Eunuch Dong said, "Actually, she cares for you most. An ordinary man is innocent, but possessing a precious jade makes him guilty. You need no explanation from this lowly servant to understand that, Your Highness."
Xue Shengjing said, "Indeed!"
Just then, another eunuch appeared outside the Treasure-Gathering Studio. It was Rong Changhai, chief steward of the imperial palace. Eunuch Dong clearly wanted nothing to do with him; he actually turned and left. Rong Changhai came over to pay his respects to Xue Shengjing as well. Seeing Eunuch Dong's retreating back, he could not help smiling. "What's the matter with Eunuch Dong? He leaves just as I arrive. Could he be trying to avoid me?"
Xue Shengjing smiled. "Seeing you become chief steward of the palace must have left a sour taste in his mouth."
Rong Changhai covered his mouth as he laughed, with something of a young married woman's coquettish charm. Seeing no one else nearby, he suddenly lowered his voice and said to Xue Shengjing, "The late emperor left a final edict. His Majesty's move against you this time was probably prompted by it."
Xue Shengjing's heart sank. If what Rong Changhai said was true, his situation was deeply troubling. The danger he faced had not entirely vanished with the resolution of the Bohai Kingdom affair. A final edict from the late emperor! He had never heard of it. He had thought he had deceived his imperial elder brother, never imagining that even on his deathbed, his brother had remained intent on eliminating him. In the end, his brother had never trusted him.
Xue Shengjing said, "Does the elder know?"
Rong Changhai shook his head. "I'm not sure. We still haven't found out who passed this decree to His Majesty."
The muscles at the corner of Xue Shengjing's mouth