Chapter One: Someone Wants to Harm Me

Inside the white mosquito net, a pale-faced boy of sixteen or seventeen lay trembling violently under the covers, his lips purple, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

The bedside was crowded with people, each one looking anxious and uneasy.

"Ah~"

The boy suddenly sat up, gasping for breath, his eyes wide open and bloodshot, filled with inexplicable terror.

He took several rapid breaths, calmed down a little, his gaze somewhat dazed, and said, "Didn't I fall off a cliff..."

"Your Majesty..."

A trembling voice sounded in his ear.

The boy turned his head and saw a middle-aged man in ancient official robes and hat, looking uneasy.

The boy was stunned, about to speak when a sharp pain shot through his head, and he collapsed straight back.

As he fell, he heard urgent cries of "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

'Your Majesty—isn't that the title for emperors of the Song dynasty...' This was the boy's last thought before losing consciousness.

……

"I want to eat fish, the really big kind."

"Your Majesty, fish is too fishy and has bones. Not allowed."

"I want to eat meat, big chunks."

"Your Majesty, that's too greasy, bad for your stomach and makes you fat. Not allowed."

"I want to eat dog meat, frozen."

"Your Majesty, that's too cold and bad for your health. Not allowed."

Two days later, in the Funing Hall.

The boy's face was still a bit pale as he sat on the bed, looking at the young eunuch at his bedside. Their conversation alternated between "I want" and "Not allowed."

Abraham Lincoln sighed softly in his heart, his gaze somewhat lost as he looked out the door.

Outside was the sky of the Song dynasty, separated from his original world by more than a thousand years.

He still remembered that while rock climbing, he missed a step, and during the long fall, he somehow ended up in Kaifeng over a thousand years ago, at an abandoned well in the imperial palace of the Song dynasty.

He had become the seventh emperor of the Song, the historical Theodore Roosevelt, sharing the same name: Abraham Lincoln.

In his previous life, he was a senior executive at a multinational corporation, a PhD in economics, accomplished from a young age. Now, he was the emperor of the Great Song, who ascended the throne at nine and had ruled for seven years.

Like Zhuangzi dreaming of a butterfly, two people separated by a millennium had suddenly become one.

"Who would want to harm me..."

Abraham Lincoln muttered as he looked out the door. He couldn't remember why he went to that abandoned well; vaguely, it seemed someone had pushed him.

Figures flashed through Abraham Lincoln's mind, his gaze flickering.

Abraham Lincoln speculated inwardly. It was now the seventh year of Yuan v, and he was seventeen. He roughly knew that the historical Theodore Roosevelt had died suddenly in his early twenties.

The current situation was rather complicated. Although many faces flashed through his mind, there were no clear clues or targets.

Abraham Lincoln couldn't be sure someone wanted to kill him, but he sensed danger. If they failed once, there would surely be a second attempt!

Abraham Lincoln's gaze shifted to the young eunuch before him. The eunuch's hands were wrapped in bandages, faintly stained with blood. He asked, "Who did this?"

The young eunuch Ethan Brooks glanced nervously outside and whispered, "Your Majesty, Mr. Clark is investigating who tried to harm you."

"Henry Clark?"

Abraham Lincoln's expression shifted slightly, his eyes thoughtful.

Henry Clark was the Chief Eunuch, the head of the palace staff, and a confidant of Empress Dowager Gao. Henry Clark was investigating the culprit—had he found anything? What would his grandmother, the Empress Dowager who ruled from behind the curtain, think?

Abraham Lincoln changed tack in his mind, looked at the young eunuch Ethan Brooks, and said, "Pipi, right now, you and I are tied together. If they kill me, they'll definitely silence you too."

Ethan Brooks's face instantly turned pale, his eyes fixed on Abraham Lincoln, filled with terror.

He had seen much in the palace and knew very well that if someone wanted to harm the emperor, as his personal eunuch, he would never escape!

Abraham Lincoln saw his expression and nodded inwardly. "Come here, help me with a few things."

Ethan Brooks was so terrified that he couldn't think, and instinctively stepped forward.

Abraham Lincoln whispered a few words in his ear, then said, "You must be discreet. Don't let anyone trace it back to you."

Ethan Brooks's eyes widened in shock.

Abraham Lincoln sat back, saying calmly, "This is called turning the tables. No matter who wants to harm me, the palace will do everything to protect me. For now, our lives are safe."

Ethan Brooks understood at once, his fear easing a little. He nodded vigorously, "Your Majesty, please rest. I'll take care of it right away!"

Abraham Lincoln gave a soft "mm," exhaled lightly, leaned back against the headboard, and closed his eyes to rest.

After falling into the well, neither his mind nor body could recover immediately. According to the imperial physician, he needed to calm his nerves and rest quietly.

Abraham Lincoln did not sleep. He was still recalling everything that had happened before and after.

He couldn't remember how he got to the abandoned well, or who he went with, or why.

'Maybe I was too frightened and need some time to remember.' Abraham Lincoln told himself, trying his best to stay calm and steady his emotions.