Chapter 28: The Art of Politics

  The conversation about the Emperor's way also touched on a concern that had been weighing on the mind of Crown Prince Heng. Although his son was talented and had a good reputation, he had always been more interested in literature than martial arts. Despite being praised for his broad-mindedness, kindness, and courtesy, he had never been able to shake off the influence of literary men.

  As a result, although he had received guidance from famous generals like Huangfu and Taibai, his character had already been shaped, and he was not suited for military affairs. In times of peace, this would not have been a problem, but now that the country was in turmoil, it was a cause for concern.

  The Crown Prince thought to himself that perhaps this was an opportunity for change. The person who had just spoken, although unorthodox in his methods, had achieved remarkable results. He had even managed to clear up some of the corruption around him.

  As the Crown Prince watched him, he noticed that he did not have much expression on his face, and he added another evaluation: "unfazed by honor or shame." Little did he know that the person was actually shocked and his facial muscles were frozen in place.

  In his heart, Liang Xiao thought to himself, "This is terrible. One can't be too proud of oneself." Just as he had managed to resolve the trouble with Xiaotou, he had now gotten himself into another predicament with a seemingly harmless person who turned out to have a powerful background and was even caught in the act by the Crown Prince.

  But what surprised Liang Xiao was that instead of being scolded or criticized, the Crown Prince actually praised him, saying that his son had benefited greatly from his teachings. The Crown Prince even asked him to continue teaching his son in the future.

  Liang Xiao thought to himself, "What does this mean? Is he trying to flatter me or is there some other motive?" He couldn't understand why the Crown Prince would react in such a way, especially since he had just spoken out of turn and criticized the imperial family.

  He wondered if the Crown Prince was trying to set him up as a spy or if there was some other ulterior motive. But then he dismissed this idea as ridiculous.

  As he listened to the Crown Prince's long speech, Liang Xiao realized that he was actually trying to downplay the whole incident and cover for him. The Crown Prince had skillfully turned the tables and made it seem like everything was under his control.

  Liang Xiao couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at the Crown Prince's tactics. He knew that he had stumbled into something much bigger than himself, and he wasn't sure if he could handle it.

  Despite this, he decided to go along with the Crown Prince's plan, knowing that it was better to follow his lead for now. As he looked around, he saw that everyone else seemed to have accepted the situation, and they were all nodding in agreement.

  The Crown Prince's words had achieved their desired effect, and Liang Xiao couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the art of politics.