Olivia said, “A servant’s life is like wild grass, easily trampled to death. Even Henry Clark’s life is like a sapling by the roadside, not worth much. The court needs you now—if you kill us, nothing will happen. But what about later? Can you withstand Master Grace’s resentment? Are you counting on Master Grace never rising to power in your lifetime?”

“I don’t believe Lady Grace would lose her senses over this. How do I know this isn’t just you, a servant, acting on your own?” George Washington said coldly.

Eunuch Olivia replied, “You think that highly of me?”

Indeed!

Eunuchs are known for their coldness, and Henry Clark is no noble’s son—just a fallen bannerman. Why would a palace eunuch risk everything for him?

So, no matter how you look at it, this must be the will of Lady Grace behind the scenes.

Olivia was making a last-ditch effort. He thought Henry Clark’s plan was too risky and wanted to try saving Second Master himself.

Besides, there was no guarantee that Taiping Army strategist Charles Quinn would actually come to break into the prison as promised. Even if he did, in the chaos of blades and spears, Henry Clark might get killed as well. Olivia knew his own Second Master’s abilities—honestly, apart from his glib tongue, he wasn’t good at much.

Second Master was very likable, especially to women. Other than that, he was useless.

But Olivia was loyal to this kind of Second Master.

Back when Olivia was only six, he was kidnapped by vicious beggars, had both legs broken, was castrated, and forced to beg for sympathy on the streets.

Those were hellish days. Henry Clark saw this, drew his sword to help, killed several of the beggars, and rescued Olivia.

From then on, it was as if Olivia had risen from hell to heaven. From age six to thirteen, he followed Henry Clark for seven years. Officially he was a page, but since Second Master didn’t study, they just ate, drank, and played together like real brothers.

Even after entering the palace to serve Lady Grace, in Olivia’s heart, Second Master was always his master, his family.

Olivia continued, “Maybe you think this letter and this private seal are forgeries? You think a little eunuch like me could be so loyal? That I’d risk being cut to pieces for someone else’s life?”

Heh! The secret letter and private seal were indeed forged by Olivia. No matter how passionate Lady Grace and Henry Clark were, they would never leave such fatal evidence, nor write secret letters to an outside official. Olivia took this desperate risk to save Henry Clark.

But in George Washington’s mind, so what if it really was Lady Grace’s handwriting?

He’d only heard of this consort—her background was ordinary, and her father Benjamin Howard’s official rank was far below George Washington’s.

These people had been living in the palace, seeing only a small part of the world. Frankly, George Washington didn’t even take Lady Grace seriously.

His backers in the capital—whether it was Sushun, Prince Zheng Duanhua, or Prince Yi Zaiyuan—none of them could be compared to Lady Grace.

“I haven’t seen any secret letter. Please leave!” George Washington turned away, refusing to look.

The young eunuch Olivia shifted position, once again unfolding the secret letter and placing it before George Washington.

George Washington snatched it, didn’t even look at it, and burned it cleanly over the candle, even rubbing the ashes to dust.

Then he said coldly, “I heard nothing, saw nothing, and never met you. If you want to live, keep your mouth shut.”

Next, George Washington declared firmly, “I’ll say it again: Henry Clark is doomed! At dawn tomorrow, he’ll be beheaded as a warning—no one can save him!”

Olivia Clark trembled slightly. In the end, he still couldn’t save Second Master. Would it all depend on Second Master himself?

Would they really have to carry out that audacious, perilous plan?

“Guards, throw him out!” George Washington ordered.

“Wait!” the young eunuch Olivia said. “Henry Clark asked me to pass on one last message.”

“Speak!”

“Henry Clark said he wants to see you one last time, to talk about the former Governor of Hubei, Thomas Strong!” Olivia said slowly.

“Farewell!” With that, Olivia turned and left without another word.

George Washington’s expression didn’t change, but his hand inside his sleeve trembled slightly.

How did the former Governor of Hubei, Thomas Strong, die? How did Wuchang fall to the Taiping Army? And how did George Washington’s forces retake Wuchang from Samuel Stone?

These were the most crucial and deadly secrets for George Washington.

Only two or three people had handled these matters.

……

After Olivia left, James Sullivan came out.

“Lady Grace and Henry Clark are neighbors, and their families do business together. Benjamin Howard has shares in Henry Clark’s business,” James Sullivan said bluntly. “The key is the matter of plotting against Thomas Strong. If this is exposed, it will be a huge crisis for us.”

Colluding with the Taiping Army, plotting against a high official, causing Wuchang to fall to the Taiping Army, and then personally retaking it to earn great merit and the post of Governor of Hubei.

George Washington said coldly, “Thomas Strong killed my teacher Robert Woods. He was a useless traitor and deserved to die.”

Then he asked, “How much does Henry Clark know about the Thomas Strong matter?”

James Sullivan replied, “He definitely doesn’t know the inside story, and there’s no evidence—just speculation.”

In fact, in this matter, the previous transmigrator was the instigator. He gave James Sullivan this line of thinking.