Chapter 981: I've Locked Up the Empress—How Do I Fix This! 34

Footsteps sounded outside the hall, and Yan Fu'an respectfully called out.

"Your Majesty, Jingliang Jun requests an audience."

Accompanying it were the calls from outside, his tone filled with grievance and anger.

Jin Chen could also guess why he had come, and he said in a low voice: "I have no time; let him leave the palace on his own—I've already arranged things for his family. What more do you want from me?"

"Your Majesty! You can't do this to me!"

The wailing outside grew louder, like a tantrum.

Jin Chen found it noisy, grabbed Wen Zhiheng's hands to cover his ears, and refused to listen.

Wen Zhiheng glanced toward the door, his brow slightly furrowed: "Weren't all the attendants already sent away from the palace yesterday? Why is he still here…"

"He's so annoying, refusing to leave; today I'll have his older sister and brother-in-law come fetch him personally."

Jin Chen felt vexed and puzzled: "Why not… just lock him up with that monster?"

After they spoke frankly, they had always referred to the tyrant as a monster; Wen Zhiheng recalled the past and felt it was hardly different from a demon.

Wen Zhiheng helplessly pinched Jin Chen's earlobe, analyzing the pros and cons: "What are you saying? His father is an Attendant Minister of rank nine-two, and his brother-in-law is a Director of the Ministry of Revenue; you can't just imprison someone without proper justification."

"You've only just managed to undo some of the monster's foolish deeds; don't ruin the authority you've earned in the officials' hearts."

Jin Chen: "... Oh."

After a pause, he added, "Actually I know; I was just joking."

Wen Zhiheng used to say these things to the tyrant as well; at first he would take the advice, but later perhaps feeling that imperial power outweighed heaven, he acted on impulse, which is why he earned the reputation of a reigning tyrant.

Wen Zhiheng shook his head, not wanting to dwell on past unpleasantries, and said, "I'll go take a look."

Jin Chen immediately became alert: "Let's go together."

That person seems to have gone mad—don't accidentally hurt Huai Feng!

Sure enough, when Jingliang Jun, who had been kneeling outside the hall crying and making a fuss, saw the two emerge together, he immediately rose to his feet, indignant.

"Your Majesty! I've served you for your reign, but I'm only a few months younger than Wen Zhiheng!"

"Furthermore, when you let me enter the palace, you personally promised that even if I had to contend with an Empress, it was only to stabilize the state, and you would delegate power to me—"

"What are you saying?" Wen Zhiheng suddenly interrupted him, eyes slightly widened: "The… Emperor once promised to delegate power to you?"

"Otherwise!"

Jingliang Jun's resentment toward him over the past years peaked now, his eyes red as he stared, each word like a pearl.

"Clearly I served the Emperor in his bedchamber before you did, and I pledged my life to him earlier, yet you entered the Central Palace merely by being the Crown Prince's reading companion!"

Wen Zhiheng stood frozen, learning the truth behind it for the first time, feeling a chill run through his body.

He had thought… that Jingliang Jun entered the palace because officials objected to his taking over the Central Palace, leaving the Inner Palace empty, forcing the monster to choose him out of necessity.

In fact the reason was true, but the one who had no choice turned out to be him, not Jingliang Jun.

Wen Zhiheng steadied himself, turned, and whispered to Jin Chen: "You have his memories—do you know about this?"

Jin Chen: "I forgot."

Irrelevant content in the memories is automatically filtered out, appearing only when needed.

Otherwise, he would have used this earlier to drive a wedge between you when he was angry!

Jin Chen frowned again, feeling uneasy: "Does Huai Feng care a lot?"

"No…" Wen Zhiheng shook his head, then laughed suddenly, as if relieved: "I just think he's really ridiculous."

So even though he never loved him, he still had to act submissive in front of him.

Jingliang Jun's face over here was practically black.

He's still crying over here! How did you two suddenly start chatting?

"Your Majesty… you can't abandon me!"

He hurried a few steps, lunged at Jin Chen and grabbed his arm: "If I leave the palace, I'll become the laughingstock of the entire capital, and from now on… I'll never be able to serve you again."

"You said you'd cherish me for a lifetime."

Hearing that made him unhappy; Wen Zhiheng gave him a cold stare, stepped in front of Jin Chen, his expression stern.

"Under the imperial edict, do you really intend to defy it and show disrespect?"

"Defying the edict will not only implicate you, but also your father and elder brothers."

Jingliang Jun's chest heaved: "Empress, what an Empress… making the Emperor dismiss the harem for you—this is your style! You jealous husband!"

Wen Zhiheng took a handkerchief, lowered his eyes to wipe the back of Jin Chen's hand that had been pulled, his voice cold.

"Someone, take him away; don't let him enter the Hall of Quiet Heart."

No matter how Jingliang Jun struggled, he could not overcome the guards' strength; Jin Chen ignored him, so he was dragged away powerless.

Jin Chen remained silent, merely watching Wen Zhiheng's jealousy rise with a smile in his eyes; after Jingliang Jun was led away, he waved to dismiss the attendants and then sighed.

"See, dismissing the harem was right—look at how jealous you are."

Wen Zhiheng tossed aside the handkerchief, smoothly smoothed his cuffs, feeling rather proud: "Back then I was worried about something else; before, there was no way, but if possible, I naturally hope…"

He paused slightly, then leaned against Jin Chen's shoulder, arms wrapped around his waist: "I hope you belong only to me."

His voice was soft, but Jin Chen heard it clearly, chuckled low in his throat, and held the person tightly in his arms, refusing to let go.

Their figures fit together perfectly, their hearts filled.

There was no misunderstanding, nor any deceit out of consideration for each other.

{Detected Villain Heartthrob Value 5, accumulated 85! }

{Detected Villain Blackening Value -10, accumulated 45! }

{Warning: Protagonist's Good Ending Progress -20, accumulated -50! }

0731 suddenly felt a bit worried: '{Host, if the ending progress is too low, will something happen? }'

He just had a bad feeling.

Jin Chen didn't think so, and had already thought of a solution.

【After the palace banquet finishes dealing with the Western Region envoy, I will handle this broken progress.】

【Okay.】