Pregnant Before the Royal Marriage-Chapter 986 - Authenticity of the Last Testament _1

Chapter 986: Chapter 986: Authenticity of the Last Testament _1

Chapter 986 -986: Authenticity of the Last Testament _1

Does the Crown Prince also have the Emperor’s will?

With the three copies already in the Empress’s possession, four versions of the Emperor’s will had come forward one after the other.

This is absolutely absurd.

The royals, knights, scholars, and officials were all dumbfounded.

They had never seen the like!

In the midst of the continuous squabbling and arguing, there was unanimous agreement to call upon Eunuch Chen, the seal holder of the Bureau of Rites, to judge the authenticity of these copies of the Emperor’s will.

Eunuch Chen, having served the Emperor for forty years, held a high position of power. To say that he was even more trusted by the Emperor than Ministers of the Cabinet like Jiang Ruobai, would be no exaggeration.

He was familiar with every aspect of the Emperor’s penmanship and habits.

The most critical point was that Chen was loyal only to the Emperor, showing no favoritism towards either the Crown Prince or the Prince of Zhao.

After his examination, it was concluded that among the four versions of the Emperor’s will, only the one in the Crown Prince’s possession was genuine.

The Empress’s face changed immediately.

However, the Prince of Zhao still maintained his mild and friendly smile: “Eunuch Chen may have become muddled in his old age. The Emperor could not write before his death and dictated his will, with the Empress as his scribe. How could the handwriting be the same as the Emperor’s? But the copy in the Crown Prince’s hand indeed seems to imitate the Emperor’s.”

His words revived doubt among the crowd.

The Emperor had been severely weakened from the previous year and had been bedridden since the new year, so it seemed unlikely that he could have written his own will.

But Eunuch Chen insisted that it indeed was the Emperor’s handwriting.

Could it be that this old man was siding with the Crown Prince?

Doubts and dissatisfaction began to ferment in the hearts of the ministers.

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“The crime of forging the Emperor’s will is clear to everyone here,” the Empress said again, her voice stern and full of painful remorse for the Crown Prince, “The Emperor has just passed away, and the Crown Prince is impatiently forcing his succession, causing this palace unbearable heartache…”

Her voice began to choke up, and she wordlessly wiped away tears.

“Your Majesty, be strong,” Li You softly comforted her, “At the moment, the Emperor’s funeral is the most pressing issue. Other matters can wait.”

“I must disagree with the words of Prince Zhao,” said Jiang Ruobai leisurely, “A country cannot be a day without a ruler, this matter must be settled decisively.”

“Exactly!”

“We must not be deceived about the authenticity of the Emperor’s will.”

“We must clarify.”

The crowd began to murmur in agreement.

As it concerned the future Emperor of Great Sheng, how could the dukes and ministers not be anxious and worried?

Eunuch Chen spoke: “Gentlemen, the Emperor’s will in the hands of the Crown Prince is indeed authentic. However, the will was not written recently, but half a year ago, around July. At that time, not only me but the Eunuch Scribes of the Bureau of Rites were also present.”

The crowd uproared.

So, the Emperor had written the succession edict so early?

That wasn’t right.

The Crown Prince is the designated heir. Once the Emperor passed, the Crown Prince would naturally succeed. There was no need for any edict at all.

If the Emperor had written an edict naming the Crown Prince as his successor half a year ago, why would he lift Prince Zhao to the throne just before his death?

Did he deliberately want to throw the Imperial Court into chaos?

Why on earth would he do this?

No one could fathom the Emperor’s intentions.

Even Eunuch Chen, who served for several decades, and childhood friend-cum-Senior Grand Secretary Jiang Ruobai, couldn’t.

The Emperor had already passed away and he would never give an answer. It would always remain a question in everyone’s heart.

Meanwhile Jiang Ning, under the protection of Gufeng, seized the opportunity in the chaos to leave the palace.

However, as soon as they reached the gate of Great Sheng, they were stopped by a troop of Brocade Guards.

“Her Highness, the Princess Consort, please return.”

The guards held their swords with a cold, stern expression.