That night, Li Ti slept more peacefully and soundly than he had at any point in the past several years.
He awoke only once, briefly, in the early morning.
The candles on the stands had nearly burned out. Their flames flickered weakly, casting a hazy gray veil over the chamber. There was an exceptionally faint sound of breathing beside him, steady and unhurried, while the air carried the delicate fragrance of dragon’s saliva incense.
Li Ti turned his head slightly.
The morning light had not yet appeared, and the unfamiliar young emperor was sleeping right beside him.
The sharp, handsome features of his face had lost their imposing severity in the dim light. His brows were relaxed, and his long eyelashes rested against his lowered eyelids. There was an unguarded, almost innocent softness to his expression that Li Ti had never seen before.
Li Ti stared at him in a daze for a long time.
Everything felt as though it were a dream, and a faint, indescribable ache stirred in the depths of his heart, mingled with a strange, inexplicable flutter.
He closed his eyes and slowly retreated beneath the warm quilt once more.
…
Back when he was in the Southern Border, Li Ti had considered himself reasonably diligent in handling government affairs.
Even so, he had never pushed himself to the extent that the emperor did, rising at the third quarter of the Yin hour, long before daybreak, to attend the morning court.
The position of a man who stood above ten thousand others…
It was clear that sitting upon that throne was not an easy task.
Jiang Yunzi rose very quietly.
Even when the sleeve of his robe was trapped beneath Li Ti’s body, he did not pull it free abruptly. Instead, he carefully slipped it out without disturbing him. The palace attendants had already gathered outside the folding screen, and even the sounds of them preparing the emperor’s washing water and formal attire had been kept to the barest minimum.
Before leaving, Jiang Yunzi returned to the bedside once more.
Li Ti kept his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. Only after the emperor reached beneath the quilt and touched the hand warmer held against his body, confirming that it was still warm, did he gently tuck the quilt more securely around him.
The footsteps gradually faded into the distance, and the palace doors closed silently.
Li Ti opened his eyes and stared at the elaborate patterns embroidered across the canopy above him, lost in thought.
It was not that he had no suspicions. Being kept in the imperial palace might carry a certain implication of being held hostage as a zhizi, a political hostage from the Southern Border.
But if that had truly been the emperor’s intention, Jiang Yunzi could simply have thrown him into the imperial prison.
Why, then, would he treat him with courtesy at every turn? Why summon imperial physicians to examine him, personally soothe his pain, ensure that he slept peacefully, and offer him those words of comfort the previous night?
Besides, Li Ti had traveled thousands of miles to the capital of his own accord to confess his supposed crimes and beg for mercy. The emperor had not forced him to come.
As these thoughts passed through his mind, another faint cramp twisted through his abdomen.
The pain was not particularly severe, but it clung stubbornly to him like a parasite attached to his bones, winding itself persistently around his internal organs. Li Ti’s gaze dimmed slightly.
The morning court would last, at most, an hour. He glanced at the sky beyond the window and told himself to endure a little longer. Once His Majesty returned from court, everything would be fine.
But the moment that thought arose, a wave of humiliation and self loathing surged through him.
Had his body truly become so useless and debilitated that he could no longer manage even a brief period without someone by his side?
Inside Zichen Hall, the morning court was once again as turbulent as ever.
An urgent report, dispatched at top speed by the Grand Commissioner of Grain Transport along the Jianghuai waterways, announced that the river channel near Qingjiangpu had become severely silted up, threatening to delay the northward transportation of grain before the spring floods of the following year.
At the same time, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue were locked in a bitter dispute over the funds required to dredge the channel.
One side insisted that silver must be allocated immediately, while the other maintained stubbornly that the imperial treasury was empty. The two factions argued so fiercely that their faces turned red. They cited classical precedents, attacked one another’s positions, and traded accusations without restraint.
The hall descended into a chaotic uproar. On ordinary days, a scene like this would inevitably leave Jiang Yunzi with a splitting headache.
But today…
Seated high upon the Dragon Throne, he absentmindedly ran his fingertips along the edge of his sleeve.
A faint, bitter fragrance of medicinal herbs still lingered there. At the same time, the sensation of that slender waist nestled in his palm the previous night had yet to fade, even after an entire night had passed.
Li Ti had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Even reduced to a frail, sickly state, he was still undeniably alluring.
If he had never fallen ill, just how lean and supple would his body have been?
And those hands of his…
They were long and well proportioned, with clearly defined knuckles whenever he clenched the edge of the quilt. They seemed suited to holding a writing brush, and also to… wielding a sword, or holding many other things.
Jiang Yunzi wondered whether Li Ti had awakened yet.
Had he taken his morning medicine on time? Was his abdomen still hurting?
“Your Majesty?” The palace attendant beside him reminded him quietly.
Jiang Yunzi came back to himself. His gaze swept coldly over the assembled officials below, and the entire hall fell silent at once, the ministers becoming as cautious as cicadas in winter.
“Grain transport is a matter that concerns the foundation of the state. How can it be delayed? The thirty thousand taels of silver requested by the Ministry of Works are approved. However, the recruitment of laborers must be voluntary, and their daily wages shall be thirty percent higher than the prevailing market rate. The local officials shall personally supervise the work. Anyone found withholding wages or bullying the laborers shall be executed.”
In truth, this decision did not resolve the problem of the imperial treasury’s financial difficulties.
Nevertheless, not a single official dared to object. After a brief silence, the hall resounded with a chorus of praise.
“Your Majesty is wise!”
Sigh.
By the time the court session ended, it was just past the Chen hour, around eight in the morning.
Jiang Yunzi stepped out of Zichen Hall, and the morning breeze brushed against his face, carrying a piercing chill.
Several early blooming plum trees had already blossomed in the imperial garden.
Dark crimson and pale white buds dotted their branches. Whenever the wind passed through, a subtle fragrance drifted through the air.
Unfortunately, the imperial physicians had said that Li Ti was weak and deficient in vital energy. He would need to remain in bed for at least another three to five days and could not be exposed to cold winds.
Otherwise…
Jiang Yunzi would have liked to bring him here to see the flowers.
The Southern Border enjoyed warm weather throughout the year and never experienced scenery quite like this, where blossoms endured the frost and snow.
Perhaps the heir had never witnessed the spectacle of plum blossoms burning like flames across countless trees in the bleak depths of winter, when all living things seemed to wither beneath the cold.
Jiang Yunzi returned to the warm chamber, where Li Ti had already awakened.
Morning sunlight streamed through the lattice windows and fell across his figure. He was leaning halfway against the bolster at the head of the bed, his black hair loose and cascading over his shoulders. His black inner robe hung loosely over his thin, gaunt frame, the collar slightly open and revealing a section of his sharply protruding collarbone.
His long, clearly defined fingers rested lightly against his lower abdomen,
Was it hurting faintly again, or had he simply grown accustomed to protecting that vulnerable area?
Jiang Yunzi’s fingertips moved almost imperceptibly once more.
That waist…
When he had drawn Li Ti into his arms the previous night, it had truly felt as though he could encircle it with a single hand.
The man had grown far too thin from his illness.
Even through the layers of clothing, the fragile outline of his lower abdomen could still be faintly discerned, slightly hollowed inward. Only when the pain struck did his insides twist and tighten, his abdomen swelling and contracting as the muscles spasmed restlessly beneath Jiang Yunzi’s palm, as though silently begging for relief…
Jiang Yunzi’s gaze darkened, as if ink had spread through it.
“Heir.”
Earlier, one of the palace maids had reported that Li Ti kept claiming to feel a tightness in his chest and had no appetite. He had continued refusing breakfast, delaying the meal for quite some time.
Now Jiang Yunzi sat down beside him and made a slight gesture with his hand. The maid immediately brought in the bowl of medicinal porridge that had been kept warm.
“Your body needs to recover. You barely ate anything last night, either. How can you possibly regain your strength if you continue eating so little?”
“Come.”
He personally opened the covered bowl, picked up a jade spoon, and gently stirred the porridge, releasing a soft cloud of fragrant steam.
“I will eat with you.”
Li Ti truly had no appetite whatsoever.
Over the years, his illness and constant suffering had worn him down. Every time he tried to eat, it felt like enduring a punishment. Sometimes he would feel nauseated and vomit; other times, his abdomen would cramp so violently that it felt as though his insides were being twisted apart. As the years passed, he had developed an almost instinctive aversion and distaste toward the very act of eating.
Yet the person sitting before him was lowering his eyes as he scooped up a spoonful of porridge. The morning sunlight cast a gentle, warm glow over his profile. Then he lifted his eyes, looking at Li Ti with a gaze that was earnest, warm, and tender.
How could Li Ti possibly refuse him?
The medicinal porridge prepared by the imperial kitchen was naturally soft, fragrant, and sweet. The grains of rice had been cooked until they were almost completely dissolved into the broth, leaving behind nothing but a gentle, comforting warmth.
Yet when Li Ti held the porridge in his mouth, it tasted like nothing more than wax. He could only force himself to swallow it with considerable effort.
One mouthful.
It was only a single mouthful, yet that familiar sensation of constriction and discomfort had already begun to rise in his throat. His vision darkened slightly, and a thin layer of cold sweat seeped across his back.
Just then, a warm hand suddenly settled against his throat.
The palm rested against the side of his neck, then slowly slid downward along the path of his esophagus, passing over his thin chest before finally coming to rest on his empty upper abdomen. The hand began to massage the area in slow, gentle movements, applying a pressure that was strangely reassuring.
In a truly inexplicable way, the body that had grown accustomed to twisting painfully and rebelling with nausea after every mouthful of food was soothed without a word being spoken.
All that remained was the lingering warmth of the porridge, gently comforting his cold stomach.
Li Ti was momentarily bewildered.
How long had it been since he last experienced this…?
How long had it been since eating had not been followed by a storm of nausea and agony, but had simply brought him the warmth and satisfaction of having food in his stomach?
His fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly.
The emperor was extraordinarily patient. He continued massaging Li Ti’s abdomen for a long time, waiting until his breathing had settled into a steady rhythm before scooping up a second spoonful and bringing it to his lips.
That morning, Li Ti managed to eat nearly half a bowl of porridge, something he had rarely been able to do in a long time.
As soon as he finished, several palace attendants quietly entered carrying a large stack of memorials. They arranged the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone one by one on the rosewood desk beside the bed.
By rights, the emperor should have handled state affairs in his study or the main reception hall of his sleeping quarters. But today…
“Your Majesty attends to countless affairs of state every day…”
Li Ti’s voice was hoarse and low. “Yesterday, you had already gone beyond the usual bounds to care for me… How could I possibly allow you to delay important matters of government on my account again?”
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Yunzi had already tossed a vermilion writing brush toward him.
“If you still have enough strength to talk,” he said without even raising his eyes, “then help me review two memorials.”
As he spoke, one hand naturally returned to Li Ti’s lower abdomen, while the other opened a memorial.
“……”
“This subject does not dare to overstep his position.”
Jiang Yunzi dipped his brush into the vermilion ink, his tone calm and matter of fact. “You have failed to take proper care of yourself, allowing your body to deteriorate into this state. The imperial physicians say you need a full year to recuperate. That means I will have to look after you personally throughout the entire year. If this ends up delaying the affairs of the empire, tell me yourself: shouldn’t you be punished?”
“Your punishment is to review two memorials for me. Why are you still sitting there? Hurry up.”
“……”
### 17
Li Ti was, after all, still extremely weak.
After reviewing only two memorials, he was already visibly exhausted.
He nevertheless tried to summon the strength to take up a third, but Jiang Yunzi snatched the brush from his hand and declared in a tone that brooked no argument, “Enough. Sleep for a while.”
Li Ti wanted to say something more, but the exhaustion accumulated over the past several days swept over him like a surging tide. His eyelids grew unbearably heavy and gradually sank shut. Before long, his breathing had become slow and even.
Jiang Yunzi picked up the two memorials Li Ti had reviewed.
The documents he had handed Li Ti were precisely the matters that troubled him most, the problems that had given him the greatest headaches.
It was not that Jiang Yunzi knowingly wanted to burden a man who was already too weak to endure any strain. The truth was that he understood perfectly well that these were precisely the kinds of problems Li Ti could handle with ease, and not only could he handle them, he was exceptionally skilled at resolving them.
The first memorial, for example, had been submitted by the governor general of Jiangnan. It reported the silk and textile production figures for the current year, mentioning that a silkworm disease that had spread during the spring had reduced output in several production regions. The governor general therefore requested that the imperial court consider granting an appropriate reduction in taxes.
However, the national treasury was already under considerable strain. The court simply did not have the money to spare.
The second memorial concerned the dispute over dredging the grain transport waterways, the very issue that had caused such a heated argument during the morning court session.
As expected, Li Ti had proved worthy of his reputation as the man who had once governed the entire Southern Border so effectively that its administration ran smoothly and its granaries remained full.
Faced with two seemingly insoluble problems, he had analyzed each one methodically, setting out clear, step by step solutions for resolving them.
He had explained how to raise funds and mobilize laborers during the winter to carry out emergency dredging, then how to replant mulberry saplings and provide assistance to silkworm farmers the following spring. His proposals would address the immediate crises without delaying the grain transport schedule or missing the crucial season for sericulture. At the same time, they allowed the government to proceed gradually, balancing the needs of the people against the limitations of the national treasury.
Even his handwriting was impeccable. It was the slender, neat style of formal court script, with every stroke and every character arranged so precisely that it looked almost as though it had been printed.
He was truly… meticulous in his thinking and exceptional in his abilities.
Jiang Yunzi’s gaze deepened. He lifted his eyes from the memorials and slowly let them fall upon the face of the man sleeping on the couch.
He could not shake the feeling that Li Ti was becoming increasingly fascinating to him.
They had only met for the first time a day or two ago.
Besides, Jiang Yunzi had grown up in the imperial palace. What kind of beauty had he never seen? Li Ti was merely handsome in a dignified, refined manner. He could hardly be considered a peerless beauty of the mortal world.
And yet, why was it that…
Why was he so inexplicably alluring?
He had captivated Jiang Yunzi so thoroughly that, ever since their first encounter in Zichen Hall, the emperor’s gaze had been drawn to him constantly, lingering over him at every opportunity. It was as though his eyes had become firmly attached to Li Ti’s person, unable to tear themselves away even for a moment.
Jiang Yunzi himself could not understand it.
Li Ti was clearly restrained and proper, and his every movement was elegant and composed.
There was none of the seductive, soul hooking glances or deeply ingrained, bewitching allure displayed by the beautiful consorts and male favorites who had once filled the late emperor’s harem. Indeed, if not for his lingering determination to plead for his parents and younger brothers, the Southern Border’s heir would have given off nothing but the impression of a man whose vitality had been exhausted, whose interest in life had withered away, and whose heart had become utterly indifferent to the world.
And yet…
And yet, somehow, he had the power to leave Jiang Yunzi’s heart unsettled and his thoughts restless.
Suddenly, the person lying on the couch stirred.
Although Li Ti had fallen asleep, his sleep was far from peaceful. Before long, his brows drew tightly together, and his neck tilted back slightly, revealing the vulnerable line of his throat.
Beneath the brocade quilt, his body shifted restlessly. A faint whimper escaped between his thin lips.
Jiang Yunzi immediately placed his palm against Li Ti’s lower abdomen once more.
As expected, he felt wave after wave of restless spasms and agitation beneath his hand. He softened his touch and slowly massaged the area, soothing the cold, twisting pain that tormented Li Ti from within.
But his gaze could no longer be controlled.
His eyes swept over the man’s bloodless lips with a dark, shameless intensity, lingering on the faint scab where he had bitten through his lower lip. They drifted over his long neck and sharply protruding collarbones, where the skin was so thin that the blue veins beneath it were almost visible. His attention then moved across the delicate butterfly shaped shoulder blades rising beneath his thin back, before finally settling on that narrow waist, so sharply defined that it seemed scarcely wider than the span of a single hand.
Jiang Yunzi’s throat tightened. It felt as though a feather were lightly scratching at his heart, stirring an unfamiliar, surging heat deep within him.
If only he could, he truly wanted to bully Li Ti mercilessly.
The sensation would surely be…
What would Li Ti look like when he writhed and lost himself completely in the moment?
Jiang Yunzi closed his eyes briefly, forcing himself to suppress the wild thoughts churning inside his mind. Yet the more he tried to suppress them, the more fiercely they seemed to grow, like weeds spreading unchecked,
If he could make those lifeless eyes fill with a hazy, watery sheen… if that restrained voice could give way to completely different, tearful sounds… if that deathly pale skin could be stained with a flush of crimson…
Such a sight, so deeply moving that it could seize the soul, was something Jiang Yunzi had never witnessed before.
But…
Jiang Yunzi’s gaze suddenly turned cold, dark and deep as a frozen abyss.
Jiang Yunnian… had certainly seen it.
Yes. His useless seventeenth younger brother must have witnessed Li Ti at his most vibrant and animated during those years in the Southern Border.
He must have seen Li Ti in the full strength of his health, galloping on horseback beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, his movements spirited and dashing, radiating the effortless elegance of a skilled rider. He must have seen the smile that spread freely across Li Ti’s brows and eyes, and the uninhibited enthusiasm with which he raised his cup and drank his fill.
He must also have seen Li Ti lose his composure when overcome by pain, and lose control of himself when consumed by anger. He must have witnessed his heartbreak and despair, seen him burst into tears and weep uncontrollably.
He must have seen Li Ti’s clinging tenderness when his feelings were stirred, as well as the madness, infatuation, and petulant vulnerability he displayed when driven to the brink by love.
Come to think of it, how had Li Ti smiled at Jiang Yunnian back then?
In the stillness of the deep night, what kind of loving words had he whispered into Jiang Yunnian’s ear?
When he writhed in Jiang Yunnian’s arms because of the pain, had he ever let down all his defenses, revealing his weakness and pleading for comfort? Or had he behaved just as he did now, gritting his teeth and swallowing every ounce of suffering in silence, refusing to make a sound?
“……”
Jiang Yunzi’s palm remained against the man’s slightly cool abdomen, and without realizing it, he gradually increased the pressure.
In his sleep, Li Ti’s brows knitted together. A vague, muffled groan escaped his throat.
Jiang Yunzi’s breath caught. He immediately relaxed his hand and murmured in a low voice, “I hurt you.”
The candlelight flickered dimly beside the couch, casting the shadows of the two men onto the bed curtains, where their silhouettes overlapped and swayed together.
Li Ti opened his eyes slightly and gently shook his head. “It’s nothing…”
The embrace around him suddenly tightened.
“It was my fault.” Jiang Yunzi rested his chin lightly against the hollow of Li Ti’s shoulder, his gaze shifting between light and shadow. “I promise you, it won’t happen again.”
Never again.
“……”
After a brief pause, he smoothly changed the subject without drawing attention to it. “You slept for nearly two hours. It’s already dusk. Is your stomach still uncomfortable? You must eat at least a little at dinner. Is there anything you would like to have?”
Li Ti shook his head.
The flickering candlelight cast a faint shadow beneath his eyes. He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. “I have become far too much of a burden on Your Majesty… I truly have no face left to show you.”
He did not need to say anything more.
Jiang Yunzi remembered the countless letters he had exchanged with his seventeenth younger brother over the previous two years. Those letters had occasionally mentioned that the heir to Prince Jing was usually mild tempered, but that he possessed a stubborn streak of his own.
At times, he would rather endure hardship alone than owe anyone anything or trouble another person in the slightest.
As for why there had been so many letters in the first place…
Ultimately, it was because his younger brother was simply too stupid.
Jiang Yunnian certainly had an attractive appearance, and his identity as an imperial prince meant that he could easily become entangled in romantic affairs in the capital, surrounded by admirers and countless flirtations.
But in the eyes of Li Ti, who had commanded the Southern Border and witnessed countless upheavals and dangers, that little bit of status and influence had hardly been worth mentioning.
As for his modest skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, they might initially have allowed him to find a kindred spirit in Li Ti, but they were nowhere near enough to break through the man’s emotional defenses.
That was why, at the beginning of his time in the Southern Border, Jiang Yunnian had managed to become no more than Li Ti’s friend. Beyond that, their relationship had made no further progress.
And what had happened afterward?
Had Jiang Yunzi not been the one to write letter after letter, guiding him personally, step by step?
He had taught Jiang Yunnian in meticulous detail how he should speak and behave in front of Li Ti, down to the smallest things.
What sort of demeanor would make Li Ti feel tenderness toward him? How should he reveal his vulnerability at just the right moment to win Li Ti’s trust? How should he express concern and offer comfort? How could he stage a heroic rescue that would leave Li Ti feeling indebted to him?
Little by little, he had taught his younger brother how to lure Li Ti into the trap.
Every single step had been devised by Jiang Yunzi from thousands of miles away, then taught to Jiang Yunnian to carry out.
What could he do? Jiang Yunnian possessed nothing more than a handsome face. He had neglected his studies and lacked any real substance beneath his appearance, an empty vessel with no talent or ability of his own. If left to his own devices, he would never have possessed the ability to attract even the slightest attention from someone like Li Ti, let alone move him emotionally.
And what had happened in the end?
Jiang Yunnian had merely copied Jiang Yunzi’s words and actions, acting out the carefully written script his elder brother had prepared for him.
Yet that alluring waist of Li Ti’s had been the first to be embraced by Jiang Yunnian, and those pale, delicate lips had been the first to be tasted by him.
Even the sight of Li Ti surrendering to passion, his emotions rising and falling as he lost himself in the moment, had been something Jiang Yunnian enjoyed first!
Heh.
Dark, sinister thoughts churned in Jiang Yunzi’s heart, yet his expression grew even gentler and more composed. Lowering his eyes, he gazed at the thin, gaunt profile of the person resting in his arms and smiled faintly. “Li Jingzhao, if you truly cannot put your mind at ease, then focus on recovering your health as soon as possible. Once you are well, you can help relieve some of My burdens and resolve My difficulties in the days to come.”
Outsiders always said that the Seventeenth Prince was a dashing, charming man, his pair of peach blossom eyes perpetually filled with laughter and tender affection.
In truth, however, Jiang Yunzi’s appearance was no less striking than Jiang Yunnian’s. If anything, he was every bit as handsome, if not more so. It was simply that the imposing authority he carried on a daily basis, coupled with his habitually cold gaze, made people instinctively shrink back in fear before they could appreciate his looks.
But if what Li Ti liked was a gentle, refined man who smiled warmly and seemed to brim with tender affection…
Then Jiang Yunzi could become precisely the sort of man Li Ti liked whenever he wished.
Just as he was doing now.
The candlelight flickered, its warm, golden glow illuminating one side of his face. The light softened the sharpness of his usually severe brows and eyes, veiling them in a deliberately gentle haze. He gazed intently at Li Ti without moving, a perfectly measured smile resting on his lips.
Under that unwavering gaze, Li Ti’s body stiffened for the briefest, almost imperceptible moment.
The heir of the Southern Border had always been renowned for his intelligence, quick wit, prudence, and composure. To see him display such an almost dazed expression was an exceedingly rare sight.
Something stirred faintly in Jiang Yunzi’s heart. Unable to resist, he decided to tease Li Ti even further.
“Li Ti, I am preparing to move against Duke Zhao.”
For one brief instant, Li Ti’s expression went completely blank.
Zhao Chong, Duke of Zhao, was a veteran statesman who had served three reigns. His former students, protégés, and old associates were spread throughout the imperial court and the wider political establishment. He was also the greatest obstacle to the implementation of the new reforms granting the state a monopoly over the salt and iron industries. His roots ran deep, and any attempt to uproot him would inevitably send ripples through the entire court. To move against him was to shake nearly half the imperial administration and risk triggering upheaval whose consequences would be impossible to predict.
Yet Jiang Yunzi spoke with such casual ease, as though he were discussing the weather that day.
“Your Highness has always been able to anticipate every move and leave no stone unturned. Would you help Me examine this plan? I have already ordered people to secretly gather irrefutable evidence that his protégé and former subordinates have been embezzling funds from the grain transport system and illegally trafficking salt certificates. I intend to strike during the imperial banquet at the end of the year and have them arrested in front of everyone. In your opinion, is there anything I may have overlooked in this plan?”
As he asked his question with every appearance of sincerity, he did not forget his other duty. His hands continued to warm Li Ti’s waist and abdomen, soothing the aching area with steady, careful movements.
The heir of the Southern Border was a man of noble character. He never accepted another person’s kindness without cause, much less allowed himself to incur a debt of gratitude lightly.
And now, the Son of Heaven not only cared for him day after day but had also openly entrusted him with a secret scheme of such immense importance to the very foundations of the empire, one that could determine countless lives and deaths. What greater trust could there be?
Yet that trust was also a shackle.
From this moment onward, Li Ti was a man who knew the secret. He was an accomplice.
He was now a grasshopper bound to the same rope as Jiang Yunzi, unable to escape alone.
And with someone as perceptive as the heir, once Li Ti was compelled to turn his attention toward Jiang Yunzi, it would not take long for him to discover the truth…
That Jiang Yunzi was, in every respect, far better than Jiang Yunnian.
Soon enough, Li Ti would no longer even remember who Jiang Yunnian was.
Author’s Note
What a shameless, despicable dog of an emperor! At this stage, he is still nothing but a dog, without the slightest intention of reflecting on his own behavior.
But when you think about it carefully, his younger brother could also be considered a substitute back then. How wonderful! =w=
(Younger Brother: My life matters too!)
Cue evil laughter. (Well, who can blame us when this is the sort of morally questionable fiction we’re reading?)