After breakfast, the emperor had Qi Chen brought to him. He sat on the throne looking down at the dejected man on his knees. His heart ached a little. He’d seen Qi Chen grow up. He wasn’t willing to accept that Qi Chen would be capable of such atrocity.

“Tell me, Qi Chen,” the emperor said severely. “Who pushed you into committing such treacherous act?”

Qi Chen looked up at him and scoffed. “No one. It’s all me.”

“Do you know what you did is a capital offense?”

“Of course I do. If Nan Xun hadn’t arrived in time, I’d be the one sentencing you to death. If I had been a little crueler, I wouldn’t have been stopped! Do you know that? It’s your fault. It’s your fault from the very beginning.”

Qi Chen broke into laughter. He laughed so hard that tears burst out from his eyes. He curled into himself and held his hands over his abdomen.

He’d always been a proud man....