The old housekeeper's voice echoed from ahead, causing Cai Shu to tremble all over, and the soup bowl in his hand dropped to the ground.
"What clean workmanship..."
Cai Jing let out a cold laugh. If he still didn't know who had made the move at this point, then he wouldn't need to be the Prime Minister.
"What do you say?"
After taking a deep breath, Cai Jing looked at his son with a somber face and asked.
"Father means..."
As Cai Xiao spoke, he pointed towards the Liang residence.
"The Crown Prince was already in an irreversible decline, practically at death's door. Prince Yun was about to make a move regarding Jia Yi's affairs, but suddenly, everything turned around. In just two days, Liang Shicheng actually sided with the Crown Prince. Don't you find something peculiar about this?"
Cai Jing did not answer his question but continued speaking to himself.
"But what does that have to do with today's events..."
Cai Xiao was still completely bewildered, not knowing what his father was trying to say.
Although he was considered talented, he was far from it in terms of political strategy and maneuvering.
This was also one of the reasons why Cai Jing, despite being over seventy years old, was unwilling to relinquish power.
Having climbed and struggled in his position for so many years, he naturally understood that having power without virtue was the most terrifying thing in the world.
Whether it was Cai You or Cai Xiao, both sons had their strengths, but their weaknesses were too obvious.
Cai You was adequate in small matters but insufficient in larger ones. He was always too petty when handling affairs, always fixated on the gains or losses of a single town or city.
Cai Xiao, on the other hand, was the opposite of his elder brother. While he had a good grasp of the overall situation, his problem was that he was always overly ambitious and failed to see what was beneath his feet.
Overlooking details naturally led to being blinded.
Such a matter might not be a significant problem for an ordinary person, but for someone in the position of a party leader, it was a fatal flaw.
Wasn't his ability to rise and fall, ascending to the prime ministership three times, due to his skill in observing words and discerning people?
The reason he could always make the most advantageous decisions at the right time was because he had eyes that were adept at finding problems.
"Both Prince Yun and the Crown Prince were trying to win over Liang Shicheng, and this wasn't something that started today or yesterday. If the Crown Prince truly had a master strategist to help him devise extraordinary plans, would he be in this state today?"
Cai Xiao still didn't understand his father's meaning, so he could only awkwardly cup his hands towards his father.
"On what day did Liang Shicheng publicly declare his support for the Crown Prince?"
Cai Jing shook his head with some disappointment and asked again.
"It seems to have been on the day of the fifteenth Grand Court Assembly!"
Cai Xiao recalled for a moment before tentatively saying.
"And on what day did the Crown Prince visit the Imperial Academy?"
"It seems to have been on the thirteenth of February..."
"Do you understand now?"
Cai Jing looked at his third son deeply once more.
"You mean that Han Mo was the one who strategized for the Crown Prince?"
Cai Xiao suddenly stood up from his seat. He realized that it was as if a light had dawned on him.
"That's right, continue thinking along this line!"
Cai Jing nodded with satisfaction, signaling him to proceed.
"Prince Yun and the Crown Prince were both vying for Liang Shicheng, but over a year has passed, and neither of them succeeded. Liang Shicheng remained steady, observing from the sidelines, not favoring either side. Then, what method did he use to persuade Liang Shicheng..."
Compared to dealing with Liang Shicheng, Cai Jing's interest in Han Mo was clearly greater, guiding his third son step by step towards the correct line of thought.
"Please enlighten me, Father!"
Cai Xiao was now utterly convinced and asked with some shame.
"It's actually very simple. Prince Yun is currently at the peak of his power, but this is also his weakness. He has too many talented people around him. It can be said that one more Liang Shicheng wouldn't make much of a difference, nor would one less. But the Crown Prince is different!"
"The Crown Prince has no powerful protector by his side. If Liang Shicheng were to offer him protection at this time, it would surely make the Crown Prince immensely grateful. One is adding brilliance to brocade, the other is sending charcoal in the snow. If it were you, how would you choose?"
Although Cai Jing had no evidence to prove that Han Mo had discussed these matters with the Crown Prince, he had painstakingly pieced together the truth of the matter from these fragmented clues.
With such skill, even Han Mo, if present, would have to express his admiration.
"While that may be the case, how can you be so sure that such a mere student from the Imperial Academy could devise such a plan for the Crown Prince?"
Cai Xiao pondered for a moment before asking the question that was troubling him.
"Think about it again, what are the servants in the Liang residence usually like? If Liang Shicheng hadn't given prior instructions, would those servants have been so polite to a mere student from the Imperial Academy? Could they have let him take away hundreds of thousands of copper coins like that?"
"Hoo—"
After Cai Jing finished speaking, Cai Xiao sat down on the chair behind him like a defeated rooster.
At this moment, he finally understood that the gap between him and his father was not ordinary.
"If that's the case, then weren't tonight's events all meticulously planned by them?"
After a long pause, Cai Xiao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said with lingering fear.
"It might not necessarily be a plan. Tomorrow morning, you personally take the proof of one million copper coins and deliver it to the Liang residence!"
Cai Jing said calmly.
"Copper coins are a small matter, but what if this matter leaks out..."
Cai Xiao said with some worry.
"Where in this world is there a wall that doesn't let the wind through? The Emperor's eyes and ears are his own. What's important isn't what others say or produce, but whether the Emperor wants to listen or look! Do you understand?"
Cai Jing looked at his third son meaningfully again, sighed, and then slowly got up, preparing to return to his room to sleep.
"Father, what about that scoundrel..."
"He has learned his lesson from this matter. I think in the next few days, you might as well find an opportunity to find him a position in the Six Ministries! Being a Jinshi graduate is good, but it's not a big deal if you're not."
After Cai Jing finished speaking, he leaned on his cane and slowly walked back into the darkness. Although he walked slowly, his steps were incredibly firm.
On the other hand, Cai Xiao watched his father's receding back, his gaze suddenly becoming incredibly complex...