Longkodo nodded and immediately brought a high-backed chair from the West Warm Pavilion. He dared not put his feet directly on the imperial desk and the dragon throne.
"I'm afraid that's not enough; we'll need to add another round embroidered stool." Liang Jiugong said, looking at the Fourth Master's stature. After saying that, he turned around and went to the East Warm Pavilion to find a round stool.
After Longkodo and Liang Jiugong placed the round stool on the high-backed chair, the Fourth Prince suddenly hesitated to move. If the person on the imperial edict wasn't him, how should he conduct himself?
If it were the Fourteenth Prince, would he then become a virtuous minister and diligently assist him? The Fourth Prince couldn't imagine who else could it be besides the Fourteenth Prince.
"Your Highness, hurry up!" Longkodo urged when he saw that the Fourth Prince seemed to be stunned.
Liang Jiugong also turned to look at the Fourth Prince, and seeing the hesitation on his face, he said, "Your Highness, the arrow is on the bowstring, and we have no choice but to release it."
Fourth Master nodded, walked to the chair, and climbed onto the round stool with the help of Liang Jiugong and Longkodo. Fourth Master's head could just reach behind the plaque that read "Upright and Bright".
He saw a rectangular object wrapped in brocade lying on the horizontal shelf behind the plaque.
"Your Highness, what's wrong? Why aren't you taking it?" Longkodo suddenly became worried. What if there was no imperial edict behind the plaque?
Fourth Master composed himself and reached behind the plaque for something.
When Fourth Master took the items out of the plaque, Longkodo's eyes lit up, and a weight was lifted from his heart.
"Your Highness, please help me down!" Liang Jiugong said hurriedly.
"Yes, yes, Your Highness, please come down quickly!" Longkodo hurriedly replied.
Fourth Master, however, still hesitated. He knew that once he opened the brocade, there would be no going back.
This edict should not be opened privately like this, but if the Fourth Prince does not open it now, he will not be able to determine how to deal with the Fourteenth Prince's actions.
"Your Highness, please come down." Liang Jiugong seemed to understand the Fourth Prince's dilemma! He then said, "Your Majesty, I already told you. Please open it and take a look!"
Fourth Master made up his mind and helped Liang Jiugong down by the shoulder.
After the Fourth Prince placed the wooden box wrapped in brocade on Emperor Kangxi's desk.
Liang Jiugong quickly put the round stools and high-backed chairs back in their original positions.
The Fourth Prince and Longkodo stood in front of the imperial desk, looking at the brocade box, but neither of them opened it.
"Uncle?" Fourth Master suddenly called out.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Longkodo shrugged and quickly replied.
"If it weren't for me inside, how would you conduct yourself? How would I conduct myself?" Fourth Prince said, enunciating each word clearly.
These words carried immense weight. The Fourth Prince meant that if it weren't for him, Longkodo would never have switched allegiance; he had to follow the Fourth Prince to the very end. If he switched allegiance, the Fourth Prince would certainly not spare him!
Longkodo felt his heart was about to jump out of his chest. It was the dead of winter, when water was freezing and people dared not go out casually, but Longkodo felt a thin layer of sweat on his back.
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Liang Jiugong didn't go over. He knew he had done what he needed to do, and now it was up to Fourth Master and Longkodo to make a decision.
"Your Highness, Longkodo will follow you to the death! If it's not Your Highness's name, we can make it yours!" Longkodo said with all his might.
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