After a moment of silence, the Yang Mansion became chaotic.
Although it didn't get to the point of panic, many people left the table and rushed out the door, and some even prepared to sneak away through the back door.
Seeing that the people in the clan were so loose-minded, an old and angry shout rang out.
The nearly eighty-year-old Yang Jiaben, the elder brother of Prince Zhan Shi Yang Jiaben, stamped the cane in his hand, and a thud echoed, making the scene quiet.
His turbid eyes glanced around, and everyone he saw lowered their heads, not daring to look at them. Finally, they landed on a middle-aged man wearing a scarlet robe: "Chengyou, the person who came here is not good. It's up to you to come forward. I Waiting for your backing!"
Yang Chengyou, the young lieutenant of the Wei Dynasty, stood up, his cheek muscles twitched slightly, and said unwillingly: "I will obey my uncle's order!"
He holds an official position from the fourth rank and belongs to Weiwei Temple, one of the nine temples.
It sounds good, but the job of Weiwei Temple is to control the ceremonial curtains for the palace, sacrifices, and court gatherings. It had a lot of power during the Qin and Han Dynasties, but during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it almost became a sinecure, and it became the smallest department with the least authority among the nine temples.
Therefore, although Yang Chengyou is a fourth-rank officer, his status in the family has never been high. He used to follow Yang Zhirou and Yang Chongji. Now that he was ordered to general, his first reaction was not pride, but panic.
The fluctuation in his eyes fell on Yang Bin's eyes. The old man stroked his long gray beard and said: "Don't panic. With thousands of years of experience in the Yang family, how can I be afraid of the descendants of a young boy and a servitor who eats his heart?"
Thousands of years of heritage...
The eyes of everyone present flashed.
Outsiders may not know it, but how can the clan members not know that each of their clans and branches basically arose in the past hundred years or so. They followed the former Sui Dynasty and attached themselves to the Yang family of Hongnong and became the so-called famous sect in the country. You You won’t lie to yourself and you will believe it, right?
Of course, even if it was really a thousand-year-old family, it would be impossible to invite the ancestors when an opponent came to the door, so Yang Chengyou took a deep breath and led someone to greet him.
Hearing the commotion inside, Qiu Shenji, who was looking at the wealthy family, became a little disdainful: "How proud and arrogant the Yang family is on weekdays, but what happened? We are just two people here. If we bring the inner guards to surround the mansion, what will happen inside?" Why don’t you cry for father and mother?”
Li Yan commented: "The noble children in Guan Nei are indeed inferior to each other. They have forgotten the glory of their ancestors, are lazy and conservative, and live in ignorance. They still occupy a large number of official positions, blocking the way for real talents to rise."
Qiu Shenji deeply believed that he was a real talent. If he had not followed Liulang, he would have been wasted. Naturally, what he hated the most was those rice bugs from aristocratic families who were able to become officials without learning or skills. He grinned and said: "I must do this today." Give them a good look!”
While they were talking, a group of people walked out.
The leader, Yang Chengyou, wanted to show some toughness, but he didn't have the confidence. He wanted to show some humility, but he was unwilling to do so. He held his hands in an awkward manner and said: "Leader Li, Qiu Jiyi, I don't know, Yang." Mansion, what do you have to do with it?"
Li Yan said: "Today, Yang Taichu is going to be beheaded. The Yang Mansion has set up a mourning hall. Let's come to offer incense and eat a banquet to express our gratitude to our colleagues..."
Despite his expectations, Yang Chengyou's expression changed.
Yang Zhirou is different from Cui Shouye back then.
The reason for Cui Shouye's downfall, in the eyes of outsiders, is that his in-law Doulu Qinwang collected black materials and reported them to the saint, while Li Yan handled the case.
So Li Yan took Qiu Shenji to the Qiu Mansion for a banquet. Cui Xiuye was unexpectedly grateful. After all, others at that time did not want to interact with the Cui Mansion at all.
But Yang Zhirou was captured by Li Yan throughout the whole process. He went into the government to arrest people and seized the stolen goods. Qiu Shenji interrogated him and found out the key. Finally, he was convicted of inciting hundreds of cavalry to plot evil, and his immediate family members were also punished and exiled.
This kind of hatred is very direct. At this time, Li Yan and Qiu Shenji came to Yang's house. If they were allowed in, Yang's face would be pressed to the ground and slapped.
But just when Yang Chengyou was about to speak, Qiu Shenji finally said: "By the way, I want to investigate the case. There have been some rumors in the market recently. I wonder if Yang Shaoqing has heard of it?"
Yang Chengyou rolled his eyes and immediately replied: "I've never heard of it, I've never heard of it."
Qiu Shenji said directly: "There are rumors that a young cabinet leader of our inner guard is the grandson of the former Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty. As a bloodline of the Yang family, he worked hard to restore the country to the former Sui Dynasty, and then someone next to him started arguing with him.
, saying that he is definitely not a member of the Yang clan, but the illegitimate son of the former deposed prince Li Chengqian, don’t these Yang clans know anything about it?”
When Yang Chengyou saw the leader Li Yan purse his lips, showing obvious displeasure, his heart skipped a beat and he hurriedly said: "Why should Leader Li pay attention to such ridiculous remarks?"
Qiu Shenji narrowed his eyes: "I didn't say it was Li Ge leader. There is indeed something fishy about you Yang family!"
Yang Chengyou: "..."
Are you being unreasonable? The other leaders of the Imperial Guard are all very old. Who else is this rumor targeting besides Li Yuanfang?
He waved his hand behind his back, and a servant hurried into the mourning hall to inform him.
Yang Jiabin, who was waiting carefully, couldn't help but frowned after receiving the news: "Are you here to check the rumors?"
Those rumors have spread a lot recently, and the Yang family has naturally heard about it. At first, they were quite gloating about the misfortune. Li Yuanfang is young, in a high position, and very capable. He always handles important cases. Many people are jealous or simply jealous.
, and rumor-mongering is undoubtedly a low-cost, quick-effect, and difficult-to-trace-to-the-source tactic.
But the more he listened, the more worried Yang became about the level of those who spread rumors. Could they create some rumors that would cause personal harm?
For example, Yang Guang's grandson, it is said that the great-grandson is better than the grandson because of his age, but the grandson is too stuck.
There is also the son of Li Chengqian. Li Chengqian died thirty years ago, and Li Yuanfang is less than twenty years old. If Li Yuanfang wants to be an illegitimate son, he must first return Li Chengqian...
However, the influence of the mad prince was extremely bad, and all those who followed him in the rebellion were executed, and many of those implicated were exiled. However, Li Shimin still couldn't bear to part with his son. Li Chengqian was only demoted to a commoner, and was buried with the rites of a duke after his death.
The sons were also saved and all had official positions. Such a comparison made the officials in the court hate this lineage so much that in history, Wu Zetian even escaped when he purged the Li and Tang royal family because their reputation was so bad.
Getting involved with Li Chengqian is undoubtedly a big disadvantage, and it is indeed disgusting. The key is that he cannot convince the courtiers and saints. Yang wants to find the rumor monger to come out and talk to him and teach him step by step.
If you can't spread rumors like this, you can't really hurt Li Yuanfang!
Now there is no need to teach. The other party blocked the door. Yang Jiabin was very calm at first: "My Yang family is known for our rigorous family style. Those who are pure will be pure. There is no need to be afraid. Li Yuanfang will not confuse right and wrong!"
But someone next to him said in a low voice: "My lord, will the internal guards find out what happened to His Royal Highness King Yong?"
Yang Bin's expression suddenly changed. Li Xian was rewarded before because Yang spread news in Chang'an, in order to make King Yong and the prince fight and relieve the pressure of the Yang family who was in the quagmire at that time. Now the prince has succeeded
Bit, if this matter comes to light...
The key is how much the internal guards know. Is this a demonstration because the drunkard is not interested in drinking?
He felt uneasy, and the wrinkles on his face became deeper and deeper. After thinking about it, he said reluctantly: "Let the two of them come in first, and then decide based on the situation... What's the noise outside!"
Without giving orders, Yang Chengyou couldn't resist Qiu Shenji's aggressiveness and was forced into the mansion.
Qiu Shenji charged into the battle, while Li Yan strolled leisurely and arrived in front of the mourning hall.
Seeing the intrusion of outsiders, especially the ferocious look on Qiu Shenji's face, the children began to cry one after another. The young man and the middle-aged officials cowered in fear, but seven elders of the Yang clan came out to form a formation, ready at any time.
Visitors said to each other: "I want to see who dares to break into the mourning hall without permission!"
It was Li Yan who really didn't want to make a fuss, but Qiu Shenji took a few steps quickly and fell down first.
"Snapped!"
The elders of the Yang clan couldn't help but be stunned when they saw a fifth-grade dignitary wearing a scarlet robe falling straight in front of them.
Then I saw Qiu Shenji touching his official robe very distressedly, but he did not wipe away the dust. The evil look on his brows became even more serious: "You are so naked, how dare you attack me, a fifth-rank official of the imperial court?"
Only then did the elders of the Yang clan realize what had happened. They had been working on carvings all day long, and now they were pecked in the eyes by the geese. They were so angry that they were trembling all over: "You, you bad thing... you are spitting blood!"
Qiu Shenji stood up and pointed at them one by one with his fingers: "Okay! You still dare to insult a fifth-rank official in public. The internal security organs should be deployed! You rely on your old age and show no respect for superiors or inferiors in your eyes. I can tolerate it, and the law of Tang Dynasty will not tolerate it!
"
At this time, Yang Binbin heard something was wrong, and walked out with the support of his nephew, shouting: "Lead Li! Lead Li!"
Li Yuanfang is reasonable, while Qiu Shenji is unreasonable. They respect the former and are afraid of the latter, but at this time they still hope to communicate with the former.
Li Yan ignored it, but Qiu Shenji had already rushed in, forced several clan elders to stagger, strode into the mourning hall, stretched out his fleshy hand: "Come on!"
Seeing Li Yan strolling over with his hands behind his back, and looking at the silent eyes around him, Yang Binbin sighed secretly and nodded.
At this time, Yang Zhirou's memorial tablet was set up, and monks were chanting sutras in the hall to pray for salvation and bless him to have a good pregnancy in his next life.
Li Yan and Qiu Shenji took the incense, but did not do anything else at this stage. After calmly laying the incense, Qiu Shenji looked around and continued to be aggressive: "I am hungry. Where is your meal? Why haven't you brought it up yet?"
Yang Jiabin looked extremely ugly, but he had to wave his hand and the attendant ushered them into the banquet.
Qiu Shenji tasted the meal and felt the beauty of the five dishes firsthand.
He has always been unhappy with high-ranking families because his father, Qiu Xinggong, was originally a commoner. If it had not been for the great chaos in the world, he would not have been able to win a high position. This kind of background has always been looked down upon by high-ranking families, and the Qiu family had not done so before.
Receive a blank look.
Now the other party is still looking down upon him, but he has become helpless and allows him to sit on the table and feast on his food. This is the most satisfying feeling.
He turned his excitement into appetite, and soon he had eaten the three portions of food. Just as he was about to start the fourth portion, he heard a child next to him from the Yang family crying, and raised his thick eyebrows: "You are crying, aren't you annoying!"
The child ignored him and continued to cry. Qiu Shenji handed over a piece of pastry: "I am Qiu Shenji, listen to me, don't cry, just eat!"