As someone loyal to Emperor Xuande and deeply trusted by him, Lord Zhao naturally recognized Emperor Xuande's handwriting.

Even if he doesn't recognize it, he'll definitely recognize the seal under the jade seal in the lower right corner.

Before coming here, Lord Zhao knew that the person behind this shop must have a powerful background, which is why Constable Yang was restricted and dared not directly confiscate the shop. So he was prepared for this, but even so, he did not expect that the person in charge here was not someone else, but someone personally nominated by Emperor Xuande!

Should he say thank you for not turning the calligraphy written by Emperor Xuande into a plaque and arbitrarily hanging it outside the shop?

"Sir, shall we seal it?" The yamen runner following behind Lord Zhao stepped forward and asked when Lord Zhao stopped speaking halfway through his sentence.

Lord Zhao: "..."

Seal him? Seal what? Seal his head?

Even though he was so furious he wanted to fight the person behind his back, Lord Zhao could only suppress his anger and order his accompanying yamen runners, "You stay here and guard this place. I need to go to the palace."

He had originally thought that even if it were a high-ranking prince, he would dare to grant the title first. But now he was facing the Emperor Xuande's own handwriting, so Lord Zhao could only go to the palace first to report the matter to the Emperor Xuande and wait for his instructions.

This matter has now become a hot topic outside, and everyone is watching the Huang family's predicament. As Vice Minister Huang is an official appointed by the court, it is naturally not a good look for the court. When Emperor Xuande heard that Prefect Zhao of the Capital Prefecture was requesting an audience, he put down the memorial he was reviewing and ordered someone to summon him.

After Lord Zhao finished kneeling and paying his respects, Emperor Xuande told him to rise and then asked if the matter had been resolved and if the person behind it had been found.

"Has Zhao Qing already investigated and found out?"

He gave them three days, which was actually a very tight timeframe. Since the person behind it had managed to make the whole capital pay attention to this matter with just a tabloid, they certainly wouldn't show themselves easily and would definitely hide themselves well to avoid being discovered. But anything done will always leave clues; it was just a matter of time.

However, Emperor Xuande was somewhat surprised that Lord Zhao entered the palace so quickly.

Upon hearing this, Lord Zhao's face immediately fell. "Your Majesty, I have something to report. I had originally found the shop that sells tabloids and was preparing to shut down the shop and the place where the tabloids are printed, but when I got to the shop, I needed Your Majesty's instructions."

Lord Zhao felt he had made himself perfectly clear. He assumed that since the calligraphy was written by Emperor Xuande, he should naturally have some understanding of "The Sun Shines Brightly." He was simply asking Emperor Xuande how to handle the matter. However, Emperor Xuande looked completely bewildered and did not understand his meaning at all.

Emperor Xuande awaited Zhao's response.

Lord Zhao was also waiting for Emperor Xuande's instructions, and both of them remained silent.

Emperor Xuande: ? ? ?

"When I said, 'Zhao Qing, come here,' wasn't that to explain what was behind those rumors?"

Lord Zhao: "..."

Your Majesty, what are you pretending for with me?

You've already written the words, stamped them with the imperial seal, and displayed them prominently in the main hall, where they're visible as soon as you enter. Why are you pretending to know nothing about it now?

Lord Zhao's mind raced as he pondered Emperor Xuande's true purpose in doing this.

Could it be that the Emperor is dissatisfied with the Vice Minister of Rites and is using this as a way to give him a warning? And since the Vice Minister of Rites is the Third Prince's man, is it because the Third Prince has been too active lately and causing too much trouble in court, so the Emperor is using the Vice Minister of Rites to give the Third Prince a warning?

The Vice Minister of Rites was actually the chicken the emperor used to make an example of, while the Third Prince was the monkey who was warned.

Given the Emperor's high regard for the Crown Prince, this is indeed possible.

Lord Zhao never expected that a mere rumor, a tabloid that peddles shady gossip, would be linked to the struggle for the throne. Thinking of the implications, his back immediately went cold.

Emperor Xuande sat at the head of the table, watching the ever-changing expressions on Minister Zhao's face below, who thought he had concealed his true feelings well. Emperor Xuande was speechless.

So, what exactly did Zhao Shi'an come here for today?

"Zhao Qing?"

Emperor Xuande was always the one who made others wait; when did anyone ever make him wait?

Startled awake by the authoritative voice, Lord Zhao was immediately filled with fear. He knelt down, gritted his teeth, and asked the question directly.

"Your Majesty, should that shop be sealed off?"

He was loyal to the emperor, and only to the person sitting on the dragon throne. He did not want to get involved in the struggle for the throne, so he only listened to the emperor's orders and arrangements.

Emperor Xuande was indeed good-natured and a rare wise ruler. Although Lord Zhao seemed a bit off at this moment, he still did not get angry, but was somewhat helpless. "It's just a shop. Seize what should be sealed. Lord Zhao was not such a hesitant person before."

If he had been hesitant and compromised with powerful figures, Emperor Xuande would not have appointed him to the position of Prefect of Jingzhao.

At this point, Emperor Xuande sneered. Judging from Zhao Shi'an's reaction, there must be a lot involved behind this, but he didn't know who was behind it.

Lord Zhao: "..."

The person behind that is you. Do you really want to shut them down?

He wouldn't have hesitated to do the same with anyone else.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey. But what should we do with the Emperor's own handwriting in that hall?"

Those were the bold, overt characters "天日昭昭" (Bright as the sun and clear as day), representing Emperor Xuande's attitude towards this matter; he needed to find out the truth before making a decision.

"...What handwritten signature?"

However, Emperor Xuande was taken aback when he heard this.

What did he just hear?

Upon hearing Emperor Xuande's words, Lord Zhao immediately understood.

This is to pretend that the handwritten note never existed, that there was never any "divine proof" in the Emperor's handwriting from the beginning, and that the fewer people who know about this, the better.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will handle it."

However, seeing Zhao's "I understand" expression, Emperor Xuande's confusion only deepened, and he couldn't help but frown, "What is this so-called 'my own handwriting' that Minister Zhao speaks of?"

Lord Zhao: "..."

Your Majesty, I already know what's going on, so there's no need for you to pretend anymore.

"Perhaps I have misread it; it is not Your Majesty's own handwriting."

Fine, you are the emperor, you have the final say, if you say you don't know, then you don't know.

But Emperor Xuande was intrigued by what Minister Zhao had revealed, and said, “Minister Zhao, tell me everything you have discovered from the beginning, without missing a single detail.”

Lord Zhao was quick to react. Upon hearing this, he finally realized that something was amiss. He immediately gave a brief account of how he investigated the rumors, emphasizing the calligraphy piece.

...Surely no one would dare to forge the Emperor's handwriting?

After listening, Emperor Xuande frowned more and more, and couldn't help but change his posture before finally asking the crucial question, "...What is the name of the tabloid that Minister Zhao mentioned?"

It seems someone mentioned it before, but Emperor Xuande didn't pay attention to it at the time.

"Your Majesty, my name is 'The Bright Sun Shines Clearly'."

Emperor Xuande, who finally got his answer: "..."