He still remembered when the Emperor merely half-opened his eyes to give him a sidelong glance, "A reason?"
"Freedom," just two words, without much embellishment, yet the Emperor replied with three words of his own, "Impossible."
"Father Emperor, why?"
The Nanling Emperor sneered, "It's because of a woman, right? Heng'er, you were raised under my watch; how could I be unaware of what's in your heart? Who is she? That maid from your Prince Manor?"
With a single statement, it was as if the secrets of the heavens were laid bare. The Nanling Emperor gazed deeply at him, "Have you grown to love a beauty more than the empire?"
The intent of the Emperor couldn't be clearer; if Rong Heng chose to give up the entire empire for Tangyuan here, it was possible that he would indeed be removed from the line of succession.
So, when he looked meaningfully at Rong Heng, the latter paused only for an instant, about to refuse, when the Nanling Emperor stopped him.
