Wei Yi was stung by these words.

But he still wrapped himself in his thorns, unwilling to admit defeat, even more unwilling to face reality.

He only wanted Ji Yunshu!

For her, he could give up everything. “Do you think I wanted to become like this? I was forced by you! Forced by your imperial father!” He roared in a low, dark voice, gnashing his teeth, his eyes turning sinister. He spun around in place, spreading his arms wide as he said, “Jingrong, do you know? Every time I think about how this place was once where your imperial father lived, I want nothing more than to burn it all down with a single fire!”

After speaking, he laughed several times.

But his laughter was utterly miserable! He continued, “But I can’t do that. I’ve endured that nauseating feeling and hatred in my heart, staying here for nearly a year. Do you know why? It’s to tell the whole world that I, Wei Yi, am no longer the fool I once was! But more important than that is Shu’er! I can give up the entire realm for her, but I cannot give her up. I know the person she loves is you, but I just can’t bring myself to watch her stay by your side with my eyes wide open. I can’t do it.”

With a great sweep of his sleeve!

His entire body trembled with agitation.

The hatred in his heart had never diminished.

Jingrong simply watched him, all words of counsel dying away.

Because a person conquered by their own inner demons—no matter what you say or do—can no longer be changed.

“You still don’t understand even now!”

“What should I understand? That you two truly love each other? Or that Shu’er doesn’t love me at all?”

“Shu’er cares about you not because she loves you, but because she treats you as family, because she promised the Wei couple that she would take care of you for a lifetime!” Jingrong raised his voice, trying to make him understand. “If you truly care about her, you should let her be happy.”

“No! No!” He roared, his eyes bloodshot, his whole person like a deflated ball.

Then—

He suddenly walked before Jingrong, all previous hostility gone, opening those large eyes wide, yet with a twisted feeling about him. Wei Yi furrowed his brow and said, “Jingrong, just consider that I’m begging you, all right? I don’t want this realm anymore, I won’t seek revenge anymore! Aren’t you going to be regent? Don’t you want me to become your puppet? Fine, then I’ll give you all of this, everything, but I only ask that you give Shu’er back to me! All right? All right?”

His tone wasn’t as fierce as before.

Instead it was utterly pleading.

Hoping Jingrong would agree to him.

However, the response he received was Jingrong’s cold gaze: “Wei Yi, stop being so obstinate. You need to wake up!”

“Wake up—how should I wake up? Without Shu’er, how can I wake up? Jingrong, I’m begging you. I’ll give you everything, all of it. I only want Shu’er, I only want her. For her, I can be a fool like before. Please…”

“You know this is impossible!”

“Then would you rather die than agree?”

Jingrong said, “Yes!”

Wei Yi gradually withdrew that pleading face, his eyes turning sinister as he stepped back several paces.

“Fine! Then I won’t beg you anymore. Consider everything I just said completely retracted.” After speaking, he shouted loudly toward the door, “Someone come.”

“Bang!”

The door was thrown open.

Two eunuchs entered.

“Your Majesty’s command.”

Wei Yi’s face darkened: “Prince Rong has committed insubordination, trespassed into Fuyang Hall, and even affronted us, disregarding the propriety between sovereign and subject. Transmit our decree: imprison Prince Rong in the inner palace dungeon. Without our command, no one may release him.”

Eh!

Prince Rong affronted His Majesty?

The two eunuchs’ hearts trembled.

But they didn’t pursue the reason why.

“Yes!”

In an instant, a group of inner palace guards rushed in.

They surrounded Jingrong completely!

Jingrong showed no fear whatsoever. He looked at Wei Yi and said, “I’ve already said what I needed to say. If you insist on walking down this path of no return, then I will no longer show any consideration, and you should bear the consequences for what you’ve done.”

“Are you threatening me?” Wei Yi walked to his side. “I’m giving you one chance. If you agree to leave the capital and never enter the capital again, and never seek out Yunshu again, then… I’ll spare your life.”

Bah!

Jingrong glanced at him sideways: “It’s me giving you one last chance!”

This enraged Wei Yi!

“Take him away!”

The guards stepped forward and seized Jingrong. Jingrong didn’t struggle, letting them take him away and imprison him in the inner palace dungeon.

He sat in the cell, his back to the cell door, looking up at that narrow window.

Light shone in from outside, falling upon his sharply defined face, making him appear exceptionally handsome.

For some reason, that ray of light grew brighter and brighter.

Somewhat dazzling.

He suddenly recalled words Jing Yi had said to him before dying—

“As long as the throne exists, the wind in the palace will never stop blowing.”

“As long as the throne exists, the wind in the palace will never stop blowing.”

“As long as the throne exists, the wind in the palace will never stop blowing.”

…

These words echoed continuously in his mind.

Back then, he had believed Jing Yi’s words were wrong, but now, he believed them, and deeply understood them.

Imperial power and position truly could devour human hearts.

He couldn’t help but let out a heavy breath.

“Tap tap tap…”

Footsteps approached.

Finally stopping outside his cell.

Jingrong didn’t turn around, because he knew who had come.

The visitor took the key from the guard’s hand, opened the door, and entered.

He bowed respectfully to Jingrong: “Greetings, Your Highness.”

It was… Shang Zhuo!

Jingrong had calculated that he would come, because they had now reached this unavoidable step.

So he had been waiting for Shang Zhuo!

After a long moment, Jingrong rose from the ground, turned, and looked at him: “You’ve still come after all.”

“Presumably… Your Highness also guessed why I’ve come?”

“Now that things have reached this point, your coming to see me was inevitable.”

Shang Zhuo sighed: “Then Your Highness… should you not go find Eunuch Zhang?”

Jingrong fell silent for a moment.

As if still hesitating. And to help him make up his mind, Shang Zhuo continued, “The situation has already developed to this point. Your Highness can hesitate no longer. Only by seeking out Eunuch Zhang can you reverse the current circumstances. Your Highness understands this in your heart, and precisely because Your Highness understands, I dare to boldly come to the inner palace dungeon.”

“Shang Zhuo, oh Shang Zhuo, you are a clever man.”

“Not as clever as Your Highness.”

Heh!

Jingrong laughed once.

“How could you not be as clever as me? Years ago, I made one wrong decision, which led to the current situation. It’s I who was foolish.”

“Nothing is yet decided. Your Highness still can… revoke the command!”

Eh!

That phrase “revoke the command” seemed to foreshadow everything to come.

Jingrong’s eyes tightened.

He was shocked by these words. Shang Zhuo continued, “Only if Your Highness revokes the command can everything be stopped!”