Hearing Bai Han's words, Huang Wu shivered. He didn't fear death; he had long since placed life and death aside. However, the way Bai Han described death was truly terrifying.
Before the thought had fully formed, he felt a sharp pain in his eyelids as Bai Han's dagger slowly began to press inward.
Huang Wu inwardly lamented. While he wasn't afraid of death, was enduring so much suffering before dying truly necessary?
Yet, he couldn't betray Jiang Shangpiao. After a moment's thought, Huang Wu had an idea.
He quickly shouted, "Wait, wait a moment!"
As he spoke, Bai Han shivered. This was clearly the accent of Da Tu Guo.
"Speak, what do you want?"
"I... I'm thirsty. I want a drink of water. Can I speak slowly?"
Bai Han nodded. With a gesture, a nearby guard brought a bowl of water and held it to Huang Wu's lips. Huang Wu took the bowl in his mouth and gulped down the water. With a flick of his head, the bowl landed accurately on the table beside him.
Seeing this, Bai Han nodded. This Xiao Ke's martial arts were indeed not ordinary.
It was a pity he was an enemy, not a friend.
After drinking the water, Huang Wu looked up at Bai Han. "I know what you want to ask."
"I am from Da Tu Guo. I came to assassinate your Emperor and Princess."
After speaking, Huang Wu closed his eyes slightly.
Seeing that he had started but not continued, Bai Han became impatient. He once again brought his dagger closer, preparing to repeat his tactic. But as soon as his dagger extended, Huang Wu suddenly lunged forward, his throat landing precisely on Bai Han's dagger.
This move caught Bai Han completely off guard. He had expected Huang Wu to desperately cling to life and had intended to threaten him further with the dagger. He hadn't expected Huang Wu to resist in such a way, to charge directly into his hand and die.
Bai Han was both angry and vexed. He was angry that Huang Wu had clearly intended to toy with him, and vexed that with Huang Wu's death, uncovering the truth would be even more difficult.
However, since Huang Wu had claimed to be from Da Tu Guo, it was a lead. He quickly returned to report to Lin Gen, Liu Xiangnan, and Fang Zheng.
Upon hearing that the perpetrator had died, Liu Xiangnan let out a long sigh.
"Alas, it is destiny. It is destiny. This was our oversight. We thought catching Duo Bang would end it all, but we didn't expect Qiao Pusen to be so relentless and continue sending people. When will this cycle of revenge end?"
Just then, Chun Hua hurried out from the inner room and bowed to Liu Xiangnan and Fang Zheng. "Your Excellencies, the Princess has awoken."
The two men were overjoyed to hear this and quickly rushed inside to see Xiao Jingfeng.
Upon seeing Fang Zheng and Liu Xiangnan, Xiao Jingfeng's tears streamed down her face. After all, she was just a young girl, and bearing so much had pushed her to the brink.
"My two loyal subjects, my father..."
Hearing this, Fang Zheng and Liu Xiangnan fell silent, lowering their heads.
Seeing their expressions and the Empress Li, who was weeping beside them, Princess Zhaoning seemed to understand.
Suddenly, she remembered something and said to Liu Xiangnan and Fang Zheng, "My father once told me that he had an imperial decree hidden behind the plaque at the entrance of the Hall of Diligent Governance, to be opened only after his passing!"
"I trouble the two of you to go and retrieve the imperial decree."
Fang Zheng and Liu Xiangnan exchanged glances and bowed in agreement. They walked out together, summoned Bai Han and dozens of Imperial Guards to escort them to the Hall of Diligent Governance.
Behind the Emperor's throne in the Hall of Diligent Governance hung a plaque. A guard brought a ladder. Liu Xiangnan climbed it step by step. After searching, he indeed found a box behind the plaque. Upon opening it, it was revealed to be an imperial decree.
Liu Xiangnan and Fang Zheng returned with the imperial decree and once again went to see Princess Xiao Jingfeng.
"Your Highness, the imperial decree has been retrieved. Please examine it."
Liu Xiangnan respectfully presented the imperial decree with both hands to Princess Zhaoning.
Princess Zhaoning, however, gently shook her head. "Never mind. You read it for me."
Liu Xiangnan and Fang Zheng exchanged glances.
Fang Zheng also nodded slightly. Princess Zhaoning was weak and her voice was strained. Asking her to read the imperial decree would be too demanding.
Liu Xiangnan held the imperial decree with both hands, faced north, and knelt. "Your Majesty, please forgive Liu Xiangnan's disrespect."
After speaking, Liu Xiangnan knelt there and slowly unrolled the imperial decree.
But after just one glance, Liu Xiangnan froze.
"This... this..."
Seeing Liu Xiangnan's reaction, Fang Zheng found it strange. He leaned in to look. It was very brief, only two sentences.
Xiao An had clearly written that after his death, all imperial consorts in the harem, except for Xiao Jingfeng's birth mother, would be buried with him.
Although this decision was somewhat cruel, it would minimize harem interference to the greatest extent and create a more relaxed environment for Xiao Jingfeng's reign.
The second sentence surprised everyone even more. Xiao An stated directly in the decree that if Xiao Jingfeng's son were to inherit the throne in the future, he would not necessarily have to be surnamed Xiao. Sudan Novel Network.
Princess Zhaoning had married Chen Xiaobei. If her son was not surnamed Xiao, he could only be surnamed Chen. In the future, if a male of the Chen lineage became Emperor, and considering this, wouldn't Chen Xiaobei become the Supreme Emperor?
At this thought, Fang Zheng's heart sank. The throne would no longer have any connection to the Xiao family.
But then he thought about it again, and it was indeed the case. In the future, there would be no connection.
Fang Zheng felt a wave of emotion. The Xiao family's centuries of legacy had led to this, only for the surname to become Chen?
Alas, the unpredictable nature of life.
At this moment, Liu Xiangnan felt a faint sense of joy.
Regardless, Chen Xiaobei was his son-in-law.
If Chen Xiaobei's son became Emperor, even if he wasn't the Supreme Emperor, it would still be beneficial to the Liu family in the future.
But then he thought again, these two points had far-reaching implications. Once revealed, they would likely cause an earthquake-like reaction in the Da Cang Kingdom.
Looking at Empress Li, who was weeping beside them, Liu Xiangnan felt a pang of sympathy. Announcing such news during the New Year celebration would be too cruel. With this in mind, he slowly rolled up the imperial decree.
"Your Highness, the Emperor's imperial decree concerns matters of state. It would be best to wait until the New Year when officials return for the morning court for you to announce it publicly."
This sentence skillfully concealed everything. Xiao Jingfeng harbored no suspicion, nor did Empress Li find anything amiss. It made sense that the Emperor would leave such an important imperial decree at the time of his death, and that it would concern matters of state.
The imperial decree was placed back into its box and then on the bedside of Xiao Jingfeng. Liu Xiangnan and Fang Zheng bowed and withdrew.
After leaving, they exchanged glances and sighed in unison.