Mythical Three Kingdoms

”Why was there suddenly an Imperial Edict, and why on earth was my father posthumously honored as Marquis Wu Lie? My second brother inherited the title of Marquis of Wucheng, and they even added an extra rank. What’s going on?” Sun Ce asked Zhou Yu, utterly confused.

”How would I know?” Zhou Yu stared at the edict for a long time without noticing any issue. To be honest, it’s just a case of ’can’t see what’s right under one’s nose.’ He completely overlooked the change in the seal on the edict. It used to be the emperor’s private seal or the Grand Princess’s private seal, but now it included the Imperial Jade Seal.

If previous edicts had issues of legitimacy, now that these edicts had been ratified by the court officials and stamped with the Imperial Jade Seal, they were bona fide Imperial Edicts and not just documents that could be refuted.

”I...” When Jia Xu saw the edict, he was utterly shocked. To Jia Xu, Sun Ce was simply reckless—giving the Jade Seal to Liu Tong outright. Everyone knew the Jade Seal was with Sun Ce, but giving it away like that seemed mad!

”Wen He, what’s wrong with you now?” Chen Xi asked curiously, seeing the usually expressionless Jia Xu stunned.

”Look here!” Jia Xu pointed at the stamp in the lower left corner.

”Oh, it’s just a seal... uh, this seems like...” Chen Xi glanced at it in confusion but quickly caught on.

”It’s not ’seems,’ it’s real. This is the Jade Seal. I’ve seen enough of it in the past,” Jia Xu said, his mouth twitching. ”Sun Bofu is truly determined to protect Yuan Shu. He used the Jade Seal for this, even though a few treasures could have resolved the matter.”

”Ha, it’s just a symbol. Like how the Money Exchanges are everywhere now. I could imprint with my face and get money. I’m curious, if the First Emperor had carved one out of a brick, it’d be the same,” Chen Xi laughed, leaving Jia Xu speechless.

In fact, Liu Tong was also keen to let everyone know the Jade Seal was back, so she stamped the Jade Seal on all the edicts issued in recent years. Many in Chang’an had already realized and understood the meaning behind the Grand Princess’s edicts.

Everyone who received an edict and understood its significance looked respectfully in the direction of the Imperial Prison.

This time, they clearly felt the gap between them and Yuan Shu. Although Yuan Gonglu was extreme and arrogant and often did things that were hard to understand, his vision was truly admirable.

For Sun Bofu to present the Jade Seal was evidence of his determination to protect Yuan Shu at all costs. Before, some thought Yuan Shu was foolish to entrust the Yuan Family’s legacy to Sun Ce. Now, they finally understood that as long as Sun Ce lived, nothing would happen to the Yuan Family. As long as Sun Ce was around, the Yuan Family would not go hungry.

Once, aristocratic families believed that Yuan Shu would eventually suffer because of his past decisions. Now, no aristocratic family would entertain such a thought.

”Yuan Gonglu may be inept in many things, but in this regard, he’s truly admirable,” Cao Cao sighed while looking at the seal on the edict. If he had the Jade Seal, would he give it up for a benefactor? Definitely not.

Even if Yuan Shu’s situation were dire, Cao Cao would never give it away. As for Sun Ce, Cao Cao didn’t know whether to call him foolish or loyal.

”The Grand Princess is indeed fortunate. With the Imperial Jade Seal, her legitimacy is solidified, and unlike the Late Emperor, she has no desire for conflict,” Cao Cao remarked.

”This is too fast. I came back not long ago, and suddenly there’s an edict for my release, and it’s a release without charge. This is too strange, and it’s even a release without charge,” Sun Ce said, bewildered. Even if he didn’t understand politics, he knew it couldn’t be this fast. How would all the ministers in Chang’an view the Grand Princess?

”Indeed, very strange,” Zhou Yu also said, puzzled. He found it odd, as the Grand Princess he met earlier didn’t seem so irrational. She shouldn’t be this hasty.

”Ha, if you can’t figure it out, don’t bother. It’s no big deal. A release without charge is even better. I was worried they would strip Yuan Gong of his title and position,” Sun Ce said nonchalantly. From the current situation, everything was in their favor, so why worry about anything else?

”That’s true,” Zhou Yu nodded. Though he felt unease, he wanted to ask what Sun Ce had offered. But seeing Sun Ce so excited, he decided not to inquire. It wasn’t important what he gave, after all...

Inexplicably, Zhou Yu picked up the edict again, slowly opened it, and saw the seal in the lower left corner, ”Mandated by Heaven, enduring prosperity.” Zhou Yu’s mouth twitched. He knew Sun Bofu was unreliable for giving this away, no wonder it worked so well.

By presenting the Jade Seal, the Grand Princess Liu Tong wouldn’t just issue the edict without considering face, she could do even more without issue. The Jade Seal was a symbol of imperial power to most people, except Sun Ce, who had kept it on a shelf for years.

”Bofu, you’re something else,” Zhou Yu shook his head repeatedly. After regaining his composure, he added that since the seal was given away, nothing could be done. Besides, after what happened with that bastard Yu Ji, Zhou Yu no longer trusted in fortune.

”Huh?” Sun Ce looked at Zhou Yu, confused.

”Let’s go, let’s go, see Yuan Gong. It’s good that it’s given away, there’s peace of mind,” Zhou Yu said, having calmed down. Since Li Ru once used the Jade Seal as bait, a person of Zhou Yu’s stature wouldn’t hold it in high regard.

Sun Ce felt utterly confused, not understanding what Zhou Yu was saying.

In reality, even if Sun Ce knew, he wouldn’t care. The Jade Seal wasn’t important to him, nor did he believe in fortune. Additionally, Sun Ce rather disliked fortune-telling.

When Sun Ce and Zhou Yu arrived at the Imperial Prison to receive Yuan Shu, Yuan Shu was bathing in a large tub, while Jii Ling stood expressionless at the door. As for Yang Biao, who had lost his gentlemanly demeanor, neither Sun Ce nor Zhou Yu paid him any attention.

”Yuan Gong, you can leave prison now. You’ve been released without charges, and your position is restored,” Sun Ce said, laughing.

”Hahaha, when I saw Hulai daringly come in a few days ago, I knew I’d be out soon. Let me bathe, then I’ll leave,” Yuan Shu said nonchalantly. ”But it’s a release without charge, how did this happen?”

”Haha, I smoothed things over,” Sun Ce said proudly.