The aide's lips moved, but he didn't dare to offer any further advice.
In the study of Prince Yi's Residence's mansion, Zhao Si's report had just been delivered.
Gu Moran pressed the piece of paper recording the reward money under the lamp.
Su Yao stared at it for a long time.
"Didn't the Crown Prince stop it?"
He couldn't bear to part with it.
Shen Ling'er dropped a Coptis chinensis pill into the teacup.
"He cares about his reputation, his virtue, and what the people think of him. After being the crown prince for so many years, this is the first time he's been praised like this."
She stirred the tea twice.
"How amusing! His husband handed him a cup of poisoned wine, and he even wanted to set it on the altar."
Liu Ruyan laid out the paper again and wrote down an even shorter version of the lyrics.
"Let's keep singing until tomorrow."
Just as Gu Moran was about to speak, Uncle Fu came in from outside the door.
"Your Highness, the arrangements at the temporary detention center in the south of the city have been completed."
Gu Moran's fingertip paused on the paper.
" Baishe went in?"
"He's been arrested. To have a criminal record, he specifically stole a chicken. People in Chang'an County just think of him as a chicken thief."
Gu Moran folded the lyrics and pressed them under the lamp.
"The south side of the city is going to be lively again tonight."
Just as Uncle Fu was about to leave, a servant boy ran out onto the veranda, his shoes covered in mud.
"Your Highness, news has come from the palace that they are also listening to opera in the Hall of Supreme Ultimate."
Gu Moran stopped holding the teacup.
The servant took a couple of breaths.
"Eunuch Gao had three copies made and sent inside."
Hall of Supreme Ultimate.
Chen Dehai was halfway through reading the third script when sweat began to bead on his forehead.
The vermilion brush behind the imperial desk was placed on a brush holder, Gao Fu quickly handed over hot tea.
The hall was filled with the scent of sandalwood, but it couldn't mask the smell of the elixir the emperor had just taken.
The emperor raised his eyes.
"Why did you stop reading?"
Chen Dehai bent over.
"The people behind him cheered."
"Read."
Chen Dehai had no choice but to continue reading.
"An old woman in Bitter Water Lane clapped her hands, and children in front of Shun'an Shelter kowtowed in gratitude, all saying that the noble person had already devised a brilliant plan for this impoverished alley before even leaving the gate."
The vermilion brush pressed a red mark onto the edge of the fold.
The emperor remained silent.
Chen Dehai's palms were sweaty, and the pages of paper were crumpled from being squeezed.
This prince is in trouble!
His Majesty approved Yuan Shen's memorial.
The registration of Chang'an County was decided by His Majesty.
The ink on the vermilion annotations in the South City Martial Workshop was not yet completely dry.
Nowadays, the common people first thank the Noble of the Azure Gate, and even compiled the three strategies for the south of the city.
Do they still respect His Majesty?
The emperor put down his vermilion brush.
Who authorized the singing?
Chen Dehai's throat moved slightly.
"This old servant has investigated, and everyone in the neighborhood says that the singer made it up himself, just something he heard and then spontaneously composed."
The emperor looked at him.
"No further developments?"
Gao Fu stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, the people have always enjoyed making up stories to praise your virtues."
"However, this old servant is still sending people to investigate."
Just as he finished speaking, three messages were delivered.
The tip money at the East Market Teahouse came from a servant in the Crown Prince's Residence.
At the West Market stage, the opera troupe received a reward card, which they passed around twice. The card originated from the alley where the Crown Prince's Residence was located.
The storyteller at the theater said that the lyrics were inspired by the idle chatter of a medicine seller at the Crown Prince's Residence.
Each of the three messages was thin, unbreakable, and unreliable.
But when you put all three together, there's only one direction.
After listening, the emperor placed his palm on the script.
"Well done!"
Gao Fu remained motionless, his hands hanging limply.
Chen Dehai swallowed.
The emperor chuckled.
"The memorial I just approved contained silver donated privately by the third prince. The people don't thank me or the third prince; instead, they sing praises to my good crown prince."
Chen Dehai dared not accept it.
"My son is so eager to cultivate a reputation for virtue."
The hall was quiet for a while, the only sound being the soft sound of incense ash falling into the bronze incense burner.
The emperor pushed the play script to the corner of the table.
"Go and keep an eye on how the Crown Prince's Residence will handle this."
Chen Dehai bent down and took two steps back.
"This old servant obeys the decree."
The Crown Prince's Residence.
One desk, three lamps.
The staff member spread all the lyrics they had gathered on the table, beads of sweat trickling down his temples and into his collar.
"Your Highness, you can't sing anymore."
Gu Moyuan stared at the papers.
A nobleman heard weeping in the alley at midnight.
Even before the Noble of the Azure Gate left his house, he had already devised a brilliant plan for navigating the impoverished alley.
An old woman in Bitter Water Lane clapped her hands, and children in Shun'an Shed kowtowed in gratitude.
Every word he said was both praising him and putting him in a difficult position.
"If you keep singing, His Majesty will think you're deliberately trying to win over the people."
The staff was urging them urgently.
Gu Moyuan crumpled the corner of the paper.
"Who exactly released it?"
"Unable to trace the source, and following His Highness's orders, the manor stopped giving out rewards. But the strange thing is, no one else received a reward either."
The aide swallowed hard.
"It's being said everywhere that the only reward money came from one of our outer courtyard servants."
The teahouse owner told everyone he met that the Noble of the Azure Gate did not wish to remain anonymous, but his kindness had even deeply moved his servants.
Gu Moyuan placed his hand on the table.
"Quickly find a way to shut them up."
"I will carry it out."
Gu Moyuan called out to him.
"Don't resort to violence, just say the opera is vulgar, and stop singing it."
The staff member wore a grim expression.
"Your Highness, the more you say that, the more people outside will think you're being modest and refusing praise, which only reinforces that belief."
Gu Moyuan's gaze darkened.
"Then what do you want me to do? Stand up and say that the matter in the south of the city wasn't handled by me? That it has nothing to do with me?"
The staff dared not respond.
Gu Moyuan stood up, took two steps, and then turned back.
"To suppress it is like being a thief. To not suppress it is like stealing credit."
He stood in front of the desk, his ten fingers gripping the edge of the table.
No matter what choice you make, the label of "virtuous" is already firmly attached to you.
The emperor had just personally approved the memorial, and the people of the south of the city immediately turned around and thanked the crown prince.
Emperors are inherently wary of their heirs.
just in case...
The aide looked up and asked cautiously.
"Your Highness, I have a guess as to who did this."
Gu Moyuan did not respond.
The staff began to analyze the situation.
"The Second Prince has no motive, and he himself is constantly trying to win over Ye Qingyun and Chu Tianxing. He can't wait for everyone to forget about this matter."
Gu Moyuan's fingertip stopped.
"Those storytellers outside? They wouldn't dare to make up their own stories."
"The mere mention of 'Noble of the Azure Gate' is tantamount to challenging the Eastern Palace. Ordinary opera troupes wouldn't dare to do that unless they have someone backing them up."
The aide continued.
"The silver in the south of the city was provided by Prince Yi, and the lyrics' starting point happens to be the south of the city."
"During the day, we send people to Chang'an County to retrieve the roster, and in the evening, the chants are played all over the streets."
Gu Moyuan raised his head.
The aide lowered his voice.
"The timing was perfect."
"I dare to guess, but Prince Yi is no longer the muddle-headed fool he once was."
Or rather, it was his six wives who were advising him...
One by one, the threads in Gu Moyuan's mind connected.
Su Yao was raised by that old fox, the Prime Minister.
Shen Ling'er has always been the most mischievous.
Not to mention Xie Wanqing, who became famous at the poetry gathering; her father is usually silent, but he's the most learned person in the world!
Gu Moyuan withdrew his hand from the table.
"You, Gu Moran!"
Six words passed between my teeth.
"I haven't found any fault on your part, yet you've already accused me of something."
The staff members' backs were tense.
Gu Moyuan stood there for a while before turning to look at him.
"The more urgent the situation, the less you should panic."
"Although the people have now given me a reputation for virtue, even if Father Emperor has doubts, he cannot punish me simply because the people praise my benevolence."