After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

After reading it, Wang Shouren remained silent for a long time before placing the note on the table.

Li Chun leaned closer to take a look, his face full of confusion. "What does this mean? Who is the Duke of Zhou? And who is Wang Mang?"

Yang Shen didn't explain, but simply looked at Wang Shouren and asked, "What do you think?"

Wang Shouren's expression was grave: "Yang Zhanshi is reminding us not to become complacent."

Li Chun was even more confused: "Getting carried away? What are we so proud of? They've already impeached us in the imperial court, and we're still proud of that?"

Yang Shen slowly said, "Commander Li, tell me, on what basis does that Imperial Censor Zhang dare to impeach us?"

Li Chun replied matter-of-factly, "Isn't it because they accepted bribes from those gentry..."

Yang Shen shook his head: "That's not right! Everyone in the court knows that Zhu Ji Trading Company has shares held by the Crown Prince. Even if he, a mere censor, had the audacity to go against the Crown Prince! Unless..."

Li Chun grew impatient: "Unless what? Just tell me!"

Wang Shouren chimed in, "Unless that Imperial Censor Zhang's backing is even stronger than the Crown Prince's!"

Li Chun was stunned for a moment, then his face turned deathly pale: "You mean...Your Majesty?"

Yang Shen nodded.

Li Chun plopped down in a chair, speechless for a long time.

The room fell silent, save for the occasional soft crackling of the oil lamp.

After a long pause, Li Chun stammered, "No...no way? His Majesty is very supportive of us! Besides, we haven't done anything wrong..."

Yang Shen smiled wryly: "Commander Li, I have a question for you: who is Wang Sizhi's father?"

"The Grand Tutor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices!"

"Where is my father?"

"Yang Shaozhan of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices".

Yang Shen nodded: "The three of us—one is an official in the Crown Prince's residence, one is the Crown Prince's study companion, and one is the commander of the Crown Prince's guards. Wang Sizhi's father and my father are also key figures in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and your father is a high-ranking official. The three of us hanging out together all the time, tell me, what do you think we look like?"

Li Chun opened his mouth, then uttered four words with difficulty: "Forming cliques for personal gain..."

Wang Shouren then spoke up: "Yang, the attendant, is the actual manager of the merchant guild. I am the magistrate of Wuqing County. The money used for the road repairs comes from the merchant guild. Commander Li, you are in charge of guarding the Crown Prince's residence, but the Crown Prince travels to Wuqing every few days, and you have to go with him every time. In the eyes of others, we are now a small circle centered around the Crown Prince."

Li Chun became anxious: "But we're doing this to get things done! Building roads, opening kilns, farming, constructing biogas digesters—aren't all of these things for the benefit of the people?"

Wang Shouren sighed: "What Your Majesty has seen may be more than this. Haven't you noticed that His Highness the Crown Prince has been leaving the palace much less lately?"

A night breeze swept in, blowing the window open and sending a chill down my spine.

Yang Shen's expression was very solemn, and he was quickly calculating in his mind.

The fact that the Hongzhi Emperor was so eager to deploy resources in the Hetao region shows that his health was failing, and everything he was doing was paving the way for Zhu Houzhao.

But it is precisely at times like these that he becomes more worried.

The crown prince is young, and if the people around him are unreliable, someone may seize power and usurp the young prince's authority in the future.

Therefore, the reason why the censor Zhang Shi stepped forward to impeach him was definitely not as simple as him accepting money from the gentry.

This was a test, or rather, a trial.

If the Crown Prince's power is used to suppress Zhang Shi, or even to arrest and beat him up as before, then in the eyes of the Hongzhi Emperor, these people are just bullies who rely on their power and are no different from other powerful ministers.

When the crown prince ascends the throne, what will become of this kind of person who holds great power?

Although the Hongzhi Emperor was known for his benevolence and filial piety, he was, after all, surnamed Zhu.

Think about what Zhu Yuanzhang did in his later years...

Li Chun looked at the two of them and said, "Should I go back first?"

Wang Shouren said, "Whether you come back or not is the same. What's done is done, and you can't escape it. However, my accounts are clean, and even if Censor Zhang nitpicks, he won't find anything wrong with them."

Yang Shen slowly shook his head and said, "If we remain indifferent and let Imperial Censor Zhang investigate, in His Majesty's eyes, either we are guilty and deliberately putting on an act of innocence, or we are too cunning to tolerate such impeachment. Either way, there will be no good outcome."

Li Chun was completely bewildered: "This won't work, that won't work, so what should I do?"

The room fell silent again, a deathly silence.

After a long pause, Yang Shen suddenly asked, "Director Wang, what do you think His Majesty hopes to see?"

After a moment's thought, Wang Shouren replied, "Your Majesty certainly hopes to see a group of people who can assist the Crown Prince but will not seize power."

"How can one both assist the crown prince and avoid being accused of monopolizing power?"

Wang Shouren smiled wryly: "This question is too difficult; very few people throughout history have been able to answer it!"

Upon hearing the words "question," a thought suddenly flashed through Yang Shen's mind!

Throughout history, who has ever done as many practice problems as three years of mock exams and five years of college entrance exams?

When it comes to solving problems, I'm the real expert!

The solution to this problem...

Wang Shouren suddenly looked up and said, "Yang, I've thought of a method, although it's not a good one, but I really can't think of a better one right now."

Yang Shen also said, "I also have a plan, which I was just about to discuss with Wang Sizhi."

Wang Shouren then took a piece of paper, tore it in half, and then picked up a pen and quickly wrote two characters.

Yang Shen also picked up a pen and wrote two characters.

The two of them pushed the paper forward at the same time.

Under the light, the two words in front of Wang Shouren were: Self-Defilement!

The two words before Yang Shen were: the will of the people!

Wang Shouren frowned. What he was thinking about was self-defilement, that is, deliberately exposing some minor flaws.

Bi Ri said there were some problems with the accounts, some money was missing, or other minor issues.

There are many historical precedents. For example, when Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, was suppressing rebellions, he would send messengers back to Chang'an every few days to comfort and inquire about Xiao He, asking if he had eaten today and how he was doing.

Once Xiao He figured it out, he began to amass wealth on a large scale, causing widespread resentment among the people of Guanzhong.

When Liu Bang returned to his capital, the people blocked his road to complain. Unexpectedly, Liu Bang was not angry at all, but rather very happy.

Once Xiao He's reputation was ruined, his throne was secure.

Wang Shouren sought answers in history, and found that self-defilement was the optimal solution.

However, Yang Shen gave a completely different answer.

Self-defilement may be a good option, but it's still just a routine.

The problem is, you know this tactic, and so does the Hongzhi Emperor!

The Hongzhi Emperor was educated in imperial politics from a young age. He had seen more tricks than these three men had ever tasted salt. Trying to outsmart him would only make you seem dishonest!

Yang Shen then returned to the question itself.

What was the Hongzhi Emperor's deepest worry?

It's not about whether you're greedy or not, but whether the crown prince can secure his throne in the future!

Therefore, all we need to do is tell the Hongzhi Emperor that everything we are doing now is for the sake of the Crown Prince.

We will assist the Crown Prince in becoming a wise and benevolent ruler who wins the hearts of the people!

Wang Shouren let out a long breath, and the suppressed emotions he had just felt vanished.

He clasped his hands in a respectful bow to Yang Shen and said, "Yang Shen's thoughts are far more profound; I have lost again!"

Yang Shen returned the greeting, saying, "Director Wang, please don't be so formal!"

Wang Shouren then asked, "But how can we let His Majesty see the will of the people?"

Yang Shen said, "Then the people will have to speak to His Majesty themselves."