Standing before you is:

The guardian of the Ming Dynasty, the close comrade of Emperor Wanli, the good son of the Grand Secretary, and the richest man in the world in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The mastermind who controlled the Ministry of Personnel for thirty years, the gravedigger of the imperial clan system, the second Yan Shifan in the eyes of the Donglin Party, and the one whom Zhang Juzheng proclaimed invincible.

The confidant of Hai Rui, the patron of Xu Wei, the one who tonsured Matteo Ricci, and the mentor to six top scholars including Xu Guangqi.

The fig leaf of the Ming poetry circle, author of over seven hundred books in various disciplines, inventor of more than 2,700 patents, and the founder of modern universities and science.

The patron saint of overseas Chinese, pioneer of new maritime routes, maintainer of oceanic order, and contractor of global mega-projects.

The chief culprit of Europe's turmoil, adoptive father of Tokugawa Ieyasu, savior of Sebastian, and the little grand secretary who wholeheartedly serves the people.

Part One: The Remnants of Winter in Jinling

Chapter One: I’ve Come to Enjoy Life

This is a round bronze mirror with a silvery surface, reflecting a handsome, youthful face, still childlike, with rosy lips and white teeth.

If not seen with your own eyes, it would be hard to imagine a bronze mirror could reflect someone in such vivid detail.

But that’s not the point.

The point is, Henry Carter discovered that the face reflected in the mirror was no longer his original appearance...

Staring fixedly at that face of a boy about fourteen or fifteen, with hair tied high in a bun fastened by a brocade band inlaid with pearls, Henry Carter finally realized he had transmigrated.

After a long while, he shifted his gaze from the mirror and began to take in his surroundings, only to see a spacious room in Ming Dynasty style.

Above, carved beams and painted rafters; below, soft carpets; calligraphy and paintings hung on the surrounding walls; jade and antique pieces displayed on the curio shelves; a table by the wall covered with Suzhou embroidery and adorned with bonsai and vessels. Embroideries and hanging screens dotted the space, making the whole room opulent yet tasteful.

He had become a Ming Dynasty youth living in Nanjing!

This boy had the same name as him. But compared to his own ordinary and somewhat rough previous life, this little Henry Carter living in the Ming was simply blessed beyond measure.

Little Henry Carter's grandfather was named Albert Carter, a native of Xiuning, Huizhou. After passing the imperial exam in the seventeenth year of Jiajing, he had served as prefect in Changsha and as a provincial judicial commissioner in Zhejiang. Now, he held the rank of Right Vice Minister of Revenue in Nanjing, overseeing the distribution of salt licenses in the Two Huai region—a position considered one of the most lucrative in the land!

Although this boy lost his mother at a young age, he was deeply cherished by his grandfather and father, living a life of luxury and privilege from childhood, always surrounded by attendants. He had four personal maids, two nursemaids, and several young servants—altogether a retinue of about ten, all dedicated solely to his care and amusement.

‘This is just like the life of Jia Baoyu—so decadent, so corrupt!’ Henry Carter hypocritically criticized, but couldn’t help the smile tugging at his lips.

...

Speaking of which, little Henry Carter had been a bit too happy for his own good. For some reason, he had been confined to the inner quarters by his family these past few days. Bored out of his mind, he started playing “blind man’s buff” with the maids in his room. When it was his turn to be blindfolded and catch someone, he accidentally ran headfirst into a pillar and immediately fainted.

When he woke up again, the owner of this body had become the older Henry Carter from four hundred years in the future.

Although Henry Carter insisted he was fine, the maids still carefully helped him onto a low chair padded with brocade cushions. They added a soft pillow behind him so he could recline comfortably.

The head maid pinched a delicate gold spoon, scooped a bit of green ointment from a porcelain bottle, and gently dabbed it onto the bruise on Henry Carter’s forehead with her slender ring finger.

A cool sensation seeped in, making the slight pain on his forehead melt away.

Another maid stood behind the chair, her soft, boneless hands gently massaging his temples.

Yet another maid brought over an official kiln teacup, one hand holding a fragrant handkerchief under Henry Carter’s chin, the other feeding him water with a spoon.

Sweet and fragrant—so delicious...

A fourth maid carefully peeled the skin off a plump purple grape, then used tweezers to remove the seeds before feeding the flesh into Henry Carter’s mouth.

Sweet and sour—so tasty...

Afraid of arousing suspicion, Henry Carter pretended to be used to such pampering, enjoying the overly attentive service.

When had he ever experienced such heavenly treatment? He felt a bit embarrassed, but even more secretly delighted.

How could he not be? This was pure bliss!

‘And I’m only fifteen—so many wonderful days ahead! I’m going to enjoy all the riches of the world!’

At this thought, Henry Carter was so excited he jumped up, clenching his fists in delight.

The maids looked at their young master in surprise, feeling he seemed a bit odd since waking up.

“Young master, you should really let the doctor take a look. The head is no trivial matter...”

“I told you, I’m fine!” Henry Carter, playing his part, imitated the tone of a fifteen-year-old and patted his chest to prove it: “I can still play hide-and-seek!”

“Really?” The maids were half-convinced.

“You don’t believe me?” Perhaps influenced by the body’s original owner, Henry Carter’s childlike spirit surged. He tied the silk scarf back over his face and said enthusiastically: