Song Ruiyang did not go to the Ministry of Works, but he did not return to the palace either. He covered his face with a hood and hurried to Bai Yu.
Along the way, Xiao Luzi secretly glanced at Song Ruiyang's expression several times, only to find that his master had a stern face and murderous eyes, just like when he was in court. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
He was increasingly unable to understand the prince, who was becoming increasingly calm and wise.
The infamous Liu Yue was actually Liu Yun, who was favored by the prince. Faced with such a shocking truth, he could not guess the prince's emotions at all.
The two men and the small team of guards arrived silently outside the Jingzhao Yin's yamen. The guards cleared the way from the back to the front and respectfully escorted the prince inside.
When Song Ruiyang stepped in, he turned his head slightly and glanced at Xiaoluzi who was following closely. They had been master and servant for many years, he trusted Xiaoluzi and knew what Xiaoluzi was thinking.
However, as the crown prince of Daliang, he was more aware of what his words and actions represented. Even his confidants like Xiao Luzi were not allowed to see his tightly clenched fists hidden in his robe sleeves.
Bai Yu brought his confidants to welcome Song Ruiyang in. All the formalities were omitted. Song Ruiyang and Xiao Luzi sat behind the solid wood screen and began to watch today's play.
When several confessions with fingerprints and Bai Yu's summary statement were handed to Song Ruiyang for review, Song Ruiyang finally confirmed his own arrogance and blindness.
Bai Yu waited for a long time without any instructions. He couldn't help but secretly look up at Song Ruiyang, but found that the prince, who was always diligent and wise, was distracted while holding the stack of papers.
Bai Yu was a little panicked. Could it be that today's trial was too simple and the result came too easily, making the prince feel it was too hasty and therefore dissatisfied
But, the fact is that the so-called physical evidence were all official salt that could be easily bought in Beijing and iron farm tools with shop names. The members of the Cao Gang did not make any mistakes, and Bai Yu believed that he had made no mistakes during the entire trial process.
However, the most crucial so-called whistleblower has long disappeared.
What happened at the dock today was like a farce. Someone wrote a crappy script, found second-rate actors, and staged such a "good show." The purpose of this performance was obvious.
Looking at the pages of paper in his hand, Song Ruiyang felt deeply disappointed with Zhou Zhiyuan, but more importantly, he was angry at himself for being fooled.
Song Ruiyang put down his confession and closing statement, stood up, and had regained his composure, with his innate noble aura surrounding him.
He said to Bai Yu in a gentle voice, "Thank you, Lord Bai. This matter is very clear. I am very pleased to see that you have acted properly. I will leave now. As for these people..."
Song Ruiyang glanced over the screen at the knelt workers, and a conflicted feeling welled up in his heart. He paused before saying, "Please send someone to send them back, sir."
In order to prevent them from encountering any accidents, these unspoken words rolled heavily on Song Ruiyang's heart, leaving him in a state of embarrassment.
After respectfully seeing Song Ruiyang and Xiao Luzi off, Bai Yu ordered someone to send the boat workers out. When they came back and said they had safely arrived at the Cao Gang, Bai Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Today's strange events were finally over.
The master waited until everyone else had gone down before he carefully asked, "Sir, do we know something we shouldn't know? When the crown prince ascends the throne, will the future uncle-in-law...?"
Bai Yu and his teacher were the only two people standing on the veranda in the courtyard. Bai Yu said slowly, "According to my judgment of the Crown Prince, the one who should be worried about right now is the future Crown Prince's uncle. We should just do our work as usual and not take sides."
"But sir, even though we think so, I'm afraid that in the eyes of others we have already been chosen."
"Since you have entered the government, how can you be completely free from gossip? These are just some minor details. You and I should be calm and have a clear conscience. Let's remain unchanged in the face of all changes."
(End of this chapter)