Chapter 241: Chapter 215: What’s the situation with this junior?
“I shall draft the imperial decree right away.”
Having said this, Jiang Cheng picked up his brush and began to write on the silk paper.
Jiang Cheng, who was facing the silk paper, had a focused expression and a solemn demeanor; he didn’t seem to be joking at all.
Eunuchs Liu and Zhang were somewhat taken aback.
As the guardians of the sleeping quarters, the two of them were aware of the insider details of the Emperor’s refusal to see visitors.
The mysterious disappearance of the Emperor of Liang, the Divinity Transformation Ancestor had emerged to stabilize the situation.
Logically, with the Emperor gone, it would have been impossible for him to send a Sound Transmission Talisman to let Jiang Cheng draft the imperial decree.
But the problem also lay here.
Because Liu and Zhang, who had spent years in the palace, were experts at interpreting people’s expressions and words, and Jiang Cheng’s utterly serious face didn’t seem fake at all.
At the very least, Liu and Zhang couldn’t spot any flaws in performance on Jiang Cheng’s face.
Moreover, not having high enough ranks, they knew the Emperor was absent but couldn’t contact the Divinity Transformation Ancestor, unaware of the Ancestor’s thoughts and intentions.
Whatever moves the Ancestor made, he would usually not inform the two of them.
Therefore, there was indeed a possibility that Jiang Cheng’s drafting of the imperial decree was authentic.
Eunuch Zhang urgently sent a sound transmission: “Eunuch Liu, what should we do? Could Jiang Cheng have truly received a message from the Ancestor?”
Eunuch Liu replied calmly, “Don’t panic. Let me send a sound transmission to inquire with the stewards inside.”
There were three Eunuch Stewards inside the sleeping quarters, in charge of Rites, Judicial issues, and Logistics, each with Core Formation cultivation-level.
After Eunuch Liu sent the sound transmission, the three who were originally playing cards fell completely silent.
The Judicial Steward said, “Have you heard anything from the Ancestor regarding the imperial decree?”
Both shook their heads.
The Rites Steward swept his Divine Sense out and immediately saw Jiang Cheng writing the imperial decree.
However, because spying on the imperial decree was punishable by death, the content of the decree was not within the realm of investigation of the Rites Steward’s Divine Sense.
“That Jiang lad is indeed writing, and by his expression, it doesn’t seem false.”
The Logistics Steward said, “It’s still best to inquire with the Ancestor about this matter.”
“But the Ancestor instructed us not to disturb him with trivial matters.”
“An imperial decree is no trivial matter. If there is a mistake, we can’t bear the responsibility.”
The Judicial Steward, feeling somewhat troubled, said, “What’s the deal with Jiang Cheng? A mere Qi Practitioner, and he’s making things so difficult for us? Forget it, the matter of the imperial decree is too important. Even if we get scolded, we must clarify this.”
He took out a Golden Talisman, muttered a few words, and as the Talisman burned, it turned into a streak of light and disappeared without a trace.
The royal mausoleum of Liang Kingdom.
The Divinity Transformation Ancestor, Liang Heng, was staring distantly at the construction site.
After the tree disaster, the court immediately began the reconstruction of the royal mausoleum. The mausoleum was crucial to the fate of the Liang Kingdom and could not be taken lightly. However, reconstructing the mausoleum was not a task that could be completed overnight. Although work progressed swiftly, the actual construction phase had only started recently.
A Sound Transmission Talisman flew towards Liang Heng. After listening, he quickly furrowed his brow.
“What are these juniors thinking? With the Emperor missing and the Cabinet eyeing greedily, now is the time when the imperial family most needs a peaceful transition. How could I possibly issue an imperial decree personally and sabotage my own position?”
The more Liang Heng thought about it, the angrier he became: “These younger generations are truly getting worse! If there was a deserving Prince amongst my children, would I, an old man, have dragged on with this succession matter?”
Liang Heng took out a Sound Transmission Talisman, said a few words, and let it fly off.
In the Emperor’s sleeping quarters, the three Eunuch Stewards waited restlessly for Liang Heng’s message.
Liang Heng didn’t disappoint them; the reply came flying back extremely quickly.
The Judicial Steward hurriedly activated the Talisman so everyone could hear what Liang Heng had to say.
“A bunch of incompetents! Can’t you even understand this!?”
Liang Heng’s voice was deafening, and the three stewards almost wet themselves in fear.
After the shock, the three still didn’t understand what Liang Heng meant.
“So did the Ancestor actually send an imperial decree or not?”
“That, I don’t know…”
“Should we ask again?”
“You going to ask?”
“I’m not asking.”
“So you will?”
“Cough, I’m not convenient at the moment.”
The three of them looked at each other; none dared to be the lead bird.
Just then, Eunuch Liu sent another sound transmission: “Steward, what do we do about Jiang Cheng writing the imperial decree? Do we interfere or not?”
After some thought, the Judicial Steward decided to convey Liang Heng’s words, unaltered, to Eunuch Liu.
That way, if something went wrong, he could at least bear less blame.
“A bunch of incompetents! Can’t you even understand this!?”
Outside the sleeping quarters, Eunuch Liu and Eunuch Zhang were utterly dumbfounded.
Eunuch Zhang: “Eunuch Liu, what does the Steward mean by that?”
Eunuch Liu thought to himself, how would I know?
But Jiang Cheng’s imperial decree was nearly complete, and Eunuch Liu had to make a decision whether he felt ready or not.
Eunuch Liu decided to test Jiang Cheng one last time to see whether he was really authorized to draft the decree or if it was a counterfeit.
“Mr. Jiang, I have something to say, but I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to speak it.”
“Speak.”
Jiang Cheng stopped writing.
Eunuch Liu cautiously said, “When you write, make sure not to write any incorrect characters. If someone misunderstands the meaning of the imperial decree because of an error, you could face the death penalty for ‘Issuing a false decree.’”
Jiang Cheng clasped his hands together and smiled, “Thank you for your kind advice, Eunuch Liu. I will make sure there are no mistakes.”
Seeing Jiang Cheng knew that ‘Issuing a false decree’ was punishable by death and yet remained calm and supremely confident, Eunuch Liu made up his mind.
Jiang Cheng wouldn’t be writing recklessly.
Who would knowingly commit a capital offense by issuing a false decree?
Wasn’t that simply courting death?
Jiang Cheng stopped writing and said, “Third Prince, the decree is for Consort Shu. Let’s proceed to deliver the decree.”
Liang Hong had no objections; his role was to be Jiang Cheng’s guide in the palace, and all he had to do was his job well.
Anything beyond that was beyond his cognitive capacity.
…
Inner court, Wenrui Palace.
Liang Lu held a thin sword, performing a dance of sword flowers reminiscent of lotus blossoms in full summer bloom, endless like skies reaching lily pads. Her sword play, combined with her continuously changing footwork, gave her the grace and lightness of a swift in flight.
