gnovel Chapter 41 Is this all the skill a nobleman of the four ranks has to offer?
Chapter 41 Is this all the skill a nobleman of the four ranks has to offer?
However, as soon as Gao Cheng uttered these words, before the four leaders could make any move, the remaining officials looked at each other blankly, and whispers began to circulate.
Gao Yang arrived in Ye a month ago?
Why didn't these officials in the court hear even a whisper of such a big thing?
Upon hearing this, Sima Ziru felt even more resentful.
This mere child, just a month ago, had someone send a letter asking me to plead for him before the king. Now, in just over a month, he has turned his back on me so heartlessly. It is truly hateful.
However, with all the civil and military officials in front of him, he could not afford to lose face.
He had no choice but to bite the bullet and try to smooth things over.
Unexpectedly, before he could speak, two young men suddenly stepped out from the crowd.
Of the two, the first one had a handsome face and clear features; he was none other than Duan Shao, the nephew of Lou Zhaojun.
The other person was tall and upright, calm and resolute, and was none other than Huli Mingyue, who was known as the "Eagle-Falling Commander".
The two stepped out of the crowd and bowed to Gao Cheng with clasped hands.
After the ceremony, Duan Shao then said with a loud laugh, "Your Highness, I may have the pleasure of discussing the whereabouts of the Second Prince."
"Oh?"
Upon seeing the two, Gao Cheng raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. He immediately extended a hand to help them up and asked, "Cousin Tiefa, do you know where Erlang is? Do you know where Erlang is?"
Duan Shao raised his eyes, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Sima Ziru.
Immediately, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he said directly, "This humble general has heard that this morning, Lord Sima sent someone to invite Erlang to a banquet at his residence."
"I suppose Erlang is still in Sima Gong's mansion at this moment."
The atmosphere in the room became even more subtle the moment Duan Shao uttered these words.
In an instant, countless gazes fell upon Sima Ziru, filled with astonishment and surprise.
It's one thing that Gao Yang arrived in Ye a month ago, but why did he go to Sima Ziru's residence today?
Besides, if they remembered correctly, this morning, Sun Teng and his men had searched the entire city under the pretext of arresting spies from Kansai, right?
The great spy searched the west, yet he summoned Gao's second son to his residence as a guest. What was the reason for this?
Sima Ziru noticed the probing gazes of the crowd, and his expression stiffened once more.
He couldn't help but curse Duan Shao in his heart, calling him an ungrateful wretch who had just accepted so much gold and pearls from him a few days ago.
As a result, Gao Cheng had just arrived when he sold him out completely.
They are traitors to the Lord!
But since things have come to this point, there's no point in denying it.
Forced to force a smile, he cupped his hands to Gao Cheng and said, "Tiefa is right, Erlang is indeed at my residence. However, he drank a few too many cups with my son this morning and is still asleep, so I dared not disturb him."
Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng immediately feigned sudden realization.
He then turned to Sima Ziru, his smile growing even warmer: "So that's how it is. I didn't expect my second brother to be so young and unruly, troubling you so much, Master Sima? I thank you for your kindness in looking after him."
After saying this, he actually bowed deeply, his attitude extremely sincere.
Sima Ziru's eyes twitched violently when he saw this. After more than 30 years in officialdom, how could he not hear the hidden meaning in Gao Cheng's words?
What's with the talk of "mischievous in his youth" and "requiring careful care"?
This is clearly a blatant threat. I'm telling you, you detained my brother. I'll remember this.
However, in front of all the officials, he could only suppress his anger and force a smile, saying, "Your Highness is too kind. I quite like the young and intelligent Duke of Taiyuan, so I lingered in his residence for a while. Now that Your Highness has arrived, I will send someone to escort the Second Prince back to his residence later."
"Thank you for your trouble, Master Sima."
Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng's smile remained unchanged, and he simply bowed again in thanks.
Sima Ziru nodded in agreement, her face calm and composed, but her jaw was clenched tightly.
At this moment, seeing that Sima Ziru had been cornered, Sun Teng could no longer suppress his inner turmoil.
He then took a deep breath, stepped forward, and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Highness, now that this matter is settled, I also have a few important words I wish to speak with you privately. May I ask if we can have a private conversation?"
Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng was also taken aback.
However, in the blink of an eye, he understood the meaning and a cold smile immediately appeared on his lips.
The so-called private talk is nothing more than an attempt to confuse the public and mislead the judgment of the officials in front of the court.
This tactic had already been used by Chancellor Chen Ping when Emperor Wen of the Former Han Dynasty ascended the throne in Chang'an with only eight people.
However, even Emperor Taizong Wen never fell for such a trick, so how could Sun Teng possibly think he would be fooled?
Could it be that he looks like a fool?
Therefore, he did not reply, but shrugged and turned to give Liu Taozhi a look.
Liu Taozhi lived up to Gao Huan's high expectations as a confidant; she understood Gao Cheng's intentions with just a glance.
He immediately stepped forward, his posture as straight as a pine tree, and said loudly, "May I ask, Grand Protector Sun, do you wish to discuss official business or private matters with the Heir Apparent?"
Sun Teng was taken aback and subconsciously frowned.
Liu Taozhi gave him no chance to respond and continued loudly, "If we are talking about official business, then all the civil and military officials should speak; if we are talking about private matters... then the Crown Prince has entered Ye on the King's orders to oversee all affairs, so there are no private matters to discuss."
Upon hearing this, Sun Teng's expression darkened even further.
Unexpectedly, Gao Cheng didn't even give him that much face, instead letting a servant humiliate him in public.
In an instant, he felt both shocked and angry, his chest heaving violently, and even his breathing became heavy.
Gao Yue and Gao Longzhi, seeing this, were also stunned. Their hearts sank. They never expected that Sun Teng and Sima Ziru could not even hold their own for three sentences in front of Gao Cheng and were turned on the table.
The two exchanged a glance, and their expressions suddenly became resolute.
Immediately, Gao Yue stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Since Your Highness says you have no private matters, then I do have an official matter to report. I wonder if Your Highness would be so kind as to listen quietly?"
Seeing that the other side had even resorted to a series of attacks, Gao Cheng raised an eyebrow and thought to himself, "Interesting."
He then gestured for Liu Taozhi to leave and asked, "I wonder what official business Minister Gao has to report?"
"Prince Qi"
Gao Yue said in a deep voice, "Because we all follow the King's orders and know that the Crown Prince will enter Ye and assume the positions of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and Grand Commander of the Capital Region, overseeing all affairs of Ye. Therefore, we have long prepared military tallies and documents to await the Crown Prince's assumption of power."
Having said that, he and Gao Longzhi simultaneously took out gilded bronze tallies from their bosoms, presented them to Gao Cheng with both hands, and said again, "The military tallies of the Imperial Guards of the Capital Region and the Left and Right Guards are here. Please accept them, Your Highness."
Unexpectedly, upon seeing the two men's actions, before Gao Cheng could even speak, the expressions of all the officials changed.
This is because the military power of the capital city's capital and the Left and Right Guards was fundamental to Yedu, yet these two men handed it over so easily.
Whether this is genuine sincerity or coercion, who can know?
When Gao Cheng saw the two men presenting the military tally, he almost couldn't help but burst out laughing.
These old fogies really thought he was a fool who would take the bait if given a little something. First they imitated Chen Ping, and then they imitated Zhou Bo.
Who doesn't know that when Emperor Wen of Han entered Chang'an, he dared not privately accept Zhou Bo's military tally?
It's ridiculous that they would try to lure him into their trap with this deceptive bait. How absurd!
Are these the four noble families of Yezhong really only capable of this much?
He sneered inwardly, but immediately adopted a solemn expression, sternly refusing, "Absolutely not. Military power is a public instrument of the state and must be exercised according to the law. I have not yet entered the court to assume my duties, nor have I met the Emperor; how dare I accept it privately? This matter is absolutely unacceptable!"