At night.

"What on earth is Gao Gong waiting for?" Lu Tiaoyang murmured to himself.

This was a problem that had troubled him all day.

Gao Gongting's reaction to Yang Bo's betrayal was too bland.

Even the impeachment of Gao Gong was a blow to the cotton - Gao Gong didn't resist at all.

Was it because of the urging of two edicts that Gao Gong finally realized that neither the Queen Mother nor the Emperor could tolerate him?

Or when he saw Lu Tiaoyang's impeachment and realized that Zhang Juzheng's intentions were behind it, he became disheartened?

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't convince himself, and the more he thought about it, the less he understood.

Lu Tiaoyang walked to the door of his house with doubts.

Because I was deep in thought, I didn't realize that the servants didn't come out to greet me today, and I didn't even notice that none of the lights in the house were on.

He pushed open the side door of the courtyard and walked into the courtyard as if in a fugue.

It wasn't until he opened the door that he suddenly realized that it was pitch black inside and outside.

He was about to react.

Inside the house, two lights suddenly came on.

Next to the main seat, there are candles on the left and right.

He immediately glanced over and saw Feng Baoduan sitting on the Grand Master's chair.

He leaned forward, raised his head suddenly, and looked at Lu Tiaoyang.

Feng Bao's expression was gloomy and his tone was aggressive: "Lv Shangshu, we know what Gao Gong is waiting for."

"But Lu Shangshu caused me to lose Dongchang, can our family still trust you?"

…

In Gao Gong's mansion, the study room was still quiet.

Gao Gong, who was at the center of the controversy, was in his study, hunched over his desk, rewriting a memorial begging for dismissal.

There was no trace of anxiety at all. It seemed that it was copied again because it was damaged.

Ge Shouli pushed the door open and happened to see this scene.

He stood aside and didn't say anything, just waiting quietly.

Gao Gong glanced up, then lowered his head and continued writing at his desk: "Yu Li, I've told you several times, come in and close the door."

Yuli is Ge Shouli's character.

The friendship between the two is extraordinary.

In the early years of Longqing, Ge Shouli was appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. At that time, Xu Jie led his men to besiege Gao Gong. Even though Gao Gong had little power to fight back, Ge Shouli still supported Gao Gong unreservedly.

After Gao Gong's defeat, Ge Shouli also asked for his dismissal.

And as Xu Jie entered the official position and Gao Gong returned to power, Ge Shouli was immediately promoted to the position of the capital censor.

The two of them can be said to be best friends who have gone through ups and downs and have their backs.

Such a big event today seemed to bring Ge Shouli back to a few years ago, when Gao Gong was besieged by Xu Jie.

That's why he ignored the rumors and came to visit at night.

I was in a hurry, but the first thing I said when I walked in was this.

Ge Shouli looked at Gao Gong who looked like a normal person, sighed, turned around and closed the door.

Then he turned back and looked at Gao Gong: "Yuan Fu was trying to nourish his energy, but it actually showed that my character was not good."

Even he couldn't tell whether Gao Gong was calm in the face of danger or whether he was thinking of retreating.

Gao Gong snorted: "It needs to be polished again."

At this time, he was still in the mood to joke, and Ge Shouli was even more surprised.

He wondered: "Yuan Fu knew that Yang Bo was going to rebel?"

He couldn't figure out why Yang Bo acted like this.

Could it be that Wang Chonggu was promised to join the cabinet and felt resentful?

Or is there some other conspiracy with Feng Bao or Lu Tiaoyang?

Gao Gong shook his head: "I'm not the roundworm in his belly, and I don't control the Dongchang Jinyiwei, so I don't know what he thinks."

These words brought Ge Shouli's confusion to its peak.

He simply stopped thinking about it and asked directly: "Gao Suqing, please stop selling me."

Seeing that Ge Shouli was upset, Gao Gong finally put down the pen in his hand.

He smiled and said: "Of course I didn't know Yang Bo would come here, but..."

He suppressed his smile and continued: "It's just that I was prepared."

Ge Shouli was confused: "Have you been prepared?"

Gao Gong nodded: "Not only Yang Bo, but even you, if you suddenly want to impeach me, I won't be surprised."

Ge Shouli remained silent.

There is nothing wrong with this, but it is strange that it feels comfortable to use yourself as an example for this kind of thing.

With such a bad temper, it’s no wonder he doesn’t have many friends.

Gao Gong naturally didn't have such delicate thoughts, and he didn't care what Ge Shouli thought.

He continued: "Just watch, besides Yang Bo and Lu Tiaoyang, there are more people staring at me."

When you reach the position of Six Ministers, you represent more than just yourself.

Not to mention the Ministry of War, even the Ministry of Rites, which seems to have little power, has been controlling the academy and the imperial examination for many years.

Probably, the complex of propaganda, diplomacy, and education has an unparalleled influence among scholars.

Not to mention Lu Tiaoyang and Yang Bo, and the gang behind them, the Jin Party and the New Party.

No matter who comes, it is impossible to take them lightly.

But... if you want to do great things, how can you expect everyone to unite around you?

If the emperor can't do something, why should he, Gao Suqing?

He was prepared to deal with onlookers, traitors, and enemies.

Just like what he said, even if Ge Shouli betrayed him, he would still face the situation without changing his face and act consistently.

Ge Shouli was startled and did not understand the meaning.

He frowned and said, "Not just Yang Bo? Who else?"

Gao Gong stood up and said, "Only God knows."

…

Lu Tiaoyang looked at Feng Bao quietly and said in a deep voice: "Lu Mou, the Minister of Rites and a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, with the official title of second grade, a high official of the imperial court!"

"My mansion, Feng Bao, how dare you break into it!"

At this time, his anger was even greater than his curiosity about Gao Gong's plan mentioned by Feng Bao.

How dare a mere eunuch break into his mansion!

Even with this pretense of taking and taking away, is it really true that Lu Tiaoyang has a bad temper!?

Feng Bao argued: "What a great official of the imperial court!"

He suddenly smiled, gave a big salute, and said solemnly: "Then, my Dongchang is cut off, and the high officials of the imperial court will make the decision for me."

Lu Tiaoyang didn't dare to accept this gift, so he quickly turned sideways to avoid it.

Most of his anger was dissipated by Feng Bao's behavior.

He just insisted on saving face and said: "What is your Dongchang? That is the Dongchang of the Ming Dynasty, the Dongchang of the Holy Emperor."

Feng Bao chuckled lightly, stood up and approached Lu Tiaoyang: "It's not the factory of a high official like you, right?"

"So, Lu Shangshu just watched me be demoted?"

Feng Bao insisted on this matter, and Lu Tiaoyang finally couldn't resist.

He softened his tone and said: "Feng Dajue, it's not like you didn't see me at the court meeting yesterday. I was dragged away by the emperor, and I was at a loss."

"Do you want me to wallow around like a prostitute?"

Feng Bao looked gloomy.

This was something that caught him off guard.

I never expected that this matter would change for no reason, and in just one day, Dongchang was gone.
To be continued...