RPAGF Chapter 254 Yu Pengze's Execution
Chapter 254 Yu Pengze's Execution
Chapter 254 Yu Pengze's Execution
He was of humble origin, but King Zhao greatly appreciated him, and it was clear that King Zhao intended to marry his daughter to him.
Otherwise, given his background, he wouldn't dare to ask for the hand of a princess.
However, he didn't have much money.
Before the Yu family falls, we must make sure they can play their greatest role.
He approached Yu Pengze and said, "Father, I wish to marry the daughter of King Zhao. Please prepare the betrothal gifts."
He felt no pressure whatsoever about having Yu Pengze provide the betrothal gifts.
He owes them, mother and son, and he should repay them.
He never considered himself a gentleman. What gentleman lives in the shadow of revenge every day?
Yu Pengze had no recollection of what happened the previous night, nor did he know what secret he had revealed. Upon hearing his son say that he wanted to marry the daughter of King Zhao, he was overjoyed.
For a mere merchant to become a member of the imperial family is a momentous event that brings glory to one's ancestors.
Yu Pengze immediately prepared betrothal gifts.
Li was so angry that her teeth itched.
They actually prepared so many betrothal gifts for this kid!
“You don’t understand. Jia Shu is marrying the daughter of King Zhao. The betrothal gifts are too meager. How can that be acceptable?” Yu Pengze said. “King Zhao’s fief is in Huaiping. I think Huaiping is a good place. We can do business there in the future.”
"Now that we have this connection with Jia Shu, King Zhao will definitely agree to let us do business in Huai Ping!"
“Of course we must first demonstrate our economic strength to King Zhao!” Yu Pengze said, his eyes gleaming.
Merchants value profit and won't do business at a loss. Preparing such a large dowry is also because they believe there is profit to be made.
Li was still somewhat displeased, but her husband's words made sense, so she could only agree.
I was thinking to myself, "I hope you can make us even more money!"
"How's the situation in Fuyue Prefecture?" Yu Pengze asked.
"Don't worry, everything is going smoothly. We're just waiting to collect the money," Li said with a smile.
Yu Pengze nodded; for now, this was all the Li family could do.
However, once this batch of smuggled salt is sold, a large amount of cash will be generated immediately, which will be able to provide more assistance to the War King. If the War King succeeds, he will receive great benefits.
Moreover, Yu Jiashu had married King Zhao's daughter. If he could bring King Zhao into the War King's camp, the War King would value him even more...
Yu Pengze envisioned his bright future, a smile playing on his lips.
Yu Jiashu brought generous gifts to Prince Zhao's residence in the capital to propose marriage.
King Zhao told him directly, "Boy, I won't accept your betrothal gifts. If you want to marry my daughter, you have to marry into the family in Huaiping. I can't marry my daughter off to the capital."
I've never heard of a son-in-law having to give a dowry when he marries into the family.
Yu Jiashu smiled and replied, "I am naturally willing. However, Your Majesty's consent is still required. The betrothal gifts will be provided as scheduled."
He's going to marry a princess, so he definitely needs to show his sincerity.
King Zhao was quite pleased; this kid was getting the hang of it.
“Alright, you can bring the betrothal gifts, but after you marry Sirou, you can keep them as you see fit,” King Zhao said.
"I will go to my brother tomorrow to ask for the person."
The next day, King Zhao brought Yu Jiashu to pay his respects.
Hearing that King Zhao wanted to take Yu Jiashu back with him, he felt a little uneasy.
Yu Jiashu was a man of both literary and martial talents, a rare find.
He wanted to nurture him properly, but now, King Zhao actually came to ask him for the man.
"Your daughter can stay in the capital," the Emperor said.
King Zhao was anxious: "Your Majesty, my daughter, whom I had just lost and found again, has been out of my sight for only half a day, and I am already extremely worried. I cannot let her stay in the capital!"
King Zhao kowtowed: "I beg my royal brother to grant my request!"
The Emperor shook his head. He really didn't want to let Yu Jiashu go, so he asked Yu Jiashu, "Yu Jiashu, where do you want to go?"
Yu Jiashu pondered for a moment and replied, "Your Majesty, the princess wishes to stay in Huaiping, and I cannot bear to see her separated from her father. If possible, I am willing to respect the princess's wishes."
King Zhao thought to himself, "Beautiful! This child is so sensible!"
The Emperor sighed and waved his hand, saying, "Very well. I will transfer you to Huaiping. However, if war breaks out in the future, I will summon you and you must go to various places to fight at any time."
He could tell that Yu Jiashu was a talented general.
King Zhao bowed happily and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Yu Jiashu also kowtowed: "Your subject obeys the decree."
Thus, the marriage was arranged.
Qin Wanying's team was very efficient and quickly gathered evidence of Yu Pengze and the Li family's crimes of selling smuggled salt.
When the soldiers surrounded Yu's residence, Yu Pengze was dumbfounded.
He couldn't figure out where things went wrong.
Li was also panicked. She hadn't been unaware that such a day would come, but when it actually arrived, she felt a unease in her heart.
Yu Tianzong was also dumbfounded, standing there speechless.
Everyone else was detained, except for Yu Jiashu, who stood unharmed, coldly watching Yu Pengze.
“It’s you, it really is you…” Yu Pengze said, his voice trembling.
Yu Jiashu smiled and said, "Father, selling smuggled salt is a capital offense. Even though I am your son, I cannot protect you."
Yu Pengze's face turned ashen.
He had already let his guard down around this son, but he never expected that his thoughts were so deeply hidden.
Ah Hu stood behind Yu Jiashu, looking down at the ground.
When Yu Pengze saw Ah Hu, he understood what had happened and angrily shouted, "You traitorous bastard!"
Ah Hu pondered for a moment and said, "Master, we servants know best that following the right person is more important than anything else."
Yu Jiashu fulfilled his promise that very day, returning the indenture to the two of them and giving them a sum of money to get married.
Ah Hu and Cu Xue were so excited they almost cried.
The imperial court uncovered many things, including the smuggling of salt and tax evasion.
All of Yu Pengze's businesses have been seized.
Within days, the once-powerful business empire collapsed.
Thanks to Yu Jiashu's efforts, Yu Pengze was charged with another crime: falsely accusing his wife of adultery and abandoning his wife and children.
And this crime will be made public to the world.
Yu Jiashu knelt before his mother's grave, tears streaming down his face.
Mother, your son has cleared your name of the injustice done to you back then.
Because of the illegal salt trade, several members of the Li family, including Li herself, were sentenced to beheading.
The same applies to Yu Pengze.
Yu Tianzong was sentenced to exile.
Yu Jiashu went to visit Yu Pengze in prison.
Yu Pengze, his hair disheveled, sat on the cold, damp ground, looking up at the impeccably dressed Yu Jiashu through the cell door. The latter's eyes were icy cold.
Yu Pengze remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "I didn't realize that, I really didn't realize that."
Yu Jiashu gave a flawless smile: "When my mother married you, she didn't realize you were this kind of person."
"You made your fortune off my mother, then you smeared him and kicked my son and me out. Do you know what kind of life we've been living all these years?"
Yu Jiashu said this with a hint of gritted teeth.
He rarely showed his hatred, and now he doesn't pretend anymore.
Yu Pengze remained silent.
At this moment, Yu Pengze felt extremely regretful.
He had so many regrets.
He regretted kicking Wang out of the house, regretted ruining her reputation, regretted kicking Yu Jiashu out when she was sick and Yu Jiashu knelt down in the rain begging him...
He even regretted seeing Yu Jiashu become an official and bringing him home.
If there had been one thing that wasn't done, perhaps things wouldn't be the way they are today?