My father, Gao Huan, is an invincible prince!

Chapter 4: The Northern Border is Pacified, and the King is About to Return.

Gao Cheng lowered his head sheepishly.

He thought to himself, "That's all the mess the original owner made. I just transmigrated and got this hot potato. I'm the most wronged one, okay?"

But he dared not say these words aloud, and could only honestly reply, "Mother's teachings are correct. I was bewitched at the time, and now I regret it too late."

Seeing his obedient appearance, Lou Zhaojun's anger subsided somewhat.

But she still glared at him and rebuked, "If a maid in the courtyard hadn't informed me of what happened today, would you truly have intended to deceive me?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng was immediately startled.

Indeed, Lou Zhaojun's spies are everywhere in this palace.

He quickly bowed again, saying in a flustered manner, "I am terrified. I intended to handle this myself and dared not disturb my mother."

"Dispose of it yourself?"

Lou Zhaojun sneered: "What do you intend to do? Kill the two maids and dispose of their bodies? Or beg Zheng to keep quiet?"

Gao Cheng opened his mouth, but didn't dare to reply.

Seeing this, Lou Zhaojun sighed again, but finally relented: "Enough, things have come to this, there's no point in saying more."

"I will suppress the gossip and spies within the palace. I will keep silent about everything I have seen and heard today, so that no news may leak to the king's trusted confidants and cause you trouble."

Gao Cheng was overjoyed and quickly bowed again, saying, "Thank you so much, Mother! Even if I were to be shattered to pieces, I could never repay your great kindness!"

"Don't thank me too soon."

Lou Zhaojun gave him a cold glance, and poured cold water on him again: "I can speak for you in your mansion, but I cannot hide anything from the King. The King rose from humble beginnings, fought countless battles to gain control of the world, and is a hero of a chaotic era, who cannot tolerate the slightest dissent."

"Even if no one reports your shameful deeds, when the King returns, he will see right through you at a glance. Do you think you can deceive him?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng's face turned pale.

Because these words hit Gao Cheng's biggest worry.

He knew better than anyone that Gao Huan was not so easily fooled.

Not to mention such scandalous affairs among women, even the cunning schemes of those old foxes in the imperial court cannot escape his eyes.

Lou Zhaojun looked at his pale face and couldn't help but glare at him again, continuing, "This is all I can do. The rest is entirely up to you."

"On the day the king returns in triumph, you shall not make excuses or deceive, but confess your crimes and accept your punishment."

"Perhaps the king remembers your past talents, or perhaps he considers your status as the eldest son of the legitimate wife, and is therefore able to pardon you this time."

"Your child will remember your teachings and will never dare to make the same mistake again."

Gao Cheng respectfully agreed, and at the same time breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that he had passed his mother's test.

Seeing this, Lou Zhaojun did not wish to say more, and wearily waved her hand: "You may go now."

"Yes, I shall take my leave."

Seeing the deep weariness on her face, Gao Cheng dared not say anything more and bowed to take his leave.

It wasn't until he stepped out of the courtyard and was hit by the evening breeze that he realized his undershirt was soaked with cold sweat and his back was icy cold.

He couldn't help but raise his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and said he was lucky.

Despite his good fortune, he dared not relax for a moment.

He knew this history all too well. Even if Lou Zhaojun helped him suppress all the rumors, this matter could never be left unresolved.

In history, Gao Cheng knelt and cried, but he still received a hundred lashes.

Therefore, simply admitting fault is not enough; other preparations are needed to ensure everything goes smoothly.

As for what preparations to make?

The first step would certainly be to follow the successful experiences of the past and ask Sima Ziru to intervene and resolve the situation.

After all, this is a proven and feasible method that has been tested by history. With a ready-made approach available, he naturally cannot abandon it.

So he immediately returned to his residence, dismissed his attendants, spread out hemp paper, picked up his brush and ground ink, and wrote a letter to Sima Ziru, who was far away in Ye City.

A moment later, the pen fell.

Gao Cheng blew the ink dry, carefully examined it, and was fairly satisfied.

He then sealed the letter, summoned his trusted guard He Xishele, and ordered him to send it to Yecheng overnight, delivering it to Sima Ziru as quickly as possible.

He then sat back down at his desk and began to ponder a third option.

Yes, he also needs to make a third-party preparation.

Because what he pursued was far more than simply keeping his position as heir apparent; he also wanted to avoid the hundred lashes and even find a way to turn this calamity into an opportunity for himself.

As for how to change it, it's very simple: show Gao Huan his talent and let Gao Huan see his irreplaceable nature.

This move was his true trump card.

He knew Gao Huan all too well. He was a ruthless warlord whose heart was only set on conquering the world. Compared to the foundation of the empire, a favored concubine meant nothing.

As long as he can demonstrate the absolute talent to inherit the hegemony and even help Gao Huan unify the world.

Even if he had only had an affair with a concubine, Gao Huan would have swallowed his pride and admitted it, even taking the initiative to suppress the matter and protect him as the heir apparent.

Thinking of this, Gao Cheng spread out the hemp paper again, and relying on the original owner's memories and the history he knew, he began to list out the internal and external troubles that Eastern Wei was currently facing.

From military and political reforms to personnel strategies, from diplomatic arrangements to internal integration, from resolving the conflict between the Xianbei nobles and the Hebei aristocratic families to dealing with Yuwen Tai of Guanzhong, every detail is presented in detail.

Furthermore, he not only listed the predicaments, but also wrote down the corresponding solutions.

Although these methods are still just theoretical for now, they are enough to indirectly prove his ability to govern the world.

He refused to believe that Gao Huan would still have the heart to punish him after seeing these things.

Thinking this, he wrote even faster.

However, just as he was writing furiously, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the study.

Immediately afterwards, a lowly soldier who should have been serving under Gao Huan entered the gate, guided by Wang Hong, another of Gao Cheng's personal guards.

"Your Highness, military intelligence from the north has been reported."

Wang Hong bowed slightly and explained his purpose.

Upon hearing that the message came from his father, Gao Cheng dared not delay. He quickly put down his brush, turned to the servant, and said in a low voice, "Speak now."

Upon hearing this, the servant immediately knelt on one knee and loudly reported, "Your Highness, a great victory! His Majesty personally led the six armies to decisively defeat the Ji Hu, beheading Liu Lisheng in battle, and pacifying the entire northern border!"

"The main army has now returned to Yanmen, and will return to Jinyang in no more than three days. His Majesty has ordered the Crown Prince to prepare for their arrival!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng was immediately startled and exclaimed in astonishment, "So fast?"

The servant respectfully replied, "Now that the country is at peace, Your Majesty is concerned about the Hegemon's Palace, so things will proceed more quickly."

Gao Cheng snapped out of his daze and suddenly felt a jumble of thoughts in his mind.

He originally thought that even if Gao Huan quelled Liu Lisheng's rebellion, it would be impossible for him to return to the capital in a short period of time.

After all, conquering the North is a huge undertaking, and it will take some time.

Unexpectedly, Gao Huan returned so quickly, truly living up to the historical record of his swift and decisive military campaign.

But no matter how flustered he was inside, he dared not show it on his face.

He could only take a deep breath, forcibly calm himself, and said in a deep voice, feigning composure, "I already know. The King's triumphant return is a great celebration for the country. I will reward you with five thousand coins. Go and inform the King that I will make proper arrangements, personally go out to greet him, and dare not fail in my duty."

"only!"

Upon hearing this, the servant immediately responded with delight and happily followed Wang Hong to receive his reward.