My father, Gao Huan, is an invincible prince!

Chapter 50: It's just a fake imperial seal; does Your Majesty really think I'm about to co

Upon hearing Gao Cheng finally relent, Yuan Shanjian felt as if he had been granted a pardon.

I felt my back was soaked with cold sweat, as if I had been given a second chance at life.

After a long pause, Fang Chang let out a sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Your Highness is wise! Your Highness is wise!"

Seeing his expression, Gao Cheng smiled and added, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. I will investigate this matter thoroughly. If the Grand Commandant has truly been framed, I will certainly give him justice."

Upon hearing these words, Yuan Shan's still undecided mind was finally put at ease.

He replied, "Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!"

Gao Cheng nodded and said nothing more, then went straight to the lower left of Yuan Shanjian and sat down.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Shan also recovered and hurriedly ordered the palace servants to prepare a meal, intending to entertain Gao Cheng.

Before the palace servants could make a move, Gao Cheng raised his hand to stop them: "Your Majesty, please skip the meal. I have come to the palace today to ask you for a favor."

Yuan Shan's expression stiffened upon seeing this, but he dared not be negligent and hurriedly said cautiously, "Your Highness, please speak freely, I will not refuse."

Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng didn't mince words and smiled, saying, "To be honest, Your Majesty, I have come here to borrow Your Majesty's Six Imperial Seals and the Imperial Seal of the State. I wonder if Your Majesty would grant my request?"

"The Imperial Seal?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shanjian's expression changed drastically again, as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water. An overwhelming sense of humiliation and resentment welled up in his chest, and he almost blurted out the word "no".

This is because the six imperial seals are the proof of the emperor's power and a symbol of the mandate of heaven. Once they are lent out, the Yuan family will have nothing left to hide.

But as the words reached his lips, he turned to meet Gao Cheng's calm, still eyes, and all the courage in his heart vanished instantly.

After all, it has only been three years since the deposed Emperor Yuan Lang was ordered to commit suicide by the Gao family in the Secretariat, and Emperor Xiaowu Yuan Xiu was poisoned by Yuwen Tai just a few years ago.

Moreover, Gao Cheng was assassinated last night, and he is currently at the height of his anger. If we anger him, the consequences could be unpredictable.

In a flash, he had no choice but to suppress all his emotions.

He immediately forced a smile and said tactfully, "All affairs of state are handled by the central government. Now that the Crown Prince has entered the court, he can use the Imperial Seal at will."

"However, the Imperial Seal is ultimately a national treasure, and it is not entirely appropriate to take it out of the palace. If the Crown Prince needs it, he may dispose of it within the Forbidden City. I will send eunuchs to attend to him and be at his beck and call. What do you think?"

He thought his words were perfectly worded, both giving Gao Cheng face and subtly highlighting the importance of the imperial seal.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Gao Cheng's face suddenly darkened.

He stared at Yuan Shanjian expressionlessly and said, word by word, "Does Your Majesty mean that I covet power and position and wish to steal the imperial seal?"

"I wouldn't dare, I had absolutely no such intention!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shanjian trembled violently and hurriedly waved his hands, saying, "I only... I only fear that if the Imperial Seal leaves the palace, something might go wrong, which would be detrimental to the country. Your Highness, please understand!"

"Is it detrimental to the country?"

Gao Cheng sneered: "When I was in Jinyang, I reviewed memorials on behalf of Your Majesty and issued orders to all directions. All I used was the seal of the Hegemon's Office, yet none in the world dared to disobey me."

"Now that I have arrived in Ye City, I only wish to borrow the Emperor's Imperial Seal for my own use. Is there any danger in this? Does Your Majesty doubt that I am incapable of guarding the seal, or that I am unworthy to use it?"

"No...no..."

Yuan Shanjian was forced to retreat repeatedly, cold sweat pouring down his forehead, his voice trembling: "I...I just felt..."

"What do you think?"

Gao Cheng interrupted him, coldly saying, "Do you think I am too young and inexperienced to shoulder such a great responsibility? Or do you think I will commit treason and seize the throne from the Yuan dynasty?"

"I had absolutely no such intention!"

Yuan Shanjian practically screamed, his voice filled with terror: "Your Highness, please understand! I had no such intention! If Your Highness wants it, take it! I... I will order it to be presented to you immediately!"

Having said that, he dared not refuse any longer and hurriedly turned to the eunuch beside him, who was already pale with fright, and shouted, "You idiot, what are you still standing there for? Quickly bring the imperial seal!"

The eunuch seemed to wake from a dream, and scrambled to the back of the imperial desk. He took out a sandalwood box from a hidden compartment, presented it to Gao Cheng with both hands, and trembled like a leaf.

Seeing Yuan Shanjian back down, Gao Cheng's expression softened slightly, and he said calmly, "Wouldn't it have been easier if Your Majesty had done this earlier?"

Having said that, he took the wooden box and opened it.

Looking down, one can see that the box is divided into two compartments.

One of the compartments neatly displays six bluish-white jade seals, with clear inscriptions and a warm luster; these are the Emperor's Six Seals.

The so-called Six Seals are: the Emperor's Traveling Seal used to confer titles upon princes and officials; the Emperor's Seal used to bestow letters upon princes; the Emperor's Credential Seal used to dispatch troops; the Emperor's Traveling Seal used to summon ministers; the Emperor's Seal used to appoint officials to foreign affairs; and the Emperor's Credential Seal used to deal with matters concerning heaven, earth, and spirits. Together they are called the Six Seals.

The other compartment contained a seal measuring four inches in diameter, engraved with five intertwined dragons, and a replica of a Qin dynasty seal.

One of the five dragons intertwined is inscribed with the eight characters "Received the Mandate of Heaven, May Your Life Be Long and Prosperous," while the other has no design but is inscribed with the seven characters "The Imperial Seal Received by the Wei Dynasty from the Han Dynasty."

These two seals are the Imperial Seals of the State, which Emperor Taiwu commissioned skilled craftsmen to replicate after he pacified the northern deserts and unified the north, under the guise of Cao Wei.

Gao Cheng carefully checked the contents and, after confirming that everything was in order, closed the lid. He then bowed to Yuan Shanjian and said, "Your Majesty is very understanding and righteous. On behalf of the King, I thank you. Once this matter is settled, I will return the lid. I will not lend it for long."

"Your Highness is too kind."

Yuan Shanjian forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, and said in a dry voice, "The Crown Prince and I are brothers-in-law, so why should we distinguish between each other? Since the Crown Prince has worked so hard for the Yuan family's empire, I, as the Emperor, should naturally do my utmost to help him."

He spoke the words "Yuan Shi Tian Xia" with great difficulty, as if he had used up all his strength, because this was his last act of defiance.

Gao Cheng nodded, not wanting to engage in any pointless arguments with him, and turned to leave with the wooden box in his pocket.

As Yuan Shanjian watched his retreating figure, the smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by endless humiliation and resentment.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, causing excruciating pain, but he was completely unaware of it.

But at that moment, Gao Cheng suddenly stopped and turned around, asking, "Oh, right, I forgot to ask, how is Second Sister doing these days?"

Yuan Shanjian was startled by his sudden turn around, and hurriedly loosened his fist, regaining his composure as he said, "The Empress is in normal health. She was overjoyed to hear that the Crown Prince was coming and has been looking forward to seeing her brother day and night. Crown Prince... do you wish to go and see him?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng pondered for a moment.

After a short while, he shook his head and refused, saying, "Forget it. There are many complicated matters in the court today, and it is inconvenient. Since Second Sister is doing well, then it is fine. I will go to the palace to visit her again after things have settled down."

Having said that, he didn't linger any longer, but went straight out of the main hall with the seal in his hand, and led Liu Taozhi back the way they had come.

Before long, the footsteps faded into the distance until they disappeared.

Yuan Shanjian stood before the throne, watching Gao Cheng's figure disappear outside the hall. His tense body finally collapsed, and he slumped back onto the throne.

He then stared blankly at the empty hall and the bare imperial desk, letting out a barely audible sigh.

The Emperor?

They are nothing more than puppets to be manipulated by others.

It's tragic, lamentable, and yet there's nothing we can do about it.