At the Cui Mansion.
"By the decree of the Emperor: In this time of national disaster, the situation in Qingshui City is dire. Cui Xinghe of the Cui family has the talent for the country. I hereby appoint Cui Xinghe as the temporary Supervisory Censor, in charge of all matters, big and small, in Qingshui City. You must stabilize the grain prices as quickly as possible and restore peace to the people. Set off immediately and do not delay. This is the imperial decree!"
Cui Xinghe, dressed in official robes, had an excited expression on his handsome face.
"I, Cui Xinghe, receive the decree and will do my best!"
He accepted the decree, his heart filled with excitement.
"The Emperor has commanded. Please, Lord Cui, make simple preparations and set off immediately. Wan'er still has important matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."
Shangguan Wan'er said and then left in another direction with another decree.
Cui Xinghe noticed there was another decree and his pupils constricted.
Looking at the direction Shangguan Wan'er left.
That was... the direction of the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion!
His face suddenly darkened.
Beside him, a middle-aged man with a stern face came to Cui Xinghe's side.
He was none other than the head of the Cui family, one of the seven noble families and five prestigious lineages, Cui Jian.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is an assessment from the empress for you and that Gao Yang."
"Whether our Cui family can gain the trust of the empress and rise to a higher level in the Great Qian depends entirely on you."
Cui Xinghe nodded vigorously, "When it comes to schemes and intrigues, perhaps I am not as good as that Gao Yang. But when it comes to governing the country, a hundred of him can't compare to me. The grain prices in Qingshui City will surely drop within fifteen days!"
"Father, just wait for my good news."
Cui Jian nodded in satisfaction, "My son, Xinghe, has the demeanor of a prime minister!"
At the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion.
Gao Yang twitched the corner of his mouth. For a moment, he didn't know if the little girl was concerned about him or cursing him.
The little girl was named Gao Ling, the daughter of his second uncle Gao Changlin. She was close to him since childhood.
So, Gao Yang still thought, children's words should not be taken seriously.
He pulled Gao Ling over and pinched her chubby little face.
"Ling'er, you are so 'filial' to me."
Gao Ling blinked her eyes and couldn't understand the irony of being 'filial'.
She said pitifully with teary eyes, "Brother, I heard from the servants in the mansion that you randomly answered the imperial decree and will be executed. Is this true?"
Gao Yang suddenly understood. He knew.
What bad thoughts could a child have?
Before Gao Yang could speak, Gao Ling said pitifully again, "Big brother, you promised to buy peach blossom pastries at the east end of the city for Ling'er. Buy them for me first. Otherwise, if big brother is executed, who will buy them for Ling'er?"
Gao Yang twitched the corner of his mouth and his eyes were scanning around.
Gao Ling asked carefully, "Big brother, what are you looking for?"
"Big brother thinks it's necessary to make your childhood more memorable."
"Where's my rattan?"
The next second, Gao Ling was like a slippery loach and ran away.
"Big brother, Ling'er is wrong!"
"Don't run! If I don't beat you today, my name is not Gao Yang but Gao Wan!"
Gao Yang immediately chased after her.
Perhaps it was because of the crossing, or perhaps it was because he was alone and lonely in his previous life and never experienced the warmth of family.
After crossing, he didn't feel uncomfortable at all. Instead, he was very familiar with and close to everything in the Gao Mansion.
"The imperial decree has arrived!"
Just as Gao Yang caught Gao Ling, he heard this announcement that almost resounded throughout the entire Duke of Dingguo's Mansion.
Gao Yang's face lit up and he released Gao Ling, who was held like a chicken, "I'll let you go for now. Let's see what the empress has rewarded!"
In the outer courtyard of the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion.
Shangguan Wan'er held the golden silk decree in her hand, followed by a dozen imperial guards from the palace. Her stunning face had no expression.
As soon as the imperial decree arrived, all the members of the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion, young and old, knelt down to receive the decree.
But there was only one exception, and that was the Duke of Dingguo, Gao Tianlong, who was standing at the front, wearing a coarse cloth gown and with an intimidating expression.
He only slightly bent over, but no one would think it inappropriate because this was a privilege earned with his life after fighting for the Great Qian for fifty years.
Gao Yang naturally had no such privilege. Although he hated the act of kneeling to receive the imperial decree in the Great Qian, being in ancient times, he had to bow his head.
This was the first time after crossing that he saw his grandfather, who was the number one general of the Great Qian.
Although his hair was gray and he didn't say a word, there was a powerful dignity around him that made people were afraid tolook directly at him.
Therefore, Gao Yang was looking at Gao Tianlong with a sidelong glance.
"Good-for-nothing... Disobedient son, when receiving the decree, you need to lower your head and be more respectful. Don't be accused of disrespecting the emperor. You could be exiled to the Lingnan area!"
Gao Feng whispered. He endured for a long time and finally couldn't hold it anymore. This disobedient son was looking left and right like a curious baby.
The old man wasn't a stunning beauty. Did he need to be looked at like this?
Besides, this imperial decree might not be a good thing. This kind of sense was completely different from his casual manner in the Golden Luan Hall.
Gao Yang had to lower his head and obediently receive the decree.
Shangguan Wan'er opened the imperial decree and loudly read, "By the decree of the Emperor: In this time of national disaster, the situation in Linjiang City is dire. Gao Yang, the grandson of the Duke of Dingguo, has the talent for the country. I hereby appoint Gao Yang as the temporary Supervisory Censor, in charge of all matters, big and small, in Linjiang City. You must stabilize the grain prices as quickly as possible and restore peace to the people. Set off immediately and do not delay. This is the imperial decree!"
"Gao Yang, receive the decree and express your gratitude."
As soon as the imperial decree was announced, Gao Feng's pupils constricted.
Even Gao Tianlong's eyes in front suddenly became sharp.
Gao Yang was stunned at first,
and then respectfully said, "Gao Yang, thanks to His Majesty's grace."
He received the decree and showed a helpless smile on his face. Originally, he thought this was an appointment decree from the empress.
But now it seems that the empress's thigh wasn't so easy to hold onto.
This was clearly a shift from theory to practical governance. If he couldn't reduce the grain prices as quickly as possible, he would be removed from the empress's mind.
But he was also truly amazed by Wu Zhao's boldness. Using the lives of the people of one city as an opportunity for him to practice.
Wasn't she afraid that he would mess it up?
Gao Feng looked at Shangguan Wan'er and said in shock, "With this disobedient son's ability, how can he be qualified for the position of Supervisory Censor? The people of one city can't tolerate any nonsense."
Shangguan Wan'er's face was cold. Thinking that she also had to follow Gao Yang on this trip for a contest with a predetermined outcome, she was also quite dissatisfied in her heart.
She didn't mean to look down on Gao Yang. It was just that in her heart, compared to Cui Xinghe, Gao Yang couldn't win. This was a fact.
"Minister Gao, all of this is the Emperor's will. You also know the Emperor's temperament. No one can change it."
Then, Shangguan Wan'er looked at Gao Yang and said, "The disaster is urgent. I'll wait outside. Please, Supervisor Gao, make preparations and set off quickly."
Saying that, Shangguan Wan'er turned and left directly.
Gao Tianlong turned to look at Gao Yang. There was no expression on his stern face, "The disaster is like fire. Hurry up and pack your luggage and leave. This is the Emperor's assessment of you. If you succeed, you'll soar to great heights. But you must remember that it's better not to act than to make mistakes. Even if you don't succeed, I can still save your life."
"Whether it's fortune or misfortune depends on yourself."
After saying that, Gao Tianlong directly turned and walked towards the inner residence.
Although his tone was cold, Gao Yang still felt a sense of concern.
He turned to pack his luggage. In fact, there wasn't much to pack.
This was like a business trip. Food and accommodation were provided. He only needed to pack a few sets of dry clothes.
So, after asking the maidservant to pack a few clothes, Gao Yang pushed the door open.
But as soon as he pushed the door open, he saw Gao Feng with a tense face and his mother, Mrs. Li, with a noble expression!
When Mrs. Li saw Gao Yang, her face was filled with distress, "Linjiang City is more than two hundred miles away from Chang'an. Along the way, you'll surely suffer!"
"Luoluo, you follow Yang'er and take care of his daily life."
A delicate girl in green clothes quickly responded, "Yes!"
With a fair face and a delicate look, Gao Yang's eyes suddenly lit up.
His mother was so considerate.
Luoluo blinked her timid eyes towards Gao Yang, feeling that his gaze was as terrifying as that of a tiger, leopard, or wolf.
Beside them, Gao Ling bounced forward and handed over a small package.
Her childish face was full of reluctance: "Big brother, these are peach blossom pastries. Take them with you on the road."
Gao Ling was reluctant but still resolutely placed the package in Gao Yang's hand.
Beside her, a younger youth with a hint of mischievousness on his face spoke, "Brother, you're leaving for at least half a month or a month!"
"Don't worry. The young lady you often took care of at the Rouge Pavilion in the capital, your younger brother will take care of her for you. Don't worry."
The one speaking was his younger brother, the second son of Gao Feng, Gao Changwen!
Hearing this, Gao Yang twitched the corner of his mouth.
Before he could speak, Gao Feng was the first to be furious, "Good-for-nothing! Get out within three breaths!"
Gao Changwen, seeing his father's rage, was immediately scared and ran out of the mansion.
While running, he shouted, "Brother, don't worry. Your woman, your younger brother will take good care of!"
Gao Feng closed his eyes in pain.
He shouldn't have indulged in that moment of pleasure back then. Otherwise, his blood pressure wouldn't rise daily.
"Father, don't be angry. As the saying goes, an elder brother is like a father. When I return, I will surely discipline Changwen well and make him reform."
Gao Yang said with a smile.
Gao Feng suppressed the old blood in his chest and said after a long time, "This is an opportunity as well as a crisis. Nowadays, there are undercurrents in Chang'an. If you're not sure, then do as your grandfather said. The Gao family can ultimately protect you."
"Remember, don't be overconfident and let things get out of control."
Gao Yang felt as if something had touched his heart.
A mother who was worried about her son traveling far and sent her personal maidservant, a sister who sent her favorite peach blossom pastries.
Gao Changwen didn't count.
Although his father, Gao Feng, called him a disobedient son, he protected him both in the Golden Luan Hall and now. Although his grandfather, Gao Tianlong, wasn't good at expressing himself, he was also protective.
What he lacked in his previous life was unexpectedly made up for after crossing.
Gao Yang smiled and said, "An eagle chick will eventually spread its wings. Living under the protection of the family all day, how can it soar high and overlook the world?"
"Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne and the regime is unstable, although our Gao family has produced generals for three generations and is one of the six dukes, it is also under the watchful eyes of many with ulterior motives.
There are many in Chang'an who want the Gao family to fall.
This time, if he, Gao Yang, doesn't kill those grain merchants in Linjiang City who are making fortunes in this national disaster!
Then he might as well find a piece of tofu and crash into it to death.
Behind him, Gao Feng watched Gao Yang's back and smiled relievedly.
"Finally, Heaven has protected our Gao family."
But he immediately shouted angrily, "Pass on my order. Confine that good-for-nothing. Until Yang'er returns, he can't leave the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion one step.
"Otherwise, I'll break his three legs!"