"Your humble servant obeys the decree!"
Sun Jian received the imperial edict with a displeased expression.
He didn't see it as an honor; he only felt that the imperial edict was a hot potato.
After Sun Jian received the imperial decree, the eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs waved to the eunuch beside him and said to Sun Jian, "Lord Sun, here are all the documents and precautions that the person in charge of the wedding needs to review."
Sun Jian looked up and saw the eunuch who had been summoned carrying a tray with three thick booklets on it, each booklet being at least ten centimeters thick. His eyes widened in surprise.
This is...
so much!
The Crown Prince is getting married in three days. This book is so thick, I can't finish reading it in three days!
Perhaps guessing what Sun Jian was thinking, the eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs smiled and reminded him, "My lord, there is no need to worry. Although you are the person appointed by His Majesty to be in charge of the Crown Prince's wedding, the details will be handled by Minister Mi of the Ministry of Revenue and Minister Lin of the Ministry of Rites. The work is not very extensive or complicated."
"All right!"
After listening to the eunuch's account, Sun Jian finally breathed a sigh of relief, and the weight that had been hanging over his heart was lifted.
After hearing what the eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial said, he understood!
This is similar to dealing with a locust plague. Although Governor Yao was appointed as the imperial envoy, he was still in charge of the task, and there were many people from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites to assist him. It shouldn't be as troublesome as he imagined.
With things having come to this point, Sun Jian could say nothing more and could only nod in agreement.
Although the emperor didn't marry the princess to him, at least the imperial decree wasn't too bad.
As long as you don't end up treating the emperor's illness, it's not considered suspicious news.
Sun Jian thought to himself.
What you fear most is what happens. The thought had barely left his mind when the little eunuch suddenly said something to Sun Jian.
"My lord, here is also a secret decree bestowed upon you by His Majesty."
"What? A secret decree?"
Sun Jian was stunned for a moment, and his heart started beating faster.
Could it be that I guessed right? Damn it!
The difference between transmitting a secret edict and transmitting an imperial edict in Daqian is that when a secret edict is transmitted, the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs cannot be aware of it. They can only hand the unopened secret edict to Sun Jian in person so that he can read it himself. After reading it, they can take it back immediately and cannot let a third person know about it, not even the crown prince.
Of course, there were also some secret edicts that needed to be conveyed by ministers of the court. If the emperor had given his permission, the imperial envoys who conveyed them also had the right to see them.
Sun Jian stood aside, opening the secret edict with trepidation. Inside were eight red characters written in vermilion ink.
"Tomorrow at 9:00 AM, enter the Taiji Palace."
It’s over!
If this emperor isn't asking him to treat his illness, what else could he be asking?
Sun Jian guessed that, apart from seeking medical treatment, Emperor Ganwu would also seriously consider and test his loyalty when he learned that his time was coming to an end!
At that moment, Sun Jian's mind raced.
“My lord, according to the laws of the Great Gan Dynasty, after you have read the secret edict, this servant must immediately retrieve and burn it.”
The eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs was unaware of the contents of the secret edict; he was merely acting in accordance with the court's regulations.
Upon hearing the eunuch's reminder, Sun Jian realized what was happening and handed him the secret edict. The eunuch then beckoned over and summoned a eunuch carrying a bronze incense burner, who threw the secret edict into it in front of Sun Jian.
The secret edict was burned to ashes in the blink of an eye.
The eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs had now completed all their tasks. After bowing to Sun Jian and Li Gancheng, they left with their entourage, leaving Sun Jian, Li Gancheng, and the others bewildered in the wind.
————
The inner palace of the East Palace.
Li Gancheng sat helplessly on the couch, looking at Sun Jian. "Brother Sun, what should I do if the woman of Li Ke, the governor of Ji Province, is ugly?"
"Your Highness, no..."
"What if she's still a..."
"Your Highness, no..."
"No, no, I also heard that she has... a... waist... and a... face..."
"Your Highness, no..."
...
Listening to Li Gancheng's endless ramblings, each episode more exaggerated than the last, Sun Jian was at his wits' end.
Since receiving the emperor's decree, he has been listening to Li Gancheng ramble on for almost half an hour.
This guy never listens; he keeps asking himself, "What if this happens? What if that happens?"
Sun Jian was on the verge of a breakdown.
He understood that he held a different place in the heart of Crown Prince Li Gancheng. Although Li Gancheng was only nineteen years old, he was not lacking in shrewdness or ruthlessness.
Of course, Li Gancheng only revealed these cunning schemes and ruthlessness when dealing with enemies.
He genuinely considered himself a good brother, which is why he used a normal tone to complain and vent to himself.
But you fucking... even if you treat me like a grandfather, I still can't stand it!
It's been almost an hour already, and I've been listening to your rambling on and on for a whole hour.
There's a limit to complaining. Even if Li Ke, the governor of Jizhou, had a barrel waist, flat buttocks, a flat nose, a square face, a face full of pockmarks, and big yellow teeth with vegetable leaves stuck in them, you couldn't complain!
The emperor's decree has already been issued, and all the officials in the court are now aware of it.
Three days later, everyone will return to the Eastern Palace to celebrate the Crown Prince's wedding. At that time, not only will all the people celebrate, but there will even be a general amnesty and universal celebration!
What can you refuse?
There's nothing else to do but accept it!
"Your Highness, no..."
Sun Jian helplessly continued to repeat this sentence, which he had said no less than a hundred times.
He's already practically worn out from repeating those five words so many times.
Li Gancheng sighed and said softly to Sun Jian, "Actually, I understand that Father Emperor wants me to stand with the Governor of Ji Province."
"Li Ke's daughter has become my Crown Princess, and she will be able to serve the court better in the future."
"In this way, Teacher Yao's Yongzhou soldiers, Li Ke's Jizhou soldiers, including the Tiger Legion under your control, and the Dragon Cavalry of the Prince of Kaoshan will all become my direct subordinates."
Sun Jian glanced at Li Gancheng with a wry smile, thinking to himself.
You're not completely stupid, kid!
This is indeed your father helping you consolidate your power.
This is so that you can grow up as quickly as possible, and we can leave you with a stable foundation before making any further plans!
It's a pity you don't know that your father's time is almost up...
Because in the entire imperial court, I'm the only one who saw your father vomiting blood this morning...
But I can't tell you these things, Brother Long!
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