Forget Dust's Nature

Great Zheng Heavenly Dynasty, High Heaven Court! The Imperial Harem, Gan Bao Er's Bedchamber!

Zhong Shan sat in the courtyard of Bao Er's bedchamber. An exquisite jade table and various delicacies had been set out in the courtyard. Everyone else had been dismissed.

Zhong Shan sat at the jade table, gazing at the moon overhead with a faint furrow between his brows, as though his thoughts ran deep.

Empress Gan Bao Er poured Zhong Shan a cup of fine wine.

"Master, Tian Er has already gone to Shijiu's place?" Gan Bao Er asked, looking at Zhong Shan.

"Mm. After probing him, he will come back!" Zhong Shan nodded and sighed softly.

"I know what you're thinking, Master. Actually, if you had carefully studied the temperaments of all your sworn sons back then, you would certainly have understood them. But you refused to." Bao Er leaned against Zhong Shan's shoulder as she spoke.

"Back then, I wanted a Restriction Breaking Pill, so I took in so many sworn sons. Naturally, I devoted myself to raising them, treating them as my own sons. What father in this world would casually think the worst of his sons?" Zhong Shan shook his head.

"No, Master, you care too much about affection. You treated them as your own sons, then felt guilty because you had originally adopted them only for the Restriction Breaking Pill. That's why you indulged them and spoiled them so. If it weren't for your father-son bond, would you always have interpreted their every unusual action in the best possible light? Your feelings have never been mixed with self-interest." Bao Er pouted.

Zhong Shan gently stroked Bao Er's hair but did not refute her.

"Then tell me, Master—is Shijiu truly betraying you, or is it a false betrayal?" Bao Er asked curiously.