Chapter 778 - 230: Withdraw Troops
Yin Zhan did not speak but lifted the wine jar, toasting Ji Heng from afar, and then he tipped his head back, downing the wine until the jar was empty.
Ji Heng smiled as he raised his glass in return, his movements elegant and composed, a stark contrast to Yin Zhan’s roughness. The two presented a curious harmony despite their differing demeanors.
"Yin Zhili must be preparing to raise an army by now," Ji Heng said, emptying his glass and setting it down nonchalantly. "Let me think, tonight in addition to me, there’s the Empress Dowager in the palace, and the Emperor is like a tiger that has lost its teeth, at your mercy. Yin Zhili can raise troops from Qingzhou, and with the Yangtze River as a boundary, even if Yanjing can’t be taken at once, he can establish a new dynasty in South Yan. I’m just not sure what title the Prince of Xia County will have—is the emperor’s seat meant for him or for Yin Zhili?"
Yin Zhan’s expression did not change as he smiled, "If I live, I will take the throne. If I die, then my son will."
"Why don’t you guess whether you will live or die tonight?"
His tone remained gentle, yet amidst the tense, electrifying atmosphere, only he appeared utterly calm. Yin Zhan asked, "What does Duke Su think?"
"Before setting out, I divined a hexagram that suggested great danger without death does not necessarily bring future blessings," Ji Heng said lightly. "I believe, at least tonight, I will not die."
Yin Zhan responded with a laugh, "Duke Su has always been confident."
Tonight, in the Red Building, the air was thick with murderous intent, and it was unknown how many ambushes lay waiting to unfold. Yet even knowing it was a trap, both parties chose to come willingly. Only by using each other as bait and taking the risk could they have a chance of getting close to one another. And the reason they were willing to face such danger was singular: to ensure the other’s death. As long as the other lived, neither could feel at ease.
An irksome thorn must be resolutely removed. If one could not do it and died here instead, it would be a fitting end. At worst, both sides would suffer, perishing together.