Chapter 965: I've imprisoned the empress—how do I fix this! 18

No wonder Huai Feng has been avoiding him these days, his attitude so strange—turns out he already knew long ago that he wasn't the original person.

【Host, logically, because you would come to this world, then plot characters would be born; there shouldn't be such an accident. This person might not necessarily be the original one.】

0731 was still making an urgent inquiry, but there was no result.

Jin Chen also understood all of its reasoning.

Thinking back to all that had happened, it wasn't because he had done poorly; it was entirely because Wen Zhiheng thought he was a false husband, and a sour resentment still welled up uncontrollably in his heart.

"I originally thought, just need time."

Jin Chen slowly sighed, leaning against the pillar and rubbing his brow, barely letting his chaotic mind calm down.

Regardless of who this suddenly appearing tyrant is, it seems the tyrant is still in the palace, so Huai Feng's sudden departure just now……

Jin Chen's expression turned grim; he closed his eyes and released his divine sense—even without spatial monitoring, he could still locate Wen Zhiheng.

Even if they were arguing, even if misunderstandings remained unresolved, even if… Huai Feng still couldn't accept him.

He also absolutely would not allow the tyrant's original self to have any relation to the present Huai Feng.

Jin Chen opened his eyes, and his figure suddenly vanished inside the hall.

When he reached the pavilion at Zhuque Gate, all he saw was Wen Zhiheng alone.

Wen Zhiheng stood on the pavilion steps, seeming to ponder something, his expression lost and dazed.

The night wind brushed past, his white robes fluttering; his slightly cold, handsome face bore a hint of sorrow.

Upon hearing the approaching footsteps, Wen Zhiheng snapped back to attention, lifted his head, and met Jin Chen's gaze.

He flicked his sleeve, slightly bowed, and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Jin Chen walked up to him and asked only one question.

"Tonight's palace banquet—why is Huai Feng alone here, worrying, and just now who was he talking to?"

Wen Zhiheng didn't respond, merely saying, "Your Majesty worries too much; I cannot hold my liquor, I just came out for a walk."

Jin Chen stared deeply at him for a long, long time.

Suddenly, he pulled Wen Zhiheng's arm, embraced him, and gently rubbed his shoulders and back.

Jin Chen's voice grew lower, yet remained gentle: "The night wind is chilly; Huai Feng, don't let the cold invade your body again."

The embrace was warm and solid, as if it could bring endless security.

Wen Zhiheng felt he should push away; this was the etiquette and decorum he had observed for years.

The person before him was not the emperor, nor the one he had accompanied for so many years; he had none of the emperor's faults, yet seemed utterly real.

He was nothing like a demon who merely takes over others' identities.

But the facts lay before him, leaving him no choice but to believe.

Yet his body, at this moment, actually felt some reluctance to leave the warmth of the embrace.

Wen Zhiheng met Jin Chen's lowered gaze; the two were very close—close enough for Wen Zhiheng to easily see the emotion in Jin Chen's eyes.

It was a tenderness the emperor had never shown, as if sincerity and gentleness could be heard just from his words.

These days, the things Jin Chen had done for him were not unfelt; on the contrary, precisely because he could feel them, he hesitated and agonized over and over again.

Wen Zhiheng thought that, yet felt a chill run through his body; he relaxed, leaning into Jin Chen's embrace, and for the first time lightly slipped his arms around his neck, catching a hint of familiar agarwood.

Jin Chen instinctively tightened his hold on the person in his arms, silently sighed, and the deep gloom in his eyes faded.

He thought he would be furious.

But seeing Wen Zhiheng's expression, the heaviness in his heart eased considerably, turning all his resentment into killing intent toward the original self.

Wen Zhiheng's phoenix eyes slightly red, he leaned into Jin Chen's embrace, lowered his voice, and said, "Your Majesty, I wish to ask you something."

"Huai Feng, go ahead and speak."

Recalling the recent conversation with the tyrant, Wen Zhiheng slowly and hesitantly asked.

"You are currently conducting a major investigation into problematic officials at court; if there is a minister you very much wish to dispose of, I do not agree with Your Majesty's choice."

"Would Your Majesty think I am defying the Son of Heaven's authority?"

Jin Chen thought the question quite strange, instinctively wondering, "How could that be."

He felt something was off, lowered his gaze to watch Wen Zhiheng's eyes, and spoke gently: "Since Huai Feng has a different opinion, perhaps there are hidden circumstances I don't know about."

"Just investigate thoroughly; the Son of Heaven's dignity isn't something that can be defied by mere words."

Hearing that answer, Wen Zhiheng felt it was somewhat expected, yet still a complex emotion welled up in his throat.

He lowered his head to gaze at the few small flowers growing from the crevice, pressed his lips, and the warmth in his eyes almost spilled over.

Another person's different tone echoed in his ears.

——"Before, you managing things was fine, but now I am the Son of Heaven! You repeatedly let me lose face before the officials—where is there even a trace of the virtuous empress's demeanor!"

Not the same, really not the same.

Wen Zhiheng slowly rested his chin on Jin Chen's shoulder, gave a soft hum, and said, "I understand."

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +20, total now 20!】

0731 let out a huge sigh of relief.

Jin Chen ruffled his hair, glanced behind the small path, sensed no other presence, and guessed that the tyrant was also deliberately avoiding him.

"Let's go; the palace banquet hasn't ended yet—don't keep them waiting."

Jin Chen wrapped an arm around Wen Zhiheng as they walked back; the other hand behind him released a burst of spiritual power that vanished instantly into the thick night.

"Report——"

"Your Majesty, we've captured one of the spies, but two others escaped; we are pursuing them with all our strength."

Indeed, he is still in the palace.

Jin Chen: "Lock him in the great prison, and interrogate him on a chosen day."

"As you command."

Ah, Your Majesty, Your Highness, you've finally come back.

Outside the hall where the palace banquet was held, Yan Fu'an flicked his duster away and hurried forward to greet them.

He still wondered why, having ordered them to wait outside, the emperor inside the room would suddenly disappear, though this wasn't something he could ask about.

I heard that a knife-wielding secret agent from the Saiwai Western Regions was discovered in the palace, and the imperial relatives and nobles attending the banquet all wanted to wait for your return, fearing something might happen.

And there's also Young Lord Liang……

Yan Fu'an wanted to speak but held back, secretly glanced at Wen Zhiheng, and still gritted his teeth and said it out.

Young Lord Liang heard that the secret agent was found not far outside the Hall of Spring Return, crying and shouting that it was definitely the Empress framing him, and asked Your Majesty to give him justice.

As expected, when Jin Chen arrived at the Outer Hall, he saw a crowd gathered in the shop, with Shao Chun hiding in the corner, sniffling and wiping tears, his tears seemingly endless, crying until his face turned red.

If you were to switch it with someone unaware, they'd probably really think Shao Chun was innocent.

Your Majesty!

Shao Chun saw Jin Chen, let out a sticky, affectionate shout, not caring who else was present, quickly stepped to his side, and stared at Wen Zhiheng, who seemed inseparable and intimately close with Jin Chen.

Your Majesty, where did you go…… I can't find you, I'm scared!

Those guards all said the person was caught from my palace, and if someone with ill intentions heard it, who knows how they might frame me!