Kevin Thompson’s heart skipped a beat as soon as he heard it, and he instantly felt a chill run down his spine. Whether reading novels or watching TV in the past, he’d often come across the term “literary inquisition”—someone would write a book, and just a few ambiguous lines could get their entire family executed. Yet here he was, in broad daylight, publicly insulting the emperor in the street. If the emperor found out, at the very least, it would mean the extermination of his whole clan.

Could it be that I’m really going to die here today? No, damn it, I’m not willing! Even if I have to die, it can’t be in such a way.

Kevin Thompson glanced at the short sword at his neck, and suddenly his eyes lit up. Huh? This scene feels so familiar! Where have I seen it before?—Oh! Isn’t this the classic moment between Zixia Fairy and Supreme Treasure?—That’s right, if that lie could fool even a fairy, there’s no reason it can’t fool an ordinary person! Since that’s the case, why not give it a try? Either way, it’s a matter of life and death.

As he thought about it, a strange smile slowly crept onto Kevin Thompson’s lips.

Seeing Kevin Thompson remain silent, Henry Clark said, “What? Have you nothing to say for yourself?”

“Ha ha!”

Kevin Thompson suddenly burst out laughing.

“What are you laughing at?” Henry Clark frowned, shouting angrily.

Kevin Thompson ignored her, looked up at the sky, and with a face full of grief and indignation, said, “I, Kevin Thompson, am a true man. What joy is there in life, what fear is there in death? It’s just a pity—”

At this point, he let out a heavy sigh and said mournfully, “Once, there was a sincere love placed before me, but I didn’t cherish it. Only after losing it did I regret it beyond measure. The saddest thing in the world is nothing more than this. If Heaven could give me another chance, I would say three words to that woman: I love you. If I must add a time limit to this love, I hope it will be... ten thousand years! Why—why won’t Heaven give me another chance? Chun Chun, it seems we can only meet again in the next life.”

After finishing, he turned to Henry Clark and said, “Go ahead and kill me.”

Woo woo woo—how touching!

The little servant, after hearing this heart-wrenching monologue, instantly had red-rimmed eyes and stared blankly at Kevin Thompson.

Looking at Henry Clark, her expression was sorrowful. Although she didn’t go so far as to throw away her sword, she did move it from Kevin Thompson’s neck to in front of her own chest.

Kevin Thompson was secretly delighted, knowing that his little life was now safe.

People in the Northern Song Dynasty were always reserved about love between men and women—nothing like the boldness of Kevin Thompson’s era. This classic line had already moved many young men and women back then, let alone now. The fact that these two “dead men and women” weren’t bawling their eyes out was already far beyond Kevin Thompson’s expectations.

Who would have thought this person was such a romantic soul? No wonder he could write such moving lyrics and music as “Withered Chrysanthemums.” Henry Clark also felt sorry for Kevin Thompson in her heart, but she wasn’t a fool—how could she be so easily taken in by Kevin Thompson? After a moment’s silence, she said, “Your unwavering devotion to love is admirable, but that’s one thing. The fact remains that you insulted His Majesty just now, and that is absolutely unforgivable.”

This woman is really stubborn!

Kevin Thompson snorted, “Hmph, what do you mean, ‘that’s one thing’? If it weren’t for the emperor—if the emperor hadn’t summoned my Chun Chun into the palace to be some kind of concubine, how would we have ended up separated by a wall, never able to meet again? I insulted him, and that’s already giving him a lot of face.”

Henry Clark frowned slightly and asked, “Are you saying your beloved was chosen to enter the palace as a concubine?”

“Exactly!” Kevin Thompson replied with certainty. He knew Emperor Huizong of Song was extremely lecherous, with at least hundreds if not thousands of concubines in the harem—surely some of them had been forced into the palace, so he dared to say this.

“What is your beloved’s name?” Henry Clark glanced at him suspiciously and suddenly asked.

“Uh—why are you asking that?” Kevin Thompson asked in confusion. How would he know the names of Emperor Huizong’s concubines?

Henry Clark flicked her wrist, and the sword pressed even closer, shouting, “Speak!”

“All right, all right, I’ll tell you! My Chun Chun’s surname is Xin, and her nickname is Chun Ge. If you don’t believe me, you can go check in the palace.” After saying this, Kevin Thompson added silently in his heart, “May you live forever.” He didn’t believe Henry Clark would dare to investigate in the palace—wouldn’t that be courting death?

“Xin Chun Ge?”

Henry Clark softly repeated the name, then withdrew her sword.

Kevin Thompson immediately let out a sigh of relief, nearly collapsing to the ground, his back already drenched in sweat.

Henry Clark tossed the sword to the little servant, then said to Kevin Thompson, “Today, I’ll spare your life for now. Once I’ve investigated this matter, if what you said is false, I’ll come back and take your dog life.”

“I’ll be waiting for you anytime!” Kevin Thompson cupped his hands. But in his heart, he thought, “If you can actually find her, then I really deserve to die.”

Chapter 0006: The Young Lord in the Purple Robe

“I have no freedom! Lost my freedom! Heartbroken, in pain, my tears flow... my tears flow!—Ah! So boring!”

It was already noon, but Kevin Thompson was still lying in bed, hands behind his head, legs crossed, staring blankly at the ceiling, looking completely idle.