My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

"Oh, there's something written in here?"

Upon hearing Xiao Yunshu's words, Jiang Xiaobai's expression immediately showed surprise, and he promptly handed the iron box in his hand to Tang Ningshuang beside him.

He himself slowly unfolded the neatly folded yellow silk.

As the silk was unfurled, lines of writing appeared.

Jiang Xiaobai's expression changed after just two glances, and his eyes widened in the end.

Finally, he looked at Xiao Yunshu with disbelief: "This is a will?"

"The late emperor... actually left a will, appointing you as emperor?!"

As he spoke, Jiang Xiaobai looked down and examined it carefully once more.

The above content is written very clearly.

"After my death, my eldest daughter, Xiao Yunshu, is qualified to inherit the throne and succeed me. All princes and officials should do their best to assist her."

"Anyone who defies the imperial edict and disrupts the government shall be condemned by the entire nation!"

It is no exaggeration to say that if this will were made public, Xiao Yunshu would be the successor personally chosen by the late emperor.

Therefore, even if this woman raises an army, it cannot be called a rebellion.

That's called... going with the flow!

Jiang Xiaobai was utterly horrified, while Tang Ningshuang, who was beside him, also saw the contents and was equally shocked.

This thing...

Is it something she can see?

Seeing their reactions, Xiao Yunshu chuckled and said, "What nonsense are you talking about, young master?"

"This refers to the eldest princess, while she... is just an insignificant, unremarkable maidservant by the young master's side!"

"..."

Jiang Xiaobai was speechless after hearing this.

However, Jiang Xiaobai also understood why the Northern Yu delegation and his second brother both wanted to get their hands on this iron box.

Because if this thing falls into the hands of Bei Yu, Bei Yu only needs to make some moves in secret.

If the news of the will were to spread, there would inevitably be a huge upheaval within the Great Hua Dynasty, and even within the imperial court.

As for his second brother...

This reminder was probably meant to encourage him to hand the item over to Xiao Yunshu after he received it.

His second brother had no idea that Xiao Yunshu was right beside him.

Furthermore, through this will, he confirmed that the person behind the Northern Yu delegation was not Xiao Jinxuan.

After all, this thing... cannot fall into the hands of Bei Yu.

But who would know about this imperial edict? It must have been someone who was close to the late emperor.

The person behind that is definitely not low-ranking!

However... his second brother might know something.

While pondering, Jiang Xiaobai folded the will again and handed it to Xiao Yunshu.

"Please keep this for me for now!"

That's right, let's return it to its rightful owner. Holding this thing in our hands is really hot to handle.

"OK!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunshu's smile immediately brightened, and she reached out to take it, saying, "Then this servant... will keep it safe for you, young master!"

"Whenever you want it back, young master, I'll give it back to you!"

"well!"

Jiang Xiaobai nodded repeatedly and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

This woman...

They really hid it well!

However, if Xiao Yunshu were to truly become empress, it seems that it wouldn't be a bad thing for their Zhenbei Marquis's mansion.

At least this woman has a fairly good relationship with the Jiang family.

It's not bad with him!

Suppressing his thoughts, Jiang Xiaobai's gaze returned to the table, and he began to look through other things.

The books on the table were quite ordinary; they contained no extraordinary martial arts techniques or lost skills.

However, he soon saw a rolled-up imperial edict.

"This should be reserved for the Hidden Edge Sect, right?"

As Jiang Xiaobai spoke, he opened it and took a look.

As expected, the contents of this edict were exactly the same as what the Fourth Prince had said.

"If an official neglects his duty, he may be executed; if a ruler lacks virtue, he may be deposed!"

These two simple sentences made Jiang Xiaobai secretly alarmed.

The late emperor not only left a will appointing Xiao Yunshu as his successor, but also gave the Cangfeng Sect a knife that could be used to strike the royal family at any time.

That kind of courage is something that only a few people possess.

Jiang Xiaobai put the imperial edict back in its original place, and then saw a seal about the thickness of a thumb next to it.

The seal was entirely black, with several strange symbols engraved on its bottom.

Jiang Xiaobai looked at it over and over for a long time, and finally frowned.

What is this thing?

The symbols above looked like scribbles; he couldn't understand a single one.

But Jiang Xiaobai didn't throw it away; instead, he put it away.

That's right, it was a seal after all, and it was placed outside the late emperor's coffin.

What if... it might actually work?

After putting it away, Jiang Xiaobai then found another sword on a shelf nearby.

Clang!

The moment the longsword was drawn, a flash of cold light appeared in the firelight.

Jiang Xiaobai felt the sharpness of the sword, a look of surprise flashing across his face. After glancing down at it, he handed it to Tang Ningshuang: "Miss Tang, you use a sword, this sword is for you!"

"Give it to me?"

Tang Ningshuang was taken aback at first, but when she looked down at the sword, her expression changed again.

Two words are clearly engraved on it.

Protect the Nation!

"No!"

Tang Ningshuang quickly shook her head and took a step back, saying, "I dare not accept this sword!"

She knew very well what the words "protecting the country" meant.

"What's there to be afraid of!"

Jiang Xiaobai pushed the sword towards Tang Ningshuang again, smiling as he said, "Haven't you always longed to join the army and fight the enemy?"

"When you become a female general, then you can wield this national treasure sword!"

"Tsk tsk...that would definitely be quite a sight to behold!"

"..."

Upon hearing Jiang Xiaobai's words, Tang Ningshuang's lips twitched slightly, and finally she looked up at Xiao Yunshu.

"Miss Tang, why are you looking at me like that?"

Xiao Yunshu, holding the iron box, said with a smile, "Young Master asked you to take it, so please take it!"

"Oh well!"

Tang Ningshuang hesitated for a moment, but finally reached out and took the Zhenguo Sword.

But once she held it in her hand, the strange look on her face deepened.

This sword is quite heavy!

Of course, this amount refers to the meaning behind the words "protecting the country".

Jiang Xiaobai didn't think that much about it and circled the stone chamber again.

He now hopes to find some kind of peerless martial arts manual or secret technique.

However, after searching carefully, they couldn't even find a trace of the secret manual.

Finally, Jiang Xiaobai had no choice but to return to the table and pick up the painting.

The scroll was unfurled, revealing a woman depicted on it.

The woman had a graceful figure and an extremely beautiful face. Standing in a grove of flowers, she looked incredibly lifelike.

Do you recognize the woman in the painting?

Jiang Xiaobai looked at the painting for a moment, then turned it towards Xiao Yunshu.

Xiao Yunshu stepped forward, examined her carefully, and finally shook her head slightly: "I don't recognize her!"

Jiang Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, but didn't think much of it.

After all, which emperor in ancient times didn't have three thousand concubines in his harem?

Perhaps the woman in the painting was someone the late emperor favored, and he specially brought the portrait into the tomb.

Jiang Xiaobai rolled up the painting again and put it back on the table.

Afterward, he circled around again to make sure there was nothing else there, then looked at the group and said, "Alright, let's go out!"

That's right, what needed to be seen has been seen, and what needed to be shared has been shared.

We can't very well open the late emperor's coffin again to see if there are any other treasures inside, can we?

This... is somewhat inappropriate.

Even if he agrees, Xiao Yunshu probably won't!