Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Chapter 875: A person who possesses both of these qualities (2 rewards plus additional content)

His black hair was tied up on top of his head, hidden under his official hat. A few strands of hair fell on his cheeks, making his eyes look even colder, with an air of keeping people at a distance.

When Gu Jinxiao occasionally raised his eyes, his eyes were filled with indifference: "I am not speaking for the Imperial Concubine, I am just discussing the matter at hand."

"Let's not talk about whether the seal's cracking was an accident or human error."

"Even if it was an accident, so what?"

"Whether the Great Zhou's national fortune will prosper depends on your majesty's wise governance and the unity of all officials, not on a woman."

Shen Zhinian agreed with this.

If the seal is broken, the future of a country can be destroyed. So when a country wants to attack another country, it doesn't need to rack its brains and cause countless casualties. Isn't it better to tamper with the enemy's seal?

Shen Zhinian said: "It's a pity that not everyone in the world is as sensible as Lord Gu."

Gu Jinxiao said in a cold voice: "I believe that Concubine Chen will definitely turn things around. I also look forward to the day when we can complete the unfinished ceremony today."

Looking at Gu Jinxiao's jade-like face, Shen Zhinian felt a little complicated.

In her previous life, she stood behind Lu Jianglin and fought with Gu Jinxiao to the death, dreaming of how to take the other's life.

She would never have thought at that time that one day she and Gu Jinxiao would be able to talk so calmly as they do now.

Shen Zhinian lowered his eyes, restrained the emotions in his eyes, and said calmly: "Then I will borrow Minister Gu's good words."

Gu Jinxiao raised his hand and bowed: "I'll take my leave!"

Handan and Fuqiu supported Shen Zhinian on both sides and walked towards the main hall. They could both see that she was in a very bad mood, and there was worry in her eyes that was difficult to conceal.

Concubine Xuan also followed closely behind Shen Zhinian.

After entering the inner room, Zhu'er did not take off Xuanbin's cloak, but wrapped it tighter.

Shen Zhinian sat in the main seat, looking down at the table, his chest rising and falling slightly, and he was silent for a long, long time...

Everyone understands that when faced with such a big event, even a god would need time to digest it.

They did not disturb Shen Zhinian, but just looked at her with concern.

Finally, Shen Zhinian adjusted his emotions, took a deep breath and ordered: "Fuqiu, send a secret letter to father immediately and ask him to pay close attention to the progress of this matter!"

Although Shen Maoxue is the Minister of Personnel, he is a first-rank official and is much more informed about news outside the palace than Shen Zhinian.

Fuqiu immediately said, "I obey your command!"

Xuanpin frowned tightly, with a look of worry on her face: "Sister Noble Concubine Chen, do you still think that this was done deliberately?"

Shen Zhinian narrowed his eyes dangerously: "Do you believe that there are such coincidences in the world?"

Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads.

Especially Nanny Xiao, she has stayed in the palace the longest and has seen countless dirty things. Naturally, she would not believe that there is such a coincidence in the world.

Shen Zhinian tried her best to keep her mind calm and analyzed rationally: "Whether it's the cracked seal or the news of the defeat in the war that suddenly came back today, I don't believe these two things are coincidences. There must be someone behind the scenes who deliberately linked them together!"

If there had not been a sudden defeat in the war with the Huns, even if the seal was torn, with Gu Jinxiao's quotations from classics and the emperor's favoritism, this matter would not have caused much stir.

The phrase "the sudden cracking of an object is a sign of good fortune" can silence the gossips of the people.

But these two events happened on the same day, so this statement cannot hold true.

Even Shen Zhinian couldn't help but sigh that the person who framed her this time really had good means!

Xuanpin asked angrily: "Sister Concubine Chen, who do you think is responsible for this?!"

Shen Zhinian thought for a long time and said slowly: "Whether it is tampering with the seal or making plans, it will take time this time."

"It will take time for what happened in the army to reach the capital."

"This means that the people behind the scenes already knew that the battle on the border was lost."

After hearing this, even someone as slow-witted as Handan understood something: "My queen, you mean to say that the murderer who framed you this time has someone in the army, and his official position is not low. So he knew about the defeat in the war earlier than us, and deliberately set up this trap to ruin your enthronement ceremony?!"

Shen Zhinian said coldly: "Not bad!"

Xuanpin suddenly raised her head: "Is it Concubine Zhuang?!"

"There are only a few high-ranking concubines in the palace, but only someone from Concubine Zhuang's mother's family is the military advisor for this expedition to the Xiongnu."

"So it's not surprising that she was able to learn about the military situation in advance. And with Concubine Zhuang's cunningness, she must have come up with this idea!"

"Also, she once assisted the Six Palaces for quite a while. Who knows where her people are hiding?"

After hearing what Xuanpin said, Handan also felt that Concubine Zhuang was highly suspicious: "Your Majesty, there are so many deep hatreds between you and Concubine Zhuang. And I don't believe that she has no thoughts about the position of the Empress, so how could she watch you sit firmly on the position of Concubine Chen?"

"I am increasingly convinced that she is the murderer!"

Shen Zhinian said: "The first person I suspected was also Concubine Zhuang."

"But if you think about it carefully, even if she has the intention, she may not have the means to do so."

"Before the enthronement ceremony, even I couldn't touch the imperial seal, let alone Concubine Zhuang?"

Ordinary people don’t know this, but Madam Xiao understands the process of making the imperial concubine’s seal.

First, the Ministry of Rites must report to the emperor based on past examples and explain the relevant matters regarding the production of the imperial concubine's seal.

Then, the Imperial Household Department would make a seal sample and write the inscription by hand according to the requirements of the Ministry of Rites, and present it to the emperor for his review, waiting for his approval.

After the emperor approved the seal sample, the Ministry of Rites sent it to the Seal Casting Bureau.

Officials from the Seal Casting Bureau worked together with officials from the Imperial Household Department to supervise the manufacture of the sacrificial furnace, which was cast according to the specified materials and shapes.

After the casting is completed, the seal will be handed over to the Guangchusi Silver Treasury to wait for engraving.

When engraving the characters, the Imperial Astronomical Observatory would choose an auspicious date, and the Ministry of Rites would report to the emperor for approval.

At that time, the seal will be sent to the cabinet, and after the ceremony in the cabinet lobby, it will be engraved according to the seal text written in advance by the Cabinet Hanlin Academy.

After the engraving was completed, the seal was stored in the cabinet treasury, waiting to be used during the enthronement ceremony.

The various processes are extremely complicated.

But no matter which process it is, the concubines have no access to it and cannot tamper with it.

The more Xuanpin listened, the more confused she became: "Since Empress Zhuang doesn't have such a capability, then who could be the murderer?"

"It's impossible that someone bribed the Ministry of Rites or other officials in charge of this matter?"

"This is a capital crime that costs you your life. Who dares to participate?"

There were many people who had the opportunity to tamper with the seal, and there were also many people who knew the news in the army.

But there are only a handful of people who possess both of these qualities!

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Note: 1 The production process of the imperial seal is quoted from the description of the production process of the "Jade Seal in the Palace Museum".