Chapter 1340: Chapter 1340: Nothing Desired, Nothing Overcome

Xia Houzhe thought he couldn’t avoid meeting Chu Ze, but he didn’t expect him to arrive so quickly. Seeing Chu Ze, who appeared even more frail and thin as a sheet, a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

When they were children, Chu Ze was tormented by medicine, and wasn’t it the same for him in his pursuit of becoming perfect for Chu Ze?

He was two years older than Chu Ze. To suppress his growth, he continuously took those bitter and peculiar medicines to make himself appear younger. Under the hands of the peculiar people brought by Mr. Ning, his facial bones were forcibly shattered and reshaped, a pain that was unimaginable to others.

He lived like a trapped beast in the Shang family and wondered if he wasn’t the same. Day after day of learning and heeding instructions, he had to pretend to be a filial son in front of Princess Consort Ji. Sometimes he even believed he was truly Chu Ze.

"You came quite quickly." Xia Houzhe looked at Chu Ze and chuckled coldly. "If you intend to show off in front of me, there’s no need. I’ve lost, and you don’t have much time left either. You could say both of us are losers; the winner is your imperial brother."

"Whether he wins or not is irrelevant, the important thing is that you all lost," Chu Ze took a step closer and asked with a soft smile, "How does it feel watching everything you had collapse overnight?"

Xia Houzhe’s smile froze at the corner of his mouth, and his handsome face turned sombre.

He glared coldly at Chu Ze and said, "When did the people around me switch allegiance to you? I underestimated you; you do have some skills."

Chu Ze replied in a calm voice, "Everyone has weaknesses and desires. Once you grasp their weaknesses and address them, you can fulfill their desires and use them for your purposes."

As Xia Houzhe was about to speak, the other interrupted with another remark.

"Of course, the most crucial factor is still character."

Xia Houzhe’s face turned green, and he laughed sardonically. "After returning to the Imperial Palace and reclaiming your identity, your tongue has become quite sharp. Do you feel more confident now?"

Chu Ze chuckled, "As you said, I’m someone who doesn’t have much time left. What does more confidence matter? I’m just seeking momentary satisfaction seeing you as a prisoner, nothing more."

Xia Houzhe sneered with a grimace, "As expected, true brothers bearing the surname Chu, equally skilled in infuriating others. The saying about ’breaking bones but still being connected by tendons’ is indeed true. No wonder you’d rather choose him, you haven’t forgotten your surname is Chu after all."

Chu Ze lowered his gaze.

"You cherish old ties, yet do you know if your dear imperial brother cares about this brotherly bond? When he opens his mouth and heads start rolling, I hope you won’t regret it."

Chu Ze laughed, "I never considered cherishing this life when I returned. Thanks to you all, this body is already beyond repair, and with that, who cares if he issues a decree for execution? Death, that’s all; what is there to fear?"

Xia Houzhe’s lips tightened into a line.

Chu Ze turned away and said, "With no desires or wishes, there’s nothing to exploit. Your lack of understanding was always bound to lead to failure."

As Xia Houzhe watched him walk away, he asked, "Are you truly resigned?"

Chu Ze didn’t answer, until he walked out of the hall and looked at the sky above. The once overcast sky was now gradually clearing up.

Resigned?

But what of it, what can this body enable him to do?

An itch in his throat, he bent over and coughed violently.

Inside the Yangxin Hall, upon hearing the report from his subordinate, Emperor Chu smiled coldly, "With no desires, there’s nothing to exploit?"

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