Duan Ziqian looked at Jiang Zhizhou, his expression dark. "Do you understand my wishes?"
Jiang Zhizhou sighed inwardly. Kneeling on the ground, he said, "Your Majesty honors me with your regard, but this humble subject knows his abilities are limited. I fear I would fail your expectations, and so I dare not..."
"I have already made myself clear. The position of Minister of State belongs to none but you. You resist so strongly—do you think I lack the judgment to recognize talent?" Duan Ziqian stared at Jiang Zhizhou, his cold gaze stabbing into him like sharp thorns.
Jiang Zhizhou knew that if he defied Duan Ziqian again, he might find it difficult to extricate himself. Yet he could not bring himself to speak against his own heart.
Seeing Jiang Zhizhou kneel there without answering, Duan Ziqian felt fury surge in his chest. He raised his leg and kicked him viciously.
"You dog! Would serving at my side really be such an indignity?"
Duan Ziqian's kick was both heavy and cruelly placed, making cold sweat spring to Jiang Zhizhou's forehead.
Even so, he gritted his teeth and said, his gaze resolute, "This humble subject begs Your Majesty to withdraw your decree!"
"Good, good, good. I never imagined you could be so heartless! Fine, then. I hope you will not regret what happened today."
Jiang Zhizhou said, "This humble subject thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace."
Duan Ziqian snorted coldly, swept his sleeve, and left.
Only when his surroundings had fallen deathly silent did Jiang Zhizhou slowly rise from the ground.
He looked in the direction Duan Ziqian had gone, a flicker of desolation passing through his eyes.
From now on, he feared he and Duan Ziqian would find it difficult to walk the same road again.
Still, Duan Ziqian had