"Tomorrow you will come with me to the Censorate and tell me everything that Grand Tutor Shen did fifteen years ago. I don't believe those gossipy fellows won't tear that old man Shen to shreds!"
Looking at Gu Zhixing's confident demeanor, Shen Jintang lowered her eyelashes slightly, her long eyelashes trembling gently, casting a faint shadow on her eye sockets, as if covering her eyes with a thin veil.
He really is a young prince living in an ivory tower, completely unaware of the dangers of the world, so naive!
"Grand Tutor Shen has served as an official for thirty years, and his students are all over the world. Seventy percent of the Censorate have received favors from Grand Tutor Shen to some extent. Would they offend their mentor based solely on the words of His Highness the Crown Prince?"
"Moreover, the world has many prejudices against His Highness. Grand Tutor Shen had them impeach you, and you immediately had them impeach Grand Tutor Shen. To outsiders, wouldn't that seem like a deliberate act of revenge?"
"I'm just seeking revenge!" Gu Zhixing said confidently.
Shen Jintang: "..."
Is that what she meant? She meant that Gu Zhixing's credibility was very low, and the censor might not listen to him, and would doubt the truth of the matter.
Whether he succeeds or not is not important. He is the heir apparent, and even if he does something outrageous, someone will always back him up.
But she was different. In this chaotic capital, she only had this one life, a life that everyone else took for granted, to fight and struggle for. One wrong move, and she would be dead without a burial place!
Gu Zhixing didn't give Shen Jintang a chance to speak. He just stuffed the paper into Shen Jintang's hand and threatened, "Hurry up and memorize it. You have to memorize it by tomorrow morning, or I will burn your purse."
——
The Grand Tutor's Mansion.
"Smack—"
A crisp slap shattered the silence of the night, and a clear finger mark immediately appeared on Shen Huaixu's face, extremely glaring against his fair skin.
His head was knocked slightly to one side, his hair disheveled and plastered to his cheeks, but even so, his spine remained straight, like a green bamboo that withstands wind and rain without breaking.
"Useless! You can't even handle this simple matter!"
Grand Tutor Shen's face was ashen, his eyes burning with rage, his gaze sharp as a knife as he stared intently at Shen Huaixu.
Shen Huaixu slowly turned his head back to face the camera, wiped the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, and concealed the disgust in his eyes.
"Instead of getting angry, Father, you should think about how to deal with the Crown Prince's revenge."
Upon hearing this, Grand Tutor Shen swept all the teacups off the table with a flick of his sleeve, sat down in a chair, and panted heavily.
How could he not know that Gu Zhixing wanted to take revenge on him?
But is this what he wanted?
In the imperial court, anyone who doesn't take sides is either a member of the princeling faction or a member of the Communist Party!
He's a princeling, and offending Gu Zhixing is his pledge of allegiance. Is that something he can control?
After a moment, he looked up at Shen Huaixu and asked, "What's your idea?"
Shen Huaixu concealed the disgust in his eyes. If it weren't for the fact that everyone's fortunes were intertwined, he wouldn't bother with these matters.
He closed his eyes, exhaled a breath of stale air, and then opened them again, saying, "Since he wants to ruin Father's reputation, it means that Father's reputation is currently excellent. Why don't we strike first and leave him speechless?"
Before Gu Zhixing reveals Shen Jintang's true identity, any identity given to Shen Jintang would not affect the Grand Tutor's reputation as long as she was not his illegitimate daughter.
Once Shen Jintang's identity is definitively established, no matter how eloquently Gu Zhixing tries to explain, no one will believe him.
After all, most people would lean towards a Grand Tutor who is known for his integrity, rather than a spoiled and unruly young master.
They could even turn around and bite back, causing Gu Zhixing to stumble once more.
Having spent many years in officialdom, Grand Tutor Shen naturally quickly grasped Shen Huaixu's meaning.
"I will now proceed to the palace." Grand Tutor Shen placed his teacup on the table, causing the tea leaves inside to sway gently and float up and down.
The next day, at the Crown Prince's residence.
"Have you memorized them all?" Gu Zhixing yawned; he was so sleepy.
Instead of sleeping this late at night, he spent the entire night staring at people reciting books.
But once you've memorized it, that's all that matters. Memorizing it will ruin Grand Tutor Shen's reputation, which is worse than killing him. Just thinking about what's going to happen makes me happy.
Shen Jintang glanced at the excited Gu Zhixing and sighed softly.
Knowing that Gu Zhixing wanted to take revenge on him, would Grand Tutor Shen sit idly by and wait for his death?
By this time, they must have already entered the palace and found a solution.
If Gu Zhixing goes to the palace now, he'll probably be walking into a trap and end up with nothing to show for it!
If Gu Zhixing is allowed to lose this battle and I fall into the hands of the Shen family, how can I survive?
The success or failure of this matter concerns my life and fortune; I cannot afford to lose it!
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
Gu Zhixing looked up and asked, "What? You're afraid to go?"
"Have you forgotten that your purse—no, your life—is in my hands? Do you have any right to interfere with my decisions?"
With that, Gu Zhixing started to walk forward.
Shen Jintang reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
Gu Zhixing stopped and looked down at the hand that was grabbing her sleeve. It was very thin, with prominent knuckles and skin clinging to the bone, unlike the hands of a young lady from the capital.
These little bean sprouts must have suffered a lot.
Just as he was wondering if he had gone too far with his words, he suddenly heard a clear, cold voice in his ear.
“If Your Highness is going to do it, then you should do it thoroughly and not give the enemy any chance to turn the tables.”
"If we only reason things out in the Censorate, how many people will believe us? How many people will go to impeach Grand Tutor Shen on behalf of His Highness? Even if they do impeach Grand Tutor Shen, how much impact will it have on him? Has His Highness ever thought about this?"
A cunning glint flashed in Shen Jintang's eyes, a glint of calculation, yet also a fatal attraction. It was as if she knew there was danger, yet people were irresistibly drawn to her.
"Then... then what do you suggest we do?" Gu Zhixing asked, unable to resist following her lead.
Shen Jintang released his grip, concealing the calculation in his eyes, and guided the conversation: "People are keen to discuss trivial matters, and the more unfounded the rumors, the faster and wider they spread. What do you say, Your Highness?"
The censors may have their concerns and their own stance, but the common people will not. Three men can make a tiger, and falsehoods can become truths. Moreover, this matter could not withstand investigation in the first place.
A sudden inspiration struck Gu Zhixing, and he grabbed Shen Jintang, saying, "Come with me, Your Highness."
Follow him to put on a good show.
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