"Oh? How do you intend to take the punishment for that Sixth Jiang?"
Chu Wenzong spoke in a leisurely tone that sounded surprisingly kindly.
"As long as Your Majesty does not hold this against my younger sister, I would willingly stake my life."
Jiang He answered earnestly.
Chu Wenzong studied him for a long while without speaking.
Jiang He gritted his teeth. "If Your Majesty is willing to spare the Jiang Family, I will give up another ten percent of my future trading profits!"
Chu Wenzong's eyes lit up.
Tempting though it was, that share of the profits went toward supporting the border. It would be rather unkind of him to snatch it away.
A few seconds later, a flash of inspiration struck him, and Chu Wenzong smiled again.
With kindness filling his eyes, he rose from the dragon throne, walked down, and helped Jiang He to his feet himself.
"My dear subject, I am a benevolent ruler, and your Jiang Family are all pillars of the state. Why speak of throwing away your life at every turn? Would I take your lives over a little girl's private thoughts?"
Jiang He looked up at the emperor before him, rather bewildered.
"Your Majesty?"
"My dear subject, if the anesthetic Sixth Jiang mentioned is real, do you know what that would mean for our Yu Kingdom?"
Chu Wenzong's voice was gentle, making him seem every bit an affectionate elder chatting with a youngster.
Jiang He instantly understood what the emperor meant.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will find a way to ask my sixth sister. If what she said is true, the Jiang Family will certainly offer up the formula and lend our strength to the border!"
"Mm. Naturally, I trust you. If that anesthetic truly exists, I will reward her generously."