Chapter 256: Would you give me your heart?

Su Zhenzhen was confused for a moment, then stopped thinking about it.

Jiang Jingwei spoke up, "I want to know, why did the Huo family army break into the city so easily? You've been under everyone's noses all day, when did you tamper with the city gates?"

Jiang Jingwei's gaze swept quickly over Su Zhenzhen, then landed on Jiang Ruheng's face.

"You already have people in the capital?"

Jiang Jingwei was increasingly alarmed. "When did you start planning this? How old are you? The major families in the capital didn't even notice this hidden move."

For the first time, Jiang Ruheng revealed a smile that was not like that of an immortal being. "You don't need to know."

Having said that, he had already placed his long sword against the other man's neck.

Jiang Jingwei was outmaneuvered and had no choice but to surrender.

The sounds of fighting outside gradually ceased at dawn.

Chunzhi entered carrying a blood-stained longsword. "All the major families have been executed."

From then on, imperial power would no longer be hindered by aristocratic families.

Jiang Ruheng nodded. "What about the collateral branches of the Jiang family?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jingwei glared angrily, "What do you want to do? We are, after all, from the same ancestor."

Jiang Ruheng did not answer him, but looked at Chunzhi, waiting for her answer.

"There weren't many members of the Jiang clan in the capital, but they were all arrested."

"Next, we will continue eastward. I'm entrusting the task of capturing the Jiang clan members to you. Make sure that no member of the Jiang clan escapes."

Su Zhenzhen witnessed all of this as an observer, and her mind was still a little confused.

These two people are clearly still them, but why do they talk like strangers?

Something feels off.

"Yes." Chunzhi clasped her hands in a fist and led Jiang Jingwei out.

Only two people remained in the bedchamber. Although Chunzhi had closed the door when she left, Su Zhenzhen could still smell the strong stench of blood outside.

Jiang Ruheng walked closer to Su Zhenzhen and patted her head with the hand that wasn't holding the sword.

"Zhenzhen, I'm sorry, I startled you."

Su Zhenzhen felt a slight relief; the person in front of her was still the same person.

"It's alright, this little thing won't scare me. Besides, didn't we win? And everything will go very smoothly after today. It's just..."

Su Zhenzhen asked curiously, "Did you plant spies in the capital beforehand? When did this happen? Were they left behind by General Huo?"

Jiang Ruheng smiled but remained silent.

Su Zhenzhen wisely refrained from asking further questions, treating it as if it were just a casual remark.

Jiang Ruheng went to handle the follow-up matters.

Su Zhenzhen dozed off for a while on the small couch in the bedroom. Even with her strong mental fortitude, what had just happened was still too unexpected.

Fortunately, Jiang Ruheng had made preparations in advance and turned the tables on him, turning what was supposed to be an invitation to a trap into a trap to beat the dog.

Su Zhenzhen hadn't been lying down for long when she felt extremely weak.

Ambergris incense burns year-round in the bedroom, and even though it was extinguished last night, a faint aftertaste still lingers.

Su Zhenzhen, smelling the ambergris, actually drifted off to sleep.

She slept very soundly, the best sleep she had ever had since being transported to this time and space.

When Su Zhenzhen realized this, she wanted to wake up.

However, the soul is like something floating above the body, unable to control itself from opening its eyes.

Just as Su Zhenzhen was thinking of letting things take their natural course, the number 4 in her mind suddenly began to shake violently.

Su Zhenzhen automatically set off a rapid alarm sound in her mind.

As her soul returned to her body, in a daze, Su Zhenzhen felt someone taking off her clothes.

Are you dreaming?

No, I don't. I basically never dream.

That means someone is actually taking off their clothes.

But who could this person be?

Hensheng is a gentleman of upright character; he would not have acted so rudely before a proper marriage.

Su Zhenzhen half-opened her eyes and met that ethereal face.

It is Jiang Ruheng.

"Hmm..." Su Zhenzhen wanted to speak, but found herself extremely sleepy.

Jiang Ruheng didn't stop taking off her clothes. "Zhenzhen, do you love me?"

Su Zhenzhen gave a soft "hmm".

"Would you be willing to give me your heart?"

"Hmm." This "hmm" was louder than the previous one.

Then Su Zhenzhen felt a chill in her chest.

The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh.

So this is what it feels like to have your heart ripped out.

Su Zhenzhen felt a tightness in her chest, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Zhenzhen, I promise you, you will be my only wife, you will be remembered by the world with me, and I will never have another woman in my life."

"Crack—"

It was the sound of something being pulled out of the body.

Su Zhenzhen felt a sudden emptiness in her heart, and all her feelings for someone were pulled out as well.

Jiang Ruheng was still murmuring his deep affection, "Zhenzhen, don't blame me. To prevent the world from falling into war again, I had no choice but to do this. I can ensure that my generation of people live in peace and prosperity, but no one can guarantee the virtue of the next emperor. If I can rule the world forever, I don't need to worry. And your heart can make me live forever. Zhenzhen, after I eat your heart, we will become one and never be separated again. Zhenzhen, I love you, from beginning to end, I have only ever loved you."

Su Zhenzhen's tears welled up and her throat felt dry. She wanted to ask, was everything that had happened in the past just so that she could let down her guard on this day?

Unfortunately, she can't bring herself to speak.

Jiang Ruheng cut open the blood vessels connected to Su Zhenzhen's heart. Seeing that Su Zhenzhen was still alive, he was overjoyed.

“The true Lady of Destiny is indeed extraordinary. Zhenzhen, can you still hear me? The High Priest once said that the Lady of Destiny is no ordinary person; her flesh and blood can nourish all things. So I was wondering, could your heart grant immortality?”

Su Zhenzhen was so angry that she didn't know what to say.

It turns out that the deceitful high priest never said that his heart could grant immortality.

It was just Jiang Ruheng's own guess. Because of this guess, he was willing to dig out her heart and even tell a huge lie.

Su Zhenzhen recalled what Li Xuanji had said before; no wonder Li Xuanji had made her remember his words before he was reincarnated.

Li Xuanji once said in Chuanbei City that a person will not be kind to you for no reason.

It's a pity I didn't understand the deeper meaning behind it.

Su Zhenzhen recalled everything she had done after being sent here.

Is all of this worthless? A great fire in the border region drove back the barbarians, high-yield grain seeds were purchased from the system store to solve the people's food problem, and a southward expedition was launched to control the locust plague.

Can't all of this offset the little bit of greed in his heart?

Jiang Ruheng didn't mind the disgust and was prepared to eat it raw. However, just as he took a bite, the sound of his teeth hitting the glass was very crisp.

The heart in Jiang Ruheng's hand had suddenly transformed into a small mirror.