My father, Gao Huan, is an invincible prince!

Chapter 44's principle is: Hiding the tree in the forest!

Just as everyone was making their plans, Gao Yang returned to the gate of the Governor's Mansion.

But unlike his arrogance when he left Sima Ziru's mansion, Gao Yang's face was now so somber it seemed like water could drip from it.

Just now, in front of Sima Ziru, he was still able to maintain his composure.

That's because he knew those old guys were watching his every move, and he couldn't afford to show any weakness.

Now that he's back on his own turf, he has no more scruples and can no longer suppress his anger.

To be honest, he really hadn't expected that these old foxes would be able to set up such a series of traps to lure him in.

If he hadn't always followed Gao Cheng's advice, sending evidence to He Xi Shele as soon as it was found, and never keeping any written proof in his possession...

By now, they've probably already become fish on the chopping block.

Even so, most of the dozen or so trusted men he brought from Jinyang were still lost today.

He found it hard to swallow this insult.

Therefore, as soon as he entered the room, he could no longer suppress his anger. He immediately grabbed Wang Hong, who was standing in the corridor, and asked in a deep voice, "Where is my brother? Didn't you say you had already entered the city?"

Wang Hong was pulled so hard that he stumbled, and hurriedly bowed and replied, "Your Highness, the young master has had a long journey and is currently bathing and changing in the back hall. Please wait a moment."

"Take a bath?"

Gao Yang was taken aback, then his brows furrowed.

His face immediately darkened. "What time is it? How can my brother still be in the mood for bathing? Doesn't he know that there's trouble in Hanoi, the army's supplies have been intercepted, and those old foxes in Ye City are sharpening their knives?"

But before he could finish speaking, two soft coughs came from behind him.

Immediately, a clear, teasing voice reached their ears: "Why does Erlang look so pale? Could it be that the food and wine at Lord Sima's mansion are not good?"

Gao Yang turned around in response and saw Duan Shao and Huli Guang standing side by side, looking at him with a half-smile.

The person who spoke just now was his cousin, Duan Shao.

Seeing the two arrive together, Gao Yang's expression darkened further. He glanced at him and said irritably, "Cousin, you still have the mind to joke? If they hadn't used you as a go-between, why would I have been sitting here at Sima Ziru's residence for half a day?"

Duan Shao shrugged, saying helplessly, "Am I merely following orders?"

"Acting under orders?"

Gao Yang sneered: "Whose orders are you on? My brother's? Did my brother tell you that I was the one who was stabbed in the shadows?"

Duan Shao opened his mouth, unsure how to respond.

Seeing that the two were about to fight, Huli Guang quickly stepped forward to smooth things over: "Alright, alright, we're all family. The young master has his own rules for doing things. Second Brother, please calm down."

Gao Yang snorted, turned his head away, and ignored the two of them.

The three of them stood under the porch, none of them speaking.

Fortunately, the three of them didn't have to wait long. After a short while, footsteps came from the direction of the main hall.

The three looked up and saw Gao Cheng, with his hair half-wet, wearing a moon-white robe, walking out unhurriedly.

Seeing his leisurely demeanor, Gao Yang felt his anger, which had just subsided, rising again.

Just as he was about to start arguing, Gao Cheng laughed and said, "You're all here? Perfect timing, the kitchen has prepared dinner. Let's have some first before we talk."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the dining hall, not giving the three of them a chance to object.

Seeing this, Gao Yang stamped his feet in frustration and angrily said to Duan Shao and the other man, "Look, he can still eat!"

Hulü Guang patted him on the shoulder with a smile: "Since you're here, make the best of it. The young master knows what's going on."

Gao Yang opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing that the two had already started walking, he had no choice but to follow.

Inside the dining hall, the table was filled with steaming dishes.

Gao Cheng walked to the head seat and sat down. He told everyone to make themselves at home, and then got up and began to eat slowly and methodically.

Gao Yang sat to the side, picking up his chopsticks and putting them down repeatedly, his heart filled with anxiety.

Duan Shao and Huli Guang were no better off; they only ate a few bites before stopping and remaining silent.

Only Gao Cheng slowly finished a bowl of rice and drank half a bowl of soup before putting down his chopsticks.

Seeing this, Gao Yang could no longer contain himself and slammed his fist on Yu An's shoulder: "Brother, we've finished eating, shouldn't we get down to business?"

Gao Cheng remained unhurried, took out a silk handkerchief to wipe his mouth, and then slowly said, "Let's go to the study."

After saying that, he got up and went straight to the study. The three of them exchanged a glance and quickly followed.

A short while later, the four entered the study.

He Xi Shele was already standing by his side, holding a heavy wooden box in his arms.

Gao Yang had barely sat down on the stool when he turned to He Xi Shele and said urgently, "Shele, where are the things? Bring them here quickly!"

Upon hearing this, He Xi Shele did not move, but instead turned to look at Gao Cheng.

Only after Gao Cheng nodded slightly did he step forward a few steps, place the black wooden box in his hand on the table, and gently open it.

As the lid of the box was opened, the light from the oil lamp shone in, instantly revealing a stack of hemp paper, covered with ink stains and densely written characters.

These were the very pieces of evidence that Duan Shao and Huli Guang had been gathering information openly, while Gao Yang had been collecting them at great personal risk in secret, and which were eventually all brought to the hands of He Xi Shele.

Yes, from the very beginning, the evidence the three men collected never stayed in their possession.

Instead, it all ended up in the hands of He Xi She Le, an insignificant nobody.

Gao Cheng knew that the four nobles were all shrewd and intelligent and would eventually discover Gao Yang hiding in the shadows, so he never placed his hopes on Gao Yang.

Instead, they deliberately chose a nobody like Hexi Shele to be the real stalker of the cicada.

As the saying goes, trees should be stored in the forest, and people should be stored in the market.

He Xishe was an insignificant person. Although he was just a minor figure who helped Gao Cheng build the governor's office, he had no power to command, no manpower to employ, and not even a proper official position.

But that's precisely why people subconsciously overlook him.

Therefore, although Sun Teng and others had guessed that Duan Shao and Hulü Guang were just a decoy, and had also set up a series of schemes to force Gao Yang out, they never expected that the significance of Gao Yang's existence was itself just an even bigger decoy.

When Gao Yang saw the evidence revealed, he could no longer restrain himself. He reached out and picked up the top scroll, his fingertips trembling slightly.

This is because every single piece of paper here is stained with the blood of his dead servants.

He glanced at the contents of the incriminating evidence, then took a deep breath and gritted his teeth, saying, "Brother, this evidence is enough to kill Sun Teng and the others ten times over. When shall we make our move?"

Duan Shao and Huli Guang exchanged a glance, and Duan Shao also cast an inquiring look at Gao Cheng.

However, Gao Cheng did not answer immediately upon hearing this. Instead, he reached into the box, took out a secret letter, and carefully read it by the light of the lamp.

The letter contained a detailed record of Sun Teng's illegal occupation of more than 3,000 hectares of farmland and his keeping of more than 2,000 private households.

He quickly finished reading it and then picked up another document to read. This was Sima Ziru's account of selling official positions. It showed that on a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, a certain person paid a certain amount of money and obtained a certain county magistrate's position. The price was clearly marked and easy to understand.

He read through the letters one by one, his expression gradually becoming serious. After finishing reading the contents of these secret letters, his face was ashen.

After a while, he threw the last secret letter back into the wooden box.

A cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth, and he said in a deep voice, "No wonder Father was so eager to send me to Ye to govern. These old bastards have amassed enough wealth over the years to support an army of 100,000 for more than three years. They are truly like greedy beasts."

Gao Yang had no patience left before Gao Cheng could utter these words.

He slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly, his eyes blazing with anger. "Brother, now that the evidence is conclusive, there's no need to waste any more time. It's the perfect time to cleanse the corrupt officials of Yedu and take over all government affairs."

"Please give the order, brother, and I will lead the way."

Upon hearing this, Duan Shao and Hulü Guang also expressed their agreement, rising in unison to bow and saying in deep voices, "We are also willing to do it. Please grant us your command, Your Highness!"