Chapter Thirteen: I Cannot Find Peace Unless This Child Is Removed
Disappointed?
“Why?!”
The Divine Martial Emperor furrowed his brow, and his imperial countenance immediately darkened.
He hadn’t expected that just after he praised Gao Changsheng a few times, the boy would immediately jump up and slap his father’s face.
Is this being sensible?
Clearly, it is not!
“Father, you are unaware of the situation.”
“Currently, the Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Works, and Ministry of War are all controlled by my eldest brother, the Crown Prince.”
“Because yesterday at court, your humble son embarrassed the Crown Prince.”
“Those three ministries have been making things difficult for me in every possible way.”
“When I try to review military documents, they find all sorts of excuses to pass the buck.”
“I really have no solution!”
Gao Changsheng smiled bitterly.
He didn’t say outright that the Crown Prince was behind these ministries making things difficult for him, instead letting the Divine Martial Emperor believe that the three ministries were acting on their own to defend the Crown Prince.
It wasn’t that Gao Changsheng feared offending the Crown Prince.
Rather, he deliberately made the Divine Martial Emperor think the Crown Prince was not involved.
In this way, the emperor would not blindly protect his favorite son.
Although Gao Changsheng’s recent actions had deeply pleased the Divine Martial Emperor,
if the emperor had to choose between Gao Changsheng and the Crown Prince, even guessing with his toes, he would unhesitatingly choose the Crown Prince.
Not this weak prince.
But if the issue only involved a group of officials outside the royal family,
then the Divine Martial Emperor would not hesitate.
How dare a group of outsiders gang up to bully his royal bloodline—outrageous!
“Is this true?!”
“Zhang Yao!”
“Immediately send people to the Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Works, and Ministry of War, demanding military documents in the name of the Sixth Prince.”
“If anyone dares to delay, have the Ministry of Justice arrest them at once!”
“I refuse to believe that with a great enemy at the gates, anyone in the court dares to act recklessly. I will have their heads!”
The Divine Martial Emperor was furious.
The intensity of his anger was no less than when he dealt with the Duke of Liang’s family.
It showed how serious the consequences were when the emperor’s anger was provoked.
“Whew!”
The Divine Martial Emperor simmered down slowly after venting for a while.
Then he looked at Gao Changsheng again.
“Sixth son, rest assured. Even if those three ministries or the Crown Prince give you trouble, I will not tolerate it.”
“Focus on your studies at home these days.”
“On the battlefield, Dou Yuan will oversee things. I want you to return alive to Golden Rampart City.”
At this moment, the Divine Martial Emperor seemed like a benevolent father.
But which father casually threatens to chop off others’ heads?
Trusting him is harder than believing in ghosts!
“Thank you, Father, for your concern.”
“If I am unfortunate enough to die on the battlefield, I can die with peace of mind!”
After speaking, Gao Changsheng knelt and saluted, his shoulders trembling.
At first glance, it seemed he was crying.
But in truth, he wanted to cry but couldn’t squeeze out a single tear no matter how hard he tried.
In the end, with no other way, Gao Changsheng forced a few tears out by yawning.
However, the man seated on the dragon throne was different.
Seeing his son cry like this, as a father, he could not help but feel sad.
Yet, he could not truly replace Gao Changsheng with his beloved second or third son on the battlefield.
After weighing everything, he could only sacrifice this son he never deeply loved and now only felt a slight comfort toward.
“Your Majesty, having such a son is a blessing to all the people of Great Yong. I, on behalf of the millions of subjects, thank Your Majesty!”
Zhao Zhong knew how to flatter, speaking on behalf of the people of Great Yong.
Goodness, do all officials have maxed-out skills in flattery?
“Your Majesty!”
The Duke of Ningguo wanted to follow Zhao Zhong’s example and say something to curry favor with the Divine Martial Emperor.
But as soon as he opened his mouth, the emperor waved him off.
“Don’t speak.”
The Divine Martial Emperor said irritably.
It seemed the emperor knew exactly who this man was.
No way would he let the good atmosphere be ruined by the Duke of Ningguo!
“Sixth son, you may leave now.”
“If any troubles arise, just tell your father.”
“At least for the next two days, I will not allow anyone to trouble you.”
The Divine Martial Emperor promised.
With this assurance, Gao Changsheng’s trip was not in vain.
Although he could not prevent the empress’s assassination attempts,
he could at least open a legitimate path to visit the military camp.
Even Dou Yuan would not dare obstruct him.
“Duke of Ningguo, Prime Minister.”
“You may leave as well. I am tired!”
The Divine Martial Emperor waved them off, dismissing the two officials.
Zhang Yao quickly stepped forward to support the emperor as he headed toward the palace chambers.
“Did you speak with the Sixth Prince at his residence?”
“What did he say?”
The emperor’s old eyes suddenly brightened.
The earlier emotion vanished in an instant.
But Zhang Yao was unfazed by this.
If anyone had unparalleled acting skills in Golden Rampart City, it had to be the Divine Martial Emperor.
He was a master of putting on one face in public and another in private.
“His Highness said that life and death in the northern border are uncertain.”
“If spending all his family’s wealth can accumulate some virtue and contribute a little to the royal bloodline and Your Majesty’s merit, he is willing.”
Zhang Yao said with some feeling.
But he did not mention the whispered words Miaofa had said to Gao Changsheng before leaving.
Otherwise, with the emperor’s suspicious nature, he would have become even more distrustful.
“Alas, I am old!”
“If I were younger, I wouldn’t be moved by just a few words.”
“Thinking carefully, I have indeed treated the Sixth Prince unfairly over the years. Luckily, this child has proven himself.”
“If he can return alive from the northern border, I will make it up to him properly.”
……
……
Kunning Palace.
The empress’s bedchamber.
At this moment, the second prince Gao Changwen and the third prince Gao Changfei flanked their mother, massaging her legs.
Their attentiveness was like naughty children eager to avoid being scolded.
“Did he fail?”
The empress’s face was as cold as frost.
“Hee hee, I knew Mother was wise; nothing escapes your notice.”
Gao Changfei rolled his eyes at Gao Changwen, as if shifting blame.
“That was my line! When did you start claiming it?”
Gao Changwen retorted angrily.
“Enough!”
“Failing to deal with such a weak prince—what a disgrace for princes.”
The empress scolded them harshly.
“It’s really not our fault.”
Gao Changfei looked aggrieved.
“Yes!”
“That Gao Changsheng suddenly went mad, inviting all the beggars and vagrants in the city to dine.”
“Not only did he feed them, but he even allowed those filthy people to stay at the prince’s residence.”
“We couldn’t send assassins to storm the prince’s mansion in front of hundreds of people and kill Gao Changsheng outright.”
Gao Changwen said helplessly.
“Clever plan!”
“So decisive!”
The empress pushed the two princes aside with a frosty expression, grinding her silver teeth.
“There are at least ten thousand beggars and vagrants in the city.”
“Feeding them all would cost tens of thousands of strings of cash, which is impossible.”
“Forget that he is a poor prince, even if you two pooled your benefits from various sources, who would be willing to spend so much money without reason?”
“No matter the reason, the fact that he has achieved this is better than both of you.”
“If this son is not eliminated, I will never have peace of mind!”