My father, Gao Huan, is an invincible prince!

Chapter 38 Gao Yang falls into the trap, Gao Cheng arrives in Ye!

Gao Yang's words were relayed to Duan Shao and Hulü Guang by the servants as quickly as possible.

However, Duan Shao and Huli Guang were completely bewildered by what the servant said, finding it utterly inexplicable.

This is because although the two sides have occasionally exchanged messages these days, it is only to verify the information they have secretly investigated. They have always kept to themselves and there has been no conflict or estrangement between them.

The servant who came to deliver the message was also completely bewildered by the two men's confused expressions.

So he had no choice but to tell the two of them in detail what he had discovered that day.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing the servant's words, the two looked at each other in bewilderment, unsure of what to say.

After a long pause, Duan Shao frowned and waved his hand at the attendant, saying, "Go back and report to Lord Taiyuan that I truly know nothing about this matter, nor did I utter such words. I suspect that you have fallen into someone's trap."

Upon hearing the words "fell into a trap," the attendant's expression changed instantly.

Although he did not understand the reason, he still obeyed the order and rushed back to inform Gao Yang of everything.

Upon hearing the reply, Gao Yang was stunned and stood there, completely bewildered.

Before he could even figure out the details, another servant stumbled into the secret chamber, looking terrified, and cried out that something terrible had happened.

Gao Yang, already agitated, became even more enraged upon seeing this, and sternly rebuked, "What's the matter with the panic?"

The attendant, flustered, hurriedly reported: "Lord Taiyuan, a group of men has suddenly appeared outside, claiming to be on the orders of Grand Protector Sun, searching for spies in Guanzhong and Jiangnan. They have now reached the alley entrance."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Yang felt a sudden "buzz" in his mind, and in an instant, he understood the whole cause and effect.

Unexpectedly, he still fell for the trap!

Yes, they fell for it.

Only now did he realize that the information he had received today was all a fabricated rumor deliberately created by Sun Teng and his old associates.

Stirring up the grass to alert the snake is to confuse his mind; Duan Shao's "drunken talk" is the real way to lure the snake out of its hole.

This is a scheme within a scheme!

The purpose was to first disturb his mind, then deliberately mislead him into being anxious, and send someone to instruct and persuade Duan Shao and Huli Guang.

In this way, those old guys can use this clue to pinpoint his exact hiding place.

"They really are a bunch of old foxes."

Upon thinking of this, Gao Yang couldn't help but curse under his breath, yet a sense of admiration welled up within him.

These seasoned ministers, who have experienced the vicissitudes of life, are indeed deep and unfathomable in their scheming.

Although I am young and somewhat precocious, I am still inexperienced and lack maturity.

Seeing Gao Yang stunned and silent for a long time, the attendant anxiously urged, "Lord Taiyuan, things have come to this point; you should get away quickly, or it will be too late to regret it!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Yang instantly came to his senses.

However, having realized the schemes of the nobles, his expression gradually returned to calm, and he slowly shook his head: "There is no need to panic."

He kept in mind his elder brother's words: the most dangerous place is often the safest place.

Since the other party has already set this trap, they must have anticipated that I would flee in panic after the incident, and then laid a net of traps in my residence and even outside the city.

Since that's the case, he decided to do the opposite and stay put.

Once he made up his mind, Gao Yang quickly retrieved all the secret letters and documents he had painstakingly collected over the past few days, which recorded evidence of the corruption, bribery, and factionalism of the former officials.

He then handed it to the trusted servant who had come to deliver the message, and solemnly entrusted him with the task: "Take this and quickly go to Jinyang through the secret passage in the back garden. My brother must have already set off for Ye. Be sure to personally present the evidence to the Crown Prince. Do not lose it."

The attendant was taken aback upon hearing this.

Just as he was about to offer further advice, Gao Yang strode out the door, summoned his personal attendants, and instructed them: "You all change into plain clothes and disperse through the back door. Make noise on purpose to confuse the pursuers, understand?"

Upon hearing this, the servants' faces immediately filled with anxiety.

Some people, worried about Gao Yang's safety, asked in a low voice, "What has become of the Duke of Taiyuan?"

Gao Yang smiled and said, "Me? I have nowhere to go. I'll just sit here and wait for them to search me."

"this......"

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback again and wanted to persuade them further.

"Don't worry!"

Gao Yang interrupted the group, his expression calm and composed, and reassured them, "You may all go. I am the eldest son of the Gao family. Although he may have the audacity, he would not dare to harm me. There is no need to worry about those who remain."

After saying that, he waved his hand again, signaling everyone to move.

Although the servants had no choice, they gritted their teeth and obeyed the orders to go their separate ways.

Upon seeing this, the loyal attendant carrying the secret letter also bid farewell with tears in his eyes and quietly left the city through the secret passage.

In the blink of an eye, Gao Yang was left alone in the sealed room, sitting and waiting.

He sat imposingly in the main hall, and as he heard footsteps approaching outside, he quickly concealed the last trace of tension on his face, replacing it with composure.

"Bang!"

Just then, the courtyard gate was kicked open, and dozens of armored soldiers rushed in, the sound of swords being drawn echoing through the air.

The leader was a young man in his early twenties, with a fair complexion, bright eyes, and an air of nobility unique to scions of noble families.

This man was named Sima Xiaonan, the eldest son of Sima Ziru.

That's right, he's the son of Sima Ziru, who shares the same fondness for large carriages as Gao Cheng!

He strode into the courtyard, scanned the surroundings, and immediately shouted, "Search this entire house, leave nothing behind!"

The armored soldiers responded with a resounding roar and scattered in all directions.

Sima Xiaonan led his men straight to the main house, kicked open the door, and shouted sternly, "I want to see who is truly blind to the consequences..."

However, he stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.

He stared blankly at Gao Yang, who was sitting comfortably on the couch, his eyes wide open and his mouth opening and closing repeatedly.

After a long pause, he finally managed to stammer out, "Second...Second Brother? Who are you?"

Gao Yang couldn't help but laugh when he saw him like this.

He then rose, hands behind his back, and strolled over to Sima Xiaonan. After looking him up and down, he said jokingly, "Brother Sima, you are quite imposing, breaking down doors and drawing your sword. Do you intend to use me, the second son of the Gao family, as a spy?"

"this......"

Upon hearing this, Sima Xiaonan's expression changed several times, and he was momentarily at a loss for words.

The person hiding in the shadows was none other than the dignified Second Son of the Gao family.

Damn it!

Who can believe that? Who would dare to believe that?

But he was, after all, from a prominent family, and had been exposed to the world since childhood, and was used to all kinds of trials and tribulations.

In just a few breaths, the look of surprise on his face disappeared, replaced by a smile: "Second Brother is just joking."

Having said that, he sheathed his longsword, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, and said with a smile, "I have come here on my father's orders to invite you, Second Brother, to my residence for a chat. Because Ye City has been unsettled recently, my father was worried about the safety of the journey, so he brought several guards with him. I did not expect to disturb you, Second Brother, and I hope you will forgive me."

Upon hearing this, Gao Yang couldn't help but secretly praise him, "What a quick-witted fellow!"

His expression remained unchanged; he merely raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh? Lord Sima invites me to be his guest?"

"Exactly."

Sima Xiaonan smiled and said, "My father often says that Erlang is a promising young man with extraordinary talent, and he has long wished to be close to him. However, Erlang rarely goes out, so there has been no opportunity for him to come. Today, I heard that Erlang is here, so I was specially ordered to welcome him."

Gao Yang stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled and nodded, saying, "So that's how it is. Since I've been summoned by Lord Sima, how could I, a junior, dare to disobey?"

Having said that, he immediately straightened his robes and strode towards the door.

Sima Xiaonan was slightly taken aback by this situation, clearly not expecting Gao Yang to be so agreeable.

He quickly turned around and gave a wink to his trusted servant behind him, then chased after Gao Yang.

The servant understood, and as soon as the two left, he and several others quietly sneaked into the secret room of the detached courtyard to search.

......

Meanwhile, half of Gao Yang's attendants who had scattered and fled have been captured.

Some were hacked down by armored soldiers who had been waiting for them as soon as they climbed over the back wall; others hid in the woodshed but were found and killed on the spot; still others blended into the crowd but were recognized by the hidden spies who had been laid in advance, and were captured after being chased for several streets until they were exhausted.

Only the attendant carrying the secret message crawled through the dark passage for a long time before emerging from a secluded drainage outlet in the west of the city. He then identified the direction and headed straight for Jinyang.

However, halfway there, they suddenly realized that all the key roads and checkpoints leading to Jinyang had already been blocked and intercepted by people sent in advance.

Alarmed, he tried to turn back into Ye City, but before he could turn around, he found that his escape route was also completely blocked.

Only now did he fully realize the truth.

This situation was a series of elaborate schemes from beginning to end. The old guard in Ye had already anticipated that Erlang would send someone with evidence to Jinyang to seek help.

Therefore, they laid a trap in advance and waited for the rabbit to run into the tree stump.

Seeing no way to advance or retreat, the servants, filled with grief and indignation, had no choice but to take up their weapons and fight desperately.

However, two fists cannot fight four hands. In a short while, blood stained the long road, and he sacrificed himself for righteousness.

The secret letters containing evidence of his crimes that he carried with him also fell into the hands of the ambush troops.

Only a cold corpse remained, lying alone on the official road.

……

About half an hour after the battle ended, Gao Cheng's carriage, which had been galloping towards Ye City, arrived at this blood-stained land.

Upon seeing the unexpected turn of events, Wang Hong immediately dismounted and bent down to examine the fallen corpse.

A moment later, he turned around with a solemn expression and walked to the side of the carriage, whispering, "Your Highness, judging from this person's figure and appearance, he is Erlang's trusted attendant."

Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng slowly stepped down from the carriage, his gaze falling on the cold corpse.

After a moment of silence, a look of "I knew it" appeared on his face.

Immediately, he shook his head slightly and sighed softly, "I never imagined that despite traveling day and night, I would still be a step too late."

Upon hearing this, the people around him were filled with doubt and confusion, and they quickly asked for the reason.

Gao Cheng didn't offer much explanation, but instead glanced at Wang Hong and asked, "How far is it from here to Ye?"

Wang Hong quickly bowed and answered truthfully, "Your Highness, it is still thirty li from here to Yedu."

"Thirty li..."

Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng lowered his head and pondered for a moment. After a short while, he ordered in a deep voice, "Continue to speed up our journey. We must reach Ye City before sunset today!"