“Are you an idiot? You deceived the new sovereign and even dared to leave evidence. What’s even worse, you wrote my name down—when did I ever agree to this?”

　　Stephen Mason practically wanted to kill this bastard. David Carter’s mouth was full of blood, but he still tried to defend himself, “Minister Mason, I’ve been wronged! I just wanted to get things done quickly and give the court and the public an explanation. How could I have known they’d set me up? I was just confused for a moment…”

　　“Pah!”

　　Stephen Mason spat fiercely, his beard now white. He’d actually been played by a child, and the man still had the nerve to say it out loud. Why don’t you just go die!

　　Stephen Mason had forgotten that he himself hadn’t gained any advantage in Henry Foster’s hands… The current situation was dire: Henry Foster was holding evidence that the Ministry of Rites had lied to and deceived the emperor.

　　Stephen Mason was not a gambler blinded by greed, and he knew well how much Zhu Houcong resisted being adopted as Emperor Xiaozong’s heir… Just this matter alone meant that the entire Ministry of Rites would not end well. David Carter had truly caused a lot of harm.

　　So what should be done?

　　He could no longer handle it himself; he had to go see James Young and ask the Grand Secretary for advice!

　　Stephen Mason got up and was about to leave, but Henry Foster and Philip Clark wouldn’t let him go.

　　“Minister Mason, you know everything now. Entering through Dong’an Gate is not the proper imperial protocol. Your Ministry of Rites has deceived the emperor!”

　　Stephen Mason’s face turned ashen. “Reader Foster, this was David Carter acting on his own, it has nothing to do with the Ministry of Rites. I will go see Grand Secretary Young right now and impeach David Carter, and see that he is severely punished!”

　　Henry Foster chuckled—so he’s going to sacrifice a pawn to save the king!

　　“Minister Mason, if you’re going to impeach him, why bother with Grand Secretary Young? Just go see His Highness directly. Besides, this isn’t just ordinary deception. The imperial edict is right there, and you’ve already admitted it was to invite His Highness to inherit the throne as emperor. Since that’s the case, why did the Ministry of Rites insist on using the rites for a crown prince to welcome His Highness? Isn’t that a violation of the edict? Old Clark, what do you think should be done?”

　　Philip Clark said sternly, “Deceiving the emperor is a capital crime—executing his entire clan would be letting him off easy. What’s more, to tamper with the enthronement ceremony of the new sovereign and disgrace the national rites—such a crime is beyond forgiveness!” Philip Clark was full of murderous intent. “A scoundrel like this deserves to die ten thousand times over—no one can save him!”

　　Boom!

　　David Carter was struck as if by lightning and collapsed to the ground, completely finished.

　　Stephen Mason had nothing to say either. Not to mention David Carter, even he himself might not escape, since David Carter had met with him beforehand.

　　It was the first time seeing Stephen Mason so embarrassed, and Henry Foster was overjoyed!

　　If it weren’t for more important matters, he’d want to keep watching.

　　“Old Clark, His Highness is ascending the throne, and the whole realm is celebrating. To launch a major purge and punish Ministry of Rites officials at this time would be inauspicious. I think we should just let it go—chalk it up to David Carter’s momentary oversight, saying Dong’an Gate instead of Daming Gate, and Wenhua Hall instead of Fengtian Hall. My suggestion is, as long as it’s corrected and His Highness enters to inherit the throne with the proper imperial rites, as long as the ceremony is not lacking, all other minor issues can be written off. Any talk of deceiving the emperor can be set aside.” Henry Foster took the initiative to offer a way out.

　　No one was a fool—not even the doomed David Carter, who suddenly perked up! He didn’t care about anything else now, and as for Richard Bolton, he could go to hell!

　　He just wanted to survive.

　　“I—I really did remember wrong. It’s supposed to be Daming Gate, and the grand assembly of officials in Fengtian Hall. That’s right!” David Carter was desperate to live.

　　“Shut up!”

　　Stephen Mason was going mad. Back when they welcomed Zhu Houcong, someone had suggested using the imperial audience rites directly, but Stephen Mason had refused, insisting that Zhu Houcong inherit the throne as Emperor Xiaozong’s crown prince. There were both interests and feelings of loyalty involved—after all, all of them had been promoted by Zhu Youtang.

　　Now that Zhu Youtang had died without an heir, not finding him a son would be disloyal!

　　So the civil officials generally advocated for the new sovereign to inherit as crown prince.

　　If Stephen Mason messed this up, none of the civil officials would forgive him.

　　No matter what, he could not agree!

　　Stephen Mason gritted his teeth and held firm.

　　Suddenly, someone coughed, and Grand Secretary Samuel Grant actually stepped forward. “Reader Foster, David Carter is indeed at fault. As for how to handle the enthronement ceremony, allow us some time to consider. What do you think?”

　　Henry Foster insisted, “Grand Secretary, since Mr. Carter was wrong, then what is right? What rites should His Highness use to enter the city?”

　　Samuel Grant’s old face was longer than a donkey’s, and he forced a bitter smile. “Reader Foster, must you press so hard? His Highness is the sovereign of the Ming, and as a minister, I dare not be negligent!”

　　“Good! Truly loyal and upright!”

　　Henry Foster laughed loudly. “Bring paper and brush, please have Grand Secretary write it down!”

　　“You—!”

　　Samuel Grant was furious—this was just too humiliating.

　　“I am a man of my word. I’ll do as I say!”

　　Henry Foster did not back down in the slightest. “Grand Secretary Grant is a gentleman, I am but a petty man. But as the common folk say, ‘better a petty man first, then a gentleman.’ After all, some people can lie even in black and white, so I can’t trust mere verbal promises!”

　　Henry Foster paused, then added, “Of course, Grand Secretary Grant doesn’t need to use a seal or sign his name. Just write clearly which gate His Highness will enter and which hall he will proceed to, that’s enough!”

　　Samuel Grant snorted coldly to himself. As Grand Secretary, he still had some authority!

　　“Fine, I’ll write it for you!”

　　……

　　After leaving the imperial tent, Stephen Mason’s face was dark. He was very resentful toward Samuel Grant.

　　“Grand Secretary, how could you agree to that?”