Chapter 119 Leave the departure to us, you can go with peace of mind.
Upon seeing the imperial edict, Shen Yujiao subconsciously looked at the emperor lying on the bed.
The emperor is now far from breathing; it's not just a sudden serious illness as Chu Rou mentioned. Given his current condition, I'm afraid the Great Xia Dynasty may have to observe a period of national mourning at any time.
Yong'an followed her gaze, her eyes and face devoid of any emotion. Holding the imperial edict in her hands, she slowly walked to the table in the room, placed the edict on it, and slowly unfolded it.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Great Xia Dynasty has endured for hundreds of years. Since my ascension to the throne, I have diligently governed, safeguarding the nation from peril and preventing chaos. I have worked tirelessly day and night, without rest. As I grow older, I deeply feel my strength is failing me. Fortunately, the Crown Prince is of noble character, closely resembling myself, and will surely be able to inherit the great throne. For the long-term benefit of the nation, I hereby pass the throne to Crown Prince Jiang Chen. The relevant departments shall prepare the necessary rites and conduct the investiture in due time. All officials, ministers, governors, and commoners should all respectfully obey and comply with my will."
The handwriting is neat and imposing, and the imperial edict, made of special material, is complete with the Imperial Seal, the Emperor's Seal, and the Grand Secretariat Seal at the end. The dragon pattern on the edict gleams in the light.
Shen Yujiao lightly touched the imperial edict with her fingertips, a smile appearing on her lips. She glanced at Yong'an, who stood to the side, somewhat calm to the point of indifference, her heart filled with mixed feelings.
Yong'an began learning to paint after she moved into Kunyi Palace. Shen Yujiao initially taught her to paint still lifes and flowers and birds. Later, she discovered that although the child was not good at creating her own works, she had a good grasp of copying. So she found many masterpieces for her to practice. Later, she mentioned this to Jiang Chen while chatting. Jiang Chen felt that the little girl's talent should not be wasted, so he asked Grand Tutor Chu to introduce her to a master calligrapher, who would teach Yong'an every three days.
Unexpectedly, what was meant by not wanting to bury her talent back then has given Yong'an a huge surprise today.
This is beyond what can be described as an accidental success.
Her fingertip rested on the cabinet seal, and she asked softly, "Don't the cabinet members have any doubts about His Majesty's handwriting?"
This level of power could never have been written by someone confined to their sickbed.
“No,” Yong’an shook his head indifferently. “I said that this imperial edict was written by my father in my mother’s study two months ago. I saw it with my own eyes at the time, and my father… also confirmed it.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Yujiao could no longer hide her surprise: "You... how did you do that?"
If she had made a single mistake during the entire process, not only would her own life have been in danger, but Consort Rong would have been implicated as well. What's even more unbelievable is that the emperor would actually give such false testimony for her!
This is not just an imperial edict, but a will concerning the future of the Great Xia Dynasty!
“Sister-in-law, that’s not important. What’s important is that this is an imperial edict that can’t be faulted.”
With the emperor's own handwriting, three seals, and anti-counterfeiting materials, no one could object to this imperial edict once it was issued.
Yong'an carefully put the imperial edict into a brocade box she had prepared beforehand. Then she placed the brocade box into a wooden box, sealed it with wax in front of Shen Yujiao, and then pushed it in front of Shen Yujiao.
"Sister-in-law, I have prepared your clothes. Please go behind the screen and change in a bit. Please take this box with you when you leave the palace."
Leaving the palace... coincided with Shen Yujiao's plan.
Without the slightest hesitation, Shen Yujiao took the clothes from Yong'an's hands and quickly changed behind the screen. Yong'an had prepared a black outfit for her that looked quite familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen it before.
"Yong'an, come here," she said, walking around the screen and pulling Yong'an to sit opposite her in the center of the bedchamber. This place was far from all the corners, so even if the emperor was still awake, he couldn't hear what they were saying.
"Besides Consort Chu, only you know about this. You should listen carefully."
Upon hearing this, Yong'an changed her previous indifferent expression and nodded solemnly: "Yes."
"The first thing is that my head palace maid, Mu Tan, is Consort Chu. After I leave the palace, if you need any help, send someone to find her. Due to some hidden circumstances, her identity cannot be revealed at the moment."
Upon hearing this, Yong'an's pupils trembled, but she quickly regained her composure. She nodded solemnly and did not interrupt.
"The second thing is that after I leave the palace, I will go directly north. The front line in the north is unstable. I need to personally inform your fifth brother about the current situation in the capital. In the event of a palace coup, he must quickly return with the imperial edict. You cannot tell anyone about this."
"One last thing. Originally, I didn't want to make this plan, but since you were involved in the matter of the will, you have to distance yourself from it. After I leave tonight, find a way to return to your mother's side tomorrow and don't come out again."
After giving her instructions, Shen Yujiao held the little girl's cold hands and asked in a deep voice, "Yong'an, have you remembered these three things?"
“I remember,” Yong’an looked directly into Shen Yujiao’s eyes: “Mu Tan is Consort Chu, a trustworthy person. We must protect her identity from being exposed. Sister-in-law is going to the Northern Frontier, so no one can know that you have left the capital.”
"Yes, anything else?"
"So, after tonight, my sister-in-law will probably be able to leave the capital. Tomorrow morning, I will find a trustworthy person to impersonate my sister-in-law and claim that your condition has worsened. The only place in the palace where you can quietly recuperate is my mother's Fu Hui Palace. I will arrange for her to be placed in Fu Hui Palace, and then, by order of the princess, I will summon Mu Jin to the palace to replace Mu Tan."
"No way—"
Yong'an ignored her refusal and continued, "Five days later, your condition will worsen further. The imperial physician will conclude that the disease is contagious. Since Fourth Brother has sealed off the palace so tightly, he will definitely choose to transfer you out of the palace or seal off Fuhui Palace. Five days later, you will be able to escape unscathed."
Looking at the calm and collected young woman before her, Shen Yujiao was speechless. She frowned slightly and asked, "And what about you?"
“I will stay in Qian Yuan Palace and respond immediately to any disturbances. The Empress Dowager is in the palace, and Consort Chu is outside. The Duke of Cheng is also serving in the capital now. I know who to turn to if something happens. Sister-in-law, Qian Yuan Palace cannot be without our people, and we cannot let Eighth Sister take charge and give the initiative to Huaqing Palace.”
Faced with her composure, Shen Yujiao was somewhat dazed. The little girl she met at the corner of the corridor on New Year's Eve overlapped with the calm and collected image of Yong'an at this moment. The word "growing up" has never been a concrete process, but it can make you clearly see how big the changes are.
The poor little girl, who grew up in the cold palace, was neglected by her father and mother and had no ambition. Now she has become a true princess of the imperial family. Shen Yujiao admired her in her heart and had to admit that Yong'an was a born politician. The emperor may never know that this daughter he ignored was the one who was most like him.
Since Yong'an had such courage and wisdom, Shen Yujiao no longer hesitated. She took out a jade phoenix from her bosom and solemnly handed it to Yong'an: "This talisman can mobilize the Shen family's secret guards. I only need two people to escort me on my journey north. The rest are for you, Yong'an. Nothing is more important than your safety."
This is a white jade phoenix with gold flecks. The phoenix is in a lifelike posture and its feathers are finely carved. Apart from the Empress, only the Crown Princess, who comes from the Shen family, can possess such a jade phoenix. It is a symbol of the Crown Princess.
Yong'an held Yu Feng tightly in his hand and nodded earnestly in agreement: "Sister-in-law, please be careful on this trip."
"Okay, when we get back, we'll finish making the swing."
Ever since Yong'an spent the New Year in the East Palace, she has been longing for the swing in the main courtyard. Jiang Chen promised the little girl once, but then he was too busy to take care of it. The two sisters-in-law had to draw up the blueprints in great detail. Now the blueprints for the swing are drawn in great detail, but Yong'an has never brought up the matter of wanting the swing again.
Upon hearing this, she was taken aback, and then her eyes gradually reddened. She quickly turned her head away, wiped away the moisture from the corners of her eyes, and smiled faintly at Chen Yujiao: "Okay."
When Shen Yujiao left the palace, she put on her cloak again and held the token in her hand. She had only learned when they parted that there were only three such tokens in the palace: one with Consort Yao, one with Princess Yongjia, and one with Prince Zhao's personal eunuch. The one she was holding belonged to Princess Yongjia, which explained why she could come and go freely.
The night was running out of time for her. Shen Yujiao did not return to the East Palace after leaving the palace. Instead, she went straight to the residence of the Duke of Cheng in the capital under the escort of the Shen family's secret guards. When the Duke and Duchess saw her coming in a black outfit late at night, they were initially puzzled. However, when they saw the box she was protecting under her cloak, they instantly understood.
“There is really no safe place in the capital. With Jiang Chen and I not here, the Crown Prince’s Palace cannot be trusted either. Only by not leaving this imperial edict with my father and mother can I leave with peace of mind.”
Overjoyed with her daughter, Mrs. Cui immediately seized upon the point of concern: "Jiaojiao, where are you going?"
This keen insight immediately froze the father and daughter in place. After a long while, Shen Yujiao saw the sorrow in Shen Yujiao's eyes as she missed her parents and brothers. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and then she turned around and knelt heavily on the ground.
“Father, Mother, I have received news that something has happened in the Northern Frontier. I have to go there. On the one hand, Jiang Chen is on the battlefield, so if something really happens to him, I can at least take care of him. On the other hand, the capital is already in such a state. If the Crown Prince does not return, who knows what kind of trouble the Prince of Zhao might cause. My destination for this trip is the Northern Frontier.”
Hearing this, Cui's eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up and threatening to spill: "Jiaojiao! You! The Northern Frontier is the front line..."
"good!"
The Duke of Cheng's calm voice interrupted the atmosphere between the mother and daughter, "Since you are going to the northern frontier, I will give you my personal guards. I will also ask Uncle Shen to pick out some hidden weapons for you to use in self-defense. Where are you going in a while? Since you are leaving, I suppose you must be in a hurry."
“Yes,” Shen Yujiao said with a firm look in her eyes, “I need to go to the Ministry of Works and then back to the East Palace to get my things. I’ll leave after that.”
"Go quickly, we will keep the imperial edict safe for you, so you can go do what you need to do."
Shen Yujiao looked at the calm Duke Cheng, then at the Duke Cheng's wife who was crying uncontrollably. She knelt on the ground and solemnly kowtowed three times to the two of them.
Many parents send their daughters to the palace, but few support their daughters going to the battlefield. Every time Shen Yujiao kowtows, it carries the weight of two people.
Ah Jiao, look, your parents are not people who pursue fame and fortune or are blinded by greed. They are truly righteous towards the Great Xia.
After kowtowing three times, Shen Yujiao slowly stood up. She went forward and hugged Cui Shi, comforting her, "Mother, don't worry, I will definitely come back safely."
Having said that, she dared not look Cui in the eye again, turned around and disappeared into the night once more.
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