Chapter 1074

She held a white jade teacup, her eyes gradually turning serious, and an aura of imperial majesty began to permeate her body.

"I ask you, why did you launch such a massive slaughter?"

She was naturally referring to the matter of the Infant Care Hall.

Gao Yang composed his expression and said with a smile, "Because of that one piece of candy."

"After eating that piece of candy, your subject felt that I had to do something."

Wu Zhao's expression shifted, her voice rising: "One of the three pieces of candy that Liu Dashan was praised for as a 'lucky child'?"

"Just because of a tiny piece of candy, you beheaded the Commandery Governor, the Supervisor, Master Zhou, and even wanted to behead Guo Youliang, Marquis Changning, Marquis Wanan, and others? You went to such lengths to stir up this much commotion?"

Gao Yang nodded and said with a sigh, "That candy meant nothing to your subject, but to her, it was precious beyond measure."

Wu Zhao's phoenix eyes narrowed, and she asked in confusion.

"But this does not fit your character, and you absolutely knew the consequences this would trigger. Now, if I want to appoint you as Prime Minister, the resistance in the court will be immense!"

Wu Zhao paused and continued: "If anyone among the civil and military officials had done this, I wouldn't be too surprised, but for it to be you, I cannot fathom it!"

"Not to mention that Liu Dashan offered such superior conditions."

"To hear nothing, see nothing, and listen to nothing, avoiding all unnecessary trouble—that is your usual style of conduct."

Gao Yang looked directly at Wu Zhao and said with a smile, "Although your subject is a 'poisonous strategist' and not a good person, Your Majesty... a poisonous strategist is not a heartless person either."

"The matter of the Infant Care Hall far exceeded the bottom line of humanity. Your subject could not bear to watch, so I acted. This sounds absurd, but it is as true as it can be."

"Your subject is not a good person, but I am a human being after all."

In the depths of Gao Yang's eyes, there was complete openness.

He looked into Wu Zhao's eyes without any evasion, his conscience clear.

Wu Zhao stared into Gao Yang's eyes and nodded, "Good, I believe you."

"Second question: you took one million taels of silver to open schools widely and shelter the impoverished scholars of the world. Was this truly an act of heartache because that Liu Dashan was diligent and eager to learn but had gone astray?"

At this, Gao Yang shook his head.

"Your Majesty, on this point, your subject was making it up."

"That Liu Dashan was devoid of humanity; even facing death, he was extremely calm. Not only did he have no regrets, but his eyes were also full of composure. However, part of what he said was true: for a merchant like him without a background, if one wants to cross social classes, only rare goods that others cannot buy but want to buy can serve as a ladder to the heavens."

"Stealing light by boring through a wall, being chased by dogs, being beaten by servants—these were all fabricated by your subject."

Wu Zhao nodded and let out a sigh of relief, "It is good that you are honest."

"Otherwise, even if you had heaven-defying abilities, I would severely punish you."

She looked at Gao Yang and said in a cold voice, "Continue."

Gao Yang picked up the hot tea on the table and took a sip. The mellow yet scalding tea flowed down his throat, driving away the chill in his body, and his mind became clearer than ever before.

He spoke with a face full of emotion.

"I will not hide it from Your Majesty, that night your subject was also caught in a huge dilemma."

"Ghost marriages are easy to talk about and easy to investigate, but those missing children and the filth of the past are hard to find evidence for, and the people involved in Changancheng are extremely difficult to investigate."

"Plus, your subject has many enemies in the court, and officials all over the world are terrified of me, so as Your Majesty said, once your subject exposes all of this, the price will be high."

"Your subject is cautious by nature, so I had to come up with a strategy that serves both ends."

Wu Zhao's gaze was deep, and a look of realization appeared on her face.

She said, "So you decided to set up schools widely and shelter the impoverished scholars of the world? And you took out one million taels?"

"This is your strategy that serves both ends?"

Gao Yang nodded, first flattering her.

"Your Majesty is wise."

"Self-justification is an extremely foolish thing, and this matter cannot be explained clearly. Furthermore, when Lin Mang arrived, your subject knew deeply that all the major clans in Changancheng involved in the Infant Care Hall would resist to the death!"

"Later, it was just as your subject predicted: they incited the scholars of Changancheng to gather at the palace gate and coerce Your Majesty!"

"This is a classic case of the villain accusing the victim first. Because your subject has a bad reputation, even if I made Master Zhou's filth public, the students of Changancheng, incited by those with ulterior motives, would never believe it; instead, they would become even more agitated, simply because... this is not the truth they wanted in their hearts." ===== CHAPTER 1076 =====