The old eunuch Cai He announced the imperial decree in a shrill voice, only to suddenly realize that no one present paid any attention to him.

Prince Chen Huai'an, the heir apparent of the Prince of Jin, remained as steady as a mountain, not moving an inch.

The military generals of Longcheng and the civil officials of the fiefdom looked at him as if he were a joke.

In just a moment, Cai He realized that although Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin had not declared himself emperor, he was already completely obedient to the orders of the Great Xin Dynasty.

Even just over half a month ago, the second emperor of the Xin Dynasty, Zhao Gan, died at his hands.

Cough cough!

So Cai He could only cough twice more to cover up his embarrassment.

Then, she cleared her throat again and said, "Since Your Highness is in armor, there's no need for the full ceremony to receive the decree. I will now read it aloud:"

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

Subsequently, amidst the shrill voice of the old eunuch Cai He announcing the imperial decree, Chen Huai'an and the generals of Longcheng understood the purpose of Empress Dowager Su's envoy's visit.

Instead of pursuing Chen Huai'an's crime of regicide, he was granted the title of Prince of Jin!

In addition to giving Chen Huai'an all the rewards that Emperor Zhenwu Zhao Mang had bestowed upon the late King Chen Polu, he also granted Chen Huai'an the Nine Bestowments (the highest honor bestowed by the emperor upon his ministers).

Of course, this imperial edict was not merely for bestowing titles and rewards upon Chen Huai'an.

It also revealed the current predicament of treacherous officials in power, regional princes causing trouble, and the disintegration of the Great Xin dynasty. It expressed the hope that Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin would send troops to eliminate the traitors and quell the rebellion for the court.

The imperial edict even concluded by expressing a willingness to invite Chen Huai'an to the capital to discuss state affairs in the future.

The old eunuch Cai He read the entire imperial edict in one breath, ending with the phrase "So be it."

Then, looking at Chen Huai'an, who was sitting upright with a playful smile on his face, he said, "Your Highness Prince Jin, please accept the decree!"

Hahaha!

Suddenly, Chen Huai'an burst into laughter without warning.

The other generals of Longcheng also burst into laughter.

The way he looked at Cai He was somewhat like he was looking at a fool.

It must be said that Empress Dowager Su was not only whimsical, but also quite interesting.

Hoping to obtain troops from Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin with a single imperial edict and a bunch of empty titles, they intended to help the court quell the rebellion and eliminate the traitors.

How wishful thinking!

They even said they were inviting Chen Huai'an to Beijing so that they could discuss state affairs together in the future?

Although Empress Dowager Su is indeed quite beautiful and charming, that is not enough to justify Prince Jin sending troops to the court!

For Chen Huai'an, he had to consider things more deeply than the other military generals of Longcheng and the civil officials of his fiefdom.

This Empress Dowager Su was by no means the whimsical woman the generals imagined.

On the contrary, she is quite politically astute and shrewd.

Throughout the imperial edict, Empress Dowager Su consistently adhered to one theme, which was the core of Chen Huai'an's proclamation against the rebels when he raised an army in Longcheng: to purge the court of treacherous officials, eliminate corrupt ministers, secure the state, and strengthen the foundation of the nation.

Empress Dowager Su used this as a starting point to invite Chen Huai'an to send troops to help the court quell the rebellion and eliminate traitors.

Didn't you, Chen Huai'an, raise the banner of "cleansing the emperor's inner circle and eliminating treacherous officials" when you started your rebellion in Longcheng?

Now, Empress Dowager Su, representing the young Emperor Zhao Lingwu, issued an edict in the form of a secret seal, fully acknowledging and affirming Chen Huai'an's achievements since the uprising, and bestowing upon Chen Huai'an the highest reward and title.

I'll also tell you that the court is still ruled by treacherous officials, the princes are causing trouble, and the young emperor is entirely under the control of the Prince of Jin.

If you disobey the imperial edict, you will be slapping yourself in the face and overturning your own once stern denunciation of the rebellion. As long as Empress Dowager Su announces the contents of the imperial edict to the world, Chen Huai'an will surely be subjected to verbal and written attacks.

If he obeys the decree, he will become a gun in the hands of Empress Dowager Su, and wherever she points, Chen Huai'an will have to shoot!

This imperial edict is a blatant conspiracy!

They even promised Chen Huai'an a grand promise: that they would come to the capital in the future to discuss national affairs!

If Chen Huai'an hadn't known the story of a man named Dorgon, he would have almost fallen for Empress Dowager Su's trick!

After a long while, Chen Huai'an finally stopped laughing.

He beckoned to Cai He, the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict, and said, "Eunuch Cai, I have received the imperial edict!"

"Come here, I have a few words to say to Empress Dowager Su and the Emperor!"

Upon hearing this, Cai He finally smiled, folded the imperial edict in his hand, and presented it to Chen Huai'an with both hands, saying, "What are your orders, Your Highness Prince Jin?"

As he spoke, Cai He bowed low and leaned close to Chen Huai'an's ear.

Chen Huai'an lowered his voice and whispered something in Cai He's ear.

The curious crowd inside the hall craned their necks, trying to hear something, but to no avail.

All that could be seen was that Cai He, the eunuch who had been delivering the imperial edict, had a smile on his face, but the smile gradually disappeared, and his expression froze into a bitter look.

He looked at Chen Huai'an with some disbelief and said embarrassedly, "Your Highness Prince Jin, this, this is probably not appropriate, is it?"

Hahaha!

"Eunuch Cai, whether it's appropriate or not is not something you should be considering!"

Chen Huai'an said with unparalleled arrogance, "You only need to convey my words to Empress Dowager Su verbatim. Whether it is appropriate or not is up to Empress Dowager Su to consider!"

"Guards, show them out!"

Then, the reluctant eunuch Cai He, carrying the imperial decree, was seen being carried away from the main hall of the kitchen by two servants from the Prince's residence.

The generals inside the hall were even more curious about what Prince Jin had said to the old eunuch.

However, due to the strict hierarchy, no one dared to approach and inquire, even under the influence of alcohol.

Chen Huai'an, however, waved his hand and called out to the crowd: "Gentlemen, I am in a great mood today. Let us drink until we are drunk!"

"We won't leave until we're drunk!"

......

Three days later.

Inside the Kunning Palace in the capital city.

After his trip to Longcheng, Cai He, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who seemed to have aged ten years, finally returned to Kunning Palace without any major incidents and met with Empress Dowager Su Wan'er as soon as possible.

Holding the young Emperor Zhao Lingwu in her arms, Su Wan'er asked expectantly, "Cai He, how is it? Has Chen Huai'an replied?"

Um!

Cai He smiled wryly and nodded.

Su Wan'er asked anxiously, "What did he say?"

Forehead......

Cai He hesitated for a long time, not knowing how to start the conversation.

Su Wan'er was extremely anxious and said sharply, "Cai He, just say it!"

Cai He looked aggrieved and said, "Your Majesty, this old servant... this old servant doesn't know how to begin!"

Su Wan'er said, "Tell the truth!"

Cai He took a deep breath, as if he had made a great decision, and whispered something in Su Wan'er's ear for a long time.

"What?"

Upon hearing Cai He's words, Su Wan'er's eyebrows furrowed, her face paled, and she roared furiously, "How dare Chen Huai'an!"

thump!

Cai He immediately knelt down in front of Su Wan'er with a thud, and whispered, "Please calm down, Your Majesty!"

After a while, Su Wan'er asked again, "Cai He, are you sure Chen Huai'an said those words?"

Cai He nodded and replied, "Your Majesty, this matter is of utmost importance, and this old servant dares not misremember a single word!"

"I'm so angry! That Chen Huai'an is utterly lawless and shameless!"