"Xiao Bao!" As soon as Gu Wan entered Gu Chengyu’s residence, she headed straight for Gu Chengyu’s courtyard.
"Second Sister, why are you here?" As soon as Gu Chengyu saw the rushing Gu Wan, along with Sun Xian and Ye Zhiqiu, he knew his second sister was worried about this matter.
"I just heard your brother-in-law ntion it. I heard that your chief examiner’s house was raided? Will it affect you?"
Gu Wan grasped Gu Chengyu’s hand, not caring about the restless Xiao Bao in Sun Xian’s arms, her face full of urgency.
Seeing Gu Wan’s anxious face, Gu Chengyu felt a warmth in his heart, "Don’t worry! It’s fine, I didn’t cheat in the exam, it won’t implicate ."
Gu Wan didn’t understand the intricacies here, but since Gu Chengyu said it was fine, she believed him. Although she was still sowhat worried, she had great trust in Xiao Bao.
Since childhood, Xiao Bao never let the family worry, it seed he could solve anything that ca his way.
"Don’t worry! At worst, I’ll just take the exam again." Gu Chengyu patted her shoulder in comfort.
Only then did Gu Wan completely relax, "Retaking the exam is such a pity, especially after nine days in the examination hall! Your brother-in-law needed two days to recover! Alas!"
Sun Xian and Ye Zhiqiu were hesitant to speak, Gu Chengyu glanced at them, signaling with his eyes to not speak carelessly.
Saying more would only make Gu Wan more worried, serving no purpose.
"Uncle! Hug!" As soon as Xiao Bao saw Gu Chengyu, his eyes lit up, his big moist eyes looking at Gu Chengyu, and his round apple face cald Gu Chengyu’s agitated mood considerably.
Regardless of the magnitude of the event, one should try to find a solution, and face it calmly, he realized he was still sowhat impulsive.
"Didn’t Xiao Bao want to play with the rocking horse? Go find Sister Lichun with your mother to play!"
Knowing Gu Chengyu and the others had matters to discuss, Gu Wan took Xiao Bao from Sun Xian’s arms and left the courtyard.
"Chengyu! What are your plans regarding this matter? Is there any reliable news?"
Sun Xian and the others followed Gu Chengyu to the study, and after a while, seeing Gu Chengyu silent, Sun Xian broke the silence.
"This matter is extrely complicated, I’m waiting for news from Ming Mo and the others. Once it’s confird, I’ll tell you, right now it’s just my speculation."
Gu Chengyu planned to tell Sun Xian and the others, since if he were investigated, he would surely be detained in prison first.
Inside, he would be inconvenient, and would rely on Sun Xian and the others to help him.
Ming Mo and the others were ultimately just servants, not suitable for coming forward in so situations.
Sun Xian and Ye Zhiqiu then realized the seriousness of the matter, it seed Chengyu was already preparing.
"Young Master! Ding Jiu brought news that the Military Departnt discovered a list at Wan Mansion, a list full of rchants who bribed Lord Wan. They even found evidence of Lord Wan’s involvent in the bandit case as a chief plotter."
Ming Mo was still unaware that Gu Chengyu had guessed correctly, and was extrely shocked upon receiving this news.
Unexpectedly, Lord Wan had committed such heinous acts.
"What?" Sun Xian and Ye Zhiqiu were also shocked, they couldn’t believe it involved such a major issue.
Was this exam scandal just a smokescreen? Sun Xian and Ye Zhiqiu were not foolish, with things at this stage, the real purpose was becoming apparent.
"Did they confiscate any Silver Tael? Was anything found at Mr. Song’s residence?"
Gu Chengyu thought it unlikely that the Eldest Prince would make such a high-cost move, wouldn’t the missing Silver prove that it was used in shady dealings?
And Wan Xue Nian certainly couldn’t account for the whereabouts of this batch of Silver, if the Third Prince had no strategy, he could only take the hits passively. Perhaps, he could also target the Third Prince.
"There wasn’t much wealth, just the dowry of Wan Mansion’s won, nothing was found at Song Mansion."
Gu Chengyu pondered for a mont, the most important thing now wasn’t the exam scandal, he would beco a political scapegoat.
"Brother Sun, Brother Ye, listen to ..."
Gu Chengyu asked Ming Mo to stay, and shared his speculations with them.
Just as they finished speaking, Ming Yan entered the study.
"Young Master! The Military Departnt’s n went to several manors at the sa ti, Ding Liu sent a ssage back, it’s already too late."
Gu Chengyu had anticipated this outco, after all, it would take considerable effort to determine the location of the manors hurriedly.
"Chengyu! Are you suggesting that this matter is likely orchestrated by the Eldest Prince?"
Sun Xian found it incredible, although there were rumors of the Eldest Prince’s gloomy personality, he hadn’t committed any serious wrongs in daily life.
"Right! I was just suspecting earlier, but evidence of the bandit case found at Wan Mansion proves that Wan Xue Nian and the Eldest Prince cannot be allies."
In fact, this thod wasn’t very sophisticated, was there really no one aware of the Eldest Prince’s actions? In high political positions, who doesn’t have a few advisers and strategists in their mansion? And a few capable subordinates?
The Eldest Prince acted fearlessly simply because there was no incriminating evidence left from the previous bandit case! If not for Hu Maoqing’s pressure, the Eldest Prince wouldn’t have co up with such an idea. After all, framing requires bleeding a little.
"Lord Wan is the maternal grandfather of the Third Prince, from the Third Prince’s birth, he’s been tied to him, how could he betray the Third Prince?" Ye Zhiqiu analyzed as well.
Speaking of this, he suddenly realized, "So the Eldest Prince’s aim is to topple the Third Prince?"
Ye Zhiqiu felt chills, there were only four Princes, the Fourth Prince was weak, if the Third Prince was ousted, only the Second Prince would remain.
The Royal Family is said to have no kinship, in pursuit of the throne, brothers fight till death.
Though the current Emperor received the late Emperor’s edict, didn’t he ascend the throne stepping over his brother’s corpses?
"You could say that."
Gu Chengyu felt a bit uneasy at the mont, by logic, the morning eting should have ended by now, why hadn’t Senior Brother returned ho yet?
Guo Shi was in an extrely dangerous situation, Gu Chengyu feared soone might lose patience, taking Guo Shi’s life as soon as they left the Imperial Palace.
In Taihe Palace, the Emperor was furious, "Are you saying evidence of the bandit case from that year was found?"
"Reporting to the Emperor, letters discovered at Wan Mansion revealed so lists and inventories. The inventories recorded the amount of silver and gold seized from rchant caravans each ti, totaling over two million taels."
This statent caused a stir in the assembly.
"Two million taels? Wan Xue Nian truly had the audacity."
The court erupted in whispers.
Xia Qing flicked his eyelids, then glanced at the Third Prince.
This was news that Minister of the Ministry of Justice Kuang Zhao Ying had just received, as soon as the Military Departnt searched Wan Mansion, the letters and lists were handed over to the Dali Temple.
"And what about that batch of gold and silver?" The Emperor gripping the armrest of the Dragon Throne tightly.
Currently, with the National Treasury depleted, even this Emperor had to practice frugality, Wan Xue Nian’s actions were truly despicable. It’s taking lives casually, those rchants were his Dayan subjects.
The Emperor’s sharp gaze was like an arrow, directed at the Third Prince.
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