Chapter 155 The Emperor's Panic

Chapter 155 The Emperor's Panic

Inside the tent, Xie Yan stood with his hands behind his back, looking at everything that Shen Nanzi had discarded.

Thinking about everything that had happened before, her misunderstanding of him had deepened, so why would she obediently stay here?

Wuying asked from behind, "Your Highness, should I intercept the Princess?"

Xie Yan lowered his eyes, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together, as Xue Yubai's voice came from outside requesting an audience.

He looked up, his voice hoarse, "Come in."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xue Yubai lifted the curtain and entered. He glanced around the room, then looked away and presented a letter with one hand.

"It was just delivered."

Xie Yan took the letter, tore it open, and began to read.

Xue Yubai looked at Xie Yan.

Xie Yan handed the letter to Xue Yubai, saying, "Grand Commandant Shen confessed his crime and was imprisoned for corruption."

Xue Yubai read the letter again, then put it away in his pocket.

He glanced around the tent and saw that everyone inside was one of his own. He then said in a low voice, "Congratulations on taking another step closer to the throne."

Xie Yan remained silent, and Grand Commandant Shen imprisoned Xie Yu, who was injured.

This is indeed a good thing for him.

However, for Shen Nanzi, it was a devastating blow, as the two people she trusted most both met with misfortune one after another.

Now she feels somewhat isolated and helpless.

She also witnessed Wu Ying shoot her and Xie Yu, and then he stopped her from rescuing Shen Minghan.

All of this, without exception, points to him as the mastermind behind it all.

She probably hates him to the core.

Xie Yan was silent for a moment, then said to Xue Yubai, "She must be going to see Grand Commandant Shen, so let's arrange for them to meet."

Xue Yubai said with some concern, "Isn't it inappropriate to let them meet at this time?"

Xie Yan: "Since Grand Commandant Shen confessed his guilt, he must have already guessed the outcome. Perhaps she will understand after meeting him once."

Shen Minghan is a man with the most astute mind; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to become the Grand Commandant.

Xue Yubai looked at Xie Yan, swallowing the words he wanted to say, "I will have Imperial Censor Zhang make the arrangements."

"Okay, you go and make the arrangements. I need to wait for the Emperor to return!"

Now that he is in charge of all matters related to the autumn hunt, he should report such a major incident to the Emperor.

Xie Yan sent someone to fetch the Emperor back, and the person headed towards the imperial tent.

Around noon, the emperor's guards returned laden with four pheasants, two rabbits, and a deer.

Xie Yan instructed the person who went to fetch the emperor to only say that he had important matters to report, without revealing to the emperor that Xie Yu was injured.

Therefore, the Emperor returned to his imperial tent first.

Seeing Xie Yan waiting outside the tent, the smile on his face faded somewhat.

As they walked inside, they asked, "What happened?"

There was a hint of displeasure in his tone.

The guards lifted the curtain, and the Emperor went in first, followed by Xie Yan.

Upon entering the imperial tent, the emperor put away his bow and arrows and handed them to a palace servant.

"Wash off the bloodstains. This bow and arrow will accompany me to the imperial mausoleum."

The palace servant trembled and dared not reply.

Xie Yan stood in front of the imperial table, just about to speak.

The emperor seemed to be suffering from a stomachache. He frowned, clutched the painful spot, and called out to the palace servants, "Go and get the medicine."

Another palace maid quickly left.

Xie Yan thought to himself, "Let's talk about Xie Yu after he finishes drinking the medicine!"

News has come from Luoyang that Grand Commandant Shen has been convicted of embezzlement.

The Emperor was startled, his face showing disbelief. "Who are you calling embezzled?"

Xie Yan thought to himself, "This expression is so convincing, there's not a single flaw."

"Grand Commandant Shen has confessed to his crime, admitting to embezzling 100 million coins!"

The emperor's expression instantly turned angry, his tone both angry and urgent.

"This Grand Commandant Shen often argues with me about military funding, giving me a headache. He appears to be a loyal minister who cares about the country and its people, but he is actually so greedy behind the scenes."

"Ten million coins! How dare he do that!"

"Has any evidence been found that he embezzled funds?"

"This matter is being handled by the Fifth Prince. Your subject has only received general information. As for the extent of the embezzlement, we do not yet know."

"Investigate! Send a message back immediately, instructing Lao Wu to thoroughly investigate this matter and find the source. If this loophole isn't plugged, the consequences will be endless."

The emperor was so angry that his chest heaved and his breathing became rapid.

The palace maid brought over a huge bowl of medicine, which was dark in color and had a bitter smell.

The Emperor glanced at the steaming medicine, then looked away in disgust. He looked up and saw that Xie Yan was still there. "Is there anything else?"

Xie Yan also looked at the large bowl of medicine and said, "I will report to you after you finish drinking it."

The emperor frowned and said impatiently, "Speak. I've seen all kinds of storms in my life. I'm not as fragile as you think."

Xie Yan's hesitation was obviously insignificant to this emperor; perhaps this was the outcome he had already foreseen.

Without further hesitation, he said, "Sixth Brother was ambushed this morning and is now in critical condition."

The Emperor hesitated for a moment, then raised his head, his voice trembling slightly, a rare occurrence for him. "What did you say? Sixth Prince? His life is in danger?"

Xie Yan looked at the panic in the Emperor's eyes, unsure whether it was feigned or genuine.

"Yes, even the imperial physicians dared not remove the arrow, fearing they wouldn't be able to stop the bleeding."

The emperor's face seemed even paler than before, and his breathing was heavier.

He braced his hands on the edge of the imperial desk and rose shakily.

The usual arrogance in his eyes now seemed somewhat dazed.

He stopped speaking and instead hurried out of the imperial tent with a solemn expression.

Looking at Xie Yuan's heavy back and unsteady steps, Xie Yan saw fear in him for the second time.

The first time was with Xie Yao.

It seems things have gotten out of control; he underestimated the Fifth Prince's ambition to seize the throne.

"Your Majesty, please slow down and take care of your health."

"Your Majesty, you haven't taken your medicine yet."

One palace servant chased after them, while another picked up a bowl of medicine and followed.

He was left alone inside the imperial tent, which became empty and desolate.

As he looked away, he saw that the painting bucket beside the emperor's desk had been tripped over.

I wonder if the Emperor tripped because he was in a hurry, or if the palace maid carrying the medicine tripped him?

The scrolls were scattered and rolled out. Xie Yan thought of the emperor's paranoia and feared that he might suspect that Xie Yan was searching for the imperial edict in the imperial tent.

He went around to the side, squatted down, and rolled up the scattered scroll.

While sorting through the scroll, they were surprised to find another imperial edict tucked inside.

The main axis is not framed on both sides, usually for ease of storage.

As Xie Yan unfolded the document, preparing to roll it up again, his gaze was fixed on the imperial edict.

As he read through the text word by word, a deep sense of sarcasm appeared on his face, as if he had expected it.

Finally, it landed on the vermilion jade seal, signifying that it was ordained by Heaven and would live a long and prosperous life.

This is a will!

The emperor actually carried the imperial edict with him and hid it in a painting bucket at his feet.

This is truly a place that is difficult to notice.

Xie Yan slowly rolled up the scroll and gently tied it with a red string.

His good father really doesn't trust him!

He even wrote in his will, "When I die, Prince Jing and his son shall be buried with me."