Chapter 1893

"In the short term, the Prime Minister is not short of money at all! So why do such an absurd thing that everyone knows about, that the Censorate will surely impeach, and that calls a chicken a phoenix?"

Once these words were spoken.

Cui Jian was also stunned.

That's right!

After Cui Xinghe put it this way, he also couldn't figure it out.

Soap, white jade sugar, bamboo paper, clubs—which one isn't a hen that lays golden eggs?

Why would Gao Yang do this?

The methods were so straightforward, so undisguised, as if he were trying to make one last grab.

"This point is indeed puzzling," Cui Jian said.

Cui Xinghe pondered for a long time and finally shook his head. "Perhaps... I'm overthinking it."

"..."

A night passed.

The next day, the charity auction held by Gao Yang at the Duke Prefecture caused quite a stir in Changancheng.

Especially when those who had won bids sent their servants to deliver the silver.

When those boxes of silver were sent into the Duke Prefecture, it caused even more discussion.

The common people had many different opinions.

Especially the few censors who couldn't afford the entrance fee last night; when they heard about this, they were filled with shock.

"This is outrageous! Calling a chicken a phoenix—this Prime Minister is too arrogant!"

"If we don't impeach this fellow, we might as well just bash our heads against a wall!"

"Impeach him too!"

"Impeach him too!"

A group of censors were filled with righteous indignation, writing furiously and beginning to submit memorials for impeachment.

The severity of their wording was unprecedented, and the list of Gao Yang's crimes numbered over a hundred!

Time passed.

Public opinion in Changancheng gradually split into two camps, and there were even instances where scholars from humble backgrounds fought to defend Gao Yang.

And the wind of impeachment grew stronger.

The noisy discussions and surging impeachments were like dark clouds over Changancheng, churning outside the Duke Prefecture for an entire day.

However, inside the prefecture, there was a tranquility isolated from the world.

Gao Yang lived in seclusion, seeing no one except Chu Qingluan and Shangguan Wan'er.

He seemed to be in the eye of the storm; the wind and rain outside were nothing more than noise beyond the window.

The night grew darker.

By candlelight.

"Hoo!"

Gao Yang stood in the room, letting out a long breath. On the desk, a thick stack of fresh documents was neatly arranged.

"The three strategies for Hexi, the trap of the mutual market, the goat killing scheme, the Single Whip Law, the cement formula... finally, they are all written!"

The five-day leave Wu Zhao gave him had reached its deadline.

He had finally managed to finish them on this last night.

Gao Yang stood up and paced to the window.

Outside the window, a full moon hung high, its clear light spilling into the courtyard, silent and still.

The uproar in Changancheng—the arguments of the people, the brawls of the scholars, the impeachment memorials from the Censorate that wished to swallow him alive... these disturbances now seemed so distant and small.

A faint, cold smile crossed Gao Yang's lips.

Care?

Why should he care?

Impeach him for arrogance? Calling a chicken a phoenix? Excessive greed?

Let them be.

These noisy mosquitoes, these meaningless disputes, these calculating schemes, these deceptions, these worldly conflicts... after tomorrow, they would have nothing to do with him.

Because.

Tomorrow at the grand court session, when the hundred officials gather in the Jin Luandian, he, Gao Yang, will resign in public and return his seal to the fields!

The moonlight reflected in Gao Yang's calm, waveless eyes; beneath the deep pool was the composure of a settled matter and a firm intention to leave.