Records of Mysterious Things in the Southern Dynasties

Chapter 332 Imperial Envoy
While the emperor was still waiting for further instructions, Chen Qingzhi hurried to the back bedroom and reported the preliminary results of the investigation to Xiao Yan.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Xiao Yan's first reaction was that he could not accept that his beloved son could do such an outrageous thing.

But when he thought of Xiao Yuyao and Xiao Hong, Xiao Zhengde and Xiao Zhengze, his arrogance faded. Today, he had to admit that there was something wrong with the family tradition of the old Xiao family. Each of them was a talent and could do anything...

Thinking back to the unclear rumors about Xiao Zong's life experience and his cold-blooded act of killing his son to save himself, he was increasingly unable to refute Chen Qianzhi.

"Are you sure it's him?" Xiao Yan sat dejectedly on the bed, looking devastated.

"It can only be said that there is a strong suspicion." Chen Qingzhi said strictly, "But no direct evidence has been found, especially the whereabouts of the jade seal."

"Yes!" Xiao Yan said with a choked expression: "The most urgent task is to find the jade seal back."

Then he worriedly said, "But the second brother just left Beijing last month. Would it be too hurtful to call him back now?"

After a pause, he sighed and said, "If he really did it, would it alert the enemy?"

"Yes." Chen Qingzhi nodded affirmatively and said, "Put yourself in his shoes. If the jade seal was really stolen by Prince Yuzhang, he would never carry it with him even if he was willing to be summoned back to the capital."

"Yes, it is a disaster to carry with you, but it is a life-saving magic weapon to keep it in a safe place." Xiao Yan agreed and said, "If I were him, I would not bring it back either."

After saying that, he glanced at Chen Qingzhi and said, "Then we can only send someone to Guangling to secretly investigate and find the jade seal back?"

The emperor added: "I mean, if it was really done by the second son."

Chen Qingzhi smiled bitterly. He didn't expect that at this time, the emperor would still have illusions about Xiao Zong. He said in a deep voice: "We must go to Guangling, but I'm afraid it won't work to investigate secretly. The Second Prince is a prince and a governor of a state. If we don't suppress him openly, not only will we not find out anything, but we will also sacrifice the officials who are handling the case in vain."

"..." Xiao Yan knew that Chen Qingzhi was telling the truth, but he still said reluctantly: "If so, wouldn't everyone in the world know that it was my son who stole the jade seal?"

"Your Majesty, at this point, the most important thing is to get the imperial seal back as soon as possible," Chen Qianzhi insisted.

"No." Xiao Yan shook his head slowly and said, "It is most important not to let anyone know that the jade seal is lost."

"How can the royal power of Jinling be in a mere seal?" He looked up at the high caisson on the ceiling of the palace and said in a vague tone: "After the Jin Dynasty moved east, it did not have the jade seal at first, but it was still fine. After getting the jade seal, didn't it still fall?"

"..." Chen Qingzhi admired the emperor for this, he was especially good at comforting himself. But could not having it in the first place and losing it in his own hands be the same thing?
"As long as we keep the secret," Xiao Yan muttered, "if we let a skilled craftsman make an identical replica, there won't be any impact, right? Who can verify the authenticity?"

"Your Majesty, what you said makes sense," Chen Qingzhi smiled bitterly and reminded him, "But to break the 'Ancestor Dragon Curse', don't we still need the Imperial Seal?"

"It's just a legend. I have studied it for many years but still can't figure it out." Xiao Yan sighed and said, "Besides, even if it's a legend, the Emperor's Sword and the Imperial Seal must be assembled. Emperor Taizu of Qi couldn't even forge the Emperor's Sword. How can I be so virtuous and capable as to do what he couldn't do?"

"..." Chen Qingzhi suddenly understood the emperor's mentality. The emperor had lost face so badly on New Year's Day that he didn't want to lose face again and even preferred to deceive himself.

But he still insisted, "Your Majesty, what is true cannot be false, and what is false cannot be true. If we don't do our best to recover the imperial seal, once it is lost in the Northern Dynasty, the other party will definitely make a big fuss about it. By then, maybe they can use this to relieve their anger and regain their footing."

"And the emperor will be trapped in self-evidence and rumors, like a recurring abscess, which will make the emperor restless." Chen Qingzhi looked up at Xiao Yan, leaned forward and pleaded: "It is better to suffer a short pain than a long pain, Your Majesty!" "..." Xiao Yan looked at Chen Qingzhi steadily, and after a long time, he slowly asked: "Do you think there is still hope to find the things back after they have been lost for so long?"

This is the fundamental reason why he is in such a bad state.

"I think there is absolutely hope!" Chen Qingzhi looked up at Xiao Yan. There were some things he couldn't say, but he believed that the emperor could understand.

Xiao Yan also looked at Chen Qingzhi, how could he not understand what he meant?
Xiao Zong's actions have clearly shown that this boy has recognized Xiao Baojuan as his father and regards himself as the enemy who killed his father.

Since Xiao Zong regarded himself as the posthumous son of Xiao Baojuan, he would not give the jade seal to anyone unless it was absolutely necessary.

Even if we want to sell it to the Northern Dynasty, we have to wait until the other party arrives in Luoyang before we can get a good price for it. If the jade seal is sent there first, let alone what price to sell it for, it will be a problem whether the other party can arrive in Luoyang.

Therefore, it is very likely that the jade seal is still with Xiao Zong.

Xiao Yan finally sighed and said, "Well, fine, I'll listen to you. Send an imperial envoy to search openly and aboveboard."

"Your Majesty is wise." Chen Qingzhi praised hurriedly, and also took a step back and said: "There is no need to make a big fuss, just tell the Second Prince the purpose of your visit."

"That's great." Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Let's do as you say. Send capable people to Guangling as soon as possible with the imperial gold medal!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Chen Qingzhi responded in a deep voice.

"As for you, the plan remains unchanged. You should still lead the army to Pengcheng to support Monk Yuan Fa." The emperor ordered again, "But you can move a little slower. I will give you another secret order. If there is any change in Guangling, you should immediately lead the army to quell the rebellion!"

The emperor's eyes flashed with murderous intent as he gritted his teeth and said, "Bring that little bastard back to me!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Chen Qingzhi responded again.

~~
After all, Xiao Yan had experienced many ups and downs, so he quickly adjusted his mood and started a series of actions.

First of all, the theft of the imperial seal must be kept absolutely confidential, and all those who know about it must be silenced as much as possible. If it is really impossible to silence them, they must also be severely warned. Whoever leaks the news will be executed along with his entire family, and there will be no leniency!
There is good news and bad news for Ren Yuan.

The good news is that he was not on the list of people to be silenced. The bad news was that the reason he was not silenced was because the emperor wanted to send him to Guangling to find the jade seal... That was Xiao Zong's territory, and it would only take a few minutes to kill him.

Now Ren Yuan truly experienced what it meant to serve the emperor like serving a tiger.

"Xiao Zong is cruel and will not even spare his own son. Your trip will definitely be dangerous. If you don't want to go, you can tell me now. I won't be prejudiced against you." Chen Qianzhi had to be polite as usual.

Then he listened to Yuan's smile and said, "I have had enough of the peaceful life, and I am ready to go to the tiger mountain even though I know there is a tiger there!"

"Good, you must not lose your spirit." Chen Qingzhi smiled approvingly, "Once you lose your spirit, you will not be able to make any further progress."

(End of this chapter)