He murmured those four words, his brows furrowing even lower.
Zhou Huaili, who had been standing to the side for a long time, finally spoke, "Your Highness, Chen Qing has been acting somewhat erratically lately."
He used to be so ruthless with money that he even dared to touch it for the sake of a shopkeeper.
This statement of credibility is absurd and may not be reliable.
" Zheng Hao is more trustworthy."
Gu Mochen raised his head.
"You said Chen Qing is a bit mystical, and I know that too."
But he'd been monitoring Yi Prefecture for so long; he wouldn't have fabricated such a story about using filth to make poison without a reason.
Zhou Huaili looked at the letter but didn't rush to refute it.
Anyang has been quite turbulent lately.
In the army, soldiers practiced human pyramids until they were rolling around on the ground. The soldiers dared not say it aloud, but their resentment was growing.
Some ordinary people, taking out " Stable Loan," became increasingly audacious, borrowing more and more, even mortgaging their grandchildren's wages.
Not to mention the coupons issued by the Prince's Mansion, which merchants initially accepted but have recently started making excuses to refuse.
Gu Mochen's money was becoming increasingly tight, but then he saw the news Zheng Hao sent that Yi Prefecture was building roads, opening shops, smelting iron, and building latrines, one thing after another, and its reputation was growing.
People are most afraid of comparison.
Merchants in Anyang City also began inquiring about road signs, caravans, and Mixue Ice City in Yi Prefecture.
Some people even said to the head steward of the Prince's residence that although Prince Yi was sickly, his wives were good at business and might be able to make money by following them.
When these words reached Gu Mochen's ears, he smashed a teacup.
Now that the secret letter of Chen Qing is before us, many fragmented pieces of information suddenly have a different interpretation.
Why does Yi Prefecture need to collect manure?
Why build concealed drainage ditches?
Why were bandits, refugees, and veterans all incorporated into the army?
Gu Mochen pressed his fingers against the letter, his fingertips getting hot from the rough paper.
"Has there been another group of people arriving in Yi Prefecture recently?"
Zhou Huaili replied, "I heard that over a hundred people from Bluestone Ridge have already joined Prince Yi's Residence. There are also displaced women and children from Black Wind Stronghold, nominally there to repair roads, deliver goods, and dig ditches."
"Nominally."
Gu Mochen repeated it.
The lamplight reflected in his eyes, casting a shadow.
"When I trained a few military households in Anyang, the imperial court sent people to keep an eye on them."
Gu Moran, on the other hand, has bandits, refugees, and former soldiers all under his control, and he can still use the guise of road repair and delivery.
"Father, are you really blind?"
Zhou Huaili remained silent.
The emperor certainly might not have been unable to see it.
However Gu Moran always left a trace in his actions.
Canals were built for flood control, water was delivered for the convenience of the people, roads were built for commerce, refugees were taken in for resettlement, and shops were opened for livelihood.
The tax revenue and grain from Yi Prefecture were still being sent north, and on the surface, there was not a single fault to be found.
Gu Mochen walked to the window.
Several guards were patrolling the courtyard at night, their boots making a soft, rustling sound as they stepped through the thin frost.
He suddenly remembered that before he left the capital, Gu Moran had passed out drunk at the table, and the book "A Simple Strategy for Enriching the Army and Supporting the People in Fiefdoms" had fallen out of his arms.
He thought he had seen through Gu Moran.
He's just a good-for-nothing who relies on women for everything and is destined for failure.
In retrospect...
That third brother is probably faking illness and cowardice. On the surface, he has six women to maintain appearances, but in reality, he harbors ambitions.
" Huaili."
Gu Mochen turned around.
"Tell me, if there is any unrest in Yi Prefecture, how will Father Emperor deal with it?"
Zhou Huaili paused.
"If the evidence is conclusive, Prince Yi is found to be harboring assassins and inciting merchants, the court will surely send an envoy to investigate."
If the border troops and the Tubo are also involved, the situation will become even more serious.
"Evidence."
Gu Mochen chuckled lightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
" The Chen Qing was written too hastily, and the evidence is insufficient. But we both know what Father Emperor fears most right now."
An adult prince.
They gathered people's support privately.
To privately amass troops.
Gu Mochen placed the two secret letters together, sat back down at his desk, and picked up his brush to dip in ink.
Seeing this, Zhou Huaili took a step forward.
"Your Highness, this matter must be handled with care."
If nothing happens in Yi Prefecture, His Majesty will think that Your Highness is using this opportunity to frame your brother.
The matter of offering elixir has not yet subsided, and Anyang is under close surveillance; submitting a memorial at this time may not be advantageous.
Gu Mochen stopped writing.
He stared at the drop of ink on the paper, watching the ink slowly spread.
"If I don't write it, and Gu Moran turns Yi Prefecture into an impregnable fortress, will I still have a chance?"
Zhou Huaili opened his mouth, but couldn't reply.
He wanted to persuade him further.
Gu Mochen had already put pen to paper.
"Your subject has heard that strange phenomena have been occurring frequently in Yi Prefecture recently, with refugees gathering, mountain bandits being captured, and merchants vying to offer their wealth."
There were also reports that he was collecting filth and privately manufacturing unknown drugs, which could potentially mislead the public...
He wrote very slowly, carefully considering each word.
When Gu Mochen wrote "Please send an envoy to verify," his hand steadied.
He didn't expect a single letter to bring down Gu Moran.
That's enough if the emperor becomes suspicious.
Gu Moran is most proud of the people's hearts in Yi Prefecture, the group of merchants, and the bandits and refugees he has gathered.
If the emperor were to send someone to investigate, the good days in Yi Prefecture would turn into a sword hanging over their heads.
Zhou Huaili looked at the memorial and his face turned pale.
"Your Highness, if His Majesty inquires about the identity of the Chen Qing who wrote the secret petition to you in Yi Prefecture..."
" Chen Qing is my man; Father should have known this long ago."
Gu Mochen folded the letter and put it into the envelope.
But all he brought was a message.
Your Majesty, I am concerned for the safety of my brothers and for unrest on the border. I have submitted a memorial to remind you of this. Is there anything wrong with that?
He raised his eyes and looked at Zhou Huaili.
"Have someone send it out along the post road."
Write another letter to Chen Qing, asking him to continue the investigation, especially regarding the bandit organization and the women in Prince Yi's Residence.
He had, after all, infiltrated the Prince Yi's Residence's residence, which made him a hundred times better than Zheng Hao.
Zhou Huaili lowered his head.
"Your subordinate obeys."
Gu Mochen leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples.
Three small wooden horses were placed on the table; they were model horses made by the Anyang Army when practicing stacking horses.
The wooden horse has eight thin wooden sticks stuck in it, symbolizing eight cavalrymen stacked on three horses.
He glanced at it, and a tightness rose in his chest again.
Yi Prefecture has a knack for fooling merchants and the public.
In Anyang, it's difficult for even eight people to sit securely on three horses.
The capital city.
The charcoal fire in the Eastern Palace was burning brightly, yet the hall still retained a lingering medicinal smell.
Gu Moyuan sat on the edge of the couch, holding half a wine cup in his hand.
The wine had gone cold, but he didn't drink it; he just stared at the swaying shadows in the glass.
The palace servants outside the gate retreated far away.
These days, everyone in the Eastern Palace walks with a light step.
The crown prince was confined to his quarters, and even the eunuchs who brought him meals dared not linger.
Chen Qinglan, who had brought the medicine, knelt before the bed, her sleeves stained with tea, her cheeks flushed an unnatural red.
The crown prince just smashed something again.
A celadon cup smashed at her feet, the shards tearing the hem of her skirt, and she was slapped in the face.
She intended to endure it, to endure until the man sobered up, to endure until the palace gates opened.
But when she thought of what Gu Moli had told her in private, when she thought of the nanny by the Empress's side, and when she thought of the Gu Nianli had given to her sister,
Thinking of the saying "A woman three years older than her husband is like holding a gold brick," the anger that had been building up in my chest for so long finally rose up.