The two Awakened hurriedly helped Zhou Botong to his feet.
After a long while, Zhou Botong finally regained his clarity. Looking at the two Awakened beside him, he sighed. "Brother Zhu, Brother Zhao, tell me, how have I treated you two over the years?"
The two Awakened exchanged a glance. That sounded... familiar.
In period dramas, whenever an emperor asked someone, "How have I treated you?" it usually meant he was about to send that person to their death. Translated, it meant: You've eaten my food and drunk my wine all this time. Now that things are critical, sorry for the trouble, but go die for me, risk your life for me, or take the blame for me!
Old Zhao sighed. "Brother Zhou, the two of us have always been grateful for your care. But there's really nothing we can do about this."
Old Zhu felt the same. "That's right. Murdering an Awakened is a serious crime. More importantly, there's evidence now, so it's hard for us to say anything."
Seeing that they were not playing along, Zhou Botong let out a breath. "I'm not asking you to save me. I'm asking you to save my son! I arranged for Old Jiao to assassinate Bai Xiaowen. It has nothing to do with my son. Please, brothers, help me this once. Don't let the Zhou Family line die out!"
As he spoke, Zhou Botong made as if to kneel.
The two men hurriedly held him up.
Old Zhu said, "This can be handled. You take full responsibility for the attempted assassination of Bai Xiaowen, and Zhou Yi can at most be charged with concealing his knowledge of it. The circumstances are minor. Since he's under eighteen, Old Zhao and I can submit an application for clemency. Pay a fine, and that