Chapter 244: Chapter 216: What if We Get Divorced?
“Never written an imperial edict?”
Liang Heng looked towards the Judicial Steward who had brought him the news.
The Judicial Steward looked at Eunuch Liu, who was in charge of guarding the sleeping quarters.
With no one else to turn to, Eunuch Liu, with a hardened face, said, “Mr. Jiang, I personally heard you say, ‘I understand your meaning, I will draft the Imperial Decree for you.’
“That’s right,” Jiang Cheng did not deny having said this.
Eunuch Liu’s heart rejoiced slightly, as he had never expected Jiang Cheng to admit it so readily.
“You see, you also admit to having written an unofficial edict,” he said.
Jiang Cheng calmly asked, “May I dare ask Your Majesty, have you ever discussed the matters of the Imperial Decree with me?”
Liang Heng: “No!”
Following Liang Heng’s words, Jiang Cheng said to Eunuch Liu, “Eunuch, look, His Majesty has not said a word, and since I was to write on his behalf, naturally I haven’t written a single word.”
Eunuch Liu’s mouth hung open, unable to speak.
He didn’t know what to say.
Because, deep down, he felt that what Jiang Cheng said didn’t seem to have any flaw.
“I was supposed to write, but since he didn’t say a word, of course I would hand in a blank paper.” Eunuch Liu experienced auditory hallucinations, and Jiang Cheng’s seemingly smiling face appeared to be mocking his intelligence.
Written on behalf, but not fully so.
As if!
“Not right! I remember I reminded Mr. Jiang not to write the wrong characters, and Mr. Jiang agreed,” Eunuch Liu tried to counterattack.
Jiang Cheng leisurely said, “I indeed promised you, and I kept my word; from beginning to end, I did not write a single wrong character.”
Eunuch Liu angrily said, “But you clearly didn’t write any characters!”
“Just tell me if there were any mistakes.”
Eunuch Liu’s neck stiffened, and he wanted to cough up blood and flee, but his Foundation Establishment cultivation level did not permit him to cough up blood.
“Your Majesty, this official is confused about something,” said Pang Chi, the head of the Imperial Guards.
“Speak.”
“Since Jiang Cheng had no Imperial Decree, then why did the argument arise among the Empress and the concubines in the harem?”
Pang Chi hit the nail on the head, bringing back some disadvantage to Liang Heng’s situation.
Eunuch Liu also seemed to realize something but did not dare to interject.
The Judicial Steward chimed in, “Could it be, General Pang’s meaning is, Jiang Cheng prepared two sets of Imperial Decrees, one blank just to deal with us, and the other with content specifically to deceive the ladies in the harem?”
The logistics manager followed up with his input, vociferously saying, “If this is true, that would be a crime of deceiving the emperor!”
Liang Heng, seated in the principal seat, indifferently said, “Jiang Cheng, how do you explain this?”
Jiang Cheng remained quite composed, “Whoever makes the claim must provide the proof. I have not written two sets of Imperial Decrees. Those who think I’m deceiving both superiors and subordinates may find the second set of Imperial Decrees to use as evidence against me.”
Upon hearing this, several eunuchs, Pang Chi, and Liang Heng did not bring it up again.
Because there was no indication that a second set of Imperial Decrees existed.
Liang Heng glanced at the Judicial Steward and transmitted a message, “Ask Jiang Cheng why Consort Shu would cause trouble with a Blank Imperial Decree.”
The Judicial Steward said, puzzled, “Ancestor, why should I ask?”
Liang Heng: “Because it’s a bit embarrassing for me to ask personally.”
The Judicial Steward thought to himself: If I ask, I would also lose face!
However, he was clear on the relative importance of his face compared to that of his ancestor.
“Ahem. Mr. Jiang, since the Imperial Decree you gave to Consort Shu was utterly blank, why did she take it to the Empress and cause a disturbance?”
“Because she wanted an explanation from the Empress,” he said.
“Then why didn’t she seek one before?”
“She did, but to little avail. Your Majesty, Consort Shu entrusted me to report that the Empress had abused her power for personal gain. Your wise judgment is requested.”
Liang Heng suddenly felt overwhelmed.
He dared not ask any further.
He was afraid that the more he questioned, the more troublesome matters Jiang Cheng would reveal.
…
The harem was usually quite dull.
The topics discussed by the maids were mostly various gossips.
Such as whose family member was getting cozy with which eunuch and similar subjects.
As for gossip involving concubines, the palace maids and eunuchs did not dare to speak rashly about their masters, so they often exchanged whispers in private.
Recently, the most topical event in the harem was the conflict between the Empress and Consort Shu.
From the rank of concubines to the palace maids and eunuchs, all were discussing it.
“I heard that the Empress’s face was injured by Consort Shu,” said Consort Lin to Consort Li.
Consort Li said, “With such family manners, it’s not surprising she can hit.”
“Who’s saying otherwise. Ah, has Consort Jin come to see you?”
“Consort Jin? Has she also gotten involved?”
Consort Lin said, “She’s involved, but she didn’t go to fight. Consort Jin has been quite ostentatious recently; her third son was the first Prince summoned by His Majesty.”
While listening to their elders, Liang Lu sipped his tea quietly, not joining in the conversation.
“What else has Prince Chu been up to?” Consort Li asked.
“He himself has been alright, it’s mainly his retainer, known as Jiang Cheng, who is truly outrageous. Did you know, the Imperial Decree that Consort Shu was holding was forged by this Jiang Cheng!”
Hearing this, Liang Lu silently set down his teacup.
Forging an Imperial Decree was a capital offense. Was Jiang Cheng truly that foolish?
However, if he intended to use this move to pave the way for Prince Chu, he could be considered a loyal and righteous person. It’s just that Prince Chu had little chance of shouldering Great Liang, and he might die in vain.
Little did he know, Consort Lin added, “Afterward, His Majesty summoned Jiang Cheng to the palace for a face-to-face talk, saying ‘You forged the Imperial Decree, there is no doubt you must die.’ Can you guess how Jiang Cheng responded?”
“Hard to guess.”
“Jiang Cheng kept saying he didn’t forge the Imperial Decree.”
Consort Li shook her head: “Physical and testimonial evidence against him, he can’t deny it.”
Liang Lu thought the same.
If Jiang Cheng had nobly accepted his death, Liang Lu would have thought more highly of him. But his repeated denials were truly unbecoming.
She picked up her teacup once again, taking a light sip.
She was considering an excuse to leave to practice her cultivation; listening to these gossips truly lacked interest.
Consort Lin laughed, “I too thought Jiang Cheng had no way out, but who would have guessed, the Imperial Decree he handed to Consort Shu turned out to be empty! He hadn’t written a single word, so how could it be considered a forgery? Everyone from the sleeping quarters to the Empress and others were all played by his blank sheet of paper!”
