RPAGF Chapter 10, Part 3: A Plea for Grace
Chapter 10, Part 3: A Plea for Grace
Upon hearing this, Dugu Jialuo was not alarmed at all.
Instead, she gently shook her head, a helpless and complex smile appearing on her lips.
She knew this man, with whom she had shared a lifetime, all too well.
He was undoubtedly a man of great talent and ambition, but the growing suspicion he developed in his later years was indeed so heavy that it was hard to breathe.
"Your Majesty, you are worrying too much."
"That's a gross underestimation of you, the eldest grandson."
Dugu Jialuo sighed, her tone tinged with disappointment.
"Don't you know Yang Yong's personality?"
"If he truly had the foresight to have someone else write it for him, even if it was only a fraction of his intention, he wouldn't have drunkenly behaved so improperly in front of the palace today! Nor would he have done such a foolish thing at this critical juncture, giving others a handle to use against him."
Although Dugu Jialuo's words were harsh, they were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the nameless anger in Yang Jian's heart.
Yes, the crimson in Yang Jian's eyes faded slightly, and reason regained its footing.
If that idiot Yang Yong could actually orchestrate such a sensational "outspoken remonstrance," then pigs could fly.
Seeing that Yang Jian's expression had softened, Dugu Jialuo knew that he had taken her words to heart, so she pressed her advantage.
Her slender fingers tapped the second half of the exam paper.
"Furthermore, Your Majesty, please take a look at the strategies mentioned in this scroll."
"To meticulously examine household registrations to replenish the national treasury, and to rebuild trust and righteousness to solidify the people's hearts—which of these doesn't align perfectly with the essence of Your Majesty's vision for the 'Kaihuang New Deal'?"
At this point, Dugu Jialuo lowered her voice and her eyes became incredibly deep.
"Especially this sentence—'Taking advantage of Tuli Khan's marriage proposal, we will implement a strategy of separating the strong and uniting the weak, dividing the Turks, causing them to attack each other from the north and south, and subduing the enemy without fighting.'"
Yang Jian's pupils suddenly contracted.
This matter was a top-secret strategy that he and Changsun Sheng repeatedly rehearsed in a secret room, and no one knew about it except for a few trusted ministers.
"If it were truly a commoner writing for someone else, it wouldn't be difficult for him to produce some flowery language."
"But such insightful views, which involve major national and military affairs and coincide with the court's secret strategies, could never have been written by someone who was truly in the thick of things and had a clear understanding of the situation."
Yang Jian remained silent.
He sat back on the dragon throne, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the imperial desk.
Dugu Jialuo's words make sense.
Many of the ideas in this paper are like worms in his stomach.
It was even more profound than he had imagined.
How could an advisor outside the palace possibly understand this level of knowledge?
If it wasn't ghostwritten, then there's only one explanation.
Has this kid been hiding his true abilities all along?
In this perilous Eastern Palace, he deceived everyone with his submissive appearance, including Yang Guang and even himself.
Yang Jian narrowed his eyes, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his turbid pupils.
If that's true, then this patient nature and insight into the situation are somewhat like my own back then.
"Since Your Majesty has doubts, then I will make a bet with you."
Dugu Jialuo had been observing Yang Jian's changing expression, and seeing that the time was right, she slowly spoke.
"What are we betting on?"
Yang Jian raised his eyes.
"Let's bet on whether this exam paper was actually written by Yang Yan."
Dugu Jialuo sat up slightly, revealing the majestic aura of the Empress of the Sui Dynasty.
"Give Yang Yan a chance. Let him enter the hall and explain the arguments in this exam paper point by point in front of you and me."
"We must not only say 'what it is,' but also 'why it is,' and even more importantly, 'how to do it.'"
"If he can answer fluently and meaningfully, then it proves that the exam paper was indeed written by him personally."
Dugu Jialuo's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible expectation: "This further proves that our Sui Dynasty royal family has a worthy successor. Your Majesty should give him a chance to demonstrate his abilities. After all, if Yang Yong is deposed, the Sui Dynasty must have a capable person to safeguard it."
At this point, Dugu Jialuo paused, her tone suddenly turning cold, revealing a murderous aura.
"If he stammers and cannot answer, or can only recite the text without understanding its meaning, then he is guilty of deceiving the emperor!"
"Then, His Majesty can punish him, and take the opportunity to depose both father and son, and perhaps... eliminate them completely, which would be an explanation to the court and the public!"
It's a big gamble.
The stakes were the lives of two royals.
Yang Jian raised his eyelids and gave Dugu Jialuo a deep look. This empress, who was known as one of the "Two Saints" alongside him, had always been ruthless in her judgment and never hesitated to use harsh methods.
"it is good."
Yang Jian finally nodded.
"As you say."
But he immediately changed his tone, coldly snorting, "But he's so arrogant, we can't let him off so easily. Let him kneel outside the hall for an hour first, to temper his arrogance!"
"I want to see just how much real skill this kid possesses under the pressure of life and death, or if he's just a Zhao Kuo who only knows how to talk the talk!"
……
outside the temple.
An hour seemed exceptionally long in the plaza outside the palace.
The cold wind was like a knife, stinging my face.
Yang Yan knelt on the cold gold bricks, the chill seeping into his bones through his knees.
He could feel his legs going from excruciating pain to numbness, and finally to stiffness.
But he dared not move, not even bend his back.
Not far behind him, two rows of Thousand Bull Guards, clad in gleaming armor and holding long halberds, stood motionless like statues.
The armor gleamed with a chilling light under the dim palace lanterns, embodying the oppressive power of the emperor to the extreme.
They are inanimate objects, and also judges.
In contrast, his father, Yang Yong, was already limp and weak beside him.
Yang Yan closed his eyes and silently calculated the time in his mind.
He is waiting.
Waiting for that door that determines fate to open.
at last.
"Boom—"
The heavy palace doors creaked open, and a eunuch in a gray robe ran out from under the door.
"His Majesty commands that Prince Yang Yan of Changning be summoned to the palace!"
Yang Yan took a deep breath and slowly got up from the gold brick.
The tingling and numb sensation in his knees made him sway slightly, but he quickly regained his balance.
Seeing this, Yang Yong, who was standing beside him, also struggled to get up, muttering to himself.
"Father has announced it... he has announced it..."
However, just as his knees left the ground, a guard next to him reached out and pressed them down.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has not yet issued an edict allowing you to rise. Please await further instructions."
Yang Yong was stunned.
A hint of confusion and fear flashed in his cloudy eyes.
"Yan'er... what... what does this mean? Why has Father summoned you alone?"
Yang Yan did not turn around.
He knew that any hesitation or tenderness at this moment would be fatal.
He had to walk alone into this examination hall that would determine his life or death.
"Father, please calm down."
Yang Yan left a message in a low voice, then turned and followed the eunuch into the Daxing Hall.
"Boom!"
The heavy palace doors slowly closed behind us.
The air inside the hall was heavy and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.
Above, Yang Jian and Dugu Jialuo sat side by side, their eyes piercing.
Yang Yan stopped three zhang in front of the throne.
He quickly realized that this was the final test that would determine his life or death.
Yang Yan did not hesitate at all.
He performed a perfectly standard and impeccable kowtow to the two saints at the head of the table.
He knelt on both knees, clasped his hands in front of his forehead, leaned forward, and slammed his forehead heavily against the cold gold brick, making a dull thud.
"Grandson Yang Yan pays respects to his imperial grandfather and imperial grandmother."
The main hall was deathly silent.
Yang Jian did not call out to them, nor did Dugu Jialuo speak.
Just as the suffocating silence was about to break everything, Yang Yan spoke first.
"Father's disrespectful behavior before the throne today was truly due to his drunken state and not an intentional offense against Your Majesty. As your son, I failed to admonish you in time, and I hereby apologize on your behalf!"