Chapter 1090: How much? Ten million taels? Why don

As soon as these words were spoken.

A sense of foreboding surfaced in the hearts of Lin Wan'an and Tian Ming.

"What is the matter that has you so flustered?" Lin Wan'an asked with great majesty.

"Reporting to the Marquis, the Living Yama has made the matter of the Nursery Hall public. He also claimed that Liu Dashan loved to study, but because he was chased by dogs and beaten by servants when he was young, his path to learning was too difficult, which is why he went astray. Therefore, the Living Yama intends to donate one million taels of silver to establish schools far and wide, to shelter the impoverished scholars of the world!"

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Wan'an's expression changed drastically.

He and Tian Ming stood up in unison.

"That Liu Dashan loved to study?"

"What kind of joke is this?"

Lin Wan'an exclaimed in shock.

Tian Ming's expression turned gloomy, and he said with an ugly look, "This Living Yama plays without martial virtue. He is clearly trying to suppress people with money. Once this one million taels is paid out, I fear public opinion in Changancheng will shift dramatically."

Lin Wan'an also said with a grim face, "Indeed, the Living Yama has great audacity. I fear we will not have an easy time with this one million taels."

"But it is not a major problem. Although one million taels is a lot, it is not enough to completely turn public opinion around. Let us think of another way; we can still wrestle with the Living Yama!"

"Who will emerge victorious is yet to be known!"

The next second.

Another servant ran in, panicked.

"Marquis, something terrible has happened!"

Lin Wan'an glanced at him, feeling annoyed, but he still spoke, "Go down. I am already aware of the matter from the morning court session regarding the Living Yama donating one million taels. There is no need to say more."

"Go and collect your reward."

But the servant wore a bitter expression and said to Lin Wan'an.

"Marquis, that is not one million taels!"

Lin Wan'an: "???"

"Not one million taels?"

Lin Wan'an was stunned.

The servant continued, "That Living Yama is simply insane, he is not acting like a human at all. That one million taels is only the first installment. Over the next thirty years, he intends to pay out ten million taels to widely recruit students from impoverished families across the world!"

"Now, the public opinion in the entire Changancheng has completely reversed. Many of the leading Confucian scholars have all turned against us. Marquis, please think of a way!"

Boom!

Ten million taels!

Lin Wan'an was dumbfounded.

Tian Ming was also dumbfounded.

Even though they held high positions and great power, and their family fortunes were not small.

They were still terrified by this number.

Once this number was out, even if Gao Yang had committed a crime that angered both heaven and man, he would still be spared from death!

Was it worth it?

Even if he lost and had to swallow a bitter pill, with Wu Zhao's favor and Gao Yang's power, what would it matter? It would be nothing more than a few days of confinement or a few years of docked salary.

But was it worth one million, ten million taels?

They could still attempt a counterattack against one million, but ten million taels—how could one defy heaven and change fate?

"Damn you, Marquis of Changning!"

"You are insane, using the eyes of young children to show filial piety to your old mother. You are unworthy of being human!"

"Worse than a beast!"

"You even secretly bewitched us, intending to frame Lord Gao. You are truly detestable. Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?"

"We will not hesitate to die; even without hard evidence, we will nail you all to the pillar of shame!"

"That's right, if you have the guts, kill us!"

At this moment.

Waves of insults from scholars swept in from outside the mansion.

They disregarded their status and began to curse directly.

And judging by the volume, quite a few people had come.

Hearing the clamor outside the mansion, Lin Wan'an slumped into his chair and closed his eyes in pain.

"It's over!"

"It's all over now!"

"Even without hard evidence, this reputation is ruined!"

Tian Ming was even more stunned, saying in shock.

"Is this the power of the Living Yama?"

"Is this the power of money? So quickly, these Changancheng scholars have turned against us?"

Meanwhile.

At the Duke of Ding Prefecture.

Gao Yang, having given Gao Changwen a sound beating, pushed open the door to Gao Tianlong's room, feeling physically and mentally refreshed.

Inside the room.

Gao Tianlong and Gao Feng were playing chess.

Gao Yang hurriedly bowed and said, "Grandson pays respects to Grandfather, and to Father."

Gao Tianlong glanced at Gao Yang without changing his expression, then put down the black piece in his hand.

He said calmly, "Satisfied?"

"I feel completely refreshed."

Gao Yang looked at the calm Gao Tianlong and couldn't help but marvel.

As expected of the older generation; even upon learning that he had to pay out ten million taels of silver, he remained as steady as Mount Taishan, without a hint of emotion.

Gao Tianlong stared at Gao Yang with his eyes, then spoke.

"To make you pay out one million taels, that is truly not simple. Although the cost is somewhat high, our Gao family can also gain a good reputation."

Gao Feng also stared at Gao Yang with a rare look of extreme appreciation.

He stroked the beard on his chin, wearing a smile.

This rebellious son had finally done something that made him feel at ease.

Seeing this, Gao Yang raised an eyebrow.

He shook his head at Gao Tianlong and said, "Grandfather, that is where you are mistaken. It is not one million taels, but ten million taels."

Gao Tianlong was old, and his reaction was a bit slow. "Ten million is ten… how much, ten million taels???"

The next second.

Gao Tianlong stood up directly.

He even stood up too quickly, nearly blacking out, and almost sat back down. His face was filled with horror.