Chapter 511: Incident (I)
The hall was quiet for a moment.
Emperor An knew that Feng Qiuli was giving him a way out and also to appease Xiao Yan. Although he hated Xiao Yan very much for what he did tonight, he still followed Feng Qiuli's words.
"Of course I won't hold it against him. I've valued him greatly over the years and entrusted him with important tasks. I won't hold him accountable for a moment of confusion."
Xiao Yan showed a mocking expression when he heard Emperor An's words.
Emperor An: “…”
Liang Guangyi looked at the unmoved Xiao Yan and knew that since he had brought people to force the palace tonight, he would definitely not retreat easily. Moreover, Emperor An was a fickle and cold-hearted person. Just looking at the incident with the Lu family, one could tell how badly he would go after crossing the river and then destroy the bridge.
How could Xiao Yan put his life in the hands of the emperor just because of a few empty words from him?
Liang Guangyi spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, "Your Majesty, Governor Xiao has been seeking justice for his biological father and for the people of the South who died unjustly. His filial piety is commendable. To demonstrate Your Majesty's magnanimity, why not reward him with something, so that the people of the world know how much Your Majesty values him?"
Emperor An's face twisted instantly, and he understood what Liang Guangyi meant.
He was reminding him that empty promises were useless, and that he had to give Xiao Yan something tangible to appease him and get through today's crisis of forcing him to abdicate, otherwise Xiao Yan would never let it go.
Seeing Emperor An hesitate, Liang Guangyi raised his voice a little heavier.
"Your Majesty, although the He family plotted rebellion, He Wenzhuo died early. You have always been magnanimous and able to distinguish between loyalty and treachery. If He Wenzhuo is innocent, posthumous honors and rewards are due."
Emperor An felt that he was gasping for breath due to the anger he was holding back. He gritted his teeth and looked at Liang Guangyi.
Although Xiao Yan deserved to die, Liang Guangyi and Cui Lin were not good people either. If they had not set up a trap to frame Xiao Yan and wanted to put him to death, how could so many things have happened later?
And Liang Guangyi, he had known for a long time that Xiao Yan's identity was not right, and even sent people to the South to investigate and got the news. But he, the dignified Grand Tutor, actually set up such a trap with the idiot Cui Lin that could be broken by anyone's touch. If they had told him earlier.
How could he possibly give Xiao Yan the opportunity to mobilize his troops?!
"Your Majesty!" Liang Guangyi called in a deep voice.
Emperor An looked at him expressionlessly for a long while before gritting his teeth and saying:
"Grand Tutor Liang is right. Hereby, the son of the third branch of the He family will be pardoned for forcing the emperor to abdicate tonight. The Black Armor Guard and the Privy Council will remain under his jurisdiction. As long as the four battalions outside the capital retreat safely and no longer pose a threat to the palace, Di Tao and the others will not pursue their charges."
He fumbled in his hand for a moment, took out the jade-colored dragon head ring and handed it to Feng Lai, then said to Xiao Yan:
"This item is something I hold close to my body. Seeing it is like seeing me. I will hand it over to Lord Cao, using it and the ring as evidence."
"As long as you take your men away, Lord Cao will later convey my order that tonight's incident will not be pursued. Once He Wenzhuo's case is fully investigated, we will exonerate him and, as promised, posthumously confer the title of Marquis Xuanyi upon him."
"My word is law!"
After Emperor An finished speaking, he handed the ring to Eunuch Feng.
Eunuch Feng quickly took small steps to Cao Dejiang's side.
"Mr. Cao..."
Cao Dejiang took the ring, glanced at it, and spoke directly, "This item is indeed something that Your Majesty has kept close to your heart. It's worthy of being used as Your Majesty's seal, and it has Your Majesty's personal seal. What do you think, Governor Xiao?"
Xiao Yan said calmly: "This Governor does not believe you, as for Your Majesty..."
He just curled the corners of his mouth and didn't say anything, but everyone understood the sarcasm.
Emperor An's face turned pale: "I have already promised, you are not joking!"
Xiao Yan: "His Majesty said the same thing half a month ago."
"You!" Emperor An glared.
Xiao Yan said coldly, "Even though I have been diligent in my duties since entering the palace, I have never escaped your Majesty's suspicion. If I had not been prepared, your Majesty would have already taken advantage of the situation and ordered me to be imprisoned to wait for death."
"I am alone, but there are others here today. If Your Majesty wants me to leave with just a few casual words, I dare not risk their lives on Your Majesty's mercy, which may last forever."
Emperor An was so angry at his words that his face tightened, and the atmosphere in front of the palace became tense again.
The black-armored guards were all staring fiercely, holding sharp swords with an extremely sinister look.
Seeing that the situation was not right, Cao Dejiang quickly spoke:
"Lord Xiao, please be patient. Since Your Majesty has already given His Majesty a verbal order, he will definitely not go back on his word. If you don't believe me, why not have Eunuch Feng fetch some silk, paper, and brush? I will draft an edict for Your Majesty in public. I, along with Grand Tutor Liang, Prince Ji, Prince Huan, and others, will jointly sign the letter. Then, Your Majesty will sign it in person. Will that reassure Your Majesty?"
Xiao Yan frowned, but did not continue to refute.
Cao Dejiang looked at Emperor An: "Your Majesty, what do you think?"
Emperor An's palms were nearly bleeding from pinching, but he also knew that Xiao Yan would not release his eagle until he saw the rabbit. If he wanted to have a safe night, he could only "compromise." He suppressed the nausea in his throat and said, "Just do as Cao Gong says. Feng Lai, go get the imperial edict and the writing materials."
Eunuch Feng quickly responded and then looked at Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan waved his hand: "Let him go."
Eunuch Feng almost trotted out of the Purple Palace, and Xiao Yan did not let anyone follow him.
After the others left, everyone in the hall waited anxiously.
Two full cups of tea later, Eunuch Feng and another young eunuch came back in a hurry, one after the other, carrying writing brushes, ink, and bright yellow silk with paper laid out for imperial edicts.
After entering the hall, the pen and ink were delivered directly to Cao Dejiang.
After the people around hurriedly moved away, someone cleaned up the table, and Eunuch Feng ground ink beside him. Cao Dejiang then sat on the floor and started writing at the table. In a few moments, Emperor An's words were already written on the bright yellow silk. After Cao Dejiang finished writing and wrote his own name first, he put down his pen.
"I have already left my name and am willing to testify on Your Majesty's behalf. As for the others... Eunuch Feng, let's start with Grand Tutor Liang."
"yes."
Eunuch Feng picked up the imperial edict and, together with the young eunuch beside him, brought it to Liang Guangyi along with the writing brush and ink.
Liang Guangyi's face turned pale and he glared at Cao Dejiang hatefully, but he still took the pen.
Just before he put pen to paper, he looked at the contents written on the silk, which were exactly the same as what Emperor An had just said. He promised not to pursue the crime of Xiao Yan for forcing the emperor to abdicate tonight, not to implicate the people of the four camps outside the capital, and to conduct a thorough investigation into the old case from twenty years ago afterwards.
If the truth is uncovered, He Wenzhuo will be posthumously conferred the title of Marquis of Xuanyi, his tablet will be moved into the Taimiao, and he will be able to share the world's worship with the royal family. His son can also inherit the title, which will not be reduced for three generations. His descendants will be allowed to enter the court, and his past will not be investigated.
After reading it, Liang Guangyi looked up at Cao Dejiang with some confusion.
Tonight, Cao Dejiang repeatedly opposed him, and his words were full of coercion and ridicule towards Emperor An, and he even showed a tendency to take sides with regard to the old events of twenty years ago.
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