Chapter 19 Checks and Balances
In the imperial study, the flickering candlelight illuminates the room as bright as day. The air is filled with the elegant scent of sandalwood, peaceful and profound.
Emperor Xuanhe Xiao Chengze was not buried in the mountains of memorials. His back was straight and straight, like a green pine.
Chen He stepped in, her steps light and solemn. She then performed a solemn ceremony according to etiquette, her voice clear and with a hint of unnoticeable tenacity: "Your Majesty, your servant Chen He, pays homage. May your Majesty be in good health. Long live your Majesty, long live your Majesty, long live your Majesty."
Hearing this, Xuanhe slowly turned around with a warm smile on his face. That smile was like the warm spring sun, neither too warm nor too gentle, making it difficult to guess what he was really thinking.
His eyes lightly passed over Chen He, with a kind of indifference that was beyond ordinary scrutiny. He was not as sharp as Xiao Jingren's, with unquestionable aggressiveness. He was more like a wise man, examining a chessboard on which a piece was about to be placed, calmly and profoundly.
The emperor's voice was deep and powerful, and every word contained an unchallengeable majesty. Although the volume was not loud, it echoed clearly in the empty hall.
"Your performance in the Cining Palace was very good."
Upon hearing this, Shen He lowered her eyes slightly, her tone filled with humility and uneasiness: "This humble servant is terrified, but I am doing my best and have not dared to slack off in the slightest."
The emperor smiled slightly, a smile that was both profound and playful, but he did not respond directly.
He slowly walked to the imperial desk and reached out to pick up a brush that had been waiting there.
This pen exudes a warm luster all over. The pen holder is made of a strange material, which looks like jade but is not jade. It has a faint and indescribable elegance. The wolf hair comes from the distant Western Regions. It is sharp and strong, and faintly reveals an extraordinary aura.
"I have heard that you are not only extremely talented, but also have extraordinary attainments in calligraphy and painting."
The emperor's words revealed an imperceptible approval, as if it was an acknowledgement and expectation of Shen He's talent.
"This 'Canglanghao' brush was carefully selected and presented by the envoys from the Western Regions. Its sharpness is unparalleled, and it requires someone with both talent and skill like you to wield it."
The eunuch standing nearby hurried forward, holding an exquisite velvet tray in both hands, and presented the pen to Chen He.
"I hope that in the future you can use this pen as a sword to bring clarity to the world and adjudicate cases impartially and impartially."
Chen He's heartstrings moved slightly, but his face was respectful. He slowly stretched out his hands, and the pen body touched his palms, bringing an imperceptible coolness. Its texture was as warm and smooth as jade, and extremely delicate.
"Your Majesty, your servant Chen He, thanks you for your great grace." Her voice was clear, every word was full of gratitude.
Chen He held the pen lightly in front of his chest. Unconsciously, his fingertips slid lightly along the pen shaft, and a hint of doubt quietly crept into his heart.
Huh?
This touch...
She remained calm, her eyelids slightly lowered, and in the dim light, she carefully looked at the pen in her hand, thinking secretly in her heart.
On the seemingly smooth pen shaft, near the pen tip, two small characters were engraved with extremely fine and shallow knifework:
Shen He's heart suddenly shrank!
Checks and balances?
She subconsciously raised her eyes and swept her gaze across the imperial desk.
On the desk, in addition to the pen, ink, paper and inkstone, there was also a green jade pen washer.
The inner wall of the brush washer seems to have...some pattern painted on it?
The distance is quite far and I can't see clearly.
But there seemed to be a flash of lightning in Chen He's mind!
Jade bracelet case!
Empress! Crown Prince! Third Prince Xiao Jingren!
The emperor gave the presiding judgeship to himself, the daughter of the general's family, but appointed Xiao Jingren, who might be involved in the case, as the deputy judge, and asked the crown prince to supervise...
This arrangement itself reveals a subtle sense of... restraint!
Consider these two words on the pen...
Checks and balances!
The emperor didn't just want to find out the truth about the jade bracelet!
In other words, the truth is just on the surface!
His real purpose was to use this incident to create conflicts between the Queen's followers and the Prince's forces, so as to restrain each other!
He wanted to use her hand to weaken the power of both parties at the same time!
And that brush washer...if she guessed correctly...
Chen He's gaze once again turned to the green jade pen washer, as if he wanted to see through it!
Double Dragon!
It must be the picture of Double Dragons!
The Queen and the Crown Prince are the two dragons!
The jade bracelet case, or the power involved behind it, is that "pearl"!
The emperor is the one who sits on the mountain and watches the fight between tigers, and ultimately controls everything!
In an instant, cold sweat almost soaked Chen He's back.
She thought that after her rebirth, her biggest enemies would be Xiao Jingren and Shen Jiao, mother and daughter.
But no one expected that the real master behind the game of chess was this seemingly gentle emperor!
She, Chen He, is just a key chess piece he uses to "check and balance"!
Chen He tightly grasped the "Canglanghao" in his hand, feeling the cool touch, and... the heavy weight and calculation that came from the imperial power.
In the imperial study, the sandalwood incense was still burning, and the emperor smiled silently.
Chen He tightly grasped the "Canglanghao" in her hand. The cold touch seemed to penetrate deep into her heart, making her feel a little cold in the warmth of the imperial study.
The emperor's gaze was still on her, with a calmness that saw through everything.
This calmness is more frightening than Xiao Jingren's cruelty.
Don't panic.
Chen He took a deep breath and suppressed the turbulent waves in his heart.
The chess piece should also be the most valuable one.
She raised her head and met the emperor's gaze, with just the right amount of respect and a hint of... request in her eyes?
"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your grace."
Her voice was clear and crisp, with the gentleness that only a young girl could muster, yet it also revealed an unusual calmness.
"However..." She paused slightly, as if she had words weighing a thousand pounds on her mind but was hesitant to speak, and an indescribable struggle flashed across her brows.
The emperor's lips curled up into a faint smile, his eyes full of encouragement: "My dear Shen, if you have any secrets, please feel free to speak."
Upon hearing this, Chen He lowered her posture even further, speaking respectfully with a touch of humility: "Your Majesty has entrusted the heavy responsibility of the jade bracelet case to this humble servant. I am deeply devoted and will do my utmost to repay your grace."
"However, I am aware of my humble status and my insignificant influence. Furthermore, this is my first time dealing with such a complex case, so I am inevitably anxious. I fear that I will be unable to do my best, make mistakes, and fail to live up to Your Majesty's high expectations."
Her words were sincere, showing her determination while also expressing her concerns in a measured way. Her words were logically clear and her emotions were sincere.
"I, your Majesty, would like to ask for two people to help me investigate this case and relieve your Majesty's worries."
As soon as the words fell, the imperial study was so quiet that only the faint crackling sound of burning sandalwood could be heard.
The smile on the emperor's face remained unchanged, but his eyes deepened a little.
"Oh? Who do you want?"
His tone was flat, and no emotion could be heard.
Chen He calmed his mind and uttered two names clearly:
"Your servant would like to invite the Imperial Hospital's female physician, Chu Yue."
"Also, a minor clerk in the Ministry of Justice, Zhou Yan'an."
Sure enough, the emperor's brows twitched slightly when he heard this.
He looked at Shen He with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.
"Chu Yue? Zhou Yan'an?"
He repeated it, as if trying to recall the two names.
After a moment, he slowly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of amusement:
"Why them?"
"The Imperial Hospital has many highly skilled doctors, and the Ministry of Justice also has many capable officials."
"Why did you choose these two... unknown people?"
Chen He's heart suddenly tightened at this moment.
Why?
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