Henry Foster was speechless at this nickname, but since the old man had taught him for a few days and was half a mentor, he could only endure it.

“Mr. Clark, this is Mr. Carter from the Ministry of Rites. He just brought the ministry’s opinion, saying they agree for Your Highness to enter through the Dong’an Gate with the emperor’s ceremony, enter the Wenhua Hall, and inherit the throne...”

“Wait a minute!”

Philip Clark immediately frowned, his face full of doubt.

“Are you sure you didn’t get it wrong?”

Henry Foster chuckled. “How could I be wrong? I have evidence right here!”

As he spoke, he handed what David Carter had written to Philip Clark.

“Sir, please be careful with it—don’t lose it, and don’t let anyone snatch it away!”

As Henry Foster said this, he glanced at David Carter and saw that his face had turned green, and his outstretched hands looked like he wanted to snatch it back... David Carter felt like dying.

How did this brat Henry Foster know about court rituals?

And where did this Philip Clark pop up from?

What’s happening to me?

Can someone save me?

David Carter’s mind was full of question marks, and that wasn’t even the worst of it. Just then, a chubby young eunuch ran in.

“Mr. Clark, Reader Foster, Minister Mason and Grand Secretary Grant request an audience!”

At this moment, Philip Clark’s old face broke into a triumphant smile. Even with the composure of his advanced age, he couldn’t help himself—he was simply too happy!

He put the document away, carefully storing it as if it were a treasure.

Only then did he say with a beaming smile, “Please let Grand Secretary Grant and Minister Mason in!” Philip Clark didn’t even glance at the deathly pale David Carter...

Chapter 5: Lowering the Proud Head

“Minister Mason, Grand Secretary Grant, look, this is tea that Old Clark brought from Jiangxi. It smells wonderful!”

Henry Foster was in such a good mood that he actually took the initiative to serve tea to the two of them.

Stephen Mason and Samuel Grant had no mind to drink tea at all, because they both saw David Carter’s ashen face, cold sweat beading on his forehead, his whole body trembling as if he were sifting chaff.

It’s over!

To scare a third-rank official like this, something must be terribly wrong. Did this bastard get exposed on the spot?

Stephen Mason still didn’t know that the truth was even more terrifying, while Henry Foster was already smiling broadly.

“Minister Mason, just now Mr. Carter came over and said some things—he said it was the Ministry of Rites’ opinion. I wonder if it’s true or not?”

True? Or false?

Stephen Mason’s heart skipped a beat. He pondered, “I truly don’t know what Mr. Carter said, let alone whether it’s true or false.”

“Hahahaha!”

Henry Foster laughed. “But Mr. Carter said that Minister Mason knows!”

What?

In an instant, Stephen Mason’s eyes widened. What nerve—to drag him into this!

Stephen Mason flew into a rage, clenching his fists and barely suppressing his anger. “Reader Foster, what did David Carter say?”

“He said...” Henry Foster suddenly turned his head and smiled at David Carter. “Mr. Carter, why don’t you tell Minister Mason yourself?”

After saying this, Henry Foster stepped aside and smiled at Philip Clark. “Old Clark, let’s wait outside.”

Philip Clark couldn’t help but laugh. “Good, very good!”

If they stayed, it would affect the others’ performance.

Sure enough, they had barely left when a commotion broke out inside. To be precise, David Carter was being unilaterally beaten up. Whoever said scholars were gentle? Even at their age, their fists and feet were still strong!

Thud, thud, thud—they used him like a drum.

Beating him while cursing him!