"I will retire without incident," Zhang Huaian's sharp voice echoed in the hall, announcing the official start of the emperor's first morning court after returning from the Eastern Expedition. Above the hall, Yang Guangzheng, wearing a dragon robe, Sitting on the dragon chair, looking down at the ministers below, the civil and military officials were also lined up on both sides, in a neat formation, standing there with their heads bowed respectfully, not daring to overstep the mark.
Looking at the appearance of the courtiers below, Yang Guang, who was aloof, was filled with a sense of satisfaction. This was what he had enjoyed most for more than ten years since he had been in court. Coupled with the great victory in Liaodong, Yang Guang even felt that he had surpassed all previous dynasties. The sage can be regarded as the most accomplished emperor. Thinking of this, Yang Guang couldn't help but beam with joy, and rarely smiled in the court.
However, the smile on Yang Guang's face did not last long. Just as Zhang Huaian finished his words, suddenly, two calls came from below, almost at the same time: "I have a book to start,"
"Well," Yang Guang was a little surprised. Since Yang Xuangan's rebellion, courtiers rarely took the initiative to propose memorials. Today, someone suddenly came up with memorials, and there were two at once. Yang Guang lowered his head and looked down, but his eyes could not help but narrow. The two people listed below are not ordinary people. One is Yang Guang's cousin, Duke Li Yuan of Tang Dynasty, and the other is the current General Zuo Xiaowei Yu Wenshu.
For Li Yuan, Yang Guang felt disgust from the bottom of his heart. This disgust even started when Yang Guang was still the king of Jin. Li Yuan was the son of Yang Guang's mother, Queen Mother Dugu, so he and Yang Guang were cousins. , and since childhood, Li Yuan's magnanimity and talent have won the favor of Empress Dowager Dugu. Yang Guang even felt that if Li Yuan was also a prince, then the brothers would not have to fight for the position of prince. It must belong to Li Yuan, and when Queen Mother Dugu was with Yang Guang and other brothers, she would always praise Li Yuan the most. For Yang Guang, that was something that made him extremely unhappy.
However, since Yang Guang came to the throne, Li Yuan seemed to know that he was not liked by Yang Guang, so he restrained his usual actions. Even if Yang Guang wanted to cause trouble for Li Yuan, he could not do it, and when he saw Li Yuan cowering like a turtle, In the corner, Yang Guang simply ignored him. He didn't expect that after so many years, Li Yuan would suddenly show up.
Seeing Li Yuan coming out, Yang Guang felt uncomfortable again. He seemed to faintly hear his deceased mother nagging Li Yuan's benefits in his ears. Yang Guang's face immediately darkened, and he deliberately He turned his head and turned a blind eye to Li Yuan who was kneeling below. He smiled and said to Yu Wenshu on the other side: "If you have any memorial for Yuwen Aiqing, please submit it."
As soon as Yang Guang said these words, Zhang Huaian immediately walked down the steps with small steps, came to Yuwenshu's side, took Yuwenshu's memorial, did not dare to delay for a moment, and sent it directly to Yang Guang's hand. Yang Guang took the memorial, ignored Li Yuan, and just looked through it. The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty just watched Yu Wenshu hand over the memorial and stood up according to the rules, but Li Yuan had to hold up his own memorial and kneel down. On the ground, the contrast couldn't be more obvious, but Li Yuan had no objection at all. Instead, he continued to kneel on the ground motionless, letting the courtiers' eyes stay on him.
"Well," Yang Guang originally just looked at Yu Wenshu's memorial casually, wanting to make Li Yuan suffer more, but when he looked at it for a short while, his brows immediately wrinkled, and his face suddenly changed. Tie Qing, after he had finished reading the memorial, suddenly raised his head, first glared at Li Yuan, two cold gleams shot out from his eyes, then turned to look at Yuwen Shu, and shouted in a deep voice: "Yuwen Aiqing, you What is said in this memorial is true,"
There was already a hint of chill in Yang Guang's words. After hearing this, all the courtiers present felt a chill in their hearts. The current emperor was usually extremely stingy with rewards, but when he punished people, he was... There was no mercy at all. This tone was clearly a precursor to the emperor's anger. Everyone's eyes immediately focused on Yuwenshu's back. No one knew what Yuwenshu wrote in his memorial and what the end of it was. Who is going to be unlucky?
Yu Wenshu saluted Yang Guang unhurriedly and said: "Return to your majesty, how dare I deceive you? The words in this memorial are true. After I learned about it, I went to inquire the relevant people and found out. It’s true. If your Majesty doesn’t believe it, you can ask His Highness the King of Yue personally, and His Highness the King of Yue also knows about this.”
"The King of Yue also knows," Yang Guang frowned, and finally closed the memorial in his hand with force, then turned his head and shouted to Li Yuan who was kneeling there: "Li Yuan, Yu Wen Ai Qing sent the memorial to you to commit murder and harm the people. You disturbed the people, and even injured my dear Marquis of Yangcheng, do you know your guilt?"
As soon as Yang Guang said this, the courtiers below were in an uproar. No one thought that Yuwenshu would accuse Li Yuan in front of Yang Guang. Yuwenshu and Li Yuan can now be said to be the two most powerful people in the court. , although the two of them are usually at odds, they can still maintain the most basic calm, but now they are fighting with great fanfare. If these masters fight, innocent people will be affected. Thinking of this, all the ministers subconsciously backed away. Taking one step at a time seems to be the only way to avoid disaster.
After listening to Yang Guang's question, Li Yuan also trembled. He couldn't help raising his head and glanced at Yuwenshu next to him. However, at this moment, Yuwenshu was with the old god, as if nothing happened just now. The same thing happened, Li Yuan snorted in his heart, and even though he was attached to the ground, he said loudly: "Your Majesty, I am scared. I really don't know what Lord Yuwen told me. Please investigate clearly. Regarding Quan Zi, Wei Chen I still have a copy of the memorial, and I would like to invite your Majesty to read it." After saying this, Li Yuan raised the memorial in his hand above his head again.
"Well," Yang Guang no longer thought of teasing Li Yuan at this moment. He frowned and nodded to Zhang Huaian next to him. Zhang Huaian immediately went down to pick up Li Yuan's memorial and handed it to Yang Guang. Yang Guang opened Li Yuan's memorial and flipped through a few pages, but his expression became more and more gloomy. After reading, Yang Guang raised his head, stared at Li Yuan and shouted: "Yu Wen Aiqing just delivered the memorial You committed an act of violence and injured Marquis Yangcheng, and now you are here to report that Marquis Yangcheng beat your son to death. Tell me what happened."
"Ah,,," there was another uproar, and then all the ministers discovered that there was a row of white paper tied on the edge of Li Yuan's official hat. This was a sign of the death of the younger generation in the family. Li Yuan was serious. A relative of the emperor, someone actually dared to kill Li Yuan's son. This Marquis of Yangcheng must be too courageous.
Hearing Yang Guang's question, Li Yuan just stood up and immediately threw himself on the ground and burst into tears. Not to mention, this Li Yuan is really good at it. His tears flowed freely without any ambiguity. Li Yuan While crying, he said to Yang Guang: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being incompetent. I am old and have lost my son. I am so sad that I can't help myself."
"Okay, okay." Yang Guang was extremely annoyed by Li Yuan's long-winded remarks. He immediately waved his hands and said, "Stop talking so much nonsense, and explain the matter to me quickly. If it's true, It's you who have been wronged, and I will definitely make the decision for you. Don't forget that I am your cousin."
After saying this last sentence, all the ministers below couldn't help but secretly sneered at him for kissing his cousin. I didn't know who just left my cousin aside and made him kneel there as punishment. All the ministers wanted to return home. Of course he didn't dare to say what he was thinking, and Li Yuan didn't seem to think about it. He just cried and said: "I thank your Majesty for your kindness."
Li Yuan kowtowed, wiped his tears, and continued: "My third son, Xuan Ba, was ordered by me yesterday to go to the home of my son and daughter, the late General Sun Sheng, but I didn't want to meet Yang Yang. The Marquis of Cheng, Marquis of Yangcheng, and his ministers have always had a grudge. When they saw the minister yesterday, they had evil thoughts in their hearts. Taking advantage of His Majesty's favor, they acted wantonly and dared to do harm to the minister. Poor minister, who has been frail and sick since he was a child. I was beaten to death by the Marquis of Yangcheng. I ask your majesty to make the decision for you." After saying this, Li Yuan lay on the ground again and started crying.
After listening to Li Yuan's words, Yang Guang's face was already ugly. Although he hated Li Yuan, Li Yuan was a royal relative after all, Li Yuan's son. After all, he was also Yang Guang's nephew. Now he was beaten to death in the street. , isn't this a slap in Yang Guang's face? Immediately, Yang Guang's face was full of anger, he slapped the armrest of the dragon chair hard, and shouted: "This is unreasonable. Come on, bring Marquis Yangcheng to me."
Although Wan He has been named Marquis of Yangcheng, he does not have an official position, so he is not qualified to go to court to participate in the court meeting. Therefore, if Yang Guang wants to find Wan He, he has to send someone to Wan He's home to spread the news. Among the officials, There are many people who know Wan He, among them are Lai Huer, Lai Hong and his son who have had a friendship with Wan He. They will be punished when they see Wan He. Lai Hong, who has a close friendship with Wan He, also showed his eagerness. He looked like he was about to come out and give advice, but Lai Huer, who was not far in front of him, quietly gestured to Lai Hong, telling Lai Hong not to act rashly. Then, Lai Huer said again with Pointing his finger in front of him, Lai Hong took a look, but it was Yu Wenshu who was still standing there with the presence of the old god. He immediately understood what Lai Hong meant to protect his children. He suppressed the impatience in his heart and waited patiently to see what happened.
Sure enough, just after Yang Guang's decree was issued, Yuwenshu, who had been silent before, finally spoke. Yuwenshu was unhurried and bowed to Yang Guang first, and then said: "Your Majesty, regarding Mr. Li. The old minister also heard a little bit about what happened at home. Although he sympathized with Mr. Li for losing his beloved son, the story that the old minister heard was slightly different from what Mr. Li said. Please suspend the arrest for now. Marquis of Yangcheng, I would like to inform your Majesty what I know, and your Majesty will make the final decision."