The matter concerning Yang Qingzhi was quickly settled.
Under Zhou Jinghuan's full authority, the matter proceeded quite smoothly.
This is also related to the cooperation between the Yang family father and son.
The imperial court did not confiscate the Yang family's house, but the number of maids and servants in the Yang family was reduced by more than half. The once bustling main gate was now only occupied by two people sweeping the street, making it look extremely desolate.
Yang Qingzhi's cat lay on the threshold, staring blankly outside.
The people of Kangye also heard that the former Grand Commander Yang Zhanbei could not bear the change in circumstances and fell ill. His chronic illness, accumulated from years of fighting, also flared up, and he could only lie in bed all day.
During this period, the topic of the Yang family has been the talk of the town in teahouses and taverns.
The former glory, the pillar of the empire, and the current desolation, are truly lamentable.
Inside the bedroom, Yang Qingzhi took the medicine from the maid and personally fed it to his father.
Yang Zhanbei's hair was white, and his eyes were lifeless, as if he might die at any moment.
"Qing'er, you may leave now."
"Yes." The maid wiped away her tears and retreated, sobbing.
After the room was empty, Yang Zhanbei spat out the medicine and shouted, "Who brewed this medicine? It tastes absolutely awful!"
"father……"
Just as Yang Qingzhi was about to persuade his father to take the medicine, he suddenly noticed that Yang Zhanbei's eyes had returned to their usual sharpness, and he sat up very quickly.
Yang Qingzhi exclaimed in surprise, "Father, are you faking illness?"
Yang Zhanbei stretched his arms and wrists, then jumped up and said, "I won't pretend when no one's around anymore, it's too uncomfortable. My old bones have fought battles all my life, I'm really not used to lying down all the time."
"Father, why are you doing this to yourself!"
Yang Qingzhi then put down the medicine and said, "We have not raised any objections to the court's arrangements, and we have cooperated fully with the handling of Zhou Jinghuan. Is it really necessary to be so cautious?"
Yang Zhanbei said, “In these extraordinary times, we must be on guard. Do you think Zhou Jinghuan is a kind person? He may seem gentle, but he is actually the most ruthless. It must be His Majesty’s will to treat my father and me leniently. Zhou Jinghuan would not dare to disobey His Majesty, but since he does not trust us, he must have sent many eyes to watch us.”
"As soon as he senses something is wrong with us, he'll find an excuse to get rid of us!"
“You’re cooperating with him, but he’ll be more at ease if I get sick too.”
Yang Qingzhi asked, "How long will it take to keep up this?"
"We'll keep pretending until he's busy fighting other opponents and doesn't have time to deal with us."
Yang Zhanbei walked to the coffee table, picked up the teapot, and poured the tea into his mouth. After finishing, he said, "Remember, from now on we must be more careful with every step we take than before. If we are not careful, the Yang family will be finished."
Yang Qingzhi said remorsefully, "It's all my fault for misjudging people, causing Father to suffer so much! I can understand the strategist's defection to Zhou Jinghuan; Southern Zhou needs someone with his talent. But Zuo Zhu betrayed his master for personal gain..."
Yang Zhanbei waved his hand and said, "Don't dwell on what has already happened. Although Zuo Zhu's behavior is despicable, it actually helped you in the end."
"Helped me?"
“If he doesn’t provide evidence, the court can’t take the blame for us so quickly, and His Majesty can’t use this opportunity to set the tone for the Yang family’s affairs. The longer this matter drags on, the more fiercely the Yang family’s power and Zhou Jinghuan will fight, and there’s even a possibility that things will get worse. At that time, the ones who will take the blame will be my father and me, and His Majesty won’t have a chance to save us.”
Yang Zhanbei sat down on the bed and said, "Do you understand?"
Yang Qingzhi nodded and said, "Son understands."
Yang Zhanbei glanced out the window and said, "Come closer, I have something to tell you today."
Yang Qingzhi carried a stool and sat down in front of Yang Zhanbei, saying, "Father, please speak."
"Do you know that Zhao Cheng has a concubine named Dong Hua?" Yang Zhanbei asked.
Yang Qingzhi was taken aback, not understanding why his father had suddenly become concerned about Zhao Cheng's private life.
“I know that Donghua used to be one of his four maids.”
Yang Zhanbei said, "He also has a concubine named Yang Cai'e."
Yang Qingzhi nodded, then said with some resentment, "I know that too. My son knows Zhao Cheng very well!"
Yang Zhanbei then asked, "Do you still remember your third uncle?"
"Third Uncle..."
Yang Qingzhi frowned, seemingly lost in memories, and said, "I only remember that I was young at the time, and in my memory, my third uncle and third aunt committed suicide by jumping into the sea together for some unknown reason."
"They are not dead."
Yang Zhanbei shook his head and said, "The suicide attempt by jumping into the sea was just a ruse; the couple went north to Dajing."
Yang Qingzhi was stunned and asked in surprise, "Why is that?"
"At that time, the Yang family's power was not great enough. If others found out that your third uncle had gone to Dajing, the Yang family would likely be accused of treason. We had no choice but to resort to this tactic."
Why is Third Uncle going to Dajing?
"Your third uncle, Yang Zhennan, was both a scholar and a warrior. He had a promising future in Southern Zhou, but he fell in love with a woman from the Dayue Kingdom. Not only was he not tolerated by your grandfather, but he was also slandered by the Yang family's enemies. Zhennan was obsessed at that time and insisted on marrying that Dayue woman, disregarding the safety of his family."
Yang Zhanbei sighed and said, "In a fit of anger, your grandfather asked His Majesty to dismiss him from his post and expel him from the family. Zhennan was strong-willed and, with the intention of not relying on either Nan Zhou or Dayue, went to Da Jing, changed his name, and settled down in Jing with the Dayue woman, where they had two daughters."
Yang Qingzhi exclaimed, "I never imagined that my third uncle was such a devoted person."
"Affection?"
Yang Zhanbei sneered, "He was ruined by this love! Zhennan was very talented and quickly became an official in Jingguo. Moreover, he rose through the ranks step by step. But in the year that the Jingguo emperor was critically ill, the Western Regions took the opportunity to rebel and burned, killed and looted in western Jingguo. Your third aunt's identity was exposed, and the court determined that Zhennan and his wife were spies of the Dayue Kingdom. In order to deter villains, they targeted Zhennan's family."
As he spoke, Yang Zhanbei clenched his fist and said, "Zhennan was skilled in martial arts. He did not surrender without a fight and risked his life to let his two daughters escape. He and his younger siblings were hacked to death."
"Phew..." Yang Qingzhi let out a long breath.
Just as Yang Qingzhi was lamenting Yang Zhennan's life, he suddenly thought of something and said, "Father first asked me if I knew Donghua and Yang Cai'e, and then he told me this story. Could it be that they..."
Yang Zhanbei nodded and said, "Back then, when I learned that your third aunt's identity had been exposed and that Zhennan would be in trouble, Nie Zheng and I infiltrated Jingguo. But we were too late and failed to save Zhennan. We only learned about his youngest daughter."
"That is, winter paintings."
Yang Qingzhi asked doubtfully, "Then why didn't Father bring my sister back?"
Yang Zhanbei said, "That girl looked exactly like your third aunt since she was a child. Your grandfather was still alive at the time, so he definitely wouldn't accept her. That's why I arranged for someone to send her to the Zhao family. I thought that since she inherited your third aunt's beauty, she would definitely become Zhao Huan's daughter-in-law in the future."
"At that time, I was just laying a trap and letting her fend for herself."
"But now the Zhao family has taken control of Dongjing. So Qingzhi, this is the last trump card your father can give you!"
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