Abraham Lincoln looked up, a fierceness appearing in his eyes. “That’s a jinx!”

Whenever a comet trailed its long tail across the distant sky like a broom, people would panic, saying someone was about to have bad luck.

“Yes.” Benjamin Franklin’s eyes also turned sharp. “I wish I could cut him into a thousand pieces, but if he falls ill, he’ll bring calamity to Your Majesty. What if he dies because of us?”

He looked at Abraham Lincoln with a loving gaze, making Abraham Lincoln feel a chill run down his spine.

“I was worried that if we touched him, something unpredictable might happen to you, Your Highness. That’s why I suppressed the matter.”

Abraham Lincoln had thought of this as well, so he suppressed his murderous intent and said calmly, “In that case, we’re like a rat afraid to move for fear of breaking the vase.”

Benjamin Franklin nodded, feeling frustrated.

Benjamin Franklin sighed. “The governor of Huazhou just fell ill. I think Samuel Foster would be an excellent successor.”

He cupped his hands and took his leave, while the palace attendants looked utterly confused.

There’s a jinx in Huazhou, and you suggest sending Samuel Foster there. Are you hoping Old Xu dies there?

Abraham Lincoln was silent for a moment, his embarrassed demeanor vanishing without a trace. He said calmly, “Let Samuel Foster come.”

He stood there, his brows gradually furrowing.

Footsteps approached from afar, and a fair-skinned official arrived.

This was Samuel Foster.

Samuel Foster entered with a respectful expression. Just as Abraham Lincoln turned around, he said solemnly, “Your Highness looks more and more dignified. I am deeply fearful.”

According to the plan, Abraham Lincoln would ascend the throne next month. As the chief loyal dog, Samuel Foster felt he was about to rise with him. If things went well, he might even become prime minister in a few years, looking down on all the officials—what a thrill that would be!

Thinking of this, Samuel Foster couldn’t help but smile smugly.

Others would suppress their emotions, but this oddball laughed without restraint. Remember, he once dared to laugh out loud at Empress Changsun’s funeral—what kind of person does that tell you he is?

He does as he pleases!

Sigh!

Abraham Lincoln had a headache. If Old Xu weren’t so loyal and capable, he would have kicked him out of the capital long ago—far, far away.

“There are censors impeaching you for disrespect.”

“That’s slander, shameful slander!” Samuel Foster panicked, kneeling and saying, “Your Highness, I am utterly loyal! I swear to serve you to the death!”

Abraham Lincoln sighed, “Go, go to Huazhou.”

“Your Highness!”

Samuel Foster shouted, then burst into tears, sobbing as he said, “I am utterly loyal to Your Highness. All I want in this life is to serve by your side. I won’t go to Huazhou, I…”

He actually crawled forward on his knees and hugged Abraham Lincoln’s leg. Looking up, eyes brimming with tears, he said, “Your Highness, I have no other intentions! Whatever you say goes. If you order me to die, I…”

His eyes darted around, then he got up and rushed toward a wooden pillar.

Was he going to bash his head and kill himself?

Abraham Lincoln was about to stop him, but Samuel Foster slowed down the closer he got, and by the time he reached the pillar, he was practically strolling. At that speed, he couldn’t even get a bump, let alone die.

What a weirdo! Truly exasperating!

Abraham Lincoln covered his forehead and said, “Go on, I’ll bring you back after a while.”

Chapter 7 Stingy, Upright and Unyielding

“Your Highness…”

Samuel Foster was dragged out, and once outside the palace, the two attendants set him down, panting from the effort.

Normally, at a time like this, Old Xu should thank them so they’d put in a good word for him later.

“Bah!” Samuel Foster spat on the ground and cursed, “There must be some treacherous villain slandering me to His Highness. I will never share the same sky with him!”

The two attendants caught their breath, and one of them said, “His Highness said there’s a farmer in Huazhou who, at birth, brought calamity to the late Emperor Gaozu. He fell ill a few days ago and brought calamity to the previous emperor. You’re to go to Huazhou and investigate.”

“Isn’t that a jinx?” Samuel Foster was dumbfounded, then cursed, “Which idiot suggested this? Who put this idea in His Highness’s head?”

As one of Abraham Lincoln’s men, he was waiting to reach the peak of his career, but now he’d been slapped and sent to Huazhou. Whoever came up with this was his mortal enemy—Samuel Foster wouldn’t rest until that person was dead.

The attendant sighed, “It’s better if you don’t know who it is.”

“Nonsense!” Old Xu was a loyal dog, so he feared nothing.

The attendant said sympathetically, “Don’t think about revenge—it’s… the Imperial Uncle.”

Samuel Foster stood frozen.

That was the crown prince’s own uncle, and he held power over the court. Old Xu was just a loyal dog—would he dare go argue with Benjamin Franklin?

The attendants went back inside, and Samuel Foster spat in the direction of a certain government office, cursing, “Wretched dog, I curse you to die a miserable death!”

Then he straightened his clothes, cupped his hands toward the palace, and declared loudly, “I am utterly loyal to His Highness, with not a shred of disloyalty!”

After he left, two officials whispered behind him, “To reach such a high position and still declare loyalty to His Highness outside the palace gates, with such sycophantic words—it’s… disgusting!”

“He’s quite talented, but he’s greedy for life and wealth, and is known as the loyal dog. A loyal dog, after all, must declare his loyalty in public—the more sycophantic and blunt, the better.”

…