Yuwen Huaji was scared out of his wits.
He finally understood why his father was fired.
This was not because he did not support Yang Guang in building the eastern capital, Luoyang. This was clearly because his two brothers 'business with the Turks had been exposed.
Yang Guang had always abhorred such incidents. This time, he was in big trouble.
Yang Guang said angrily," Yuwen Huaji, you still have the face to plead for mercy from me. You have committed the crime of treason. According to the laws of the Sui Dynasty, you should be sentenced to death and your entire family should be destroyed!”
Yuwen Huaji was so scared that tears flowed out.
This was not because he was timid, but because he knew that Yang Guang would definitely do what he said.
Although he had invited Yang Guang in the past, the Emperor had always been ruthless.
His father, Yang Jian, was known for his virtue, but because he had spoken a few words against Yang Jian, Shi Wanshui had been beaten to death by Yang Jian in front of all the civil and military officials!
This Yang Guang was even more ruthless than Sui Wen Emperor Yang Jian.
If he said that he would exterminate nine clans, he would definitely not let go of a small fry.
Yuwen Huaji cried bitterly." Your Majesty, it was all my second brother's instigation. It was also my mistake. I beg Your Majesty to take into account the fact that my father has risked his life for the country. I beg Your Majesty to take into account our past relationship and be lenient.”
"If I really wanted to punish him according to the Great Sui Law, I would not have just removed Yu Wenshu's position as the head of the 100,000 imperial guards."”
When Yuwen Huaji heard this, he immediately wiped his tears.
Hearing Yang Guang say that there was still a chance.
"Your Majesty…" Yuwen Huaji said pitifully.
Yang Guang sighed." I only did it because your father fought for the country his whole life. Otherwise, I would really want to kill you two bastards."”
" Thank you, Your Majesty!" Yuwen Huaji thanked him profusely." Thank you, Your Majesty!"
However, Yang Guang continued,"You can be spared the death penalty, but you can't escape the punishment."
Write down for me how you and Yuwen Zhiji secretly colluded with the Turks to do business, through what channels, and what transactions you made with the Turks. Do not make a single mistake, understand?”
Yuwen Huaji trembled in fear.”
The young eunuch stepped forward and handed Yuwen Huaji paper and ink.
Yuwen Huaji held the paper and ink in a dilemma. Did he really have to explain everything?
But now, he didn't know how much evidence Yang Guang had. If there were any loopholes or mistakes that angered Yang Guang again, he would really be dead.
"Forget it!"
Yuwen Huaji gritted his teeth. Since they had been pardoned from the death penalty, they would write it.
Yuwen Huaji spread out the paper and inkstone and began to explain seriously.
He spent an hour writing.
He told them how he and Yuwen Zhiji had contacted the Turks and how they had traded with them.
Yang Guang narrowed his eyes after reading the confession.
Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji were truly audacious.
He had actually traded large quantities of pig iron and salt with the Turks, earning a total of two hundred thousand strings…
Yang Guang was now clear about the value of the Sui Five Zhu Coin, which was equivalent to 200 million yuan in the mall.
These two traitors!
Seeing that Yang Guang didn't speak for a long time, Yuwen Huaji stood up again.
Finally, Yang Guang coldly said,"Hand over all the 200,000 strings of money you earned from your trade with the Turks to the national treasury and impose a fine of 300,000 strings. Any objections?"”
"I wouldn't dare! Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty!"
Yuwen Huaji felt as if he had been pardoned. It was expected that the 200,000 strings would be handed over to the national treasury. Although it was painful to be fined another 300,000 strings, it was better than being beheaded.
Yang Guang continued," It's not over yet. You and Yuwen Zhiji have committed such a great crime. You can't just let it go so easily. All of Yuwen Zhiji's titles will be abolished. From now on, he will be demoted to a commoner."
" As for you, Yuwen Huaji, on account of our previous relationship, you can retain your title for the time being. However, this debt has not been settled. In the future, you can make contributions with your crimes. If you make any more mistakes, you will be punished!”
"In addition, due to your Yuwen family's huge mistake this time, the engagement between Yuwen Shiji and the Nanyang princess is annulled!”
"Get out of the palace!"
Yuwen Huaji left Daxing Palace in a daze, as if he was dreaming.
He didn't care about the fine.
He didn't care if his second brother Yuwen Zhiji's title was abolished. After all, he was a dead Dao friend, not me.
However, the Emperor had annulled the engagement between his third brother, Yuwen Shiji, and the Princess of Nanyang. This was a big problem.
Among the many powerful families in Guanlong, the other families could take a second look at the Yuwen family.
It was because of the engagement between Yuwen Shiji and the Nanyang Princess. They were relatives of the royal family!
But now, it was all gone!
How was he going to explain this to his third brother?
Yuwen Huaji returned to the Duke Bao Mansion and saw that everyone was there. His third brother, Yuwen Shiji, had also returned.
Yuwen Zhiji was the first to welcome him. What did His Majesty say?"
Yu Wenshu also looked over, his grip on the teacup tightening.
Yuwen Huaji opened his mouth and said bitterly,""Father was dismissed from his position as the chief of the 100,000 imperial guards not because he did not support His Majesty in building the eastern capital Luoyang.”
"I knew it wasn't because of this." Yu Wenshu heaved a sigh of relief.”
Yuwen Zhiji asked anxiously,"Then why? Hurry up and tell me!"”
Yuwen Huaji looked at him and said," It's because of us. His Majesty knows about us!"”
"What?"
Yuwen Zhiji's expression changed drastically.
There was only one thing he and Yuwen Huaji were afraid of letting the Emperor know.
"Big brother, don't joke around! If His Majesty knew, how could you come out alive? You must be joking, right?”
Yuwen Huaji shook his head." How could I joke about such a thing? His Majesty knows. However, His Majesty did not sentence us to death because of our father's many years of life and death for the country.”
Yuwen Zhiji seemed to have picked up a soul and heaved a sigh of relief."Really? That's good, that's good! You scared me to death!"
Yu Wenshu sensed that something was wrong. What did His Majesty find out?"
Yuwen Huaji knelt on the ground, his face full of regret.""Father, it was my second brother and I who were muddle-headed for a moment and secretly did business with the Turks behind your back. Now His Majesty knows.”
"You two vile creatures!"
Yu Wenshu's eyes darkened and he almost fainted.
Yuwen Huaji hurried forward." Father, don't be angry. His Majesty has already forgiven us. He only asked us to hand over the transaction to the national treasury and fined us 300,000 strings.”
Yu Wenshu took a long time to catch his breath.""The two of you, kneel down! How dare you commit such a heinous crime!”
Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji knelt in front of him again.
Yuwen Zhiji grumbled unwillingly,""We were just making some money to spend. Who knew we would commit such a huge crime!”
Yu Wenshu tapped him hard.""I'll deal with you later!"
He then asked Yuwen Huaji,"Will His Majesty really forgive us with only a fine of 300,000 strings?"”
Yuwen Huaji stammered," Not entirely. He stripped all of my second brother's titles and demoted him to a commoner. I'm also a criminal. I have to make contributions in the future!"”
Yuwen Zhiji was anxious when he heard this. demoting him to a commoner meant that he lost his inheritance qualification.
After Yu Wenshu died, he would not get anything.
From then on, he would leave the aristocratic class and become a commoner.
How could Yuwen Zhiji, who was used to being a tyrant, accept this? He roared,"Why? The mistake was made by both of us. Why should I be reduced to a commoner?”
"Shut up!"
The crafty Yu Wenshu instinctively felt that something was wrong. He clutched his heart and stared at Yu Wenhua.
"If there's anything else, say it together.”
If that was all, his eldest son would not have such an expression.
Yuwen Huaji glanced at his third brother beside him and stammered,""His Majesty canceled the engagement between Princess Nanyang and Third Brother.”
"Pfft…"
Yuwen Shiji spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]