The edict was unrolled.

What first met the eye was the seal stamped in the lower left corner.

Clearly printed were eight large characters: “Receiving mandate from Heaven, longevity and eternal prosperity.”

Without doubt, it was an edict left by the late Emperor!

The edict read: On the first day of the ninth month in the thirty-seventh year of Qianzhi, the barbarians have submitted to our borders for over a hundred years, presenting tribute for nearly ten years. Therefore, the Office of Foreign Relations, if in future years, the barbarians create chaos and arrogance, disturbing and killing, initiating conflict, it is hereby decreed to dispatch troops, showing no leniency. One hundred thousand troops shall be raised at the border to subjugate and pacify the barbarians. By imperial decree.

After reading it.

The meaning was that if in the future the barbarians caused disturbances, one could take this edict to the border and deploy one hundred thousand troops to annihilate the barbarians.

Jingrong’s hands trembled, shock inevitable!

He said doubtfully, “From what I know, the late Emperor never issued such an edict.”

“You indeed don’t know. To be precise, even the current Emperor doesn’t know. This edict was secretly given to me by the late Emperor.”

Hm?

Jingrong didn’t quite understand and waited quietly for more.

Marquis Kang’s brow furrowed deeply, his expression grave. This matter had weighed on his heart for decades without being spoken of. That testament was like the late Emperor’s lingering spirit, haunting his heart day and night. Now bringing it out, it was like unloading a massive stone from his body—he breathed a sigh of relief.

He slowly recounted, “For a hundred years, the barbarians have honored our Great Lin as superior, presenting tribute continuously. But over twenty years ago, internal strife occurred among the barbarians, they overthrew their ruler and established a new one, and the barbarians began stirring restlessly along the border. That’s why the late Emperor left this edict—if in the future the barbarians caused trouble, this edict could be sent to the border to deploy one hundred thousand troops to annihilate the barbarians. But twenty years ago, the late Emperor passed away and the new Emperor ascended the throne. When he first took the imperial throne, the political situation at court was turbulent, and various nations rose up in unrest. To consolidate his position, the new Emperor signed an agreement with the barbarians—for thirty years, neither side could wage war!

“Originally, for these past several decades, the barbarians at the border were relatively well-behaved. But half a year ago, internal chaos erupted among the barbarians, they established a new ruler, and thus began creating major disturbances along the border. Even though the Emperor wanted to send troops, the barbarians didn’t cross the defense line or launch military attacks—meaning they hadn’t violated the agreement. Therefore, Great Lin couldn’t deploy troops for annihilation, only station troops for suppression. Without doubt, the agreement signed twenty years ago became the barbarians’ protective talisman.

“But the late Emperor’s testament overrides all edicts. As long as the testament is produced, the ‘thirty-year truce’ agreement would become void, and then one hundred thousand troops could be deployed for annihilation. But somehow the barbarians learned that the late Emperor had left a testament, and that it was in my hands. So several months ago, nearly fifty barbarians infiltrated Great Lin and came to Jingzhou looking for this testament. They had originally been captured and imprisoned, but some time ago about a dozen of them escaped into that forest. This is why I sent residence soldiers to pursue and kill them.”

The meaning of it all—Jingrong finally understood!

He hadn’t expected that his imperial grandfather had kept this card up his sleeve.

Truly brilliant.

And at this moment, this heavy edict in his hands was not only the barbarians’ death warrant, but also his leverage for returning to the capital.

Marquis Kang continued, “The Prince is a clever person and should know how to use this edict, yes?”

Profoundly meaningful!

Jingrong already understood. Gripping the testament tightly, he cupped his hands, “If this time I can use this edict to return to the capital, should Marquis Kang face difficulties in the future, I will certainly render all assistance.”

“It is I who should thank the Prince and Master Ji. If not for you, the matters in my residence would never have been clarified, and I would have remained trapped in confusion.” His tone was grave as he sighed deeply. “On this return to the capital, I hope the Prince achieves his wishes. The realm of Great Lin belongs to the capable.”

The realm of Great Lin belongs to the capable!

Jingrong nodded slightly.

Marquis Kang turned and sat back in his original position, continuing to flip through the blood-stained diary in his hands that he hadn’t finished reading. The words on the pages, line by line, were very elegant.

He said no more.

Jingrong also tucked the testament into his sleeve. Not wanting to disturb him further, he silently left and returned to his room in quiet contemplation.

That day, the Marquis’s residence was extremely busy, packed with activity. Because the residence staff had conspired to create disturbances and were arrested and thrown in prison, many positions were vacant. The old steward had to worry about his Marquis’s emotional state while also being busy hiring new people into the residence. Additionally, a great fire had burned down quite a few connected buildings, so he had to find people to repair them. For a time, the Marquis’s residence was incredibly lively.

It wasn’t until evening that everything was handled and things became somewhat quieter.

As for the matter of the edict, Jingrong also told Ji Yunshu after the Marquis’s residence had regained its calm.

Upon hearing that the late Emperor had left behind an edict, Ji Yunshu’s heart stirred slightly. After carefully considering the advantages and disadvantages, she asked, “So what do you plan to do?”

“Adapt as circumstances require.”

“Do you have confidence?”

“The edict left by the late Emperor is genuine. When returning to the capital, no one will dare to stop me. I’m just worried there may be unexpected changes, so I can only adapt as circumstances require.” He pondered deeply for a moment, then gripped Ji Yunshu’s hand tightly and said, “The person Jing Yi wants to prevent from returning to the capital is me, not you. So when the time comes, you must go back to the capital first.”

“No…” Before she could finish the word.

Jingrong interrupted.

“You must obey. You must do as I say. Only when you’re safe can I feel at ease dealing with them.”

Extremely serious!

Ji Yunshu pressed her lips together for a long while, but ultimately nodded.

At this time, Lang Bo came forward, but stopped at the doorway. Seeing the two people inside holding hands tightly, he immediately realized a flood disaster was about to strike him.

He thought, how did he stumble upon this again?

Strangely, this time Jingrong didn’t throw him a cold glance, but instead said to Ji Yunshu, “We’ll depart early tomorrow morning. Go prepare.”

“Alright.”

She obediently agreed, stepped out the door. Lang Bo moved to the side, retreating to make room at the doorway.

In that moment, Ji Yunshu felt doubtful. She looked back at Jingrong once more, always feeling he had something to discuss that he wanted to avoid her hearing.

But—

In the end, she didn’t overthink it!

She left.

After she had gone, Lang Bo entered the room and reported, “Prince, we haven’t found Young Master Wei.”

Upon hearing this, Jingrong’s brow furrowed.

“What do you mean you haven’t found him?”

“Our people searched all around the capital, and checked some small places outside the capital as well—nothing. Lu Jiang even sent people to follow Prince Yi and his trusted confidant Dou Quan, but we still haven’t found Young Master Wei.” Lang Bo wondered, “Could it be that Young Master Wei wasn’t captured by Prince Yi?”

“Impossible.” Jingrong denied it.

“But we’ve turned the entire capital upside down—not even a fingertip.”

“What about Prince Yi’s residence?”

“We sent people to Prince Yi’s residence from the start, but Young Master Wei isn’t inside. At the time, Lu Jiang also suspected whether Prince Yi’s residence might have secret passages. But after having people watch for a long time, if Young Master Wei were really in a secret passage, at the very least someone should go in to deliver food and water. But the people in Prince Yi’s residence showed no sign of activity at all.”

Lang Bo was also getting anxious.

After all, he and Wei Yi also had a deep friendship—they had shared a bed together.

Jingrong pondered, analyzing aloud, “With Jing Yi’s personality, where would he hide Wei Yi?”

Not in the residence!

Not anywhere in the entire capital!

Not even in some places outside the capital!

In short—

People don’t disappear for no reason.

He said, “Continue searching. Even if you have to turn the entire capital upside down, find Wei Yi. Absolutely cannot let anything happen to him.”

“Yes.”

Lang Bo received the order and rushed to notify Lu Jiang.