The Tree Cast a Shadow, and Its Name Carried Weight. What Right Did You Have to Wield a Sword?

A tree cast a shadow, and a person's name carried weight.

Reputation might be invisible and intangible, but it was the clearest reflection of one's strength.

Su Xin had appeared here alone, yet Ji Yanting felt despair rising in his heart.

He had already given up on the throne once. It was only with the Sword Washing Pavilion's support that he dared to step forward and contend for it now.

Just as he had told Ji Yanxiu earlier, if Ji Yanxiu refused to hand over the token, he would make sure he couldn't even remain an idle prince.

But now the situation seemed to have turned around. If Ji Yanxiu ascended the throne in the future, would he forgive Ji Yanting for coming here today to make trouble for him? He might not dare act against him now, given the rules, but what about later? Ji Yanting didn't dare think any further.

He gritted his teeth and said to Su Xin, "Lord Su, whatever Ji Yanxiu promised you, I'll give you twice as much if you agree to help me... No! Three times as much!"

Su Xin shook his head inwardly. In his eyes, none of Great Zhou's princes amounted to much, but few were as useless as Ji Yanting.

Even Ji Xuanyuan and the others would find it hard to stomach supporting such a useless man as emperor.

It was simple: he'd bring shame upon Great Zhou!

So Su Xin replied, "I'm sorry, Your Highness, Prince of Wu. I, Su Xin, keep my word. Since I promised to help Your Highness, the Prince of Shu, how could I go back on it now?"

At his words, the despair on Ji Yanting's face deepened.

Ji Yanting was now wondering whether he could hand the token over to Ji Yanxiu and