In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era: I became Yang Guozhong's eldest son.

Inside the Hua'e Xianghui Pavilion, the wine was flowing freely.

Emperor Xuanzong was probably pleased, so he ordered someone to bring out the Jie drum and made An Lushan dance on the spot.

The room erupted in uproar.

Everyone knows that An Lushan was best at feigning madness to amuse the emperor.

Putting aside everything else, this fat guy is incredibly agile despite his bulky body.

As long as Emperor Xuanzong speaks, he is truly willing to step down and make a fool of himself.

Sure enough, An Lushan laughed heartily and got up, his belly jiggling.

As soon as the drum sounded, his massive body actually started spinning to the beat.

The movements are not exactly elegant, but they are strange and unexpected.

Emperor Xuanzong, however, loved watching this boisterous and comical spectacle, and laughed so hard he slapped the table.

Yang Guifei smiled, and a fragrant breeze wafted from her sleeves.

The courtiers could only laugh along with them.

Yang Xuan, however, became increasingly clear-headed.

Whenever An Lushan came before the emperor, he would lower his head very low.

Each time he turned to Yang Guozhong, his steps would become heavier, as if he were deliberately showing off.

This is not a dance performance.

This was a test, a boast, a way of telling everyone in the court—look, I, An Lushan, can make the emperor happy and I can walk around arrogantly in front of the emperor.

No wonder later historical records described this man as "fearless when entering the court".

He is no longer afraid.

After the dance, Emperor Xuanzong was overjoyed and immediately ordered that the dancers bestow upon him a brocade robe and a gold belt.

When An Lushan expressed his gratitude, his forehead almost smacked loudly.

At this moment, Yang Guozhong finally couldn't hold back and stood up.

"His Majesty."

This sound, neither too loud nor too soft, was enough to silence the room.

Before the smile on Xuanzong's face had faded, he glanced at him and said, "Guozhong, speak your mind."

Yang Guozhong cupped his hands, still smiling, and said, "Governor An has been stationed far away in the north, and his hard work and achievements are admirable. However, there have been some rumors in the court recently regarding the transportation of military supplies and the troop movements in the three towns of Hebei. I did not want to spoil our enjoyment today, but if we allow the rumors to grow, it will only damage Governor An's reputation."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere at the table immediately changed.

The officials who had been smiling earlier lowered their heads slightly and fell silent.

coming.

The knife that everyone knows about is finally going to draw blood.

An Lushan's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal.

He chuckled, clutching his stomach: "The Right Chancellor is right. I have always been most afraid of gossip. If there is anything to say, you might as well ask in front of Your Majesty and clear my name."

He spoke frankly, but his eyes were cold.

The chill was no longer concealed; it pressed directly towards Yang Guozhong.

Yang Guozhong did not shy away from the situation.

The two most dangerous men of the time faced each other across a table, smiles plastered on their faces, but a murderous aura seeped out from beneath them.

Emperor Xuanzong frowned, clearly disliking the scene.

Yang Xuan's heart skipped a beat.

The opportunity is here.

But not enough.

One last spark is needed.

Yang Guozhong clearly sensed Emperor Xuanzong's displeasure, so he didn't continue speaking but instead turned to look at Yang Xuan.

"Da Lang".

That shout was delivered with an air of grandeur.

Almost half the people in the building looked at Yang Xuan.

"Didn't you have drinks with Governor An the day before yesterday?" Yang Guozhong asked casually, like an elder asking a junior. "After you returned to your residence that day, you said you had a few questions you wanted to ask Governor An before the Emperor. Since His Majesty is here today, you might as well tell me."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.

Gao Lishi slightly raised his eyelids.

Consort Yang also turned her gaze.

Emperor Xuanzong did not speak, but just looked in this direction, his smile fading slightly.

An Lushan, on the other hand, slowly narrowed his eyes.

In that instant, Yang Xuan truly felt the killing intent emanating from this military governor of the three towns.

It's not fake.

I really want to tear him to pieces.

An Lushan knew that Yang Guozhong was pushing a junior forward at this time not so that he would offer him a toast.

Yang Xuan, however, breathed a sigh of relief.

This is the moment he's been waiting for.

It wasn't that he volunteered to step forward; Yang Guozhong singled him out in public.

From this moment on, this disaster has a crucial layer of protection—the father's command cannot be disobeyed.

He slowly got up.

The robes draped down, and the jade belt jingled softly.

If Afu were here, he would probably be so scared that his legs would go weak.

Based on his understanding of this young master, if he were singled out in a gathering of high-ranking officials, he would most likely either say something wrong or make a fool of himself.

But today, Yang Xuan stood up with unusual steadiness.

He first bowed to Emperor Xuanzong.

"Your subject, Yang Xuan, has been rude."

The voice wasn't loud, but it was crystal clear.

Emperor Xuanzong looked at him but did not speak immediately.

Yang Guozhong's eyes already conveyed urging.

An Lushan picked up his wine cup again, his smile growing wider, as if he was ready to see how a spoiled brat would spout nonsense in front of the emperor.

Yang Xuan raised his head and scanned the faces of the three people one by one.

The emperor's annoyance.

The father's exploitation.

The traitor's contempt.

They're all there.

well.

His fingers, hidden in his sleeve, slowly tightened and then slowly loosened.

Don't rush.

Taking that step could lead to an abyss. But if you take the right step, there might be a glimmer of hope at the bottom of the abyss.

All eyes in the building were on him.

The pipa music stopped.

The drumming stopped.

Only wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner, so quiet that even the faint popping of the candle flames could be heard.

Yang Xuan suddenly reached out and picked up the wine cup on his table.

This action immediately caused a very slight commotion among the guests.

Some people thought he was trying to smooth things over by offering a toast.

Some people thought that he ultimately didn't dare to really make a move.

Even Yang Guozhong's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Only Yang Xuan himself knew that this cup of wine was not meant as a toast.

It was for smashing.

But before he actually throws it out, he has to set up a pre-arranged path and draw everyone's attention to the route he has set.

So he raised his cup and took a step toward An Lushan.

With one step, the entire building fell silent.

An Lushan looked at him as if he were a foolproof insect, yet he still smiled and said, "Is my eldest brother going to offer me a toast?"

Yang Xuan did not answer immediately.

He just kept walking forward.

The second step.

third step.

The purple robe trailed across the scarlet carpet, the sound of the soles of the shoes hitting the ground not loud, but each step felt like a blow to everyone's heart.

The urging on Yang Guozhong's face gradually turned into surprise and doubt.

Gao Lishi sat up straighter.

Yang Guifei's fan paused for a moment.

Emperor Xuanzong narrowed his eyes slightly.

Under the pressure of countless gazes, Yang Xuan, holding the wine cup, walked to An Lushan's table.

He stopped and looked down at the face that was so fat it had almost lost all its angularity.

Upon closer inspection, An Lushan's eyes appeared even smaller and colder, like two black nails embedded in a piece of fat.

The two locked eyes for a moment.

One is sitting.

One is standing.

A smile that hides a knife.

A heart of stone.

The next moment, Yang Xuan suddenly smiled as well.

The smile was very faint, even carrying a hint of inexplicable sarcasm.

"An Jiedushi (military governor)."

He spoke, and his voice carried far through the silent building.

"This cup is indeed a toast I should offer to you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the expressions on the faces of all the civil and military officials in the hall became subtle.

敬？

Having reached this point, is it actually out of respect?

Yang Guozhong's eyes were practically spitting fire.

An Lushan laughed heartily, extending his thick hand to take the cup: "Good! I knew my eldest son was a man of good manners—"

But he hadn't finished speaking.

Yang Xuan's hand, which was holding the wine cup, had already been slightly raised.

His gaze turned cold in that instant.

Like a wisp of cold wind suddenly sweeping past the corner of a building on a spring night in Chang'an.

The wind passed silently.

But his murderous intent was fully revealed.