Chapter 401

Originally on a mildly warm night,

yet because of what Shang Yang said, it sent a thin layer of chill up Zhao Hua's back.

Killing one's father and overthrowing one's sovereign, plotting to usurp the throne...

Things like this were also once suspected by the Empress Dowager.

Before the Empress Dowager passed away, she had said to Zhao Hua that she had always suspected the legitimacy of Xiao Jingheng's ascension to the throne.

The matter of establishing a crown prince, Emperor had originally favored the Fourth Imperial Son, Xiao Jingxuan, whom the Empress Dowager had given birth to. But Xiao Jingxuan unfortunately contracted smallpox shortly after moving out of the palace and establishing his own estate, and eventually passed away under Xiao Jingheng's "attentive care".

After Xiao Jingxuan's death, Emperor still did not set his mind on Xiao Jingheng, but rather showed increasing favor towards the Fifth Imperial Son, Xiao Jinglian [Prince Rui].

Yet Xiao Jinglian somehow caused great chaos over the minor matter of administrating salt, leading to the rampant smuggling of private salt in Qi Dynasty and the cries of suffering amongst the common people. And because of this matter he lost the Emperor's trust.

Not long after, Emperor suddenly fell ill and passed away.

Later, a decree left by Emperor was presented, clearly stating Emperor's wish for the Third Imperial Son Xiao Jingheng to ascend the throne.

When Emperor was alive, he was often cold towards Xiao Jingheng.

Therefore, upon seeing this decree, all the civil and military officials of the court had doubts about this matter.

But there were people who could testify that they were present when Emperor made this decree.

Thus, even though the civil and martial ministers were still puzzled, they had no choice but to kneel down and pay homage to the new emperor, bowing their heads in submission to Xiao Jingheng. At this moment, Zhao Hua's mind involuntarily recalled the smile on the Empress Dowager's face before her death.

It was the desolate bitter smile that emerged on the Empress Dowager's face when they were at Wangjiang Pavilion singing the verse "who told you crow to occupy the phoenix nest, who told you to take every possible means".

The Empress Dowager spent most of her years deep in the palace. Her interaction with Xiao Jingheng was merely maintaining a superficial closeness.

Many matters were difficult for even the sharp-eyed and keen-eared Empress Dowager to discern the truth.

But Shang Yang was different.

She had been undercover by Xiao Jingheng's side since his time of seclusion.

On the surface Shang Yang appeared innocent and harmless, but in reality she had an extremely meticulous mind. It was very possible she had discovered some clues.

After Zhao Hua regained her senses, she looked towards Shang Yang and softly asked,

"What are you trying to say?"

A frosty glint flashed across Shang Yang's eyes, and the smile lines at the corners of her lips became even more prominent.

"What I'm about to say you might not believe, but I've seen Emperor's real decree. It was a decree completely different from what was shown to all the civil and military officials."

Facing Zhao Hua's shocked gaze, she lightly continued:

"The night Emperor passed away and the decree was announced to the world, Xiao Jingheng, whether out of joy for gaining the throne or grief for his father's death, drank a lot of wine and got dead drunk. At that time he had not taken an empress or consorts yet, and I was the only one taking care of him in his residence.

Xiao Jingheng was usually very prudent. His study was always locked. No servants were allowed to tidy it up and only he had the key. But what he didn't expect was that I had long secretly made a copy and duplicated an identical key."

She paused here and raised her eyebrows at Zhao Hua, "Guess what I saw when I sneaked in?"

Zhao Hua silently shook her head. Shang Yang's tone changed to ridicule as she coldly laughed and continued:

"I saw him drunk and slumped over his desk, and by his side was a decree left by Emperor. I clearly saw the decree stated, 'The Fifth Imperial Son, Xiao Jinglian, benevolent, filial and wise, whose virtues are endowed by heaven, is suited to immediately assume the position of crown prince, and later succeed the throne to continue the emperor's will. All civil and military officials shall assist him with one heart, in order to fulfill my wish.' [This decree had been kept by the deranged Xiao Jingheng as a trophy. It was only in chapter 280 at the end and chapter 281 at the beginning, when Xiao Jingheng was scheming to frame Prince Rui so he could take action to dispose of him, that he burned this decree.]"

"Prince Rui?" Zhao Hua pondered and slowly shook her head. "But all the civil and military officials of the court saw Emperor's decree that day. How could it be fake?"

Shang Yang smiled. "A determined person can always mimic someone's handwriting, even to the point of being indistinguishable from the original. That is not a difficult feat."

Zhao Hua was still puzzled. "Throughout history, after an emperor made a decree, it would first be temporarily kept by the head eunuch. The next day, senior officials of the first rank would be summoned to jointly bear witness. Only then would it be sealed with wax and kept in a secret place, to be taken out when the emperor passes away. With such elaborate procedures, how could it be forged?"

'Crack' The crisp pop of the candle wick in the tranquil night seemed to echo.

Shang Yang took the silver pricker from Zhao Hua's side and flicked away the flattened wick, and continued in a mocking tone amidst the flickering warm light, "Emperor's death was so sudden. The decree was made right before he passed away. Thus, only three people witnessed Emperor making the decree. They were the head eunuch Feng Yuhe, War Cabinet official Zhou Kangwei, and...the Minister of the Imperial Bodyguards, Ning Bochuan."

Zhao Hua was very familiar with these three names.

There was no need to elaborate on Ning Bochuan. He was heavily favoured by Xiao Jingheng to sweep away enemies and establish great achievements.

As for Feng Yuhe, he was an inner eunuch who had served Emperor for nearly thirty years, just like the highly regarded eunuch Jiang Deshun of today.

Zhou Kangwei also had some ties with the Song family. After Xiao Jingheng's ascension, he heavily favoured Zhou Kangwei. For a long period of time, Song Shicheng tried hard to curry favor from him as a rising star in court. Thus, Zhao Hua was no stranger to hearing this name at home.

Seeing Zhao Hua silent for a long time, Shang Yang knew she was pondering over this. She directly revealed the key point, "After Feng Yuhe announced Emperor's decree, he 'loyally followed his lord in death' not long after and went with Emperor. After Xiao Jingheng ascended the throne, he heavily favoured Ning Bochuan and treated Zhou Kangwei well, but what was the outcome? Hehe~"

She ridiculed incessantly, laughing sardonically.

"In the third year of Qiyuan, Zhou Kangwei fell to his death while drunk. Not long after, Xiao Jingheng even abolished the War Cabinet. As for Ning Bochuan, there is no need to elaborate on the tragic end met by the Ning father and son. We all know it clearly."

That's right, of the three who witnessed Emperor's decree,

one followed Emperor in death, one died bizarrely, one was executed - all dead.

Looking into this carefully was frightening enough.

With Xiao Jingheng now holding great power and such thunderous means, even if the officials of the previous dynasty had suspicions, they would still value self-preservation and play deaf and dumb.

After hearing Shang Yang's words, Zhao Hua almost blurted out,

"So... after Emperor made the decree, the head eunuch Feng Yuhe secretly told His Majesty about it? Then His Majesty tempted Ning Bochuan and Zhou Kangwei with heavy profits and urged them to kill the emperor and fake the decree to usurp the throne? The Ning family..." Zhao Hua muttered to herself. The confusion in her heart also gradually cleared away the fog at this moment.

No wonder...

No wonder even when the Ning family already posed no threat to Xiao Jingheng's empire, he still refused to let them live.

The so-called rebellion was, from beginning to end, just a deadly trap tailored by Xiao Jingheng for the Ning family...

Seeing Zhao Hua's slightly lost expression, Shang Yang hid a gleeful delight in her mockery,

"So Lady Song, you must understand one thing. The eunuch by the emperor's side can be the emperor's confidant, but also... a blade stabbing towards the emperor."