Chapter 351: Secret Edict

I can!

Bai Zhi raised her head and answered firmly.

Then she took the empty bowl and the tray in her hand and went out directly.

Zi Su smiled and said, "Princess Consort, you're spoiling her too much; that's not a good thing."

Bai Zhi's nature used to be somewhat restrained, but since she recognized her master, the Princess Consort has always pampered her, making her now a bit lawless.

Jiang Yunchu shook her head, "Zi Su, believe me, she would rather die herself than let me get hurt."

"How could I not dote on someone like her?"

Moreover, this incident can't be blamed on anyone; it was my own carelessness.

She never imagined that those people would be so bold as to act in the city.

When she was outside, in the wilderness, she was always on guard, but once she entered the city, not to mention the children, not even Bai Zhi, even she herself forgot to stay on guard.

This is the lesson, a lesson for everyone, and also a lesson for herself.

Her shoulder injury was the worst; she took anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing medicine, yet she still ran a low fever every day.

She passed five days in a daze, and her fever finally broke.

But…

"Imperial Edict has arrived!"

A sharp voice loudly announced in this small official's residence.

Half an hour earlier, an official delivering the message had come, telling everyone to prepare to receive the imperial edict.

Not only this petty official, but even the county magistrate came over, face ashen and trembling; their county office had never received an imperial edict before, and they knew why.

This time, the Regent's Consort had such a major incident in their jurisdiction; the whole office cannot escape blame.

"The Regent's Consort is injured and does not need to come receive the edict."

The palace eunuch especially shouted loudly, for His Majesty had specially ordered this, and his adoptive father had also instructed him for a long time: he must show respect to the Princess Consort, otherwise he wouldn't know how to die.

He is a newly entered palace little eunuch this year, relying on his adoptive father's promotion to survive; whatever his adoptive father says, he does, and he will never be wrong.

"Thank you for the emperor's grace."

Jiang Yunchu's voice came from inside the room; she had been about to get up, but now she obediently lay back down.

Anyway, her imperial uncle had arranged everything; she wasn't the type to suffer needlessly.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Regent's Consort was injured in Azure Wind County; bandits run rampant, evildoers hold sway, and the officials of the county office are hard to absolve of blame; therefore, all officials must investigate and clarify within seven days."

"Seven days later, the Imperial Forest Army will escort them to the capital; such is the imperial command."

Upon the edict's arrival, all officials' faces turned pale; the county magistrate's face was also grim, having anticipated trouble but not expecting an edict, let alone one with such content.

The people of Ning Jing had sent no news, not even a hint; this is going to…

Thinking of this, the county magistrate's face was covered in cold sweat; although the weather was hot, it wasn't to the point of sweat dripping drop by drop.

"County Magistrate, receive the edict."

The eunuch chuckled, his sharp voice bringing the county magistrate back to his senses; his normally plump body trembled slightly.

"Your servant, I receive the edict."

His voice was fairly steady, but when he stood to receive the edict, his body swayed.

"Don't leave yet; there is a second edict."

At that moment, the eunuch delivering the edict smiled and said something.

Everyone had just breathed a sigh of relief, then hurriedly knelt properly again.

They are a small county office, handling only trivial petty matters of the common folk; not to mention seeing an edict, even high officials rarely see one; today they not only saw an edict, but it's also the first time they've heard of an edict being issued in two parts.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Regent's Consort, who brought academy students on a study tour to teach the new generation of Da Ning merit, yet was harmed by villains on the study tour route, hereby orders the Imperial Forest Army of five hundred to escort the Princess Consort on her study tour until she returns to the capital; such is the imperial command."

…

This…

Jiang Yunchu's mouth twitched involuntarily; "My imperial uncle, when you do things like this, can't we discuss it? You've sent five hundred people, I let these children go on a study tour—what's the point?"

Originally it was just to train the children, to give them a sense of danger, to let them experience, again and again, how to resolve and prevent life‑and‑death crises.

She did not want her children to be greenhouse flowers that, once they go out, merely deliver vegetables to the enemy.

"Thank you for the emperor's grace."

Jiang Yunchu's mouth twitched speechlessly, but not receiving the edict? That's impossible; defying an edict brings another punishment.

"Princess Consort, there is also a secret edict for you; please examine it yourself."

The eunuch's tone carried respect; it wasn't just perfunctory official business, and from his attitude the several county officials felt the difference.

The Regent Prince's Manor is likely a favorite of His Majesty; if they can't uncover the reason, will they still have good days after seven days?

Each official began to ponder.

The county magistrate's sweat increased.

"Come in." To receive the edict, she hadn't worn formal court robes, but she was dressed solemnly; she hadn't expected not to be allowed to go out to receive the edict.

"Yes!"

"You wait outside."

After the little eunuch finished speaking, he also said something to the few people behind him.

Several people stopped in their tracks; then the little eunuch lowered his head, bowed his waist, and walked into the room.

Seeing the Princess Consort, dressed solemnly and sitting by the bed, he hurriedly knelt on the ground, "Your servant kowtows to the Princess Consort; this is the secret edict from His Majesty, which must be handed to her in person—I beg forgiveness for not being able to pass it through another."

Jiang Yunchu smiled and said, "Little eunuch, you look unfamiliar; are you new to the palace?"

She usually doesn't take the regular route into the palace; either she uses her lightness skill to get there, or Emperor Ning has grown accustomed to it, specially ordering the guards not to stop her—as long as she shows her waist tablet, she can freely enter and leave the Imperial Study.

Sometimes she would send her tablet ahead, and the eunuch Xi would especially wait for her, then take a palanquin straight into the palace, saving much trouble.

However, she sees few people; the only one she is familiar with is Eunuch Xi, and she rarely sees anyone else.

Reply to the Princess Consort, I, your servant, am a newcomer who entered the palace this year, promoted by my godfather, and I work in the Imperial Study; my godfather is Eunuch Xi.

That one sentence introduced his identity, and also revealed why he was so respectful.

As it turns out…

He is a follower of Xiao Xizi.

"Get up and reply."

Jiang Yunchu smiled; her impression of Eunuch Xi was good—although he had some scheming, was good at reading people's hearts, but he was also a loyal person, and being beside the Emperor's maternal uncle, she still felt reassured.

"Send the secret edict over." She extended her hand.

The little eunuch promptly and respectfully sent it over, but before he could withdraw his hand, a money bag was placed in it.

His face showed surprise: "This must not be done."

He is merely an errand-running little eunuch; to be able to appear before a noble is already a blessing—how could he accept reward money?