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"Is that so?"
Wei Heng chuckled as he picked up his chopsticks, "Then I must carefully taste... Mrs. Xian’s excellent cooking skills!
"Hahaha, it’s good the eunuch doesn’t disdain it!"
Yang Tiansheng sat opposite Wei Heng, clutching his bowl and shoveling in the food, not knowing whether he was choking or couldn’t stand the sight of the two old foxes flattering each other, disingenuously fawning as he rolled his eyes while eating.
Wei Heng put down his chopsticks and, wiping the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief, looked towards Yang Tiansheng with a smile, "It’s been a while since I’ve seen Yang Ge, you seem even more dashing and spirited. The name ’Sword Master of the Fierce Sun’ truly resounds like thunder!
Called back forcefully by his own father from the frontline of a dispute with the Five Poisons Cult, Yang Tiansheng was annoyed. Seeing this damnable eunuch daring to come talk to him, he responded with a forced smile, "Far too kind. Compared to the time when the eunuch thrashed my brother and me at Lu Ting, I’m still far behind..."
The smile on Wei Heng’s face stiffened immediately, "You little brat, bringing up what shouldn’t be brought up, huh? Are you allowed to mention that?
Yang Tiansheng’s eyes narrowed into slits as he laughed, "Who asked you to interrupt my meal?"
Yang Yinghao was clueless about what had transpired, but he saw the embarrassment on Wei Heng’s face and gave Yang Tiansheng a glare, then raised his cup to change the subject, "Let me toast the eunuch once more!"
Wei Heng, as if granted amnesty, hurriedly raised his cup, "I don’t dare, I don’t dare... Cheers!"
After being outmaneuvered by Yang Tiansheng, Wei Heng immediately became more compliant, no longer daring to seek unpleasantness with Yang Tiansheng, focusing instead on drinking and chatting with Yang Yinghao. In no time, the two became as close as brothers.
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After three rounds of drinks, both Yang Yinghao and Wei Heng were slightly tipsy, and Yang Tiansheng, who had focused on his meal, was now comfortably picking his teeth after eating his fill.
Wei Heng glanced at Yang Tiansheng from the corner of his eye, and putting down his cup, pretended to suddenly realize something, gently tapping his forehead, "Sister-in-law’s cooking is so marvelously distracting, I almost forgot the important matters... Yang Ge, regarding the amnesty, has your sect come up with a proposal?
The collaboration of the three internal government offices to secure the borders and stabilize the interior was quite clear: Shen Fa headed north to investigate the situation on the northern grasslands, Wei Heng, supported by the Imperial Horse Supervisor, headed south to deal with the affairs of the jianghu, and the weakest member, Liu Xian of the Eastern Factory, stayed in the capital to guard the gates.
Yang Yinghao also set down his cup and, after a brief reflection and a wry smile, cupped his hands in salute, "I fear I must disappoint Wei. Although I have tried my best to negotiate within the sect, progress is still minimal. There are simply too many within the sect who are unwilling to join the court. I need more time to reason with them and move them with emotion..."
Hearing this result, Wei Heng didn’t feel disappointed. He laughed and waved his hand, "What’s there to be disappointed about? Good things take time. But, just between us, if we are to side with the court, we certainly should pick the most opportune moment with the best offer possible. Isn’t there an old saying, ’After learning one’s arts and skills, present them to the royal house’?
"Now, when the court is in need of people, and the current Emperor has always been magnanimous, and the Xian family is no stranger... You’re a smart man, Yang Ge. Is there a better time than now in the past three hundred years?
Yang Yinghao hesitated greatly, "This..."
What Wei Heng said actually made sense.
In times of chaos, it’s dangerous to take sides; in prosperous times, one can’t demand a high price; in ordinary times, there are too many differing voices within the sect, and without someone to vouch for them, no one can guarantee that the court won’t hold past grievances against them after they submit.
Indeed, now is a good time!
"Pfft."
A snort of laughter interrupted Yang Yinghao’s hesitance.
Both turned to look at Yang Tiansheng.
Yang Tiansheng, with a toothpick dangling from his mouth, said indifferently, "The eunuch says the current Emperor is magnanimous, but how come I remember someone saying the Emperor is vengeful, stingy, and small-minded?"
Wei Heng scratched his head and chuckled, "That sounds... like he’s talking about himself."
"Huh?"
Yang Tiansheng paused, then also laughed, "You’re right, it does sound like he’s talking about himself!"
Yang Yinghao finally caught on and couldn’t help but laugh out loud, thinking to himself, ’No wonder the conflicts between the Yang family and the court go back and forth without a clear end...’
Since Yang Tiansheng had spoken up, he wasn’t going to just sit as a bystander anymore. He took over the conversation, "We’re all familiar here, let’s drop the roundabout talk and discuss something everyone can listen to!"
Wei Heng extended his hand, "If Yang Ge has any insights, feel free to share them. I’m all ears!"
Without showing any timidity, Yang Tiansheng spoke up, "This matter of amnesty, to put it plainly, is like using a pole to beat a wolf—afraid at both ends. You are afraid that our nature won’t change and that we’ll rebel again, and we are afraid that you’ll cage us up behind doors to be slaughtered like dogs!"
"This problem is difficult to solve. You can’t assure us that you won’t settle scores after autumn, and we can’t prove to you that, once we submit to the court, we’ll put away our swords and let our horses graze the southern mountains."
"However, I think that both sides should show sincerity in resolving this issue and try to take a step toward each other!"
"Otherwise, even if we share a hundred meals together, it won’t make much difference..."
His clear and forceful words even shocked Yang Yinghao, who looked at him in astonishment.
"Well said!"
Wei Heng slapped the table, raising his thumb with a wobbly laugh, "That’s the spirit a real man should have! Indeed, dragons do not live with snakes, and tigers do not walk with dogs. Yang Ge’s speech has opened my eyes... Tell me, Yang Ge, what does taking a step toward each other look like?"
Yang Tiansheng waved his hand grandly, "What I say goes into your ears. If you find it unsuitable, forget I ever said anything once you leave this pavilion!"
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