Chapter 512: Incident (II)
Liang Guangyi originally thought that Cao Dejiang was involved with Xiao Yan, and even knew about the He family's affairs and helped him to force the emperor to abdicate, so he was very likely to tamper with this imperial edict.
However, Liang Guangyi read it carefully twice. He found that everything in the imperial edict was agreed by Emperor An, without any problems, and there was nothing left to criticize. It seemed that Cao Dejiang really wanted to help Emperor An appease Xiao Yan and let him withdraw his troops first to lift the siege of the palace today.
Liang Guangyi couldn't help but be surprised.
So was he wrong?
Is it simply because of the righteous indignation of the past that this old man Cao Dejiang repeatedly pressures Emperor An and makes things difficult for them?
"Grand Tutor Liang..."
Seeing that he didn't move for a long time, Eunuch Feng couldn't help but call out to him.
Liang Guangyi took the pen, dipped it in ink and wrote, leaving his name next to where Cao Dejiang had written.
Eunuch Feng took back the pen and ink and walked towards the others.
Seeing that Liang Guangyi had already written his name and that there was no problem with the imperial edict, the court officials from the aristocratic families left their names one after another. General Yin and Marquis Wenxin also wrote their names. Then came the royal family. Prince Ji and Prince Huan hesitated for a moment and then followed suit.
When the names of more than twenty people were densely written below the imperial edict, almost all the civil officials, military generals, and heads of royal families in the court were included.
Eunuch Feng then returned to the platform holding the imperial edict and placed it in front of Emperor An.
Emperor An looked at the contents of the imperial edict and felt extremely aggrieved and even somewhat unwilling.
If it was just a verbal promise, he could still find a way to shirk and regret it later. As long as he could get through today's crisis, and wait until Liu Tong'en led the troops to the king and dealt with Di Tao and others, he would naturally be able to deal with Xiao Yan and make sure that those who dared to conspire with him to force the emperor to abdicate today would die without a burial place.
But this imperial edict was equivalent to giving these rebels a life-saving talisman.
All the ministers witnessed and signed the decree.
He couldn't touch Xiao Yan, and couldn't touch the person who was forcing the emperor to abdicate today.
He knew the truth about the He family better than anyone else, and he also knew how He Wenzhuo died.
Once the affairs in Jiangnan are thoroughly investigated, he can certainly put all the blame on the Lu family and Lu Chongyuan and find a way to extricate himself, but Xiao Yan will definitely be the Marquis of Xuanyi.
"His Majesty……"
Eunuch Feng stood beside Emperor An and whispered a reminder.
Emperor An looked up and saw that everyone in the hall was looking at him, and Xiao Yan's eyes were even colder. He flexed his fingers, suppressed the resentment and unwillingness in his heart, took the pen and ink and wrote on the blank space. After he finished writing, Eunuch Feng came to Xiao Yan holding the imperial edict and the ring.
Seeing Xiao Yan taking the imperial edict and reading what was written on it, Emperor An forced a smile: "Are you relieved now?"
Xiao Yan raised his lips: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Seeing that Xiao Yan accepted the imperial edict, not only Emperor An, but everyone else in the hall also breathed a sigh of relief.
Since ancient times, forcing abdication has always been bloody. For someone like Xiao Yan, who is already cruel and ruthless, it is a great thing that he can resolve the crisis of forcing abdication so "peacefully".
Liang Guangyi said, "Since Governor Xiao has accepted the imperial edict and His Majesty has agreed to conduct a thorough investigation into the He family, then these Black Armored Guards..."
Xiao Yan said calmly: "Of course I will retreat."
He stood in front of the hall with a cold expression:
"I have no intention of treason, and the He family has suffered injustice. I simply want to clear my father's name. If it weren't for the repeated pressure and traps, I wouldn't have wanted to force him to abdicate. Since Your Majesty has promised a thorough investigation, I will naturally not become a traitor."
"I only hope that Your Majesty will remember the promise you made tonight. If you dare to go back on your word..."
Xiao Yan looked at Emperor An with a cold look.
Emperor An quickly said, "Your Majesty, you are not joking. I will not do that."
Xiao Yan restrained his edge after hearing this and waved his hand: "Canglang, take your men back."
Canglang nodded when he heard this, and led the Xiao family and others away.
Seeing that the black-armored guards in the hall actually retreated outside, the expressions of the others improved. Their minds, which had been tense all night, relaxed, and they were full of relief at surviving the disaster. However, Prince Zan's face turned pale.
Didn't Xiao Yan tell him that he would force his father to step down tonight and help him seize the throne? Didn't he also say that he wouldn't let his father remain in the court?!
He risked everything tonight to bring the matter to light, offending his father, offending the aristocratic families, and even almost leaving himself isolated and helpless, all because Xiao Yan promised him that he would be able to move into the Eastern Palace afterwards.
But now Xiao Yan took the imperial edict and ordered his men to retreat.
If he really retreated, he would have the amulet he had today to protect himself, making it impossible for anyone to do anything to him, and even protecting the Black Armor Guards and Di Tao and the others.
But what about him?
He had offended everyone tonight, what was he going to do? If his father escaped, he would definitely kill him!
Prince Zeng's eyes went dark as he hurried forward: "Master Xiao, you are not..."
He opened his mouth to question Xiao Yan whether he had agreed to conspire with him, but before he could finish his words, screams suddenly came from outside the hall, followed by the sound of fighting.
"What's going on?"
"Didn't the Black Armor Guards retreat?"
"Why are there still shouts of killing?!"
When the people in the hall heard the screams outside, their faces changed drastically. Liang Guangyi even turned his head suddenly and shouted coldly: "Xiao Yan, how dare you go back on your word?"
Xiao Yan's face was cold: "I don't have it!"
He shouted outside:
"Canglang!"
Cang Lang, who had just led his men out, returned to the Purple Palace with them. As soon as he entered the palace, he said with a grim expression, "Superintendent, the guards at the Forbidden Garden were killed, and Liu Tongen and his men broke in..."
Liu Tongen!
Emperor An's face lit up with joy.
The sounds of fighting outside were getting louder and louder, almost closer than before.
Some people in the hall were happy, some were anxious, and Xiao Yan seemed to have never expected Liu Tong'en to make it. A frost on his face said to Canglang, "Take the men to capture Liu Tong'en, and send a message to Di Tao, asking him to lead the troops in..."
Swish——
Before he could finish the words "enter the palace", something unexpected happened in the palace.
The inconspicuous eunuch who had followed Eunuch Feng into the room suddenly jumped up and rushed directly towards Xiao Yan who was nearby.
He was agile and nimble, and appeared in front of him in an instant like a ghost. A cold light flashed in his hand, and he stabbed straight at Xiao Yan's vitals.
"Master, be careful!"
“Brother!!”
Canglang and Tang Ning at the table spoke almost at the same time. Even Cao Dejiang was so frightened that he almost spoke.
Xiao Yan spun around and narrowly avoided the vital parts, but a bloody mark was left on his neck.
He repelled the "little eunuch" with a palm, but who would have thought that even though the man was spitting blood after landing, he still turned around and kicked the ground and rushed towards him again, as if he would fight to the death.
"court death!"
Xiao Yan shouted coldly and collided with the "little eunuch" with a bang. The two of them clashed hands and feet several times, almost leaving afterimages. When they stopped again, Xiao Yan had already grabbed the wrist of the "little eunuch" holding the dagger and bent it hard, then stabbed it into the man's heart with his backhand.
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