It was late at night, and the hustle and bustle outside the palace had long dissipated. The quiet wind blew gently through the window lattices, bringing a hint of coolness. Under the faint glow of the oil lamp, Gao Changgong's handsome face was reflected, his brows were furrowed, and his eyes were deep. Feng Duo stood opposite him, leaning forward slightly, his expression focused and cautious. He had just finished a week of investigation and brought back a series of disturbing news.
"Your Highness, I have found some trends." Feng Duo spoke in a low voice, his eyes flickering slightly under the light. His voice was calm, but Gao Changgong keenly captured the anxiety hidden in it.
"Speak." Gao Changgong waved his hand gently, signaling Feng Duo to continue.
Feng Duo took a deep breath and began to report one by one: "There are rumors among the people that your highness has falsely reported the battle record, and even that you have killed innocent people on the battlefield and killed good people to claim credit."
Gao Changgong's heart tightened, and his fists clenched slightly. The emergence of these rumors was obviously not accidental. He thought of his bloody battles on the battlefield and his efforts to protect the country, but someone spread such rumors behind his back, and he couldn't help feeling angry and helpless.
"Who is spreading these rumors?" Gao Changgong's voice was low, and his eyes were as sharp as a blade.
Feng Duo shook his head: "It is not clear who is behind it, but the people I sent out have heard a lot of such rumors. There are discussions in the market, and even some soldiers in the barracks have begun to talk about it privately."
"Soldiers?" Gao Changgong frowned even more tightly. What he is most proud of is his army. If these rumors spread to the army, it will be a great blow to his authority.
Feng Duo paused, and then said: "There is another rumor that is equally widespread. Some people say that you did return victorious, but you seized a large amount of gold and silver treasures after the victory, and did not hand them over to the court, but quietly hid them." Gao Changgong sneered when he heard this, and his anger rose. He was not a greedy person. All the gains from the battle had been handed over to the court as usual, and this kind of rumor was obviously a malicious slander. "It's ridiculous." He gritted his teeth, and there was a trace of disdain and anger in his voice, "These people actually made up such a ridiculous story." Feng Duo nodded: "These rumors are obviously not spread casually. I also learned that His Majesty the Emperor has frequently summoned several trusted advisers recently, including several ministers who ridiculed you at the banquet. They conspired many times, but the content is still unclear." Gao Changgong was silent for a moment, and the sarcastic words at the banquet that day echoed in his mind. He was patient at the time and just watched coldly, but now it seems that the contempt and hostility in those people's words are not just casual ridicule. "What is the emperor's attitude?" Gao Changgong finally spoke, his eyes deep, with a hint of uneasiness in his tone. He and Gao Wei grew up together and had a close relationship. However, since he gradually emerged and made many military achievements, the emperor's attitude towards him seemed to have gradually changed. Gao Changgong understood that the struggle for power changed everything silently.
Feng Duo responded cautiously: "Although His Majesty did not publicly express his dissatisfaction with you, it is hard to say that his conspiracy meetings are not aimed at you. I guess those counselors are planning how to weaken your influence."
Gao Changgong fell into deep thought, staring at the oil lamp with his eyes, thinking a lot. The undercurrents in the palace had long made him feel uneasy, and now these rumors and conspiracies made him realize that he had been pushed to the forefront.
"Your Highness, how should we deal with it next?" Feng Duo asked cautiously. He knew Gao Changgong's character and knew that he was always calm and composed, but the situation this time was indeed not optimistic.
Gao Changgong did not answer immediately. He closed his eyes, and scenes from the battlefield emerged in his mind. He swung his sword to kill the enemy, led his soldiers to fight bloody battles, and defended the country. But now, he had to face those invisible enemies in this palace. He suddenly felt a sense of fatigue, as if it was more difficult to deal with than the bloody storm on the battlefield.
"We can't act rashly." Gao Changgong finally spoke, his voice was still calm, but Feng Duo could hear his inner determination. "Every step now must be cautious. You continue to secretly inquire, especially those ministers who are close to the emperor, to see if they have any other movements."
Feng Duo nodded: "I will continue to arrange people and keep a close eye on them."
Gao Changgong stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the deep night sky outside. His shadow was projected on the wall under the reflection of the oil lamp, looking particularly lonely and tall.
"You have worked hard, take a rest today." He was silent for a while, his voice was low, but it was less firm than usual.
The lights flickered, and the room fell into silence again. Feng Duo quietly withdrew, leaving Gao Changgong standing in front of the window, facing the endless night and the conspiracy behind it alone. This battle might be more difficult than any other battle he had ever faced.