Jingrong not only felt he was wrong!

He deeply regretted it even more.

If he hadn’t handed this throne to Wei Yi, perhaps Wei Yi wouldn’t have become what he was now.

In the end, he was the chief culprit!

After hearing his sigh, Wei Yi’s steps staggered slightly as he said, “So you still believe that We are connected to Master Qin’s death?”

While Jingrong felt pained, a trace of coldness also suddenly rose in his eyes. He said seriously, “Your Majesty cannot possibly not know that there have never been mountain bandits in the capital region. Even if there were, no one would dare kill Master Qin! Master Qin came from a military background and fought on battlefields for many years—everyone in Da Lin knows him. Those bandits wouldn’t dare get close to his carriage, let alone kill him, unless someone ordered it, deliberately creating a deception, killing someone in the name of mountain bandits. And the person who would dare order Master Qin’s death—the only one this minister can think of is Your Majesty.”

Certain!

Wei Yi pressed one hand on the table, supporting himself, a dark shadow falling in his eyes. “Jingrong, how can you suspect that We ordered Master Qin killed? What kind of person We are, you and Shu’er know better than anyone.”

Heh heh.

Jingrong said, “On the road back to the capital, I kept hoping I was overthinking it, but everything that’s happened in court has forced me to suspect you!”

“…”

“Whenever officials are promoted to court, the Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Revenue must definitely investigate the officials’ files and verify whether their character and conduct are clean. Since the investigation is so detailed, how could you not see that those officials you promoted have problems? Since they have problems, why still use them? And those officials you dismissed one by one—they’ve all served as officials in court for decades, devoted themselves wholeheartedly, and every action they took can be publicly discussed! How could they have used their authority to embezzle and pervert the law? Privately seeking office? Those unfounded charges were all pinned on them in just two short months. Isn’t this too coincidental? There’s also Master Yu’s case. Although all evidence pointed to him as the murderer, there were many doubtful points and many unclear aspects. That so-called evidence was fundamentally insufficient to convict him, yet Lord Li suddenly ordered the case closed quickly. If it weren’t for Yunshu, Master Yu would be dead now, and this case wouldn’t have come to light! Lord Li’s actions weren’t his style, nor the style of the Ministry of Justice as a whole—unless someone secretly ordered him to close the case immediately, thereby pinning the crime of murder on Master Yu. And the only person in court who could compel Lord Li to close a case is you!”

Jingrong’s aura was fierce, pressing directly toward Wei Yi.

At this moment, Wei Yi was like someone whose skin had been stripped away, unable to hide anything, but from his face and eyes, not a trace of nervousness or guilt could be seen. Instead, he appeared to be an open and upright gentleman, except between his brows there was a barely visible trace of sinister cruelty.

He said, “Do you know that what you just said is enough to bring about your own death?”

A warning!

Jingrong was unafraid, his eyes cold, continuing, “You are the Son of Heaven of Da Lin. The entire realm belongs to you. Even a single word from you makes imperial orders impossible to disobey! But now, you’re just like the calligraphy you wrote—clearly a good poem, yet you deliberately added a few strokes, causing kindness to become evil, and good to become bad.”

“…”

“Wei Yi, exactly… why have you become like this?”

Utterly pained.

When he finished speaking the last word, Wei Yi actually felt an incomparably relaxed sensation.

As if unloading a heavy burden.

And that layer of disguise on his body could finally be removed. He no longer had to live under that false skin, continuing to be the fool everyone called him!

He curled his lips lightly, a sinister coldness refracting in his eyes.

It wasn’t only desire for power.

There was also hatred.

And unwillingness in the depths of his heart.

He laughed once, a trace of fierce cruelty spreading across his handsome face.

A completely different person from just moments ago.

At this moment, on the screen behind him painted with dark purple glaze, three lifelike dragons were carved! Those sharp dragon eyes seemed to be looking at him, and those sharp claws seemed about to pounce toward him.

After a moment, his cold voice sounded: “Since you already know, there’s no point in Us continuing to speak false words to you.”

Jingrong’s expression paused slightly.

“Perhaps you think We are heartless, but the truly heartless person isn’t Us—it’s you!” Wei Yi rebuked.

The two locked eyes!

Each carrying a dark tension.

Wei Yi walked around the long table before him, coming before Jingrong, his pupils narrowing deeply. “Since We ascended the throne, court ministers have gossiped much because of Our status, all saying We are a fool, a fool who doesn’t even know cold from warm. Although you assisted Us in stabilizing the foundation, you also restrained Us! Everyone says you are Da Lin’s first regent prince, that We are just a useless puppet. For half a year, a full half year, We sat on that dragon throne, called Emperor, holding the imperial seal that governs the realm, high above all—yet when have those ministers who depend on you ever listened to a single word from Us? This Emperor is nothing but a figurehead. Even now, We cannot escape from your cage, forever held back, living in your shadow.”

So he had been accumulating resentment in his heart all along.

Jingrong coldly parted his lips. “You dismissed those officials, killed Master Qin, and wanted to kill Master Yu—all with the purpose of counterbalancing me.”

“Not entirely!” Wei Yi’s brow lifted slightly. “When Duke Yuguo was about to lead troops to besiege the late Emperor, you once promised Us that when the time came… you would spare his life! But Jingrong, you personally killed him. You were the one holding the sword, personally thrusting it into his chest. Even if he was wrong in a thousand ways, ten thousand ways, in the end, he was still Our father!”

His voice trembled.

So he was also doing this for revenge.

Jingrong also finally understood clearly and said, “So you’ve never let go in your heart from beginning to end! Therefore, you’ve also never let go of Yunshu, have you?”

At the mention of Ji Yunshu, Wei Yi’s fierce gaze slightly receded, his expression sorrowful. He confessed frankly, “Yes, in Our heart, whether now or in the future, We have never let her go! Originally in Jinjiang, We had already established a betrothal with Shu’er. The person who should have married her should have been Us. For her sake, We could even give up the entire realm, but in her heart there is only you. No matter how well We treat her, she only regards Us as family.”

He then smiled bitterly. “Family? These two words have become the greatest barrier between Us and her, destined that in this lifetime, We can never cross it. From the day you took her and left the capital, We knew We would lose her for this entire life. And all that remains for Us is only this realm!”

Yet such a Wei Yi was pitiful!

Was a stranger!

Was also lonely!

He bore the pain of losing everything, and also bore the immense sorrow in his soul.

And the only way to compensate—was to exert every effort to seize it back!