Abraham Lincoln took it, but didn’t rush to look at it. Instead, he sized up Samuel Carter, frowned, and couldn’t help but say, “Your complexion is getting worse. Have the imperial physician take a look at you later. There must be some hidden injury—don’t take it lightly just because you’re young.”

Samuel Carter smiled faintly, didn’t nod, and only said, “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”

Abraham Lincoln then caught sight of Patrick Bennett, was momentarily surprised, and then asked, “Why is Patrick here today as well? I haven’t seen you in a while, and you look much more spirited.”

Patrick Bennett squinted his small eyes and hurriedly replied with a smile, “It’s hard for Your Majesty, so busy with state affairs, to still remember this old servant.”

Abraham Lincoln smiled, vaguely sensing that Samuel Carter seemed to have something to say. So he first opened the bamboo tube Samuel Carter had brought, took out a small scroll, and read it quickly. A smile appeared on his face as he looked up at Samuel Carter and said, “This was handled beautifully. Samuel, how would you like me to reward you?”

—Here it comes.

Samuel Carter suddenly lifted his robe and knelt on the ground. Patrick Bennett, not understanding, could only follow suit and kneel as well.

Abraham Lincoln frowned and asked, “What are you doing?”

Samuel Carter, as if lacking strength, said softly, “I only ask Your Majesty for a favor.”

Abraham Lincoln laughed, “Speak while standing. You’ve risked your life for Great Qing all these years—aside from this empire, what could you ask that I wouldn’t grant? Go ahead.”

Samuel Carter straightened up but remained kneeling. Then, in silence, he undid the front of his long robe. As the thick, tightly wrapped robe was opened, a strong smell of blood immediately filled the air. His body, which had only just scabbed over and stopped bleeding, began to bleed again from the jostling of the journey.

Abraham Lincoln shot to his feet: “Samuel!”

Patrick Bennett was so frightened he couldn’t make a sound.

Samuel Carter opened his palm, revealing the last Seven Apertures Autumn Nail lying in his slender hand, and said, “Your Majesty, I drove in six myself. If the seventh goes in, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have made it to the palace to bid you farewell. Please, grant me this favor and let Patrick help me finish it.”

Abraham Lincoln was stunned for a long time, unable to say a word. After a while, he slumped back into his seat, looked up at the main beam of the study, and muttered to himself in a low voice, “Yun Xingyuan is stationed in the northwest, Beiyuan… Beiyuan is gone. And now, even you want to leave me?”

Samuel Carter remained silent.

Abraham Lincoln was quiet for a while, then sighed, “I am all alone.”

Samuel Carter continued, “Your Majesty, you needn’t worry about Tian Chuang. Patrick has been with me all these years—he’s trustworthy and capable…”

Patrick Bennett cut him off: “Master! Master, you can’t say that! I, Old Duan, never had such thoughts! You… you can’t…”

Samuel Carter murmured softly, “Seven Apertures Autumn Nail, three autumns and the intestines will break, once the bow is drawn there’s no turning back—”

He bowed deeply, knocking his head to the ground before Abraham Lincoln. Afterward, he didn’t lift his head, only said, “For the sake of my years of service, please grant me this.”

Abraham Lincoln stared fixedly at that blood-soaked figure. In that moment, no one knew what the emperor in his prime was thinking—those years of caution, those years of scheming, those years of war and turmoil, those years of hardship and cold… And finally, he ruled the world, but everyone was gone, leaving only him.

No one can escape the impermanence of life and the abandonment of time.

After a long while, he closed his eyes and waved his hand.

Samuel Carter curved his lips into a smile. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great kindness.”

He looked as if he’d encountered something that made him extremely happy. Despite his sickly pallor, a faint flush appeared on his face. He turned to Patrick Bennett with excitement, handed him the last nail, and said, “Go ahead.”

Patrick Bennett hesitated for a long time before gritting his teeth, raising the dark red, ominous nail, and driving it hard into his master’s flesh. He knew how painful it was—over the years, even the toughest men couldn’t bear it and would scream in agony. But Samuel Carter only shuddered slightly, kept his back straight, and made no sound except for a barely audible muffled groan.

He even felt that there was a hint of laughter in Samuel Carter’s groan.

Patrick Bennett thought his master had gone mad.

Samuel Carter steadied himself for a while, then bowed to Abraham Lincoln, his face as white as paper.

The strength in his body was quickly draining away, numbness slowly rising. He spoke his final four words: “Take care, Your Majesty.”

Without waiting for Abraham Lincoln to reply, he strode out of the study, as if a burden had been lifted, his figure flashing and disappearing from sight.

Author’s note: Hmm, Samuel my friend, long time no see.

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2. Chapter Two: An Accidental Encounter ...