Jin Dongxing opened his mouth, but in the end not a word came out.

Jin Tiancheng was very pleased that Jin Dongxing knew his place, and a faint smile showed on his face.

But the reason Jin Dongxing had shut his mouth was that he knew he couldn't talk Jin Tiancheng around.

Jin Tiancheng was blindly confident and believed everything was in his control... Nothing said now would do any good. It would only backfire.

Jin Tiancheng stood up and looked down at Jin Dongxing with contempt. "This emperor is going back to the palace. I'll come see you another day."

Meaning he'd had enough fun toying with him today and would come back next time to humiliate him some more.

Jin Dongxing performed the full kneeling bow. "With respect, I see Your Majesty off!"

Jin Tiancheng left beaming, a man riding high.

Jin Dongxing, though, had gone pale. It was as if he could see the Gaoli Kingdom's realm shattered, with war blazing up on every side.

If the hundred thousand reinforcements at Gaotian City were foolish enough to run off to the border pass on the Great Xuan's southern frontier, they would go and never come back.

The Gaoli Kingdom was hollow now, its strength drained and its troops too few. The hundred thousand at Gaotian City mattered more than anything. Without them, the Gaoli Kingdom would have its back broken and lie flat on the ground for anyone to trample.

So, whatever it took, he had to find a way to save those hundred thousand troops.

Jin Dongxing thought for a long time, then slowly got to his feet. He clutched his shoulder, his face twisted in pain. Jin Tiancheng had just kicked him to the ground, and everyone had seen it.

He went over and tried to pick up the basket of vegetables, but his shoulder hurt too much, and he couldn't lift it at all.

He turned to one of the guards. "Could you help me carry the basket to the kitchen? I've hurt my shoulder, and I can't lift it."

The guard gave a…