The moon was full, but hearts were cold.
Lin Liheng sat there in a daze, silent for a long, long time.
The conclusion his son, Lin Cang Hai, had drawn left him feeling deeply wretched, with the humiliating sense that he had been schemed against by his own bosom friend.
When one general wins glory, ten thousand bones lie buried. When one king wins glory, how many generals' bones must be buried beneath it?
Although emperors were heartless, and heartless men made emperors, Lin Liheng felt that his relationship with Ying Boyan was different, and so was the bond between them—just like the deep friendship between Lin Cang Hai and Ying Qian Du now. They had grown up together from childhood. If Lin Cang Hai deceived Qian Du, or Qian Du deceived Lin Cang Hai, it would be something no one could accept.
And yet, that very friend had schemed against him.
"Why must Father lose heart?" Lin Cang Hai understood his father's feelings and spoke in consolation. "The Lin Clan and Ying Clan have been hereditary friends for a thousand years, while the Peacock and Black Flame Empires rise and fall together. Regardless of whether Uncle Ying intended to scheme against us, the moment he sends troops to attack the Great Zhou nations, in the eyes of the world it will be as though our two countries are mobilizing together. Now, if we wanted to tear the two countries completely apart, I'm afraid even Imperial Father wouldn't believe it, would he? Let alone whether the royal families of the other seven nations would believe it."
"So, in truth, Black Flame has no other choice."
"The only road left is to send troops?"
"Imperial Father must decide."
"What decision can I make? Ying Boyan made it for me long ago."