Uncle Luo handed a few papers to Zhao Shi'an.
Zhao Shi'an read them all.
From the moment he arrived in the capital, Zhao Shi'an began collecting evidence of Gao Wancheng's crimes, the most important of which was the evidence of Gao Wancheng's plot to murder Marshal Zhong.
Back then, the Zhong family was defeated by the north, and then a guard reported that Marshal Zhong was a traitor who had colluded with the enemy.
When the news reached the capital, the emperor was furious and immediately ordered that Marshal Zhong be escorted back to the capital.
However, on his way back, Marshal Zhong suddenly fell ill and died. The person in charge of escorting General Zhong was the previous commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who was from the Gao family at the time.
Furthermore, regarding the subsequent handling of the Zhong family members, Gao Wancheng unanimously advocated for the execution of the male members of the Zhong family and the enslavement of the female members.
At that time, Gao Wancheng's faction seized on the Zhong family's affairs like mad dogs, and even Consort Li and the Eighth Prince in the palace were impeached.
Consort Li committed suicide to prove her innocence. The seven-year-old Eighth Prince was banished from the palace by the Emperor to the imperial mausoleum to reflect on his mistakes. He later disappeared in an assassination attempt.
Consort Li was born into the Zhong family and was related to the current Empress by marriage. When the Zhong family was in trouble, the Empress pleaded for them but was also neglected by the Emperor.
Many people know that there was injustice in the Zhong family's case, but the Gao family has absolute power, and the execution of the Zhong family was ordered by the emperor. So, no one has dared to exonerate the Zhong family all these years.
In the previous life, the Zhong family's crimes were only thoroughly investigated after the Crown Prince ascended the throne, and justice was served for the Zhong family.
As for the downfall of the Gao family, it was entirely due to his own insatiable greed, which led him to touch things he shouldn't have—embezzling gold mines and stockpiling troops.
In his previous life, he brought down the Gao family, which exhausted too much of the Crown Prince's energy. Later, the Gao family was assassinated by the remnants of the Gao family, which severely damaged their foundation, and they died within two years.
Meanwhile, the papers that Uncle Luo handed to Zhao Shi'an were all about Gao Wancheng's eldest son boasting about the family's wealth, and even saying yesterday that the Gao family was about to acquire a gold mine.
Around the same time in his previous life, the Gao family discovered a gold mine and began mining it privately.
"Has anyone been sent to investigate the gold mine mentioned above?"
Uncle Luo shook his head.
“He only said it casually yesterday, and after that, his girl refused to say anything more when she asked him. I suspect that he made up about the gold mine as well.”
Zhao Shi'an shook his head.
The gold mine story is true.
After the Gao family fell in his previous life, Shi Fanli was in charge of handling the gold mine. Zhao Shi'an didn't remember the address of the gold mine very clearly, only that it was within the jurisdiction of Xichang Prefecture. But when he received Xiao Liu's message this afternoon, he suddenly remembered it.
It is Liujiazhai.
"How is the matter between Qin Hou and his son going?"
"The Gao family has been trying to get involved, but the Dali Temple is holding firm. Just the other day, for some reason, Qin Hou's father suddenly relented, admitted to some of the crimes, and cleared Qin Hou of any wrongdoing."
Zhao Shi'an pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Did that old man from the Qin family meet with Gao Wancheng before he confessed?"
Uncle Luo nodded.
Zhao Shi'an scoffed lightly.
So that's how it is.
The gold mine wasn't found by the Gao family, but by the Qin family.
In the previous life, I didn't know how Gao Wancheng had seized the gold mine from the Qin family, but in this life, I'm certain that the Qin family used the gold mine to exchange for peace.
"Uncle Luo, invite Gao Wancheng to meet us in the name of Fengyulou."
Uncle Luo didn't ask any more questions and readily agreed.
Gao Wancheng was just about to go to sleep when he received the message. Upon hearing that it was from Fengyulou, he hesitated for a moment but still went out.
However, he was still worried, so he had someone call Gao Ren over and asked Gao Ren to protect him.
When Gao Ren arrived, he got directly into Gao Wancheng's carriage.
"Who does Godfather want to see?"
Gao Wancheng immediately took out a letter.
The people from Fengyulou invited Gao Wancheng to meet outside the city, and the letter was stamped with the totem seal of Fengyulou, so it was indeed Fengyulou.
Gao Ren observed Gao Wancheng without making a sound.
"Isn't Fengyulou serving His Highness the Crown Prince? Why would he want to see his godfather?"
Gao Wancheng was also unaware.
The carriage slowly left the city and arrived at the place where Fengyulou was to be met, where someone was already waiting.
The surroundings were empty, and there was only one figure inside the small pavilion. It was indeed impossible to ambush someone in such a place.
Gao Wancheng only took Gao Ren with him.
Upon entering the pavilion, Gao Ren once again encountered the owner of the Wind and Rain Pavilion.
She was dressed the same way she did the last time we met.
Gao Ren pretended not to know him.
"Are you the master of the Wind and Rain Pavilion?"
Gao Wancheng spoke first.
But the next moment, upon seeing the masked face that had turned around, Gao Wancheng pursed his lips slightly.
I feel unhappy.
Fengyulou is just a rising star in the martial arts world. Seeing that he still doesn't show his true face, it's inevitable that people will be somewhat displeased with Fengyulou.
He flicked his sleeves and sat down on the stone bench in the pavilion, his tone becoming several degrees colder and harder than before.
"Isn't Fengyu Tower under the command of His Highness the Crown Prince? You invited me here late at night; wouldn't the Crown Prince mind if he found out?"
Zhao Shi'an was not in a hurry and sat down opposite Gao Wancheng.
"Who says that Fengyulou obeys the Crown Prince? Fengyulou is just a business that trades information in the martial arts world. Whoever can give me satisfactory things, I will naturally work for them."
The chuckle of the high-ranking official carried a hint of sarcasm.
"So, you want to make a deal with me this time?"
"nature."
Gao Wancheng sat upright, his demeanor once again displaying his usual aloofness.
"It's really strange that Fengyulou would want to do business with me."
"What's so strange about that? Didn't Master Gao also turn against someone who had been by his side for over a decade for the sake of profit?"
Gao Wancheng was taken aback.
What do you know?
"I'll stop here. Surely you don't want me to finish what I have to say in front of you, Master Gao?"
Gao Wancheng glanced at Gao Ren standing behind him.
"Ren'er, go wait outside."
Gao Ren squinted at Zhao Shi'an for a moment, then walked out of the pavilion.
After Gao Ren left, Gao Wancheng's expression turned quite grim.
"I really underestimated your Fengyulou."
"Of course, information about Master Gao is listed at the highest price in our Fengyu Tower, and no one has been able to buy it so far."
"How much else do you know?"
Gao Wancheng lowered his voice.
"I don't know much, but I do know a little about the meeting and conversation between Lord Gao and Qin Zhiyu in the Dali Temple prison a few days ago."
Hearing this late at night, Gao Wancheng felt a chill run down his spine.
When I met with Qin Zhiyu, I had my men make sure no one was around.
How did the people at Fengyulou know this?
"If Lord Gao is risking being attacked by people in the court to make a deal with Qin Zhiyu, why not do it with me? At least I can keep Lord Gao's secret."
What do you want?
"Don't worry, I only want the lives of the Qin family father and son."
Gao Wancheng doubted what he had heard.
What makes you think I'm making a deal with you?
Zhao Shi'an scoffed.
"Does Lord Gao still have a choice?"
No, there isn't.
Fengyulou knew too many of his secrets.
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