Noble First Daughter-in-law

Chapter 1204 Comeback
Pei Xingyuan's words were so flawless that even Yuwen Yuan fell silent.

Shang Ruyi's heartbeat became more and more intense.

If you think about it carefully, in fact, no one had really identified who was the person who had a secret meeting with Pei Xingyuan in Feishuang Palace. It was just that Lou Yingxiong had seen Liang Youying a long time ago and had also seen the two of them meeting in the restaurant. In order to drag Pei Xingyuan into the water, he deliberately concealed the fact. He waited until the incident in Tangquan Palace and then revealed that Liang Youying was from Wanggang Village. He then used the fact that she disappeared later and connected it with the previous situation to prove that she was the one who had a secret meeting with Pei Xingyuan in Feishuang Palace.

In this way, Pei Xingyuan naturally became an accomplice of the Wanggangzhai rebels who attempted to assassinate the emperor, and also implicated Yuwen Ye.

Although this is a lie that can convict Pei Xingyuan, lies are bound to have loopholes.

And this loophole is Pei Xingyuan's chance to turn the tables!

If it was really a conspiracy between the two of them, or even if Liang Youying was the only one trying to assassinate the emperor, it would be impossible for him to take a detour to Feishuang Palace for a secret meeting when the plot was exposed and he was being chased by the guards. This does not make sense.

Unless the person who had a secret meeting with Pei Xingyuan was not her.

However, Lou Yingxiong, who was certain that Pei and Liang had a secret meeting in Feishuang Palace, is already dead, leaving no evidence. Both the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice considered this case based on the secret meeting between the two and did not consider anything else.

In this way, this road is blocked!
Yu Wenyuan said: "Then what you just said about 'selfishness' is——"

"...!"

Hearing him ask this, Pei Xingyuan and Shen Wuzheng, as well as Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi, all breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts.

The fact that Yuwen Yuan asked this meant that he agreed with what he had just said, that Liang Youying could not be the assassin, because no one could be in two places at the same time; similarly, the two of them were not accomplices, because no accomplice would be stupid enough to go to Feishuang Palace for a "secret meeting" after the assassination attempt failed and wait for the guards to catch them.

Yu Wenyuan's question meant that they had washed away the greatest guilt!

Pei Xingyuan heaved a sigh of relief in his heart, and when he spoke again, his attitude was a little more calm: "That is, she was extremely rebellious and dared to rob prisoners in the street; and I, a humble official, followed her."

"..."

"I know that kidnapping a prisoner is a serious crime, but I can't bear to leave her. So I persuaded her and Jiang Wei to go to Luoyang with me as an internal response, because at that time the emperor had already sent the King of Qi to attack the Eastern Capital."

"..."

"I think that if the three of us can take Luoyang together, we can make great contributions to the emperor."

"..."

At this point, he raised his head and looked at Yuwen Yuan, his eyes calm and serious: "This humble minister's action is one part selfish for her, but nine parts loyal to you, and there is no falsehood!"

"..."

Yu Wenyuan listened without saying anything, but everyone in the hall could clearly feel that the sense of urgency and oppression that was weighing on everyone's hearts seemed to ease a little at this moment.

He should have listened to it.

After a long while, Yuwen Yuan said: "People should be selfless. How can they be selfless?"

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi completely let go of the heavy stone in her heart. She could even clearly feel that Yu Wenye's tense body beside her also relaxed a little after hearing this. This sentence was considered to be an approval of Pei Xingyuan's actions.

Even as a loyal subject, it is impossible for a person to be completely selfless and desireless. If he does, he is either a saint or a devil, and the emperor dare not use such a subject. Pei Xingyuan can be honest about his selfishness, but above his selfishness, he still puts the Great Sheng Dynasty and the emperor's cause first. Most importantly, he did help the army capture Luoyang City without bloodshed, which is the most important reason why Yuwen Yuan listened to his words!
After all, military merit is the hard truth.

Pei Xingyuan's face lit up with a joyful smile, and he was about to kowtow to the ground, but after thinking for a moment, he reached out and pulled the people around him. Only then did Liang Youying come back to his senses, and even Jiang Wei followed him to kneel and kowtow: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

Yuwen Yuan frowned slightly.

It was meritorious service, but the identities of Liang Youying and Jiang Wei, and the fact that they had kidnapped prisoners should have been kept secret. However, seeing Pei Xingyuan being so anxious and cautious, he suddenly felt a little reluctant.

After all, he was the child he had watched grow up, so he understood Pei Xingyuan's character to some extent.

Since they were not the ones who planned the assassination in Tangquan Palace, then those who had made contributions to him should be forgiven if possible.

Yuwen Yuan said: "I should also reward you."

What he said was very clear. You deserve a reward, but since you haven't, it means that your merits and demerits offset each other, and you should be content.

Pei Xingyuan also understood the situation and said hurriedly, "Your Majesty, you can forgive my past mistakes, which is already the greatest reward. I dare not have any more delusions. Besides--"

As he spoke, he raised his head slightly, glanced at Yuwen Yuan carefully, and said, "Although I sneaked into Luoyang, I was helpless because the troops of His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi had not yet arrived at the city of Luoyang, and I had no way to respond. Therefore, it was delayed for more than half a year until two months ago... It was my incompetence."

Yu Wenyuan’s eyes became serious.

Although Pei Xingyuan said that he was incompetent, the King of Qi had sent troops in October last year. Then the Tangquan Palace incident happened, Liang Youying and others robbed prisoners, and until the three of them sneaked into Luoyang City, the King of Qi had not been able to reach the city of Luoyang. That was Yuwen Cheng's incompetence. and it was not until two months ago that Yuwen Ye defeated Xiao Yuansui's 100,000 troops at Hulao Pass with 3,000 cavalry and then marched into Luoyang that they took the city without bloodshed.

It is self-evident who deserves the greatest credit for the Battle of Luoyang.

At this time, Yuwen Yuan finally had to turn his attention to his second son again. He had been standing quietly by the side listening since Pei Xingyuan's "trial". Until now, his face still showed no joy or anger, without any expression, as if everything had nothing to do with him.

Feeling Yu Wenyuan's gaze, he also lowered his head respectfully.

So, silence.

The silence between father and son was like a confrontation.

After an unknown amount of time, a low and gentle voice sounded. Although it sounded calm, that calmness was like the surface of the sea that sealed off the raging waves, and it contained infinite undercurrents.

"My second brother has made great contributions in this battle."

When Shang Ruyi heard this voice, his back felt numb.

She and Yuwen Ye turned their heads at the same time, only to see that the handsome figure who had been standing quietly behind Yu Dingxing swayed slightly, like a shadow slowly condensing into shape and walking into reality.

Crown Prince Yuwen Qian finally spoke at this time.