"How could it be empty! Has someone tampered with it?" Xiao Qing was shocked and angry.
She and Wang Canghai had always been cautious, and this was the first time they had been outmaneuvered!
Wang Canghai calmly analyzed, "Perhaps the barbarians used a special ink that dissipates after a while. Or perhaps someone in the palace was bought off by the barbarians and secretly swapped the Chanyu's edict."
"There's no time to think about the reason now... If this is the case, even if we can barely read the contents of the edict, the barbarian envoys will definitely demand to see it on the spot, humiliating our country! This is a dead end!" Xiao Qing's eyes gradually turned cold, her fist hidden in her sleeve trembling slightly.
This was terrible!
Wang Canghai was also at a loss.
Ding Wuyi reminded, "Your Majesty, there is one person who might be able to handle this matter."
Liang Qing understood, her beautiful eyes lit up, and she said urgently, "Quickly summon my Liang Aiqing!"
"What happened to the words disappearing from that edict?" the officials in the hall were in an uproar.
Liang Xiao had excellent hearing and also heard the discussion, his brows furrowing.
As expected, the barbarians sending envoys to Da Gan was no different than a weasel visiting a hen.
Since envoys from various countries were gathered here, if Da Gan were to repeatedly make a fool of itself and lose face, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Ding Wuyi stepped forward, whispered into Liang Xiao's ear, and Liang Xiao immediately followed Ding Wuyi to the side hall to understand the situation.
Listening to Wang Canghai's explanation and looking at the edict with only the Chanyu's seal remaining, Liang Xiao took the edict into his hand with a confident demeanor and said, "No need to worry, leave this matter to me."
"Liang Shilang, this is a matter of great importance, you must not act rashly!" Wang Canghai reminded him anxiously.
"I believe him!" Xiao Qing said with delight, stopping Wang Canghai.
Even if the sky were to fall, she believed Liang Xiao would find a way!
The monarch and his ministers returned to the hall as if nothing had happened.
"Silence! Do not discuss!"
With a command from Xiao Qing, the officials fell silent.
At the palace entrance, thirteen envoys from various countries had gathered.
The Left Worthy King of the Barbarians and Qin Feng, the Marquis of Zhenguo of Da Liang, were among them!
"The barbarians are preparing to give Da Gan a little surprise this time. I wonder if Da Gan can handle it. Perhaps they will be greatly surprised and make a complete fool of themselves, mi xi mi xi!" a Chu Yun envoy with only a small mustache above his lip sneered.
The Left Worthy King stroked his beard and laughed heartily, while the other envoys remained silent, observing the situation.
Qin Feng glanced at the Left Worthy King, lost in thought.
This morning, the barbarians had specifically visited him, the envoy of Da Liang, hinting that the edict Da Gan received was empty, but the barbarians had a backup and could demand to see it at any time!
At this moment, Qin Feng did not wish to be the first to act and remained silent.
He also wanted to see how Da Gan would deal with this matter.
A slight misstep would inevitably lead to loss of national dignity and become a laughingstock!
"Announce the envoys from various countries into the hall! First, Qin Feng, Marquis of Zhenguo of Da Liang! Second, the Left Worthy King of the Barbarians..."
The voice of the eunuch sounded, reading out the names of the envoys from each country one by one and welcoming them into the palace.
In the main hall, the officials waited quietly, but half of them were sweating profusely.
They had just learned about the edict with no words!
The envoys from the thirteen countries entered the hall one after another.
According to Da Gan's laws, Qin Feng and the Left Worthy King, as representatives of great nations, performed a kowtow. The other envoys performed a half-kneel.
After the ceremony, the envoys from various countries stared at Xiao Qing and noticed Liang Xiao, who was seated in front of her, and were momentarily stunned.
Qin Feng saw this and his wariness grew.
A wise ruler and a capable minister!
Such a combination was strikingly similar to his own combination with the Emperor of Da Liang!
Qin Feng's gaze fell on the edict in Liang Xiao's hand, and he was shocked, instantly understanding.
"Let's see how you handle it."
Liang Xiao, who had been silent, also noticed Qin Feng and was secretly amazed.
This person stood out among the other envoys, like a crane among chickens!
The Marquis of Zhenguo of Da Liang was the envoy this time, and the occasion was indeed grand!
The Left Worthy King also noticed Liang Xiao, and was greatly startled, inexplicably stepping back, his breathing becoming ragged.
"What is the reason for this, Left Worthy King?" Xiao Qing raised an eyebrow and smiled.
Realizing his impropriety, the Left Worthy King composed himself and smiled, "This is my first time meeting the new Emperor of Da Gan, and I am naturally overcome with emotion."
"So that's how it is. After all, barbarians are not worldly," Xiao Qing responded carelessly, then observed Qin Feng, feeling a sense of dread.
This man had maintained his composure throughout, unshakeable, truly worthy of the title Marquis of Zhenguo!
However, while Da Liang had its Marquis of Zhenguo, she had Liang Xiao!
With this thought, Xiao Qing felt much more relaxed and looked at Liang Xiao with anticipation.
Wang Canghai was already sweating profusely, contemplating how to salvage the situation later.
Liang Xiao was only nineteen, inexperienced with such grand occasions. To entrust the edict to him in haste, he could not rest assured, yet he could not bear to dampen Xiao Qing's spirits, so he could only let it be.
Just then, the Left Worthy King said angrily, "We barbarians have come with sincerity, and we hope the Son of Heaven of Da Gan can feel it."
Hearing this, the officials below had various expressions.
Liang Qing, Luo Changfeng, and others were extremely annoyed but did not dare to speak out and disrupt the atmosphere.
Dugu Qun, however, remained expressionless, staring at Liang Xiao.
The edict was in this boy's hands?
Very well, this was an opportunity to impeach him and make him take the blame!
"Heh heh, I have already felt it," Xiao Qing replied with a forced smile, inwardly resentful.
She trusted Liang Xiao, but if something went wrong, she would have to protect him. No matter how the officials impeached him, she would not dismiss Liang Xiao!
"Then please, Da Gan, read out the edict from our Chanyu!" the Left Worthy King said with a smile.
Everyone's expression changed.
What was inevitable had finally arrived!
"To show respect, my Liang Aiqing, you shall be the one to read the edicts from various countries..." Xiao Qing commanded.
Upon hearing this, Luo Changfeng and Liang Qing below were filled with anxiety and trepidation, looking at Liang Xiao.
Was this meant to make Xiao'er take the blame?
Liang Xiao agreed, stood up, stared at the Left Worthy King, held up the edict, and asked, "Do you have a backup copy of this edict?"
"Clever!" Xiao Qing and the others were overjoyed.
Qin Feng's eyes also lit up.
Ask them to present a backup copy and see what it said!
However, could things be that simple?
Qin Feng suddenly thought of something and glanced at the Left Worthy King again.
The Left Worthy King had anticipated this and firmly declared, "There is no backup! This is the Chanyu's edict. I myself only dared to glance at it hastily. No one else is qualified to touch it!"
The officials below held their breath. Dugu Qun, Ouyang Ji, He Wanli, and others finally breathed a sigh of relief.
If Liang Xiao were to simply read the edict by comparing it to a backup and solve the current predicament, wouldn't that be another great contribution for Liang Xiao!
"As expected..." Qin Feng lamented inwardly and looked back at Liang Xiao.
The Left Worthy King, being astute and experienced, had blocked Liang Xiao's escape route with a few words, leaving him no opportunity!
Liang Xiao raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Are you sure there is no backup? If you have hidden a backup, that would be deceiving our Emperor. It would not be easy for you to explain to your Chanyu."
"Why are you, a Shilang, spouting nonsense? Our Chanyu's word is his bond. If there is no backup, then there is no backup. I do not remember the content, and do not expect me to recite it for you!" the Left Worthy King responded contemptuously and sarcastically.
"The Chanyu's word is his bond, right? Fine!"
Liang Xiao smiled lightly, and in front of all the officials, he spread out the edict, seemingly reading it carefully.
But Xiao Qing could see clearly that there were still no words on the edict!
"Da Gan's Holy Emperor, Heaven's might is boundless! Governance is harmonious, the nation is prosperous and peaceful. The barbarians are terrified and submit wholeheartedly. We specially prepare rich gifts and sincerely seek good relations. A letter of state is respectfully presented; burn it after reading."
Under the astonished gaze of everyone, Liang Xiao spoke eloquently. After finishing the edict, he walked to the brazier on the left for warmth and threw the edict into it.
In an instant, the edict turned to ashes!
Including Xiao Qing, Ding Wuyi, Ning Xuejun, Qin Feng, everyone present was shocked, as if struck by lightning!