My father, Gao Huan, is an invincible prince!

Chapter 74 Begging Your Majesty to Seek Justice and Redress Your Injustice.

On the other side, Gao Cheng walked out of the central palace, got into the carriage, and sat down. He then leaned lazily against the carriage wall, closed his eyes, and pondered deeply.

Today, I went to the palace for three things: to return the imperial seal, to request an imperial edict, and to visit my sister. All of these have been accomplished.

Next, we'll wait for the grand court assembly on June 15th.

He calculated the time in his mind. Today was the third day of the sixth month, and there were still twelve days until the fifteenth of the sixth month. Twelve days should be enough time for Gao Huan's reply to Si Gui to reach Ye City.

Once he had calculated that there was enough time, he mentally rehearsed the entire plan.

Once it was confirmed that everything—whether it was military power, political power, the crimes of the four nobles, or even their titles—was interconnected and watertight, he finally let out a long sigh of relief and muttered to himself, "Finally, it's coming to an end."

After speaking, he closed his eyes and leaned against the car wall for a short rest.

Before they could arrive, the driver returned to the Governor's Mansion.

The mansion was unusually quiet today.

Duan Shao and Huli Guang were still in the Jingji Camp outside the city, and the two trusted confidants each had important matters to attend to, leaving Gao Yang with nothing to do in the mansion.

Gao Cheng got out of the car, looked at the empty courtyard in front of him, shook his head, and then turned to go to the backyard.

Just then, a figure suddenly appeared in the side corridor; it was Gao Yang.

He was carrying an exquisite sandalwood box in his arms, looking down as he walked and examining it, his lips curled into a wide grin, looking completely unaware that Gao Cheng was walking towards him.

"Jiro."

It wasn't until Gao Cheng called out loudly that he shuddered and hurriedly looked up.

Upon seeing that it was Gao Cheng, a hint of guilt flashed across his face. He quickly hid the wooden box behind his back and then hastily bowed, saying, "Brother, have you returned home?"

Gao Cheng raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze sweeping back and forth across Gao Cheng's back, and he immediately understood.

His own rough-looking younger brother must have personally carved small items like wooden hairpins and jade pendants, intending to secretly send them to Li Zuyuan.

He didn't elaborate, but simply asked, "It's getting dark, where do you intend to go?"

Gao Yang's eyes darted back and forth, and he casually replied, "I had nowhere else to go, so I was just taking a stroll to digest my food."

"A leisurely stroll?"

Gao Cheng stared at him with a half-smile: "Since you're out for a leisurely stroll, why are you secretly carrying these objects?"

Gao Yang felt uneasy under his gaze, but still stubbornly insisted, "It was just a leisurely stroll, brother, there's no need to doubt me."

Hearing his stubborn insistence, Gao Cheng immediately lost interest in teasing him further. He simply waved his hand and instructed, "Very well. Since it's just a leisurely stroll, you may go on your own. However, Ye City has been quite unsettled lately, so you should return early and be careful not to cause any trouble."

Gao Yang was taken aback upon hearing this, and his eyes were filled with suspicion.

Gai used to live in Jinyang. Whenever he made something new and interesting, Gao Cheng would always snatch it and play with it for a few days, or even keep it for himself.

Why did they let him out so easily today? Has the sun risen in the west?

But after a moment of doubt, remembering that Li Zuwan was still waiting for him, he didn't dwell on it and simply nodded, saying, "I will accept your instruction! I will definitely go and return as soon as possible and will not cause any trouble!"

Having said that, he tucked the wooden box into his pocket and dashed out of the mansion.

Gao Cheng watched his retreating figure and couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle again.

This ugly younger brother, who usually looks fierce and menacing, is no different from any other boy when he falls in love.

However, he couldn't be bothered with other people's love lives and immediately turned and went to the backyard.

......

......

In the days that followed, Ye City returned to peace.

After the banquet at Sima Mansion, Si Gui stayed indoors, keeping the gates tightly shut. Even his close associates from the past were nowhere to be seen, as if they had vanished overnight.

The scions of prominent families in Hebei followed the established procedures, copying documents and examining legal cases in various departments of the Ministry of Personnel. Although they were occasionally unfamiliar with the work, they were conscientious and dared not slack off in the slightest.

And so, several more days passed quietly.

On the sixth day, Duan Shao, Huli Guang, and He Xi She Le finally returned together from the capital camp.

Upon entering the mansion, he went straight to the study to see Gao Cheng.

Upon seeing the three return, Gao Cheng couldn't help but smile and asked, "You three have worked hard. I wonder if things are going smoothly in the military camp?"

Upon hearing this, Hulü Guang stepped forward first, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said loudly, "Your Highness, all affairs are proceeding smoothly. The soldiers in the camp know that the provisions come from Your Highness, and they are all grateful. When I patrolled the camp, I heard the soldiers all say, 'We are willing to die for Your Highness,' and the morale of the army is already solid."

Duan Shao nodded in agreement: "This subordinate has already rotated the officers and removed all the four nobles' confidants as ordered. The capital region camp is now completely under control, and there will be no mishaps."

He Xi Shele added at the end: "This humble general has already checked the treasury. Apart from the scattered troops, there are still 5,000 shi of grain left, enough to support the government for a month. In addition, more provisions are arriving in a steady stream."

Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng nodded slightly: "That's excellent. Now that the army's morale is high, there will be no more changes in Ye City."

After saying this, he said to the three men, "Gentlemen, you have worked hard these past few days. Please take a rest. We can discuss other matters later at the grand court assembly on the fifteenth of June."

"only!"

The three of them said no more, agreed in unison, bowed and left.

Silence returned to the study. Gao Cheng gazed at the swaying willow branches outside the window, his eyes gradually becoming deep.

Now, the game of chess in Ye City has been completed, and only the final piece in Jinyang is waiting to be placed.

The only question is whether that chess piece will arrive in Ye on time.

As he pondered this, his gaze drifted into the distance, as if it had pierced through mountains and rivers, landing upon the Prince of Jinyang's residence.

......

Meanwhile, a thousand miles away in Jinyang, in the council hall of the Bohai Prince's Palace, Gao Huan was planning the famous western expedition with Lou Zhaojun and several of his trusted subordinates.

Just as they were making plans, Gai Fengle suddenly rushed over and reported in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, Wang Hong has returned to Jin from Ye, saying that he brought a letter written by the Crown Prince himself, and earnestly requests an audience."

Upon hearing this, the discussion in the hall immediately fell silent.

Lou Zhaojun was the first to react. She moved closer to Gao Huan and asked in a low voice, "Could we dismiss the servants?"

Gao Huan snapped out of his reverie, shook his head to indicate that it was unnecessary, and then ordered Gai Fengle in a deep voice, "Summon them in."

"only!"

Gai Fengle accepted the order and left, but not long after, he led Wang Hong back.

Upon seeing Gao Huan, Wang Hong immediately knelt on one knee, presented Gao Cheng's letter with both hands, and said, "Your servant Wang Hong greets Your Majesty. The Crown Prince has instructed me to present this letter and report on recent events in Ye City."

Upon hearing this, Gao Huan reached out and took the letter, but without opening it, he handed it to Lou Zhaojun beside him, saying, "You should read it first."

Lou Zhaojun did not refuse and directly opened and read the letter.

Seeing this, Gao Huan turned to Wang Hong and asked, "Tell me, what is the current situation in Ye?"

Upon hearing Gao Huan's inquiry, Wang Hong did not delay and immediately began to recount in detail how Gao Cheng entered the palace to seize the imperial seal after arriving in Ye, how he balanced the four powerful officials, how he eliminated the Zheng family of Xingyang, how he won over the powerful families of Hebei, and how he set up a scheme in the Sima Mansion and purged the traitors within the Governor's Office.

Upon hearing this, several trusted confidants looked astonished and repeatedly praised it.

After reading the letter, Lou Zhaojun's eyes were filled with satisfaction. She looked up at Gao Huan and said, "Cheng'er is young and promising. In just a few months, he has already stirred up the situation in Ye City and won over the clans in Hebei. He has truly lived up to expectations."

Hearing the crowd's praises, Gao Huan stroked his beard and laughed loudly, "This lad has indeed lived up to everyone's expectations. I initially thought that it would take him at least a year to establish himself in Ye, but I did not expect him to be so skillful. He has arrived here in just a few months."

"Now that Ye City is safe, I have no more worries about the rear and can concentrate on the western expedition."

Upon hearing this, the trusted advisors before the throne also bowed and offered their congratulations: "The Crown Prince is truly a blessing to the King and a boon to the Great Wei!"

Gao Huan waved his hand, his smile undiminished, and said to Wang Hong, "Besides that, is there anything else? Tell me all at once."

Wang Hong paused briefly, then took out a petition from his robes and presented it to the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, this is a petition jointly signed by Sun Teng, Sima Ziru, Gao Yue, and Gao Long, detailing the beginning and end of their abuse of power, and accusing the Crown Prince of arrogance and humiliation of his former colleagues. They beg Your Majesty to grant them justice and redress their grievances. Please read it."