The Hidden Beauty

Chapter 80 Tomb

The emperor personally sent his personal guards to search for Meng Tingzhou's whereabouts, but there was still no news after more than ten days.

Jiang Shiwan thought that as long as he could hold on for another five or six days, Meng Tingzhou would be able to come back.

However, he never expected that the royal guards would suddenly withdraw and stop searching.

When Yu Feng reported the news to Jiang Shiwan, he was very confused: "Madam, the imperial guards suddenly withdrew. Did they find the whereabouts of the governor or did they no longer think that the governor had met with an accident?"

Jiang Shiwan also felt that this matter was a little strange: "The emperor felt uneasy if he didn't find anyone in a day. Why did he suddenly evacuate?"

Just as she was feeling surprised, there was a loud noise outside.

Jiang Shiwan glanced at Yu Feng, who nodded and then ran out to find out what was going on.

Not long after, Yu Feng came back quickly: "Madam...something's wrong..."

Seeing him panting, Jiang Shiwan guessed that it was related to Meng Tingzhou: "Did they find out anything?"

Yu Feng looked nervous: "Someone from the palace came and said that the river swallowed up the governor's body. The emperor granted special pardon and set up a cenotaph for the governor. The things have been carried into the yard."

"What?" Jiang Shiwan did not expect the emperor to do such a thing and hurried to the front yard.

I saw that the people sent from the palace were already shrouding the Governor's Mansion with white shrouds. The coffin was already placed in the front hall, and those led by Liu Huining were crying bitterly.

"stop!"

Jiang Shiwan felt terrified by the absurdity in front of him and shouted, "Who told you to do this? Who said Meng Tingzhou is dead? Stop!"

She pulled off the white veil that had been put on and said, "This is the Governor's Mansion, not a place for you to run wild. Get out! Get out!"

Liu Huining, who was in charge of the situation inside, rushed out first and ordered, "Come here, stop Madam Jiang!"

She burst into tears, "Sister, I know you are deeply saddened, but the dead cannot be resurrected. Now my husband's whereabouts are unknown. The emperor has personally set up a cenotaph for him, which is a great favor from the emperor."

"You are disobeying the imperial decree."

The emperor cut the Gordian knot by setting up a cenotaph just to confirm the news that Meng Tingzhou had died, so that he could take back the military power of the Black Armor Soldiers as soon as possible.

"Don't you understand that if a person is alive, he must be seen alive, and if he is dead, his body must be seen dead?" Jiang Shiwan glanced at Liu Huining coldly, "It's only been a few days, and you can't wait to become a widow?"

"You!" Liu Huining's face turned pale. "If it weren't for you, why would my husband be in this state? Jiang Shiwan, you are the culprit!"

"The emperor will not treat you and me unfairly because of your husband's hard work and great contributions. You should be grateful."

I know that she must have reached an agreement with the emperor to set up a cenotaph first and then deal with me.

Jiang Shiwan looked around, his eyes cold. "If I remember correctly, there is a precedent in this dynasty. If a general is in danger, a cenotaph can be set up if he is not seen for a month. Now it has only been ten days and a cenotaph has been set up. Isn't it too fast?"

Liu Huining didn't expect that she knew all this, and his face turned pale: "You are talking nonsense!"

"There were similar cases in the eighth year of Zhiyuan and the fifth year of Tianbao. If you don't believe it, you can go to the six ministries to look up the information."

Jiang Shiwan knew that he couldn't make things too awkward now or embarrass the emperor, so he changed his tone: "The historian may not have informed His Majesty of these events, which is a serious crime." The people around who heard this looked at each other, indicating that they were indeed unaware of these past events.

Jiang Shiwan flicked his sleeves and said, "Madam Ning is well-versed in history and the present, don't you know this?"

"You can check. If I am wrong, I will personally go to the palace to apologize. If I remember correctly, no one should dream of building a cenotaph for my husband." She had already walked to the front door of the front hall, with her back to everyone, and said in a cold voice, "I will be here and will not allow anyone to enter at will."

The person sent from the palace was about to step forward to argue, but was stopped by Liu Huining.

"Since Madam Jiang said so, let's go to the palace first and report to His Majesty. It won't be too late to discuss it later." Liu Huining turned his head and ordered, "Please ask someone in the palace to go back to the palace."

She walked behind Jiang Shiwan, and looked at the huge word "甸" in the main hall with her shoulder to shoulder: "Do you think I am willing to set up a cenotaph for my husband? But if I don't, His Majesty will have other ways to deal with it."

"The cenotaph can still save the governor's office, but if other charges are brought, it won't be that simple."

Jiang Shiwan had already deeply felt the emperor's impatience.

Just as Liu Huining said, as long as Meng Tingzhou doesn't come back, he will have hundreds of reasons to deal with the Governor's Office.

Thinking of this, she secretly clenched her fists: "I believe he will come back."

The night was cool in early autumn, and the fragrance of osmanthus filled the air. A flurry of footsteps sounded on the palace road, heading straight for the Guardian Hall: "Your Majesty..."

After the emperor heard Jiang Shiwan's words during the day, he immediately issued an urgent imperial decree to accuse the Left Governor-General Meng Tingzhou of his intention to rebel. He guessed that the imperial decree should have reached the Governor-General's Office, and he couldn't help but frowned. Why was it so fast?
"Your Majesty!" Debao knelt down as soon as he entered the palace. "The eunuchs sent to issue the imperial edict were all killed before they even arrived at the Governor's Mansion!"

"What?" The emperor slammed the table in shock, "Who did it? How dare they kill the person who issued the imperial edict right under the emperor's feet?"

Debao tremblingly presented the physical evidence he had found at the scene. The emperor took it and looked at it. He saw the words "Royal Guards" on it, and his face immediately changed.

"Where is Song Huaizhi? Bring him to me immediately!"

When Song Huaizhi was brought in tied up, a dagger flew straight towards him. He instinctively turned sideways, and the dagger slid across his right shoulder, leaving a cut. He frowned and then knelt down.

The emperor glared at him fiercely and said, "The eunuchs I sent to issue the imperial edict were all assassinated. This is the physical evidence left at the scene! It's your fault!"

Song Huaizhi glanced back at the dagger, knowing what had happened, and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, I am responsible for the safety of the palace as a personal guard, and I dare not do such a bold thing under the emperor's nose."

"This is a dagger of the Royal Guards. Could it be that someone else has this thing?"

Song Huaizhi smiled bitterly. When His Majesty used a knife to kill Meng Tingzhou, didn't he also deliberately leave the dagger of the guards? Isn't the other party now retaliating?
The emperor glared at him sinisterly: "What do you think?"

"I suspect that some traitors left evidence to frame the imperial guards. I hope Your Majesty will understand."

The night was quiet, and the emperor and his minister stared at each other for a long time in the Jiade Hall.

Song Huaizhi thought for a while and then said, "May I ask what imperial decree the eunuch sent out by His Majesty is going to issue?"

Just as His Majesty was about to speak, Debao came in with quiet footsteps, his voice could not tell whether it was happy or sad: "Your Majesty, the Governor's Mansion... the Governor is back..."

(End of this chapter)