Chapter 357: Chapter 288: I Don’t Want to Die an Inexplicable Death like Her!_2
Last night, everyone discussed it and decided that Fu Zhen would be responsible for conveying the news from the Prince Rong’s Mansion to Mrs. Ning. Early in the morning, before she had a chance to go out, Mrs. Ning had already heard rumors on the street and sent someone over.
Fu Zhen decided to wait until he had more clues before meeting her.
At this time, he estimated that Pei Zhan and the others should have returned, just in time for everyone to sit down and talk at night.
When Pei Zhan returned to the room, Fu Zhen had just finished bathing and changing clothes.
Seeing the yellow silk in his hand, she opened it and looked: "With the Prince Rong’s Mansion having such strong defenses, is it really necessary for you to be specially dispatched there for reinforcement?"
To put it plainly, Prince Rong is not the emperor’s son, even if the publicized cause of Princess Rong’s death from the Prince Rong’s Mansion leads to conjecture, would it really warrant such serious attention from the emperor?
Pei Zhan is already at the rank of Great General!
Sending a first-ranked Great General from the court to lead troops to guard the Prince Manor, if not for the emperor’s wisdom in governance over the years, one might suspect this action was an insult to this young General with illustrious achievements!
"I think so too," Pei Zhan said, one hand on his hip and the other stroking his chin. "But the emperor didn’t say anything else, I asked the Yellow Gate Officer, and he just said I need to follow the imperial edict."
Fu Zhen was puzzled, "And what about Chen Er and the others? What tasks did they receive?"
"Each of us has been assigned to guard one of the city gates, while I have the added task of personally leading troops into the Prince Rong’s Mansion."
"Does Prince Rong know about this?"
"I’m just about to don my armor and lead the troops to the Manor to deliver the edict!"
Having said that, Pei Zhan turned inside to put on his armor.
Fu Zhen lowered his head once more to look at the words on the imperial edict, unable to comprehend it.
...
After the emperor’s decree was delivered, the four who received the order immediately took action. Within two hours, elite soldiers were stationed at all the four main city gates.
Since Pei Zhan was to personally go to the Prince Rong’s Mansion to lead the team, he assigned Cheng Chili and Liang Zhi to take charge of the North Gate.
All four of them are capable Generals in the court, not to mention both Pei Zhan and Liang Chen, who are Great Generals personally involved—the situation at the Prince Rong’s Mansion is indeed alarming, but such a display of force seems overly imposing!
In the evening, while Prince Rong was about to have his dinner, upon hearing this news, he suddenly lost what little appetite he had.
"Why the sudden order for them to guard the gates? These are all people from the five General Mansions... except no one from the He Family came, almost everyone else is here, has something happened? Is there any other news from the palace?"
He fired off a series of questions in one breath, his aides standing in a line shook their heads: "Everything is normal in the palace, the emperor summoned them today as part of his regular audience in the late morning, it’s said the emperor is merely concerned that the killer of Princess might escape and harm the people, hence this precaution."
"This seems overly dramatic," Prince Rong pushed his bowl and plate away irritably.
"Your Highness!"
Before they could clear their thoughts, someone hurriedly reported from outside: "General Pingxi Pei Zhan has arrived at the Manor gates with troops, saying he is here to deliver an edict!"
"With troops?!"
Prince Rong’s heart began to race inexplicably, his sleeve knocking over a teacup.
"Indeed! He brought at least five hundred men, claiming it is by the emperor’s order to reinforce the Manor’s defenses! Your Highness and the heir are requested to go outside to receive the edict!"
Five hundred men!
It’s a little short of confiscating the household, but definitely enough to surround the Prince Rong’s Mansion!
What is the emperor implying?!
Prince Rong felt his heart turbulent with anxiety.
But no matter what, the imperial edict must be received with utmost respect!
He steadied himself, "Prepare my formal attire!"
He hurriedly dressed and stepped outside, just in time to encounter Yang Zhan and Mrs. Zhang, also formally dressed, from the east.
The father, son, and daughter-in-law exchanged a hurried glance and made their way together toward the entrance, without time for words.
Upon reaching the entrance, under the moonlight, indeed, a dense crowd of soldiers could be seen.
Leading them was a formidable figure atop a majestic horse, clad in iron mask and silver armor, none other than Pei Zhan!
"Prince Rong, receive the edict!"
Once they had gathered, Pei Zhan unfurled the yellow silk and began to read the decree aloud.
After completing the official reading, he took a couple of steps forward, smiled, and said, "Your Highness, I apologize for the alarming display. However, it is truly the emperor’s deep love and concern for you. Recently, while I was in the palace, the emperor spoke warmly of Your Highness; I hope you remember the emperor’s grace and strive to repay it."
The imperial edict was plain and clear about the emperor’s worry over the escape of the murderer of Princess Rong, addressing Prince Rong as "brother." The key point was that of the five hundred troops Pei Zhan brought, the emperor instructed only one hundred to enter the Manor with Pei Zhan while the remaining four hundred were to rotate in shifts of one hundred each!