I Was Sent as Tribute to the Prince I Shot novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Eve

"I'll swear," Jiang said.

It was the night before the solstice, and they were in the study under the map, with the lamp turned low.

"And I'll take whatever verdict they give."

Lin put his cup down so hard that tea slopped over the desk.

"No."

"Jingshu."

"No, Zhanyuan.

I am not going to stand in the Hall of Wounds and watch forty elders vote on whether to kill you."

"My men go home if the wound is answered.

Three thousand of them.

Du Heng.

The letter says I'm nobody, so there's nobody left to cry over me."

"I would cry."

He said it flat, furious, with his eyes bright.

"Lanxi has counted the Council.

I have eleven votes for pardon.

Cen has fifteen for blood.

I need twenty-one."

"Then I need to give the other fourteen a reason."

"The reason is that you're innocent of a crime the law doesn't have a word for.

The reason is that you caught an arrow with your hand."

"The reason," Jiang said, gently, "is that I swore.

Liang thinks a man who keeps his word is worth keeping."

Lin stared at him.

Then he made a sound that was half a laugh and half something else, and pressed the heel of his hand to his eyes.

"You've been planning this."

"For weeks."

"You absolute fool."

"I know."

Lin lowered his hand.

His face was wet, and he didn't try to hide it.

"Then tonight," he said, thickly, "is not payment.

Whatever happens tomorrow.

Do you understand?

It's not a debt.

It's not a farewell.

It's just a man who loves you and wants you inside him until morning."

"You have me," Jiang said.

He stood and took Lin's face in both his hands.

"All night, Jingshu.

Every part of me."

Lin kissed him.

Jiang lifted him by the thighs.

He weighed no more than a saddle pack.

Lin's legs wrapped tight round Jiang's waist, his hard cock pressing through silk against Jiang's belly as his hair fell over Jiang's forearms, and he gasped into his mouth.

"Zhanyuan..."

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