bullyxtreme Chapter 355 A trusted minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor? Lü Xiao doesn't wa
Chapter 355 A trusted minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor? Lü Xiao doesn't wa
"Ugh."
Yang Guang let out a long sigh, the sound echoing in the empty palace, carrying an indescribable weariness and age.
He raised his hand and waved it slightly, signaling Yang Tan to go down first.
The Western Regions are not part of the Central Plains; they are filled with yellow sand and stretch for thousands of miles across the Gobi Desert.
Lu Xiao was unfamiliar with the area and couldn't even find his way. How could he possibly rescue Yang You?
He dared not even think about the many ambushes by foreigners along the way, or the countless dangers he was unaware of.
No matter how powerful Lü Xiao is, he is still made of flesh and blood, not iron.
This journey is more likely to end badly than good.
He was also in a hurry.
Overwhelmed with love for his grandson, he lost his composure and lifted Lü Xiao up.
Lü Xiao is his son-in-law, Ruyi's husband, the father of Zhen'er and Yan'er, and the father of the two children in Dengzhou.
If something were to happen to Lü Xiao in the Western Regions, how could he face Ruyi?
How can I face those children?
"Grandfather, I take my leave."
Yang Tan straightened up, turned around, and walked step by step out of the hall.
His steps were steady, even more steady than when he came.
His back was ramrod straight, his robes remained perfectly still, and there was nothing unusual about him.
But his heart was beating much faster than when he arrived.
Bang bang bang bang bang.
It almost jumped out of my throat.
He lowered his head, walked quickly through the corridor, and only stopped abruptly when he reached a secluded spot.
He braced his hands on the cold stone pillar, panting heavily, cold sweat streaming down his face.
Yang Guang's unfinished words were like a seed planted in his heart.
"What if he can't return..."
Unable to return.
Unable to return.
These four words echoed repeatedly in his mind, like a hammer pounding against his heart.
He knew he shouldn't think that way.
Yang You is his younger brother, his biological brother.
When they were children, they studied together and practiced martial arts together.
Back then, there was no struggle for the crown prince position; there were only brothers and playmates.
But I don't know when it started, everything changed.
Yang You was made crown prince, and everyone revolved around him.
Court officials flocked to him, and powerful families fawned over him.
Yang Tan, on the other hand, was merely the Prince of Yan, the elder brother of the Prince of Dai.
He never argued or complained.
Because he knew he had no right to compete.
Being born out of wedlock is being born out of wedlock; it's a mark you carry from the womb, one that can't be washed away or erased.
But today, Yang Guang's words were like a crack, tearing open the tightly closed door in the deepest part of his heart.
This may be the closest he has ever come to the throne.
Yang Tan raised his head, looking at the gray sky above, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
Yang You is his brother.
But what does family ties matter in the face of the throne?
Throughout history, how many examples have there been of fathers and sons killing each other and brothers turning against each other over that chair?
Yang Tan didn't want to be that kind of person.
He never intended to harm Yang You, never.
But what if... what if Yang You really can't come back?
Inside the bedchamber, Yang Ruyi took in everything.
As a princess who grew up in the palace, she knew that look all too well.
That was a longing, a longing that had been suppressed for a long time and dared not be spoken.
Sometimes, you can't make promises lightly.
Even promises with preconditions are not acceptable.
Especially matters like the throne should not be discussed lightly.
The mere thought that he could not return was enough to make a normally law-abiding person harbor inappropriate thoughts.
The speaker may be unintentional, but the listener is definitely paying attention.
Yang Tan was clearly taking it to heart.
You could tell from his hurried footsteps as he left that he was already thinking and planning.
He's even started dreaming of ruling the world and how to sit in that chair.
"Ugh."
Yang Ruyi sighed softly and shook her head.
She wasn't sighing for Yang You, nor for Yang Tan.
Yang You's arrest was his own doing. He managed to wipe out an army of 300,000. Keeping such a crown prince around would only bring trouble.
It's only natural for Yang Tan to want to be emperor; who wouldn't want that?
She sighed because of her son.
Lu Zhen was skilled in both literature and martial arts. Every day after school, he would come to his bedside to serve him, bringing him medicine and water, and showing him concern and care, treating him even better than his own grandson.
Just because Zhen'er is a grandson and not a member of the Yang family?
Even if one does everything perfectly, one still cannot rightfully inherit the throne.
Who made this rule?
Why can't a grandson inherit his maternal grandfather's throne?
Yang Ruyi grew angrier the more she thought about it, and her cheeks puffed up again, making her look like an angry toad.
"As one wishes."
Yang Guang's voice came from the couch, weak and tired, interrupting her reverie.
"Father."
Yang Ruyi quickly composed herself, moved closer to the bed, and put on a concerned expression.
"Zilie's journey... is not limited to whether he can rescue the Prince of Dai or not."
Yang Guang opened his eyes and looked at the curtain above his head.
"I will not let him go for nothing."
When he said this, his voice carried a hint of sadness, a hint of relief, and a hint of guilt that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
Even he, as the grandfather, had already decided that Yang You would not be coming back.
He already had a pre-existing condition, and this ordeal will surely worsen it.
While you're still lucid, it's always good to make some preparations for what's to come.
It's better to be safe than sorry.
"Father, Zilie will certainly not return empty-handed."
Yang Ruyi quickly offered words of comfort, her voice gentle.
But she was thinking to herself.
Even if we can't save Yang You, we can still recover the Northwest.
Tell me, isn't this achievement of recapture a meritorious deed?
Anyway, Lü Xiao won't lose out on this trip no matter what.
"If I were to pass away..."
Yang Guang paused, as if he was considering his words or hesitating about something.
"We will arrange for Zi Lie to be a trusted minister in the care of the young emperor."
Yang Ruyi was startled.
A trusted minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor.
She knew better than anyone the weight of those four words.
That's not just trust, it's an honor, it's a trust.
It was the emperor who entrusted the entire empire, the entire lineage, and the future of the Yang family to one person.
Lü Xiao is now the Prince of Shuo, the Imperial Son-in-Law, and the God of War of the Sui Dynasty. He holds the highest position among officials and there is no higher title he can attain.
Entrusting the care of the young emperor to a high-ranking official not only meant holding the highest position among ministers but also being unshakeable. This was the last protective shield that Yang Guang could give Lü Xiao.
Yang Guang understood Lü Xiao.
This kid is loyal to his country, devoted to his principles, and stubborn.
Once you become a trusted minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor, you bear the weight of his entrustment.
They will be single-minded and determined to go all the way, and nothing can pull them back; they will never have any other thoughts.
"Father is the Son of Heaven; living to be ten thousand years old is no problem."
Yang Ruyi ordered someone to bring the medicine and personally fed it to Yang Guang spoonful by spoonful.
She didn't show it on her face, but she was making other plans in her heart.
She genuinely hoped that Yang Guang would live a few more years and not have to go through the ordeal of entrusting his son to someone else.
Even someone as inhuman as Lü Xiao was utterly loyal, treating Yang Guang like his own father.
If another trusted minister were to be entrusted with the care of the young emperor, then we would be doomed.
Lu Xiao is destined to be bound to the Yang family's emperor for life; he can't be driven away or expelled.