sbdcsierra Chapter 1482 Reporting to the Emperor (210 million reward points)
Chapter 1482 Reporting to the Emperor (210 million reward points)
Faking death... fooling everyone...
Grand Secretary Xie's heart sank suddenly!
Could it be that Wen Shu is telling him in this way that Nangong Xuanche's death was fake, and that he has come back to life?!
She wasn't wallowing in self-pity; rather, she was using this tear-soaked memory between grandmother and grandson to convey a shocking truth to him!
Grand Secretary Xie suddenly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were clear.
If, as Wen Shu implied, Nangong Xuanche is still alive, then many previously incomprehensible points become clear.
No wonder that even though he has been executed and his followers have been purged, the remaining forces are still able to operate in an organized manner, and even dared to kidnap the eldest princess.
Because they were not leaderless; the leader who should have died was still hiding in the shadows, issuing orders.
No wonder that desolate courtyard where the body of the disgraced official was kept caught fire by such coincidence and burned to the ground.
The purpose was to completely destroy the substitute corpse that might reveal any flaws, thus confirming Nangong Xuanche's death.
For whom are they so desperately demanding a clear name? The answer is obvious.
Having come to understand this horrifying truth, Grand Secretary Xie calmed down and began to consider how to deal with it.
When Wen Shu was abducted, His Majesty kept the news tightly under wraps, but revealed it only to him.
Aside from a degree of reliance on the Xie family, it's likely that they wanted to use the Xie family to subtly investigate clues.
The Holy Heart is as vast as the sea!
Grand Secretary Xie frowned, his heart filled with intense struggle.
He knew that once His Majesty learned that Nangong Xuanche was not dead, his first priority would be to eliminate Nangong Xuanche and his followers at all costs to prevent future troubles!
As for whether Wen Shu, who was taken hostage, lives or dies during this process... that's probably not what His Majesty cares about most.
But how could he, as the maternal grandfather, stand by and watch Wen Shu suffer?
At this moment, Xie Ge Lao's only thought was to save Wen Shu's life no matter what!
Even if... even if it means letting Nangong Xuanche go, he would not hesitate.
This is the irreconcilable conflict between Grand Secretary Xie and the emperor.
However... Xie sat in his study for a long time, his mind churning, and he considered all the possibilities several times.
In the end, he sighed deeply.
He can't gamble.
The Xie family were upright civil officials, not military generals with private armies, and they had no informants throughout the martial arts world.
The chances of the Xie family rescuing Wen Shu unharmed from those vicious and desperate criminals on their own are extremely slim.
If she acts carelessly and alerts the enemy, Wen Shu's life will be in immediate danger.
Furthermore, although His Majesty is young, his cunning and methods are unfathomable, and he has never dared to underestimate him in the slightest.
If I were to try to manipulate things under His Majesty's nose and do things that are outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, and if His Majesty were to discover this... not only would I not be able to save Wen Shu, but the entire Xie family would probably be destroyed as a result.
He couldn't risk the lives of his entire clan for a single mishap.
Having understood the pros and cons, Grand Secretary Xie no longer hesitated.
He carefully put away the secret letter, straightened his clothes, regained his composure, and walked out of the study, instructing, "Steward, prepare a discreet and inconspicuous carriage."
Because Grand Secretary Xie was worried that Nangong Xuanche's men were still watching from the shadows, he couldn't let them find out that he was going to the palace to meet the emperor.
The butler didn't ask any further questions and respectfully replied, "Yes!"
……
The Hall of Nourishing Heart.
Nangong Xuanyu was reviewing a mountain of memorials.
Li Changde bowed and whispered, "Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Xie is requesting an audience outside the palace, saying he has important matters to report."
Nangong Xuanyu frowned slightly.
If it weren't for something urgent, Grand Secretary Xie would never enter the palace at this hour.
The emperor immediately thought of Princess Wenshu, whose whereabouts were still unknown, and said in a deep voice, "Summon her."
"Yes!"
A moment later, Grand Secretary Xie, his steps hurried, entered the hall, lifted his official robe, and performed a grand salute with utmost care: "This old minister greets Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty!"
"No need for such formalities, Grand Secretary Xie."
Nangong Xuanyu's gaze fell on Xie Ge Lao's solemn face: "Has the Grand Secretary entered the palace at this time because he has news of Wen Shu?"
"Your Majesty clearly shows you!"
Grand Secretary Xie maintained his bowed posture, his hands trembling slightly as he took out the secret letter from his bosom and held it high: "This is a personal letter that Princess Wenshu sent to my residence today."
"After studying it repeatedly, I have gleaned a matter of great importance, which I dare not fail to report."
Nangong Xuanyu took the letter and looked at it, but didn't find any deeper clues. He asked directly, "Tell me, what did you glean from this letter, Elder?"
Grand Secretary Xie said, "Your Majesty, this old minister dares not speak presumptuously."
"On the surface, this letter is Wen Shu reporting that she is safe and sound, and under pressure from the henchmen of the commoner Nangong Xuanche, she is asking for a clear identity for the other party."
"In reality..."
Grand Secretary Xie explained his deductions in detail.
Finally, he bowed and said, "...Your Majesty, this old minister knows that this matter is horrifying, but it is of great importance, and this old minister dares not fail to report it!"
Nangong Xuanyu's deep eyes were filled with astonishment: "Elder Xie, are you saying... that Nangong Xuanche is very likely still alive and hiding in Beiye Alley?!"
Feeling the invisible pressure emanating from the emperor, Grand Secretary Xie lowered his head and said, "This old minister does indeed have this concern."
Nangong Xuanyu narrowed his eyes slightly, finding it somewhat absurd.
Nangong Xuanche faked his death and escaped, and now he is hiding right under his nose. Not only did he kidnap Wen Shu, but he also dared to ask the Second Grand Secretary of the Cabinet for his innocence, intending to make a comeback.
Grand Secretary Xie also knew that it was somewhat unbelievable that he had said someone who was already dead might still be alive.
He knelt down and touched his forehead to the ground: "Your Majesty, if this old minister has not misinterpreted the clues Wen Shu left in the letter... Nangong Xuanche is cunning and ruthless, keeping him alive will surely become a great threat!"
"If Wen Shu falls into his hands, she will likely suffer day and night, her life hanging by a thread..."
Whether the news is true or false, for an emperor, it is better to kill the innocent than to let the guilty go free!
"Li Changde!"
Li Changde was also taken aback, and immediately stepped forward: "This servant is here."
The emperor coldly said, "Issue my decree, ordering Zhan Weiran to personally lead a team to immediately and secretly seal off Beiye Lane and all surrounding entrances and exits. If Nangong Xuanche is truly still alive, he and his accomplices must be wiped out in one fell swoop!"
At this point, Nangong Xuanyu glanced at Grand Secretary Xie and continued, "We must also ensure Princess Wenshu's safe return."
Li Changde's heart skipped a beat: "This servant understands!"
"Your Excellency, please rise."
Nangong Xuanyu's tone softened slightly, but still carried the majesty of an emperor: "I have remembered your merit tonight."
"Lord Xie, please return to your residence and await further news. No one else should know about today's events."
Grand Secretary Xie knew that His Majesty had adopted his intelligence and immediately laid a trap.
He both hoped to rescue Wen Shu and felt uneasy about the impending bloodshed.