"You are too kind, sir. You sacrificed your life for the imperial court for over a decade; these meager gifts are nothing," Liang Shicheng said, waving his hand to signal the young eunuchs to withdraw.
They were all old foxes; who didn't know who was who?
"Has your injury improved, sir?"
Only after all the young eunuchs had departed did Liang Shicheng ask with a smile.
"Thank you for your concern, Grand Tutor. I have recovered seventy percent this time!"
Without the bothersome young eunuchs, Lin Lingsu's voice clearly gained more strength as he spoke.
"Since you are in good health, sir, I believe it is best to expedite the matters at the Grand Exaltation Temple..."
Liang Shicheng was not interested in the reasons behind Lin Lingsu's actions. What he cared about was using this opportunity to teach those monks a lesson.
Although the Emperor, in his anger, had agreed to Lin Lingsu's plan in its entirety, as if seeking revenge, Liang Shicheng knew in his heart that the Emperor's temper was like June weather – quick to come and quick to go.
Especially at this time, when the entire court was in need of funds everywhere, yet the national treasury was devoid of even a single copper coin. To spend vast sums of money to build these divine statues, even if Lin Lingsu was footing the bill himself, would inevitably attract gossip...
"Does the Grand Tutor mean..."
After giving Liang Shicheng a deep look, Lin Lingsu frowned and asked.
"Have you never heard that delay breeds complications, and long nights invite many dreams?"
Liang Shicheng stopped speaking here. Instead, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then looked back at Lin Lingsu with a smile.
"Thank you for your guidance, Grand Tutor!"
"It is my pleasure. Since you understand, I shall say no more. I bid you farewell!"
"Allow me to see you out!"
After seeing Liang Shicheng off from the Divine Firmament Palace, Lin Lingsu hurried to summon all his disciples...
"Brother Huang, Brother Huang!"
Just as Lin Lingsu and his disciples were discussing how to make a grand move, Huang Qianshan, who was drowsily sleeping in the Kaifeng Prefecture prison, suddenly heard someone calling his name.
"Brother Xidao, is that really you?"
Rubbing his slightly drowsy eyes, Huang Qianshan clearly saw the face of the person opposite him.
"Brother Maohe, you have suffered..."
Looking at Huang Qianshan, who was almost at death's door from the torture, even the veteran politician Geng Nanzhong's eyes were a little red.
"Brother Xidao, you are too kind. To be able to serve His Highness and the Prime Minister, suffering a little is nothing. However, I fear I may not be able to get through this ordeal."
Huang Qianshan had almost given up hope of escaping his predicament.
After all, the evidence in the hands of his accusers was too substantial. Moreover, this matter was orchestrated deliberately, taking him by surprise, leaving him no room to retaliate.
However, upon seeing Geng Nanzhong's presence here, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
If the Crown Prince were truly to intervene and protect him, perhaps he might even turn misfortune into a blessing.
Yet, no sooner had he spoken, and the small flame of hope in his heart had just ignited, than he saw the troubled expression on Geng Nanzhong's face.
"This..."
"Whatever you have to say, Brother, please speak freely. The situation has come to this point; I can endure anything that happens!"
Although he instinctively guessed that the outcome might be less than ideal, Huang Qianshan still spoke with that sliver of a chance.
"We are all on the same side. I will not hide this from you. Lin Lingsu is the one who moved against you. As for who is behind it, that matter is difficult to ascertain. His Highness's intention is for us to proceed with caution until the entire matter is thoroughly investigated..."
Geng Nanzhong found it difficult to continue his fabricated story.
After all, such words might fool a three-year-old, but they were insufficient for these seasoned veterans who had spent most of their lives immersed in officialdom.
As expected, as soon as he finished speaking, Huang Qianshan's face turned ashen.
Geng Nanzhong's words were tantamount to announcing that he would no longer receive the protection of the Crown Prince's faction.
"Brother Maohe, are you alright?"
After casting an awkward glance at Huang Qianshan, Geng Nanzhong spoke again.
"I'm fine. Does His Highness have any other words for me?"
It was a natural consequence. Taking a deep breath, Huang Qianshan quickly composed himself.
"His Highness asked me to tell you, Brother Maohe, that he deeply remembers your great kindness and will surely repay you handsomely in the future!"
Although this was clearly just empty promises, Huang Qianshan could only offer a wry smile at this moment.
With the situation having reached this point, he had no other option but to accept it...
"Please convey to His Highness the Crown Prince, Brother Xidao, that I, Huang, know what is important and what is not. I am clear about what can and cannot be said!"
"You have suffered..."
After lingering for a while and finally hearing what he most wanted to hear, Geng Nanzhong exchanged a few more feigned pleasantries before turning and leaving the prison...
"You say Geng Nanzhong entered the dungeon last night?"
Upon hearing Du Chong's words, Cai You's brow immediately furrowed.
"That's right. My subordinates personally saw him enter the prison. Although I don't know what they discussed in private, according to my subordinates' reports, after Geng Nanzhong left, Huang Qianshan seemed to have cried in the cell..."
"This matter is becoming increasingly interesting..."
Although there was no substantive evidence directly proving that Huang Qianshan was aligned with the Crown Prince, this indirect evidence was enough for him to form his judgment.
This matter was truly becoming more and more intriguing. Even he hadn't expected that this fellow would jump from Wang Fu's sinking ship to the Crown Prince's even more precarious vessel.
"Academician, how should we proceed?"
"Pretend you know nothing. I will find an opportunity to leak this information to Wang Fu. You just focus on diligently handling your case. As for other matters, you need not concern yourself with them for the time being!"