Why did the emperor rebel?

Chapter 631
After the New Year's Eve, the weather gradually warmed up, and after a few days of adaptation, the court's yamen finally resumed normal operation.

The main reason, of course, is because of the memorials made by the Ministry of War to rectify the military settlements.

As time passed day by day, the discussion on this matter became more and more intense between the ruling and opposition parties. Regardless of civil servants or generals, the movement between various mansions became more frequent.

Everyone's eyes are fixed on the court meeting that will be held a few days later...

In the blink of an eye, it was the tenth day of the lunar new year. Dongcheng, which had gradually calmed down after the New Year's Eve, suddenly became lively.

Today is the day when the eldest son of Zhennan Prince's Mansion and the daughter of Jing'an Bo's Mansion get married. Originally, getting married in the first month should be a taboo, but this day was chosen by the old Min King himself. With his status as an old man, naturally no one would dare Say more.

Early in the morning, the officials from Wucheng Bingma Division dispatched and sealed off the entire street in front of Jing'anbo's mansion.

The long street has already been hung with red silk, the gongs and drums are noisy, the firecrackers are blasting, and it is very lively.

Not long after, a team came from afar, but it was not a team to welcome the relatives. The three leaders, one civil, one military and one eunuch, were all very important figures in the government and the opposition.

The person in the middle, dressed in a scarlet robe and embroidered with a unicorn, is Li Xian, the Duke of Fengguo. On the left, the person who made up the robe with a crane is Shaofu, Minister of Rites, Hu Yi. The person on the right, who is dressed in a python suit with a clear face, is Li Xian. Cheng Jing, the eunuch in charge of printing.

Behind them, the ones following behind them were not ordinary servants and maidservants, but palace servants.

Although the road was sealed off by soldiers from the five cities, the streets were already crowded with crowds of onlookers.

In front of the gate of the Jing'an uncle's mansion, Fan Guang was dressed in a unicorn suit bestowed by the emperor, with a red face, and led a group of people in the mansion who had been waiting for a long time.

Beside him is also the officiant in a crane men's suit with a smile on his face, Yu Qian, Shangshu of the Shaobao Military Department!
If nothing else, this should be the grandest wedding in the entire capital.

Logically speaking, the imperial court would send special envoys to hold the festive canonization only for princes and county kings' marriages. This time the two houses got married, although the other party was also the county king's house, but after all, it was just the son of the prince, not the real county king.

However, the Son of Heaven, T'en, bestowed great face on himself by bestowing marriages on behalf of the two families. Therefore, although all the rituals are slightly different from those of the county king's wedding ceremony, they are not much different.

With the loud sound of gongs and drums, the long procession stopped in front of Jing'an Bo's mansion, several people got off their horses one after another, and saluted each other.

Immediately, the ceremony officer who followed the team said loudly.

"Following the system, Li Xian, the Duke of Feng State, was ordered to be the envoy, and Shao Fu's Minister of Rites, Hu Wei, was to be the deputy envoy. The rites were performed, and the eldest daughter of Jing'an Bo Fan Guang's eldest daughter, Fan Shi, was appointed as the official concubine of the son of the Prince of Zhennan."

"The officiant leads the ceremony!"

Yiying's ceremony process has already been rehearsed in advance, and there will be no mistakes, Yu Qian took a step forward and said.

"The incense table has been set up in the main hall, please follow me into the main hall to perform the ceremony!"

Then, everyone entered the gate of the mansion, and the sound of gongs and drums sounded again, and it was very lively...

However, the Changping Hou's Mansion, which is just across the street, seemed unexpectedly deserted.

In front of the huge Hou Mansion, there were two young men standing.

Although the weather was getting warmer, Yang Jie was still wearing a thick cloak. Beside him, Yang Neng was wearing a strong suit, looking at the lively scene in the distance with complicated eyes.

Some families were happy and some were sad. While the grand wedding in Jing'anbo Mansion was being held, the situation in Changping Hou Mansion seemed to be getting worse.

Yang Hong was dismissed from the post of Admiral of the Beijing Camp, Yang Neng was demoted to Guangxi, and Yang Jun was exiled to the Longmen Guard, all of which seemed to show the same political signal...

The Yang family, the Marquis of Changping, is already in decline!
Looking at the dozens of boxes of gift books on the opposite side, being carried into the mansion under the command of the accompanying female officer, Yang Neng's face sank like water, he looked away, looked at Yang Jie at the side, and said.

"It's very lively on the opposite side. Uncle is inconvenient, so he can't go to congratulate you. Xiaojie, as the eldest son of Changping Houfu, don't you want to have a glass of wine on behalf of uncle?"

There was a hint of sarcasm and a little bit of resentment in his tone.

Yang Jie shook his head, his expression was calm, and said.

"The congratulatory gift has already been delivered. I am quiet by nature, so I won't join in the fun. Besides, the second elder brother is going to take office today, so the family's affairs are naturally more important than the banquet of outsiders."

Looking at his fourth brother who is always calm, Yang Neng let out a sigh of relief, but he still couldn't hold back, took a step forward, stared at him closely, and asked.

"Xiaojie, the second brother is leaving the capital soon, tell me the truth, why did Uncle Xin Cheng, Zhao Rong, suddenly recommend me to go to Guangxi?"

Yang Jie was silent for a moment, then he raised his head and looked directly into Yang Neng's eyes, and said.

"Father's meaning!"

"Second brother wouldn't think that with my status, Uncle Xin could take the risk of offending the Yang family and transfer second brother away at this time."

This time it was Yang Neng who stopped talking.

In fact, he had already thought of it a long time ago. To get Uncle Xin Cheng to play, Yang Hong had to come forward.

Although Yang Jie is the future heir of the Changping Houfu, he is called the son of the Houfu.

However, he is still just a junior in a family. In the circle of Xun Qi's children, with the weight of the Hou family, he may still have some influence.

But in the court hall, in front of a dignified lord like Xin Chengbo, there is no place to sit and talk, let alone influence the other party's decision.

Strictly speaking, Yang Neng's transfer to Guangxi can only be regarded as a flat transfer, not relegation.

However, at such a critical time, he was transferred to the southeast, where he was unfamiliar, and the political implications of this were very strong.

For no reason, it is impossible for Zhao Rong to take the initiative to do such a thing to offend the Changping Marquis.

Even though the Yang family is now at the center of the turmoil, it is still the prestigious Hou's Mansion after all. This matter would not have been possible without Yang Hong's nod.

and so……

Gently squeezed his fist, Yang Neng's expression did not relax, he still stared at Yang Jie tightly and asked.

"Xiaojie, you know I'm not asking uncle, but you!"

"What did you do in this matter?"

Calling Yang Neng to go out of Beijing certainly cannot bypass Yang Hong, but this decision actually shows that Yang Hong rejected Yang Neng's proposal on New Year's Eve.

Until now, in the face of the rumors and pressure from the government and the opposition, the Yang family has never taken any action, which also verified this point.

It has always been Yang Jie's idea to stay low and be small, to give in and compromise, so Yang Neng couldn't help but suspect that Yang Jie played some role he didn't know.

When the wind picked up, Yang Jie sighed and didn't know how to answer. After a while, he looked at Yang Neng and said seriously.

"Second brother, we are a family, a family that shares weal and woe!"

"Since the second brother asked, I'll just say that it is indeed my father's intention to let the second brother serve under the Marquis of Anyuan's tent. However, the old man has also discussed with me, and I... have no objection."

Hearing the previous sentence, Yang Neng's face softened, and a complex light flashed in his eyes, but after hearing the latter, he couldn't help asking again.

"Why?"

Yang Jie pondered for a moment, then opened his mouth to explain.

"Second brother, you should understand in your heart that in the current situation of the Yang family, if you are not careful, you will be overthrown. No matter which way, you have to go all out if you make up your mind. It’s the real way to bring disaster.”

He didn't say it clearly, but Yang Neng already understood.

Compromise or stand up to resist, the Yang family can only choose one path, obviously, Yang Hong still prefers to listen to Yang Jie in the end.

In this case, it would be inappropriate for Yang Neng to stay in the capital.

Just like what Yang Jie said, no matter what the final choice is, if you make the choice, you have to go all out. If you want to change the course at every turn, then at this critical moment, something really big will happen.

Yang Neng knew his character well. If he continued to stay, then if something happened later, he would definitely not be able to help persuading Yang Hong again, or even do something in private.

From this point of view, letting him go is indeed the best way.

but……

"Xiaojie, your second brother and I have been stationed at the border all these years. Whether it is the north or the southeast, there is no hindrance to me. It is nothing more than leading troops to fight and fighting on the battlefield. There is nothing difficult."

"However, you should know that the Yang family is the foundation of you and me. Now that the situation in the capital is like this, are you really sure that you can keep the Yang family safe?"

Yang Neng sighed, the unhappiness in his eyes dissipated a lot, and instead a trace of worry floated up, he said.

"Now that I have been transferred out of the capital, your third brother has been exiled to Longmen, my uncle is sick in bed, and the imperial court is looking like a mountain rain is about to come, sharpening their knives, how can I leave Beijing with peace of mind!"

Hearing this, Yang Jie also rarely hesitated.

Yes, this kind of thing, at this time, who can not worry?
Although he has done the best he can, the situation is treacherous and changing rapidly. Except for His Majesty the Emperor who is at the ninth level, who dares to say that everything is under control...

Taking a deep breath, Yang Jie shook his head lightly, as if he wanted to forget all the weakness in his heart.

Then, he raised his head, calmly but seriously said to Yang Neng.

"Second brother, don't worry, I have thought about it carefully. Although the imperial court has a great momentum to rectify the army this time, it is not really unscrupulous after all."

"Father has fought many battles and made great contributions to the country. He has guarded the Xuanfu for many years and has a reputation for keeping the country safe. The morale of the army, the surprise attack on the Ara Zhiyuan, turning the tide of the battle, is indispensable."

"Even if the imperial court wants to show its determination to investigate the army, it is impossible to kill the Yang family. The second brother is now out of Beijing, and he is going to Guangxi. It is a combined punishment for several crimes, and the mistakes made before can be considered as a write-off."

"Since the imperial court has arranged for you, it is impossible to change the order overnight. Even if something happens to the Yang family during this turmoil, it will not involve the two of you."

"The only thing to worry about is the situation of the eldest brother in the Xuanfu. However, if the court really wants to use the Yang family's method, it will mainly target the father. The eldest brother will be implicated at most. Back then, when Yu Shaobao was in the Xuanfu, the elder brother was very angry It didn't obstruct it, but instead protected it everywhere, which can be regarded as leaving a trace of incense."

"Once there is a disagreement, my father and I will try our best to keep my elder brother safe. I can't guarantee anything else, but I still have confidence in this."

Yang Neng frowned, thought carefully about these words in his heart, still a little worried, and asked.

"Really?"

Yang Jie nodded and said.

"Second brother, don't worry, I have sent someone to inquire. At the beginning, the Ministry of Criminal Justice wanted to exile the third brother to Tieling Guard, but after the decree came down, it was changed to Longmen Guard."

"The Longmen guards are under the control of the Xuanfu, and the eldest brother is guarding the Xuanfu. It is impossible for the Criminal Department not to know this. Since the third brother is sent to the Longmen guards, it means that the emperor has no intention of killing them all."

After listening, Yang Neng breathed a sigh of relief, but the doubt in his eyes was still there, he hesitated for a moment, and asked again.

"Is the news true? Is it possible that the Ministry of Punishment changed its mind and changed Xiao Jun to the Longmen Guard?"

Yang Jie didn't hesitate this time, shook his head and said.

"The news should be good. The original plan of the Criminal Ministry is indeed Tieling Guard. However, even if the second brother's guess is true, the Ministry of Criminal Affairs changed the place of exile. When the final edict is drawn up, the cabinet and the supervisor will definitely remind Your Majesty, the Longmen Guards belong to the Xuan Mansion, and Eldest Brother is guarding the Xuan Mansion."

"If Your Majesty doesn't have this intention, then the final will must be changed. In fact, this is why I am sure that even in the worst case, I can keep my eldest brother."

"Third Brother's arrival at Longmen Guard is a lenient gift from His Majesty to the Yang family. However, if the matter of the Yang family is eventually affected, then there is no need for Your Majesty to make the third brother go to Longmen Guard."

What he said was clear and detailed.

After Yang Neng finished listening, he was finally relieved. At the same time, he couldn't help flashing a hint of admiration in his eyes, and said.

"Xiaojie, it was the second brother who misjudged you in the past. Uncle is right. You have such a meticulous mind and insight into the situation of people's hearts. Only in your hands can the Yang family last for a long time!"

"Although I don't know how you persuaded Uncle, but with your words, Second Brother believes that you will definitely let the Yang family get through this difficult time safely!"

Yang Jie smiled wryly, only feeling that the pressure on his shoulders was a little heavier.

After pondering for a moment, Yang Jie looked at Yang Neng's sincere expression, his eyes flickered, he took a step forward and asked.

"Since the second brother said so, I also have a question, please ask the second brother to clarify."

Seeing this situation, Yang Neng also calmed down. After all, he was not a thoughtless person, and probably guessed what Yang Jie wanted to ask, sighed, and Yang Neng said quietly.

"Sure enough, uncle still told you everything?"

Yang Jie nodded, but said without shy away.

"Second brother's private affairs, I shouldn't care about them. I know that although second brother and I have different thoughts and ideas, they are all for the good of the Yang family. Therefore, I didn't intend to ask about this matter, but since second brother said so just now , then the younger brother rashly asked..."

"That night, the second brother said that Ningyuan Hou Renli had contacted you in private, and please tell the truth about the specific situation."

Yang Neng hesitated for a moment, but this time he didn't refuse. He nodded, then lowered his voice, leaned into Yang Jie's ear, and whispered a few words.

Immediately, Yang Jie's expression changed, and he said in surprise.

"Is there such a thing?"

Yang Neng withdrew his body, sneered, and said.

"He didn't look for me, I haven't thought of this episode yet, but this Marquis Ren secretly sent a letter to elder brother when he was in the Xuanfu, and when he returned to Beijing, he looked for me in private, if it wasn't because of a guilty conscience, why? "

"He wants to use my Yang family as a spearman, how can I be defenseless against him? Xiaojie, don't worry, even if you don't ask about this matter, I originally planned to talk about it."

"When he found me, I kept a hand and sent someone to Gansu to investigate. What I just told you is the news I just got a few days ago."

"If there is no accident, the details can be found out before this court meeting. Although the time is too tight, conclusive evidence may not be obtained, but since the court wants to investigate the military settlements, it will definitely investigate in detail. At that time, you can only It is necessary to bring these matters to the court, even if my Yang family falls into the quagmire, but he Ningyuan Houfu, don't want to be alone!"

Yang Jie nodded, suppressed the astonishment in his eyes, and looked Yang Neng up and down. He also had a new understanding of this second brother who was praised by his father as Shen Yi and his planner.

"If this is true, then Second Brother really helped me a lot this time!"

Yang Neng stretched his eyebrows, reached out and patted Yang Jie's shoulder, and said.

"Didn't you just say that we are a family, a family that shares weal and woe, can we help you? The second brother still said that, the Yang family, it's not someone's Yang family, but the Yang family's Yang family!"

"Okay, the second brother is gone, I'm in Guangxi, waiting for your good news!"

There are bursts of joy in the distance, the sound of gongs and drums is loud, and the sound of firecrackers is deafening.

In front of the gate of the Yang Mansion, a lonely carriage stopped leisurely. Yang Neng got into the carriage with two entourages, took a deep look at the plaque on the Changping Marquis Mansion, turned around and got into the carriage, staggering towards go forward.

The cold wind was blowing, and the clothes were flying. Yang Jie stood at the door of the mansion, looking at the carriage going away, his eyes flickered, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

The shadow of the waiting carriage disappeared from his gaze, he retracted his gaze, and glanced at the bustling Jing'anbo Mansion in the distance, with a smile in his eyes, he turned and returned to the mansion.

It was almost noon at this moment, Yang Jie walked towards the mansion step by step, the shadow on the ground shrank into a small ball.

Above his head, the scorching sun is in the sky, and the world is warm...

　Happy New Year everyone~~~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)