The memorial lay open on the marble imperial desk.
The emperor's eyes were dark, and the anger between his eyebrows flickered. The atmosphere in the grand hall was tense and oppressive to the extreme.
All the court officials held their breaths, trembling like cicadas in cold weather.
Just as Gao Tianyu had returned triumphantly to the court, Liang Wentao had impeached him, which not only slapped the Gao family in the face but also made the emperor look bad.
After all, Gao Tianyu was a great hero personally recognized by the emperor.
There had always been sporadic memorials about the tyranny of the Gao family.
Especially after Concubine Lan was promoted to the imperial noble concubine, there were even more.
The emperor had always suppressed them, considering that Gao Tianyu had gone on a military expedition at an old age and won a victory.
Even if he was to be punished, it shouldn't be right after the hero's return.
Wouldn't the emperor then be seen as an ungrateful tyrant who killed the donkey after it had grinded the mill?
But Liang Wentao had deliberately chosen this moment to submit his memorial for impeachment.
Moreover, the content in his memorial was well - founded and every word was sonorous.
Seizing fertile fields, forcing the purchase of hot shops at low prices, usury and debt - collection, and even forcing people to death...
Even if the Supreme Court of Judicature were to investigate one by one, they could find solid evidence.
If no punishment was given, the emperor would be seen as a fatuous monarch who indulged heroes and coddled evildoers.
The emperor was in a dilemma, with a gloomy face.
The crown prince was also a bit confused about Liang Wentao.
As a close official of the emperor, Liang Wentao's power would soon exceed that of Qin Feng, the chief scribe. He was a new and envied court official that everyone wanted to curry favor with.
Although he secretly supported the crown prince and shared his worries, there was no need for him to publicly take sides at this moment.
On the surface, the Liang family and the Gao family kept out of each other's way, and he didn't have to seize on the Gao family's mistakes and attack them fiercely.
His actions today were really ill - considered!
This was completely different from his usual cautious and steady style!
The crown prince couldn't figure it out. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Liang Wentao.
This young man had an unyielding spirit. Although his eyes were lowered, his back was straight.
He looked so lofty and upright.
It was as if he had been possessed.
The crown prince sighed secretly, closed his eyes helplessly, and when he opened them again, he had an idea.
Today, the emperor needed a way out.
He also had to save Liang Wentao's life.
"Father, I propose that it would be most appropriate to hand over the matter of the Gao family reported by Liang Wentao to the second younger brother for investigation."
The crown prince stepped forward. His tall and slender figure in bright yellow was like a ray of light shining into the emperor's dark eyes.
"The second younger brother has always been fair and impartial. I believe that he will respect the national law and handle the case justly even when it comes to his own relatives."
Lu Siming didn't want to get involved in the mess caused by the Gao family.
But to compete for the throne, he couldn't do without the military power of the Gao family. And now that the emperor was in a difficult situation, he had to take on this dirty job.
He couldn't let the crown prince monopolize the reputation of being filial and wise.
He also stepped forward. "Father, since the elder brother highly recommends me, I dare not decline."
The clouds on the emperor's face dispersed a lot, and his eyes brightened.
"Then hand it over to the second prince for investigation."
The shrewd people in the court didn't raise any objections.
Everyone knew that the crown prince's recommendation of the second prince as the judge was to give the emperor a way out, to give Liang Wentao, the "righteous official", an explanation, and also to spare the Gao family.
Relying on the Gao family, the second prince would only find some trivial cases even if he investigated.
Then, on the pretext of "arrogant servants relying on their masters' power", he would place the blame on some stewards, shopkeepers, and village heads with a little power.
After that, he would offer some compensation to appease the people, and this matter would pass without much impact.
It wouldn't shake the status of the Gao family.
The emperor, the crown prince, the second prince, the Gao family, and Liang Wentao all understood this.
But no one would say it out loud.
After the court session, Liang Wentao deliberately took a quiet and secluded path.
Coincidentally, the crown prince also took this path back to the Eastern Palace today.
"I pay my respects to the crown prince."
Liang Wentao bowed respectfully and calmly waited for the crown prince to scold him.
Little Anzi walked a bit farther away and vigilantly observed the surroundings to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.
"Why did you act so rashly?"
Liang Wentao's actions today hadn't brought any substantial benefits.
It was all sound and fury, signifying nothing.
And it was easy for the emperor to be dissatisfied with him.
On the way here, the crown prince still couldn't figure it out.
This was simply not Liang Wentao's usual way of doing things.
Liang Wentao clasped his fists and bowed. His attitude was extremely humble, but there was no sign of admitting his mistake.
"I risk all for my lover. I'm also a man with blood and spirit. I felt heart - broken when I saw the one I love being humiliated but couldn't seek justice for her. I know this was a rash move, but I don't regret it."
"You..."
The crown prince was in a daze for a moment. He even thought it was Liang Yuzhou talking to him.
Because only Liang Yuzhou, that crazy man, would do something shocking for Wan Chu.
Was Liang Wentao doing this for Jiang Qianyu?
Suddenly, everything made sense.
Liang Wentao's actions were not based on "reason" or "interest", but on "love"!
When he proposed to marry Jiang Qianyu, getting himself out of trouble was only a secondary reason. His love for Jiang Qianyu was the main one!
"Good for you, you sly romantic. You've made a fool of both me and Liang Yuzhou!"
"Thank you, Your Highness, for saving me. I'm willing to sacrifice my life for you—"
The crown prince didn't want to hear his grand words at all.
He was angry because when Liang Wentao proposed to marry Jiang Qianyu, he hadn't told the whole truth.
It had forced him and Mianmian to set up one trap after another to test Liang Wentao's character.
It was because they didn't want a good girl like Qian'er to marry the wrong man.
It seemed that he and Mianmian had been testing Liang Wentao and his family round after round, but wasn't it also Liang Wentao taking advantage of these situations to show his feelings to Qian'er?
His sharp eyes softened. Forget it. Although he had been used, the result was good.
"From now on, speak straight. Don't play these round - about tricks. It's a waste of time and energy!"
The crown prince raised his hand high but put it down gently.
He also wanted Liang Wentao to understand that his caution and cleverness were unnecessary when dealing with him.
Too much testing between the monarch and his subject would lead to suspicion.
What the crown prince wanted was frankness and sincerity.
Even if he was as sharp - tongued as Liang Yuzhou, it didn't matter.
"I understand."
The crown prince nodded slightly.
But Liang Wentao added another sentence. "My love for Qian'er is a matter between the two of us. True love should be pure and shouldn't be tainted by other things."
The crown prince was slightly stunned.
So from the very beginning, he hadn't planned to marry Jiang Qianyu through political means.
He wanted Jiang Qianyu to feel his true love and then make a choice.
Back in the Eastern Palace, the crown prince sent someone to tell Jiang Qianyu the news that Liang Wentao had impeached the Gao family.
He didn't say anything else.
Jiang Qianyu was smart enough to figure out the key points.
Jiang Qianyu, who had been pretending to be ill and staying behind closed doors, couldn't sit still after hearing this news.
She got up, paced back and forth a few times, and repeatedly stroked the jade pendant in her hand.
She believed that Liang Wentao had feelings for her, but she couldn't believe that this man had impeached the Gao family at the most inappropriate time just to avenge her.
Was she really worth this man risking everything for her?
Cheng Simian also heard about this from the crown prince.
She smiled slightly, but it also seemed like a sigh and deep thought.
"Falling in love with a mature man is really a lucky and happy thing."
The crown prince was about to put his arm around her waist, but his arm froze when he heard this.
"Do you mean that I'm childish, Mianmian?"