SWDnovel Chapter 11 Nation and Family
Chapter 11 Nation and Family
Yang Yan did not rush to get up, but remained in a prostrate position, his voice clear and resonant throughout the hall.
He didn't mention the exam papers or governance; he started by bringing up "disrespectful behavior after drinking."
This is how to characterize tonight's events—it was "drunkenness," not "treason"!
He was gambling, gambling that Yang Jian hadn't seen the burned dragon robe yet, gambling that he could play this life-saving trump card before that suspicious ruler could speak!
He emphasized the four characters "disrespectful behavior before the palace" very clearly.
This is a form of psychological anchoring.
Yang Yong has done too many things tonight.
Wearing the emperor's robe in private is a capital offense; resenting one's father is unfilial; and causing trouble while drunk is immoral.
If a trial were to be held, any one of those points could be fatal.
Yang Yan had to set the tone for the matter within the potentially serious category of "misconduct" before Yang Jian could define it.
Kneeling for so long is more than enough for a "misconduct".
As for that fatal "dragon robe case," it must never be brought up in the palace.
Once the truth is revealed, it will force Yang Jian to take action to uphold the dignity of imperial power.
"Oh?"
Yang Jian raised an eyebrow and let out a cold snort from his nose.
The voice sounded as if it were squeezed out from between teeth, carrying a chilling aura.
"Do you know that your father's mistakes go far beyond 'disrespectful conduct in front of the king'?"
Yang Jian leaned forward slightly.
His cloudy yet sharp old eyes were fixed on the young man below the stage, his tone chilling.
"The Eastern Palace is in turmoil, filled with resentment towards the emperor and father, and there are even some shady dealings..."
"If I were to take this seriously, who in the Eastern Palace could escape responsibility?"
The implication in those words couldn't be clearer.
I know you set the house on fire and burned everything, but that was the dragon robe. Don't treat me like a fool!
The air instantly dropped to freezing point.
Yang Jian, who had been unconsciously tapping his fingers on the imperial desk, suddenly quickened his pace, making a rapid "tap, tap, tap" sound.
Each sound seemed to strike at the heart, a death knell.
Yang Yan's back instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
But he knew he couldn't panic now; if he showed even a hint of fear, all the groundwork he had laid would be for nothing.
"Grandson knows."
Yang Yan did not get up, his forehead pounding the ground, his voice without the slightest tremor, only a resolute determination to survive against all odds.
"From the perspective of state affairs, Father, as the Crown Prince, has overstepped his bounds and harbored resentment; his crime is indeed unforgivable."
"If we really delve deeper and search for evidence in the ashes, the Crown Prince's palace will surely be stained with blood tonight."
Upon hearing this, Yang Jian was taken aback, and even his fingers, which were tapping on the imperial desk, stopped.
This kid actually dared to say things so bluntly?
Isn't he afraid of dying?
Yang Yan did not give Yang Jian a chance to lash out. He changed the subject, his tone becoming more desolate and earnest.
"But this matter can be considered a matter of state, or it can be considered a matter of family."
"The Rites of Zhou states that the bond between ruler and subject is stricter than the executioner's axe. If we consider matters of state, the crime committed by the father king should be treated as treason, and none of the three thousand people in the Eastern Palace escaped punishment."
"However, the Classic of Filial Piety also says that the affection between father and son is a matter of nature. If we consider it a family matter, this is nothing more than a trivial rift between father and son."
Yang Yan raised his head, his gaze meeting Yang Jian's imposing stare directly for the first time without flinching.
"In matters of state, this could be seen as a sign of the Crown Prince's misconduct in plotting rebellion."
"But as far as family matters are concerned, this is nothing more than a disfavored son who, feeling resentful, lost his senses after drinking and acted foolishly."
"My grandfather and grandmother watched my father grow up and knew that he was always straightforward and honest. Although he was not very talented, he was not rebellious either."
"If we punish them severely today, or even make this public, not only will the Crown Prince's palace be in turmoil, but people outside will also criticize the royal family for killing each other."
"What will those powerful families think? What will the common people say?"
Yang Yan paused, his voice lowering.
"They would say that there is no kinship in the royal family, only power struggles. This would damage the royal family's reputation and the prestige of the Kaihuang era."
At this point, Yang Yan kowtowed deeply once again.
His forehead was pressed against the ground, and his voice was choked with emotion.
"Your grandson is willing to take the punishment in his father's place. I do not ask Your Majesty to forgive the Crown Prince's crimes, but only ask my father to spare his life."
"Grandpa."
This address came out of nowhere.
In the strictly regulated Daxing Hall, this was a huge transgression.
But this is precisely Yang Yan's trump card.
He was gambling that even though these two elderly people had been sitting at the pinnacle of power for a long time, deep down they still harbored a lingering longing for "family bliss".
Yang Jian remained silent.
He looked at the boy kneeling below.
Despite being only sixteen years old and somewhat frail, he managed to remain calm in the face of the emperor's fury.
The logic is clear, and the approach is measured.
Such a mindset and such courage could never have been taught by that good-for-nothing Yang Yong.
The hard ice in Yang Jian's heart seemed to have cracked open.
He subconsciously turned his head to look at Dugu Jialuo beside him.
His glance was a question asking her opinion.
Dugu Jialuo put down the teacup she had been stroking.
The teacup collided with the table, making a soft, crisp sound.
She valued "rules" more than Yang Jian, but she also valued "decency" even more.
Every word Yang Yan said just now struck a chord with her.
Dugu Jialuo spoke at the opportune moment, her voice calm yet carrying an undeniable weight.
"His Majesty."
"Yong'er was indeed behaving erratically today, even absurdly. But he is, after all, our eldest son, and he was just confused and blinded by alcohol."
Dugu Jialuo glanced at Yang Yan kneeling on the ground, her tone softening slightly.
"Since Yan'er has handled it properly and prevented those dirty deeds from spreading outside, there's no need for us to tarnish our own reputation."
"It would be better to send him back to the East Palace to reflect on his mistakes in seclusion, confine him for three months, and deduct his salary for a year."
"This will serve as both a punishment, teaching him a lesson, and a way to preserve the royal family's dignity. What do you think?"
She didn't mention the "dragon robe" or the "death penalty," but simply followed Yang Yan's words and attributed all the blame to "immorality while drunk."
This not only gave Yang Jian a way out, but also gave the Crown Prince a way out.
The main hall was deathly silent.
Yang Jian glanced deeply at Yang Yan, then at the blurry figure outside the hall.
The violence in his eyes finally faded slowly, replaced by a deep weariness.
The chief eunuch Yang Yue, who was standing to the side, twitched his eyelids almost imperceptibly. Then, as if melting into the candlelight, he bowed, lowered his head, and silently moved backward, leaving the hall and gently closing the door behind him.
Having served the emperor for over twenty years, he understood the meaning of this silence best: when His Majesty looked at the Empress, it meant that state affairs were settled and family matters were beginning.
Family matters are not for outsiders to know.
This unspoken understanding convinced Yang Yan more than any words that he had made the right bet.
"Get up. These next few months, keep a close eye on your good-for-nothing father and make sure he doesn't cause any more trouble! If there's a next time..."