Hou Ye's palm heart is a black lotus

Chapter 776 The Last Will and Testament (First Update)
Lin Xueping swayed, her mind in turmoil.

He just couldn't understand how there could be a will.

Obviously——

"Lord Lin seems to be feeling unwell?" Shen Yanchuan paused as he walked past him. "Should we summon the imperial physician?"

Lin Xueping instinctively retorted, "No need! This humble official has done nothing wrong..."

"That's good." Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Since Lord Lin is alright, why don't you come with me to the Qiyuan Hall to retrieve the late emperor's edict? With Lord Lin as a witness, I believe no one will cause trouble or spread rumors without cause."

Lin Xueping was stunned for a moment before realizing what Shen Yanchuan was talking about.

His face immediately turned very ugly.

Shen Yanchuan's words were clearly a veiled insult, yet he couldn't refute them!
"...Since the young master has said so, there is no one who would not comply."

Lin Xueping stood up, straightened her clothes, and tried to calm herself down.

Afterwards, he went to the Qiyuan Hall with Shen Yanchuan.

The remaining people in the hall looked at each other in bewilderment.

No one expected things to turn out this way...

"Furthermore, I have heard that some people suspect that the late emperor's death was not due to illness, but rather to other reasons."

Xiao Chengqi slightly raised his chin.
"The Imperial Medical Academy Director Chu Qiyuan and Ye Chutang are hereby summoned to the palace."

……

Qiyuan Hall.

Since Emperor Muwu's death, this place has been surrounded, and all the palace servants who had served him have been imprisoned separately. At this moment, it looks like a dead and silent prison.

Upon seeing Shen Yanchuan and his entourage arrive, the Imperial Guards all saluted.

Shen Yanchuan looked at the tightly closed door.

"By order of His Majesty, I have come to retrieve the late Emperor's edict. Open the door."

"Yes!"

Without hesitation, the guards turned around and opened the door.

Everyone knows that Shen Yanchuan was by Xiao Chengqi's side the night he ascended the throne.

Xiao Chengqi was able to secure his throne so quickly thanks in no small part to Shen Yanchuan and the Dingbei Marquis's Mansion behind him, so his status was naturally incomparable to what it used to be.

squeak-

The door opened, and Shen Yanchuan went in first.

Lin Xueping hesitated, but gritted her teeth and followed.

Shen Yanchuan walked to the side of the dragon bed and gently pressed a spot under the jade pillow.

Click.

A hidden compartment suddenly popped out from under the bed.

A bright yellow imperial edict lies quietly inside!
Lin Xueping's heart jumped instantly!

—It actually exists!?
This location is so well hidden that no one could find it without Emperor Muwu's personal instruction!
Even if one were to question the authenticity of this imperial edict, it would likely be difficult to convince the public...

Shen Yanchuan took out the imperial edict and turned around to see Lin Xueping's face was as white as a ghost.

……

Bang——!
The cell door was forcefully opened from the outside.

Xiao Chenglin, who was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, slowly opened his eyes upon hearing the noise.

He turned his head to the side expressionlessly.

Su Wei stood with his hands behind his back, looking at him through the prison door.

Xiao Chenglin chuckled softly.

"What, does Lord Su intend to interrogate me personally? Unfortunately, I have done nothing, so you won't be able to get anything out of me."

He stretched out his hands, revealing his thin wrists, and his tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

"He's been waiting impatiently for my testimony, hasn't he? If you want to use torture, then so be it."

Su Wei ignored him and simply turned his head to signal to the jailer.

The jailer went over and stood in front of Xiao Chenglin.

Then——

He untied Xiao Chenglin's shackles.

Xiao Chenglin was taken aback, but saw that the jailer had already retreated and showed no intention of making a move.

This is……

Su Wei finally spoke.
"Your Highness Prince Jing, His Majesty has summoned you. Please come in—"

Xiao Chenglin's heart sank suddenly.

……

The journey from the prison to the Taiji Hall took Xiao Chenglin an exceptionally long time. His legs were weak, and no one seemed to care, so he could only barely move forward step by step, leaning on his cane.

When he arrived at the palace, his clothes were soaked, his forehead was covered in sweat, and his lips were pale; he looked quite disheveled.

He immediately spotted Xiao Chengqi sitting upright in the hall ahead.

The courtiers bowed their heads, looking down from their lofty position.

"Prince Jing has arrived!"

Everyone turned around at the same time, casting all sorts of glances their way.

Xiao Chenglin never imagined this would happen.

He remained expressionless, ignoring the curious or mocking glances directed at him, and entered the hall.

"Brother Royal."

He did not kneel or bow.

"How dare you! Why don't you kneel before His Majesty?!" someone shouted.

Xiao Chenglin raised his head and looked straight at Xiao Chengqi.

"My elder brother and I are of the same generation, why should I kneel?"

Xiao Chengqi laughed.

Now that things have come to this, Xiao Chenglin clearly has no intention of continuing the act.

In the past, brothers would exchange polite words when they met, but now they won't even lower their heads.

“Prince Jing is unwilling, and I do not want to force him. If he does not want to kneel, then so be it.”

He spoke lazily.
"However, if we see Father's last edict, I wonder if Fourth Brother would be willing to kneel?"

Xiao Chenglin's pupils suddenly contracted!
Will?

How could he not know—

Just then, familiar footsteps sounded behind me.

Xiao Chenglin subconsciously turned around and saw that Shen Yanchuan had arrived outside the main hall at some point.

"The late emperor's edict has arrived—"

All the officials knelt down, leaving only Xiao Chenglin standing alone.

Shen Yanchuan held the imperial edict in one hand and looked at him.

"Since Prince Jing has seen the late emperor's edict, why does he not perform the grand ceremony?"

Xiao Chenglin gritted his teeth, intending to retort, but then he saw Lin Xueping, whose face was grim, standing behind Shen Yanchuan.

He grew increasingly uneasy and finally knelt down slowly.

Shen Yanchuan opened the will, his deep voice echoing clearly in everyone's ears.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have received the favor of Heaven and have been diligent day and night. Now, I am afflicted with illness and fear I can no longer manage the arduous affairs. However, thinking of the importance of the nation and its people, I intend to establish a solid foundation for the country as soon as possible. My third son, Chengqi, is wise and decisive, virtuous and talented, and is suitable to succeed me..."

With each sentence he read, Xiao Chenglin's expression grew increasingly grim.

When he heard the final date, he was even more shocked.

Because—this edict was not written on the day Emperor Muwu died, but on the first day of the Lunar New Year three months earlier!

"impossible!"

Xiao Chenglin, unable to bear it any longer, spoke up in rebuttal.

"At that time, the Emperor Vaijin's delegation had just arrived in the capital. His father was still in good health. How could he have made a will at that time?!"

Shen Yanchuan glanced at him.

Xiao Chengqi said, "Yanchuan, give him the imperial edict and let him take a good look at it to see if it is indeed written by the late emperor himself."

Shen Yanchuan approached Xiao Chenglin.

"Prince Jing, please take a look."

Xiao Chenglin suddenly became uneasy.

Could it be... that this really was a will made long ago?!
But we hadn't heard a single word about it before... They kept it so well hidden!

"Handwriting can be imitated; I won't bother looking at it."

Someone gasped in surprise.

Prince Jing is too audacious!
Isn't this blatantly questioning whether the new emperor forged an imperial edict and plotted to usurp the throne?
Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow.

"Since Prince Jing is unwilling to see, surely the person would be willing to see him?"

Xiao Chenglin was taken aback.

people?
who?

Shen Yanchuan turned his head, his tone calm.

"Bring the people up."