CHAPTER 432: CHAPTER 432: PROCLAIMING THE IMPERIAL EDICT

The painting depicts a woman.

It was created by Zhao Xu.

Old Master Xie thought he was mistaken and quickly stepped forward a few paces.

"Who hung this painting here?!" Old Master Xie’s voice was trembling.

His voice startled the steward of Baosheng House.

Old Master Xie...

No!

He should now be referred to as Prince Zhenbei.

Why is Prince Zhenbei’s reaction so intense?

No one answered him, and Old Master Xie turned to look at the steward.

The steward was bewildered.

He turned back and asked the servant, "Whose painting is this?"

The servant quickly replied, "Let me check."

There were many people who came to Baosheng House for painting mounting, and the servant couldn’t remember who brought it in.

He hurriedly flipped through the account book and found out who brought in the painting for mounting.

"It was sent by Yongcheng Bo Mansion," the servant replied.

Old Master Xie’s brow furrowed deeply.

How could it be from Yongcheng Bo Mansion?!

Baosheng House does not hang every painting brought in for mounting on the wall for appreciation.

Any painting displayed for viewing has been agreed upon by its owner.

Baosheng House is also fair, by consenting to display a painting for public appreciation, a 20% discount is given on the mounting fee.

The servant was puzzled as he flipped through the account book, "This painting was sent for mounting a month ago and has not been collected since, nor does the account book state it could be put out for viewing."

The last sentence was said in a low voice by the servant.

Paintings from large households are generally not for public viewing.

They hardly care about the trivial amount of the mounting fee.

With such a mistake of putting the painting on display, if Yongcheng Bo Mansion holds them accountable later, it could harm Baosheng House’s reputation.

The steward promptly called for someone to take down the painting.

The servant came with a hook, and Old Master Xie reached out to take it and bring the painting down.

He rolled up the painting and said, "I’ll take this painting. If Yongcheng Bo Mansion inquires, tell them to find me."

Leaving behind these words, Old Master Xie left with the painting.

The steward and the servant at Baosheng House looked at each other.

The painting was indeed well-done, but why did Prince Zhenbei react so intensely?

This painting belongs to Yongcheng Bo Mansion; how can it be taken so casually?

But if they wanted to stop him, they genuinely didn’t dare.

Even if Elder Yong Cheng were present, if Prince Zhenbei wanted it, he wouldn’t dare refuse, especially given the seemingly good relations between Yongcheng Bo Mansion and Prince Zhenbei Mansion...

"Should we send someone to inform Yongcheng Bo Mansion?" asked the servant.

"No need to go. The painting was taken by Prince Zhenbei. Just carefully record it in the account book. If someone from Yongcheng Bo Mansion comes for the painting, tell them the truth," the steward said.

Old Master Xie returned to Duke Zhen Country Mansion with the painting.

Throughout the night, he didn’t know how many times he drifted off staring at the painting.

The painting wasn’t the one he personally painted in the past, yet it was identical to that one.

Without having seen that painting, it couldn’t have been created.

But that painting should be in Nanliang, how could it appear in the Capital?

If it was aimed at him and Jingchen, Yongcheng Bo Mansion wouldn’t have sent it to Baosheng House for mounting and then left it unclaimed for a month.

Old Master Xie couldn’t figure it out and spent the night lost in thought over the painting.

He fell asleep in a daze and even dreamed of the person in the painting.

Upon waking.

Old Master Xie decided to inquire of Elder Yong Cheng about the painting’s origin after the morning court session.

If this matter is not clarified, he cannot rest easy.

Yet the next morning at the court session, Elder Yong Cheng did not attend; he had taken a leave.

Old Master Xie’s brow twisted into a knot.

After the court session, instead of finding Elder Yong Cheng, he was approached by Eunuch Fu.

Eunuch Fu politely asked when Old Master Xie might be free, as the imperial edict was ready, and he planned to head to Duke Zhen Country Mansion to proclaim the decree today.

Of course, usually, announcing a decree doesn’t require arranging a time.

Eunuch Fu was merely taking the opportunity to court favor with Old Master Xie.

But this attempt ended up costing Princess Nanzhang her position as Princess Consort.

Eunuch Fu, "...."

Eunuch Fu was close to wanting to bang his head against the wall.

The Emperor had already publicly bestowed the title of Prince Zhenbei on Duke Zhen in front of all officials; there was an imperial edict for it, even handwritten by the Emperor.

Duke Zhen also accepted the edict, and the edict was presently enshrined in Duke Zhen Country Mansion’s ancestral hall.

The edict to grant Old Master Xie the title and appoint Xie Jingchen as the princely heir wasn’t as urgent.

Yesterday was a busy day, and Old Master Xie was available this morning.

Eunuch Fu decided to proclaim the decree shortly.

Old Master Xie turned and left.

After a few steps, he turned back and asked, "Who does the imperial edict appoint as Princess Consort?"

Eunuch Fu was taken aback.

Is there even a question about this?

It must be Princess Nanzhang.

Old Master Xie then said, "Change to concubine."

Eunuch Fu, "...."

After saying this, Old Master Xie left.

Leaving Eunuch Fu desperately wanting to scratch the walls.

His earlier attempt to curry favor might not have pleased Prince Zhenbei, but it certainly managed to offend both the Empress Dowager and Princess Nanzhang!

If the Empress Dowager and Princess Nanzhang found out, wouldn’t they want to tear him limb from limb?

He was indeed feeling particularly unlucky.

Eunuch Fu returned to the Imperial Study with a mournful expression.

The Emperor asked, "What happened?"

Eunuch Fu looked at the Emperor and said, "Prince Zhenbei wants to appoint Princess Nanzhang as a concubine."

The Emperor, "...."

"Your Majesty, what do you think?" Eunuch Fu hoped the Emperor would extend a helping hand.

The Emperor smiled and said, "This is the internal matter of Prince Zhenbei Mansion. Since it is Prince Zhenbei’s intention, let it be."

Eunuch Fu’s heart wept blood.

He didn’t want to announce the decree anymore.

Even if this trip would earn him at least a hundred taels as a reward.

But as the Emperor’s most favored eunuch, such an important decree should not be announced by anyone else for fear of disrespecting Prince Zhenbei Mansion.

Eunuch Fu steeled himself and went to Prince Zhenbei Mansion to announce the decree.

Eunuch Fu was experiencing, for the first time, announcing a decree while watching others’ faces.

Watching Princess Nanzhang’s forced smile crack inch by inch, eventually turning an iron shade.

Duke Zhen and the Old Madam, even everyone present, were shocked.

"How can it be a concubine?!" Xie Jingchuan was the first to call out.

It was Eunuch Fu’s first time being yelled at while announcing a decree.

He wasn’t angry but passed the blame to Prince Zhenbei with a trembling heart.

"It was the Prince’s request," Eunuch Fu said.

Xie Jingchuan clenched his fists.

Princess Nanzhang’s tears flowed like rain.

The Prince said nothing, accepting the decree with both hands.

Eunuch Fu hastily took his leave.

Looking at the Prince leaving, Su Jin followed behind.

Princess Nanzhang’s backers were the Empress Dowager and Duke Chong.

Who Xie Jingchen’s birth mother was, remained unknown to her.

Yet declaring Princess Nanzhang as a concubine was considerably shocking.

It also served as a message to those who harbored thoughts about Xie Jingchen that they should weigh their actions carefully.