gnovel Chapter 24 Yuwen Chenglong and his son fight each other
Chapter 24 Yuwen Chenglong and his son fight each other
"Master, Young Master Yuwen Chenglong is making a scene outside, insisting on seeing you."
Just then, the steward's voice came respectfully from outside the main hall.
"They've come knocking on our door so quickly?"
Lu Xiao moved his neck from side to side, and his joints made a slight cracking sound.
He clenched his fist and strode out.
"They're fighting? That's great!"
Upon hearing this, Yang Ruyi's eyes immediately lit up.
Excited, she hopped lightly twice on the spot, then took small, quick steps and followed after him.
As Yang Guang's daughter, she perfectly inherited some of her father's fine traditions.
Watching a spectacle, especially a fight, is one of her greatest pleasures in life!
"Lü Xiao! Lü Xiao! Come out quickly!"
Before they even reached the gates of the mansion, Yuwen Chenglong's distinctive, somewhat impatient voice had already pierced through the front courtyard.
Lu Xiao casually picked up the peerless halberd and slung it over his shoulder.
The imposing presence of his tall figure, combined with the chilling gleam of his halberd blade.
This immediately made Yuwen Chenglong, who was shouting at the door, shrink back and subconsciously take two steps back.
Lu Xiao looked around, but couldn't see that iconic golden armor.
His brother didn't come?
"Just you?" Lü Xiao raised an eyebrow. "That's not enough for me to stretch my muscles. Go back and call your brother."
"My father and brother have both been summoned to the palace by His Majesty, they can't come!"
Yuwen Chenglong quickly waved his hand, then put on a fawning smile.
"For the sake of our friendship over a meal, when you go to the palace later, could you take me with you?"
He certainly wouldn't dare to fight this time; his purpose was actually quite simple: to follow Lü Xiao into the palace.
His father and elder brother were summoned by the palace envoy, so such an honor naturally did not fall to him.
So he had a sudden inspiration and simply followed the palace servant who delivered the imperial decree to Lü Xiao's place, hoping to hitch a ride into the palace and broaden his horizons.
"Who are you?" Lü Xiao asked, adjusting his robe sleeves as he glanced at him. "So you can come with me to the palace to meet the Emperor?"
Judging from this situation, Yang Guang was truly enraged by the Eastern Turks, and he quickly summoned his confidants to discuss countermeasures.
"I...I'm your half-brother!" Yuwen Chenglong disregarded his pride, his knees buckled, and he lunged forward, grabbing Lü Xiao's leg. "You absolutely must take me with you!"
"Your own father and brother don't take care of you, so you expect me, your half-brother, to?"
Lu Xiao tried to lift his leg and walk forward, only to feel a heavy pendant hanging on his leg.
"Godfather! You're my godfather, isn't that enough?!"
Yuwen Chenglong hugged him even tighter, begging and pleading.
He was determined to enter the palace this time because he overheard his father and brother's conversation.
His Majesty is furious about the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, which is a golden opportunity for him to shine!
If we can appease the emperor and make him more lenient, wouldn't a meteoric rise to prominence be just around the corner?
"You brat..." Lu Xiao stopped and looked down at him.
"I can take you with me, but we have to agree that if there's any merit, it's on me; if there's any blame..."
"I'll take the blame myself!" Yuwen Chenglong answered quickly, making a solemn vow.
"If His Majesty questions me for entering the palace without an imperial edict, I will say that my own father brought me here!"
"You said it yourself." Lü Xiao nodded, looking at Yang Ruyi beside him. "The princess heard it all and can testify to it."
"I heard it! I heard it!" Yang Ruyi clapped her hands, her face beaming with excitement. "Let's hurry into the palace! There's bound to be a show to see!"
Without further delay, the group hurried to the palace.
After passing through numerous palace gates and winding through many twists and turns, we finally arrived in front of a magnificent palace.
The hall's lintel is high above, bearing the three gilded characters "Guanwen Hall," indicating that it was specially built by Emperor Yang Guang as a place for reading and resting.
After being announced by the palace attendant, Lü Xiao straightened his clothes and stepped into the hall.
Yang Guang was reclining on a wide couch made of precious five-spice wood, his face so gloomy it was almost dripping with water, his chest heaving violently with anger.
Yuwen Huaji and his son Yuwen Chengdu knelt before the imperial couch, heads bowed and silent.
"How dare the Eastern Turks humiliate me like this!" Yang Guang abruptly flung his sleeve, his voice slightly hoarse with rage. "I want them dead! I want them to pay the price!"
Yuwen Chengdu lowered his head even further, not daring to make a sound.
He obeyed His Majesty's orders without question and never offered unsolicited advice on decision-making.
"Your Majesty," Yuwen Huaji slowly raised his head, his voice steady.
"The Eastern Turks have always been arrogant and harbor treacherous intentions towards our Great Sui Dynasty."
In my humble opinion, we should send General Tianbao to lead an elite force, emulating the legendary General Huo Qubing of the Han Dynasty.
"With a surprise attack, they stormed into the northern desert, struck directly at the royal court, captured the Khan, and brought him back to the eastern capital to be dealt with by His Majesty."
His mind worked extremely fast; Lü Xiao, recommended by Yang Lin, the Prince of Kao Shan, was able to capture Yang Xuangan on horseback.
His son, Yuwen Chengdu, was the most powerful general of the Sui Dynasty. What difficulty would it be for him to capture the Turkic Khan?
If this plan succeeds, it will not only vent His Majesty's anger, but also greatly enhance the prestige of the Yuwen family.
"Yuwen Huaji!" Upon hearing this, Yang Guang abruptly sat up straight on the couch, a strange smile appearing on his face. He pointed at him with his finger, "It has to be you again~"
Having recently suffered a defeat in the eastern expedition against Goguryeo, the troops in various regions were exhausted, and the transportation of supplies was also difficult. It was indeed not advisable to launch another large-scale military expedition in the short term.
But he couldn't eat or sleep properly because he couldn't get over this humiliation.
Send a crack force deep into the grasslands, turn the world upside down, and capture the enemy chieftain alive.
It's not a bad way to vent your anger while being relatively effortless.
"Your Majesty, the Fourteenth Grand Protector, Lü Xiao, is waiting for your decree outside the palace," a eunuch bowed and entered to report.
"Oh? Zi Lie has arrived." Yang Guang looked up and saw the tall young man walking steadily into the hall.
However, how did Yuwen Huaji's youngest son manage to sneak in as well?
"Your subject, Lü Xiao, pays his respects to Your Majesty!" Lü Xiao stood still and bowed.
"This humble servant, Yuwen Chenglong, also pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
Yuwen Chenglong followed suit and bowed as well, while secretly glancing at his father, feeling smug.
You didn't bring me with you?
Someone will bring me here!
When Yuwen Huaji saw his youngest son appear so brazenly in this place, his face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
"Zilie, you've come at the right time." Yang Guang temporarily suppressed his doubts about Yuwen Chenglong and looked at Lü Xiao.
"Just now, Chancellor Yuwen suggested sending a surprise attack into the northern desert to capture the Turkic Khan. What do you think of this plan?"
He secretly wanted to give Lü Xiao a more important position.
This young man was recommended by the old imperial uncle Yang Lin, and he is perhaps more trustworthy than the Yuwen family, which has a deep-rooted foundation.
Just as Lü Xiao was about to speak, he felt his sleeve being gently tugged.
Looking to the side, he saw Yuwen Chenglong winking at him, looking anxious.
"Your Majesty," Lu Xiao said, his mind racing, and he immediately changed his address.
"Young Master Yuwen... seems to have a similar insight. Why don't we hear what he has to say?"
We agreed before we came that we would share the good times and he would take the blame for the bad. If we don’t use this opportunity, when will we?
"Your Majesty! What Chancellor Yuwen said is highly inappropriate!"
Yuwen Chenglong seized the opportunity, immediately straightened his back, and spoke loudly.
"Oh?" Yang Guang raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
A father and son fighting in the ring?
This kind of scene is quite rare.
"You unfilial son! How dare you speak such nonsense in the imperial court!"
Yuwen Huaji was furious and shouted at him.
"In the imperial court, only matters of state are discussed, not personal feelings! Please address me by my name, Prime Minister!"
Yuwen Chenglong slid down and hid completely behind Lü Xiao's broad back, only peeking out half of his head, and retorted righteously.
"Speak! Tell me, what's wrong with what your father... um, Prime Minister Yuwen, said?"
Yang Guang simply leaned back further, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and changed to a more comfortable position.
They looked like they were ready to watch a show.
Lu Xiao was even more direct. Seeing His Majesty's reaction, he moved half a step to the side, lowered his body slightly, and adopted the posture of a typical onlooker.
Yang Ruyi also tiptoed in at this moment, first winking playfully at Yang Guang and waving her little hand.
He then squatted down next to Lü Xiao without any hesitation, looking excited.
When it comes to watching the drama unfold, she's a pro!
How could one miss such a captivating drama of filial piety and open conflict between father and son?
At this moment, although Yuwen Huaji was in the Guanwen Hall, he felt as if his soul was about to fly away.
He never dreamed that one day, his own flesh and blood would openly undermine him in front of the emperor, on such a crucial occasion!
He was so filial, he was practically driven to death by filial piety!
Yuwen Chengdu, who was kneeling to the side, couldn't help but look up in shock at his usually unreliable younger brother, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
He felt ashamed of his own courage.
"Your Majesty," Yuwen Chenglong cleared his throat, trying to appear calm.
"I am a nobody with no official position, and I have come here without any imperial decree. If I utter any falsehoods, I am willing to accept the punishment."
But if there's any truth to what you call luck... then all the credit belongs to the Fourteenth Protector, Lü Xiao!
Although he was tricked into eating a good meal by Lü Xiao, the opportunity to stand in this hall and speak today was indeed given to him by Lü Xiao.
He has to accept this favor!
"Speak! Speak!" Yuwen Huaji trembled with rage, pointing at Yuwen Chenglong, his voice distorted.
When fathers and sons are of one mind, their strength can break even metal.
Well, at this crucial moment, his own son picked up a stick and started hitting his own father on the knees!
"Cough!" Yuwen Chenglong coughed heavily to boost his morale.
His father navigated the court with a cautious, step-by-step approach, carefully navigating the complexities of the situation.
Today, Yuwen Chenglong will be the one who rides on his father's shoulders to cross the river!
He's determined to gamble on this immense wealth and fame!