That evening, after discussing matters with Ji Fengyao, Ji Chenhai and his son, Shang Xiye began preparing for the western expedition, which goes without saying.

Chaoyang Hall.

Just as Emperor Shang Xiche was about to retire for the night, a flying knife carrying a note was suddenly pinned to the edge of his bed. Startled, Shang Xiche sat bolt upright and cried out, "Protect me! There's an assassin! Protect me!"

The Imperial Guards outside immediately pushed the door open and came in, while the people outside circled the Chaoyang Hall, but found nothing.

An imperial guard pulled the throwing knife off the edge of Shang Xiche's bed. After confirming that the note was not poisoned, he handed it to Shang Xiche and said, "Your Majesty, please take a look."

Shang Xiche unfolded the note, which read in hasty handwriting: "Detain Princess Chonghe and be wary of the Ninth Prince seizing control of Xidan and the territory of the Di Kingdom, and rebelling to declare himself king."

Shang Xiche was already quite frightened, and upon seeing these words, cold sweat broke out on his back, and he deeply regretted his actions.

Knowing that the Ninth Prince was extremely protective of his own, and knowing that the Crown Prince had ill intentions, how could he have listened to the Crown Prince's instigation and pressured the Ninth Prince like that?

The Ninth Prince held a large army in his hands, and his subordinates were all elite soldiers and generals.

He had just annihilated Xidan, and now he was petitioning to annihilate the Di Kingdom. This was partly due to the pressure of the situation, and partly because he was trying to extricate himself from the situation.

If the Ninth Prince were to establish his own fiefdom, as long as he did not invade the Great Zhao during his reign, it would not be considered a breach of the late emperor's promise.

If the Ninth Prince is still young, he certainly won't outlive him. What if he dies ten or twenty years later?

When the Ninth Prince returns, kills his descendants, and seizes the throne, it will be perfectly justified!

Shang Xiche suddenly realized what was happening, and immediately dressed himself and wrote an imperial edict overnight.

The next morning, he sent Eunuch De to deliver the imperial decree to the Ninth Prince's residence.

Eunuch De carried the imperial edict, his steps trembling as he entered the Ninth Prince's residence.

On a clear early summer morning, after walking for only ten minutes in the garden, my clothes were soaked with sweat.

He's not here to issue an imperial edict from the Prince's residence.

He's gone to hell to ask the King of Hell about the Book of Life and Death!

If he weren't afraid of having to explain himself to the Emperor upon returning to the palace and embarrassing him, he would have loved to kneel and proclaim the imperial edict.

With a trembling voice and a sob, Eunuch De proclaimed, “By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that the Ninth Prince’s western expedition is of great importance, concerning the fate of the nation. It is hoped that the Ninth Prince will prioritize his prestige, deploy his elite troops, and refrain from bringing any female relatives to the military camp, which would violate military regulations. Furthermore, Princess Chonghe has not yet been included in the imperial register. I have ordered the Ministry of Rites to arrange the ancestral worship ceremony. From this day forward, Princess Chonghe shall fast and bathe, awaiting the ceremony to be recognized as an ancestor and included in the family genealogy. Only then will the marriage between the Ninth Prince and Princess Chonghe be considered complete. This is my decree!”

Shang Xiye and Ji Fengyao exchanged a glance:

Why did the emperor suddenly pull this stunt? Is he going to forcibly detain the little female bandit in the capital?

However, since Shang Xiche had issued a formal imperial decree, Shang Xiye had no choice but to comply as long as he did not openly defy it.

When Shang Xiye held the imperial edict, he pulled it down forcefully.

Eunuch De, already feeling incredibly guilty, immediately knelt down, his knees buckling. With a mournful face, he said, "Your Highness, please calm your anger. I know that Your Highness and Princess Chonghe are deeply in love and unwilling to be apart for even a moment. But I am just a messenger. This is His Majesty's order. I am but a lowly person and have no power to help!"

"Since returning from the horse farm yesterday, until His Majesty issued the decree, has anything unusual happened around His Majesty, or has any special person appeared?" Shang Xiye's gaze was like a sharp arrow, piercing straight at Eunuch De.