Time was pressing. In his eagerness, Liang Yuchuan didn't have time to be polite with the Crown Prince. He got straight to the point and hit on what the Crown Prince cared about most.
The Crown Prince's long and slender hand paused. Most of the drunkenness in his eyes faded. He put down his wine cup and stared directly at Liang Yuchuan.
Liang Yuchuan knew that his words had piqued the Crown Prince's interest.
Sure enough, whenever Song Wanchu was mentioned, the Crown Prince would become extremely concerned.
"Turn against each other? You mean there's enmity between Wanchu and the second young master of the Liang family?"
Liang Yuchuan knelt straight down and kowtowed respectfully. A hint of shame appeared on his face.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please forgive my sin of deception. I've known this secret for three years. Every day, I've carried a heavy burden. Today, even if I'm to commit the sin of filial impiety, I must report the truth to Your Highness.
One can't be both filial and loyal. I'd rather be unfilial than disloyal to Your Highness and the Great Zhou."
The Crown Prince watched him leisurely.
He got close to Liang Yuchuan just for mutual benefit.
Liang Yuchuan showing his loyalty to him was just to increase his chances and confidence in vying for the title of heir.
He used Liang Yuchuan to get more information about Wanchu.
As for his high - sounding words, both of them actually knew what was going on.
The Crown Prince didn't expose his act, just to give him a little face.
"Judging from your words, it seems that the senior duke once committed the crime of deceiving the emperor?"
Liang Yuchuan was extremely nervous. "Three years ago, my father returned from the border and suddenly seemed a bit strange. One late night, when I passed by my father's study and saw the light still on, I was about to go and persuade him to rest earlier. But then I heard my father holding my mother's memorial tablet and saying... saying..."
He gently pursed his lips and trembled fearfully.
A flicker of impatience flashed in the Crown Prince's eyes. "You're forgiven. Go on."
"My father said that he was entirely responsible for Song Hengyi's death in the Battle of Pingsha Pass. Every time he saw Song Wanchu, he felt so guilty that he didn't dare to look up."
A glimmer of light finally appeared in the Crown Prince's pitch - black eyes. He seemed to have grasped something, but it was still vague.
"In the Battle of Pingsha Pass, wasn't it because they were suddenly attacked by a large group of barbarians and the senior duke and his troops were outnumbered that the whole army was wiped out?"
Liang Yuchuan lowered his eyes. "My father lied in the battle report."
"Victory and defeat are common in war, and casualties are inevitable on the battlefield. Why did he have to lie?"
"Because this was a sacrifice that could have been avoided. At that time, there was a shortage of food and supplies in the army. My father was guarding Liangzhou City and sent Song Hengyi to Pingsha Pass to collect grain. The grain collection went smoothly, but suddenly a group of commoners came to my father to complain, saying that Song Hengyi had forcibly collected grain without paying and even beaten the commoners.
My father flew into a rage and personally led a light cavalry to Pingsha Pass to arrest Song Hengyi. Song Hengyi kept protesting his innocence, but my father didn't listen and escorted him back to Liangzhou City. On the way, they were attacked by barbarians. Song Hengyi, regardless of the previous grievances, fought to exhaustion to protect my father.
Afterwards, my father investigated and found that those rascals had been bribed to deliberately frame Song Hengyi. My father was one - sided and self - willed, acting rashly, which led to the tragic defeat at Pingsha Pass."
The Crown Prince listened quietly. His pair of black eyes became even colder and more unfathomable.
In his mind, he quickly sorted out the whole incident and grasped the most important thread among the intricate details.
"How did you find out these details?"
The senior duke couldn't have told the story of his dereliction of duty that led to the death of his subordinate so clearly.
Liang Yuchuan said, "Two years ago, when I was traveling outside, I unexpectedly met an old acquaintance - Han Cheng."
The Crown Prince's pupils constricted. He looked at Liang Yuchuan in disbelief. "Wasn't he sacrificed in the Battle of Pingsha Pass, with his body nowhere to be found?"
Han Cheng was a deputy general who had followed the senior duke for many years. Before his death, he held the rank of fourth - grade official, higher than Song Hengyi.
His body couldn't be retrieved. When he was buried, there was only a set of funeral clothes in the coffin.
"He was seriously injured and captured by the barbarians. The barbarians treated his wounds and tried to coerce and induce him to surrender. Han Cheng would rather die than submit and was imprisoned for more than a year. Later, he found an opportunity to escape, but he didn't dare to return to the capital because he had lived in the barbarian tribe for more than a year and was afraid of being framed as a traitor."
"So the key person you're talking about is Han Cheng?"
"Exactly. He had followed my father for many years, and I also knew him a bit. He was a man of integrity and would never yield to the barbarians. Now, what he needs most is a powerful person like Your Highness the Crown Prince to vouch for him in front of the emperor so that he can have the opportunity to return to the capital."
Afraid that the Crown Prince didn't understand the key point, Liang Yuchuan added, "Han Cheng and Song Hengyi were also superior and subordinate. They had a good private relationship and had trained soldiers together on the drill ground. Song Wanchu also knew him. He was an eyewitness to the Battle of Pingsha Pass. If he told the story, Song Wanchu would surely believe it."
Hearing Song Wanchu's name, the Crown Prince's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Does the second young master of the Liang family also know that Song Hengyi was killed by the senior duke?"
Liang Yuchuan smiled. There was a hint of malice hidden in the depths of his eyes. "Of course he knows. I'm far less capable than him. He found out the truth earlier than me, but he's been hiding it from Song Wanchu. If Song Wanchu knew - "
"She would not only hate your Liang family but also Liang Yuzhou. She would never forgive him in this lifetime, right?"
The Crown Prince finished his sentence for him.
"Your Highness is truly wise."
Liang Yuchuan made a gesture of deep admiration.
The Crown Prince's lips curled up, showing a cold smile.
"Humph."
This soft sound revealed his disdain.
"Liang Yuchuan, you're really something. I underestimated your bottom line. In order to become the heir, you're even willing to betray your own father?"
Liang Yuchuan's face changed slightly. He thought the Crown Prince would be extremely excited and couldn't wait to summon Han Cheng, but he didn't expect to be mocked instead.
"Since ancient times, one can't be both filial and loyal. I..."
With a "clang" sound, the wine pot shattered on his body, and the porcelain shards were scattered all over the ground.
There was no trace of a smile on the Crown Prince's gentle face. A storm was brewing in his eyes.
"Your Highness, please calm your anger!"
A sharp pain came from Liang Yuchuan's shoulder, but he didn't dare to move. He lay on the ground, trembling.
He knew that the Crown Prince used him but had never really respected him. But the Crown Prince was usually calm - tempered, and this was the first time he had lost his temper in front of him.
"Your Highness, please listen to my explanation. In the end, this matter was because my father was too concerned about his reputation and was afraid of being criticized by the world for his foolishness and rashness, so he concealed the truth and absolved himself of the responsibility in the battle.
But he had fought for the country for many years. I'm sure that the emperor, considering his many years of meritorious service, will surely give him a lighter punishment. At that time, if Your Highness could put in a good word for him, the century - old glory of the Duke's Mansion would surely be preserved!"
"That sounds really nice."
The Crown Prince suddenly laughed again. "Your father will be disgraced, the second young master will turn against Wanchu. The second young master fought for the title of heir just so that Wanchu could be conferred a title. If Wanchu leaves him, he won't be able to become the heir. Most of the people in the Duke's Mansion will be hurt, and only you will win completely."
Liang Yuchuan had served the Crown Prince for so long. The Crown Prince had always seen through his motives but never said anything.没想到 this time, he completely tore off his disguise and exposed the darkest side of his heart.
"Although my second brother is both civilly and militarily talented and is a pillar of the country, he values love too much and has clashed with Your Highness because of a woman. Do you think such a person, if in control of the military power of the Duke's Mansion, would listen to your orders?"
To show his loyalty, he gritted his teeth and crawled two steps on his knees. The broken porcelain pierced his knees, and blood immediately oozed out.
He grabbed the hem of the Crown Prince's robe and was extremely humble. "Only I am willing to serve Your Highness whole - heartedly. You know better than anyone that I'm much more obedient than my second brother.
By then, Song Wanchu, who has been heartbroken by the second young master, will definitely fall into Your Highness's arms."
The Crown Prince slowly got up. The already dim candle was almost burnt out, and a large expanse of darkness swallowed him up.
Liang Yuchuan was confident that the Crown Prince would surely be tempted.