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

"I have failed in my duty to educate my son; I deserve death!"

Yang Guozhong stepped forward almost immediately and knelt down.

He reacted extremely quickly and adopted a very humble posture.

At this point, he had to first separate himself from Yang Xuan.

The faster and more ruthlessly Xuanzong cut, the more likely he would believe that he wasn't behind it.

"My son has behaved improperly while drunk, disturbing Your Majesty. I am willing to accept punishment. However, this son has always been foolish and stubborn, only knowing how to fight cocks and ride horses. What knowledge does he have of matters of state? His nonsense today must be due to excessive drinking and mental confusion. I beg Your Majesty to investigate carefully and not let his mad words spoil the enjoyment!"

Yang Guozhong said this almost through gritted teeth.

Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

Yang Xuan listened, feeling only irony.

As expected of Yang Guozhong.

Even at this point, they're still thinking about protecting themselves first.

But this suited him perfectly.

Because what he wanted was for Yang Guozhong to personally push him out in front of everyone.

An Lushan then stood up as well.

The fat man was extremely tall; when he stood up, he almost cast a shadow.

He wiped his face clean, and surprisingly did not immediately lash out. Instead, he cupped his hands towards the throne.

"His Majesty."

His voice was low and hoarse, less obsequious than before.

"Young Master Yang is young and impetuous, and I shouldn't have bothered with him. But this cup of wine he spilled on my face is a small matter, but it's a big deal to spill it on Your Majesty's grace."

"In recent years, I have been guarding the border, and I have never dared to slack off day or night. What I fear is not the wind and snow, but the fact that there are people in the court who regard me as an enemy and want to kill me every day."

"If someone hadn't whispered something in his ear before, how could a mere child like him have acted like this today?"

As he spoke, he suddenly knelt down again with a thud.

"Your Majesty, I beg you to see the truth and grant me justice!"

Upon hearing this, all the ministers present felt their scalps tingle.

ruthless.

It's too cruel.

Yang Xuan was just now openly attacking.

An Lushan's move, however, was a double-edged sword, striking right at the heart of the matter.

He didn't bother arguing with Yang Xuan at all, but instead used the wine to turn his attention to Yang Guozhong—the meaning was clear: if your son dared to do this, there must be Yang Guozhong behind him.

What did Emperor Xuanzong fear most?

He most disliked his subordinates forming factions, and he most disliked others using his imperial banquets to set up their own schemes.

An Lushan's kneeling, appeal, and plea for justice put Yang Guozhong in the most awkward position.

As expected, Emperor Xuanzong's expression darkened further.

Yang Guozhong knelt below, his back covered in a layer of cold sweat.

He cursed Yang Xuan to death a hundred times in his heart, but he still had to suppress his anger and find a way to get through this hurdle first.

"His Majesty!"

Yang Guozhong kowtowed deeply.

"My loyalty to the Tang Dynasty is as clear as the sun and moon! If Governor An doubts me, he may produce evidence. But what my son did today is truly unrelated to me. If I truly intended to cause trouble before the Emperor, why would I use such a worthless and incompetent son?"

There's actually some truth to that.

Everyone in the court knew that Yang's eldest son had a bad reputation and had done many outrageous things, but he had never shown any cunning or shrewdness.

If Yang Guozhong really wanted to take action, he certainly wouldn't have used such an incompetent fool.

An Lushan listened, but only sneered.

"The Right Chancellor's words are well said. But I also want to know, how come a young master who usually only knows how to cockfight and ride horses suddenly knows how to bring up my military power in front of the Emperor?"

"Could it be that a celestial being possessed him and taught him these words?"

Yang Xuan felt a slight chill run down his spine.

That fatso truly lives up to his reputation as someone capable of overthrowing the Tang Dynasty; his reaction time is incredibly fast.

In a single sentence, he almost touched upon the truth.

Of course, he wasn't saying this because he doubted time travel.

Instead, he was deliberately reminding Emperor Xuanzong that Yang Xuan's words did not seem to come from his own mind, but rather that someone had instructed him behind the scenes.

Who is behind this?

Needless to say, everyone would think of Yang Guozhong first.

The air inside the building was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

Consort Yang glanced at Emperor Xuanzong on the throne, then at Yang Guozhong and An Lushan kneeling on the ground, and finally spoke softly:

"Your Majesty, today was supposed to be a farewell banquet, like a family gathering. It's really not a good look that it's turned into this."

Her voice was not loud, and her tone did not show favoritism towards anyone.

But her opening remarks only made the situation more delicate.

Because she is a member of the Yang family.

The more she interrupted at this moment, the more it seemed like she was pleading for Yang Guozhong.

Emperor Xuanzong raised his hand, indicating that she did not need to say anything more.

Consort Yang fell silent, but when her gaze fell on Yang Xuan, it was noticeably more scrutinizing.

This nephew was completely beyond her comprehension.

Yang Xuan, however, became even more composed at this point.

Because he has already seen it clearly.

The fire has already started.

What he needs to do now is not to put out the fire, but to add more firewood and let it burn so brightly that no one can stop it.

Otherwise, if Emperor Xuanzong softens his heart, or if Yang Guozhong tries to shirk responsibility, then all the wine he poured today will have been wasted.

Thinking of this, Yang Xuan suddenly lifted his robe and knelt down before the emperor.

This kneeling came abruptly.

Many people were stunned.

Emperor Xuanzong looked at him coldly: "What else do you have to say?"

Yang Xuan lay prone on the ground, yet his voice remained remarkably clear.

"I am guilty."

"My crime is to have acted improperly before the Emperor and disturb His Majesty's presence; I have no way to defend myself."

"Even if I die today, I must say these words from my heart."

Emperor Xuanzong frowned even more deeply.

Gao Lishi had already taken half a step forward, clearly ready to interrupt him at any moment.

But for some reason, Emperor Xuanzong did not immediately stop him.

Perhaps he also wanted to hear what this madman from the Yang family had to say.

Yang Xuan then spoke.

"I am not knowledgeable in military and political affairs, and I am not qualified to discuss important matters of the border towns. But even if I am ignorant, I know one thing - it is not a crime for a subject to be favored; it is not necessarily a crime to hold a large army; but if one holds the most elite troops of the court while putting on a show of loyalty and filial piety in front of the emperor, then it is no longer just being favored, but terrifying."

"I threw this cup of wine at him today not because of personal grudges, nor because of drunkenness."

"I simply couldn't bear to watch."

"I can't stand by and watch him use His Majesty's favor as a crutch for his own reckless arrogance!"

"I can't stand seeing him treat all the officials like puppets on a stage, letting them cry, laugh, and claim fathers and mothers as they please, thinking he can shut everyone up!"

"I can't stand it anymore—"

At this point, Yang Xuan suddenly looked up and stared directly at An Lushan.

"What I find even more unbearable is that someone who controls three towns in Hebei is behaving like a dog wagging its tail before the throne of the Tang Emperor!"

"Because I know that those who act like dogs are often the ones who bite the hardest!"

As soon as the last sentence was uttered, the entire Hua'e Xianghui Tower seemed to have been struck by lightning once again.

An Lushan's facial muscles twitched violently.

Even the most composed person can't withstand such vicious insults.

"Yang Xuan!"

An Lushan roared, his eyes flashing with murderous intent, "Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?!"

This sound finally ripped away the facade of loyalty and filial piety he had just maintained.

Several officials who were close to An Lushan were so frightened that they shrank back.

Because they clearly saw that, in his extreme anger, the fat man's right hand had subconsciously pressed against his waist.

Although he did not bring his knife into the building for today's imperial banquet.

But those actions were instincts honed through years of killing.