Inside the Marquis Jing’an Mansion.
Yang Zhenshan was receiving an unexpected guest.
Chen Zhongshu!
This old friend finally couldn’t hold back and ca to the Capital City.
Well, he had no choice but to co to the Capital City because the Imperial Mausoleum of Da Rong had already fallen into the hands of Da’an.
He couldn’t possibly continue to live quietly inside the Imperial Mausoleum.
In the tearoom, Yang Zhenshan and Chen Zhongshu sat facing each other, warm tea steam spiraling upward, the rich aroma of tea lingering around them.
Chen Zhongshu rubbed the warm teacup, looking down at the light yellow, clear tea water inside.
"The world is unpredictable; who would have thought it would co to this!"
"Had the Emperor known it would co to this, he definitely wouldn’t have spared you!"
Chen Zhongshu’s voice was deep, but unlike others, it carried a hint of sharpness amidst its depth. Although not loud, it was clearly heard by Yang Zhenshan.
Yang Zhenshan looked at him, stroking his long beard, revealing a slight smile on his face.
"Haha, you and I are old friends; just speak plainly. Why be so insinuating in criticizing !"
The Emperor Chen Zhongshu referred to was naturally not Emperor Yanping or Emperor Jianxing, but Emperor Chengping.
If Emperor Chengping knew that the Yang family would one day obtain Da Rong’s realm, would he not have slain Yang Zhenshan first?
The answer is certainly yes.
With Emperor Chengping’s mind and character, he definitely wouldn’t have left Yang Zhenshan as a hidden threat.
But Chen Zhongshu was right—life is unpredictable!
Years ago, Yang Zhenshan had never thought of rebellion, much less of having his grandson beco Emperor.
In his heart, royal power was actually a burden; what he desired most was a transcendental existence.
To have the Yang family stand above royal power—that was what he most wanted.
However, this ambition was inspired by the Martial God Temple. If the Martial God Temple could transcend many dynasties, why couldn’t the Yang family transcend the Dynasty?
But this ambition only grew after the Yang family moved to Star Moon Island. He hadn’t had such thoughts before.
While Emperor Chengping was still around, he was a loyal and capable minister.
Chen Zhongshu said this not to accuse Yang Zhenshan but simply to remind him not to forget the trust Emperor Chengping once placed in him.
Chen Zhongshu showed a wry smile, "I seem to have no room to bargain with you now!"
Yang Zhenshan gently shook his head, "That’s wrong. The fact that you can sit here shows you do have room to bargain with !"
"As you said, the world is unpredictable. Though I may have fanned the flas of Da Rong’s demise, everyone should understand that it was not the Yang family that destroyed Da Rong!"
"Back then, I had no such thoughts. In fact, to avoid conflict with the court, I specifically moved the Yang family away from Da Rong!"
"But sotis circumstances leave one with no choice!"
"Though I left Da Rong, I couldn’t let go of Chongshan Town and the Tenglong Guard!"
At this point, Yang Zhenshan sighed softly.
Qu Changkong had told him about being unable to control one’s fate. At that ti, he felt that being out of the court ant he wouldn’t be entangled in courtly struggles.
But what was the result?
Chongshan Town beca the Yang family’s private domain, Liaodong beca a separate entity, and the Tenglong Guard turned into a close-knit group.
Though it seed that Yang Zhenshan spent twenty years on Star Moon Island without involving himself in the Da Rong Court, in reality, the Yang family’s influence was everywhere in Da Rong.
The nurous Yang family mbers and those close to the Yang family in Chongshan Town were closely linked to the Yang family.
The Tenglong Guard, not to ntion, had six families almost acting as subordinate families to the Yang family.
And Liaodong, under the control of Lu Wenquan and Lin Zhan, gradually followed in the footsteps of Chongshan Town.
If at that ti, the Yang family had said to give up everything, completely severing ties with Da Rong, would it have been possible?
Obviously not!
Nor was Yang Zhenshan a heartless person; Chongshan Town, the Tenglong Guard, and Liaodong were filled with his relatives and friends, his descendants throughout.
He could let go of power, but he certainly couldn’t abandon those relatives and friends.
So he could only let Chongshan Town develop on its own, allowing countless people to follow in the Yang family’s footsteps, lifting the Yang family to a high position.
Now the Yang family didn’t just represent its own interests but the interests of countless people closely associated with the Yang family.
People like Luo Shang, Xie Yuan, Han Cheng, Wu Chongzhe, Yu Tonghai, Xue Ping, Song Dashan, Lu Wenquan, Lin Zhan, etc., their own interests, their descendants’ interests, all tightly tied to the Yang family.
Chen Zhongshu lifted his gaze at him, his eyes deep and cloudy.
Yang Zhenshan also looked at him, maintaining a subtle smile on his face.
"The Yang family gaining the realm isn’t a bad thing for Da Rong!"
"At the very least, I still cherish so of the old friendships and won’t wipe out the entire royal family of Da Rong. For those royal family mbers who have left, I’ll just pretend not to notice!"
"Of course, I also won’t disturb the peace of the late Emperor, so rest assured, I will leave the Imperial Mausoleum in peace."
Hearing this, Chen Zhongshu breathed a small sigh of relief, "Then I will thank Marquis Yang on behalf of His Majesty!"
Yang Zhenshan took a sip of tea, "But you must abide by the rules of the Da’an New Dynasty; don’t do anything to embarrass !"
"I know, Marquis Yang is ruthless. If I want to live peacefully, I must follow the rules!" Chen Zhongshu said, relaxing noticeably.
Yang Zhenshan grinned, "I’ll take that as a complint!"
The two exchanged a smile, and the atmosphere imdiately eased, as if two old friends were casually chatting.
Chen Zhongshu naturally understood Yang Zhenshan; he knew very well that Yang Zhenshan was amiable, but he also knew if he crossed Yang Zhenshan, he would not be spared.
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