These words were like a heavy hammer, smashing hard into Jiang Zhenqing's heart.
He... froze on the spot.
Yes. He had only been thinking of his own dignity, his own unwillingness, yet had forgotten that a great crowd of people still stood behind him.
If he fell, these people, these clans, would all be doomed beyond ten thousand tribulations.
The Female Emperor had crippled him instead of killing him, was it not because she feared staining herself with the blood of kin?
But the people at his side, given Jiang Jingyi's mood and ruthlessness, she would absolutely never let them off.
Looking at the two men's utterly loyal appearances, Jiang Zhenqing was momentarily at a loss for words, his heart filled with a jumble of emotions.
Lin Heng sat in the rocking chair, taking all of this in, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
They really were a pair of ill-fated ruler and subjects.
He gently rocked the chair, making it creak as he leisurely came before Jiang Zhenqing.
"Big brother-in-law, since that's the case... shall we have a calm chat?"
Jiang Zhenqing raised his head and looked at him with an extremely complicated gaze, containing resentment, unwillingness, and an unconcealable sense of defeat mixed within.
Did he really have to beg him?
If he begged him, would the Female Emperor pardon him?
"What are we chatting about?" he said in a low voice.
"Your future, and also... my future." Lin Heng grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. No matter how one looked at that expression, it seemed like he was up to no good.
He controlled the rocking chair and circled Jiang Zhenqing once, clicking his tongue as he said, "Big brother-in-law, oh big brother-in-law, look at you. You were perfectly fine being a prince, yet you