As soon as he entered the side door of Qingshou Hall, Franklin Pierce excitedly threw down his schoolbag and shouted, “I’m here!”

Abraham Lincoln looked on curiously, hearing many voices inside calling, ‘Your Highness’, ‘Your Highness is here’.

Coming to the doorway, Abraham Lincoln peered through the crack and saw Franklin Pierce with a group of imperial guards, mounting their horses, bows on their backs, and targets not far away—it looked like they were preparing for mounted archery.

Ethan Brooks was startled and said, “Your Majesty, the Eleventh Prince is going to do mounted archery!”

Franklin Pierce was only nine years old, a noble of the imperial family—what if he fell off the horse?

Only then did Abraham Lincoln remember that Franklin Pierce had a wide range of interests, and mounted archery was one of them.

Abraham Lincoln stopped Ethan Brooks, stood at the door with his hands behind his back, and watched quietly with a ‘fierce’ expression.

This little rascal was getting more and more out of hand, actually sneaking around with these guards behind his back, and playing such a dangerous game as mounted archery!

“It’s starting!”

Franklin Pierce was extremely excited and didn’t notice the door. He spurred his horse and drew his bow in one smooth motion.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Several people followed him, arrows flying, but it turned out Franklin Pierce shot the best.

“Your Highness, what archery skills!”

“A great shot!”

“Your Highness is already ready to graduate!”

More than a dozen guards praised him one after another, flattering him endlessly.

Franklin Pierce, sitting on horseback, looked at the arrow right in the bullseye, his little face flushed, and the hand holding the bow trembled slightly.

“Again!” Franklin Pierce shouted excitedly, pulling the reins loudly.

A group of people cheered, rooting for Franklin Pierce.

Ethan Brooks shrank his head and glanced over, whispering, “Your Majesty, the Eleventh Prince must have played like this more than once.”

Abraham Lincoln looked around—this was a rather secluded place, but not so much that no one would notice. Clearly, someone was deliberately indulging and covering up for him, and he could guess who.

“Hyah, hyah~”

Franklin Pierce pulled the horse, slapped it hard, and shouted, galloping from not far away, eyes fixed on the target, quickly nocking an arrow and drawing the bow.

Because he was too excited, Franklin Pierce pulled too hard, didn’t grip the horse properly, his body swayed and he nearly fell backward.

Abraham Lincoln’s expression changed dramatically. He suddenly pushed open the door and strode over, shouting, “Catch him!”

The group of guards noticed at the same time, their faces changing in shock as they rushed over in a panic.

But Franklin Pierce straightened his waist and actually sat upright again, even shooting the arrow as he did so.

The guards all breathed a sigh of relief, but then saw Abraham Lincoln, their faces turning pale with fear, and they all knelt on one knee to salute: “We pay our respects to Your Majesty!”

Franklin Pierce showed no fear at all. He reined in his horse, saw Abraham Lincoln, froze for a moment, then threw down his bow, jumped off the horse, and turned to run.

Abraham Lincoln snorted coldly, having expected this, and in two quick steps grabbed Franklin Pierce by the collar and hauled him back.

Franklin Pierce shrank his head into his clothes, his hands flailing, but there was little fear on his face, his eyes darting around.

Abraham Lincoln dragged him back, saying coldly, “I only left you alone for a few days, and you’re already getting out of hand.”

Franklin Pierce tried hard to turn his head, his little face full of ingratiation, and said, “Your Majesty…”

Abraham Lincoln yanked him over and kicked him on the butt, saying coldly, “Stand right there! I’ll deal with you later!”

Franklin Pierce immediately hugged his butt with both hands and stood still, head down, eyes rolling up to secretly observe Abraham Lincoln’s expression.

Abraham Lincoln had no time to deal with him now. He stared at the more than ten guards kneeling on one knee, his gaze flickering, then suddenly shouted, “Guards! Arrest all these men for me!”

The seven guards who had followed Abraham Lincoln had also seen what just happened. Hearing this, they immediately rushed out, each drawing their swords and holding them to the necks of the guards who had been shooting arrows with Franklin Pierce.

Those guards were terrified, their faces pale, but they dared not speak.

Franklin Pierce was the eleventh son of Emperor Shenzong, the current emperor’s eleventh younger brother, titled Prince of Suining—a true imperial noble. If anything had happened to him just now, these men would surely have to pay with their lives!

Franklin Pierce’s little face changed, he looked up and shouted, “Your Majesty, they were just playing with me, please don’t blame them…”

Abraham Lincoln kicked him on the butt again and said, “Shut up!”

Franklin Pierce hugged his butt again, lowered his head, and muttered something under his breath.

Abraham Lincoln ignored him, staring at the group kneeling on the ground, and said sternly, “I am going to punish you all. Does anyone feel wronged?”

More than a dozen men kept their heads down. Caught red-handed by the emperor, what could they say? Each was full of fear and anxiety, not knowing how Abraham Lincoln would deal with them.

Abraham Lincoln’s face turned cold. “Since no one feels wronged, all the better. Guards, send them all to the Imperial City Department for severe punishment—no leniency!”

The Imperial City Department, a special agency under the emperor, was as dark and cold as in every dynasty. Few who entered ever came out alive. Of course, it was currently under the control of Empress Dowager Gao.

The faces of the dozen or so guards changed drastically. They gritted their teeth, their hearts filled with dread.

Franklin Pierce knew about this place too. Seeing more than a dozen people about to be taken away, he suddenly ran over and stood in front of them, shouting, “If you want to take them, you’ll have to step over my dead body…”

Before he could finish, Abraham Lincoln kicked him directly.

It was as if Franklin Pierce had expected it—before Abraham Lincoln’s foot could reach him, he jumped back a step.