Chapter 195: Imperial Prisoner
Pei Yun rushed to Yu's mansion and was allowed to enter after reporting several times. He finally met Yu Shiji and explained the situation, but was politely rejected by Yu Shiji.

The reason was that the country was in chaos and he had no idea whether the Xiaoguo Army was a rebel or reinforcements. Without actual evidence, he dared not commit such a crime.

Pei Yun said in disbelief: "Are you crazy? We are your majesty's confidants. If we hesitate now, how can your majesty be spared in the future?"

Yu Shiji still insisted: "Your Majesty has not given me the power to make decisions on the spot, I cannot forge the imperial edict with you."

Pei Yun first suspected whether Yu Shiji was also involved in this matter, but he quickly realized that this was Yu Shiji's character: gentle and delicate, good at trivial matters, but lacking the ability to make decisions.

Pei Yun leaned over and sighed, "Your Majesty should regret entrusting such an indecisive person to hold the position of Prime Minister, which has led to the failure of important matters!"

What the emperor liked most was Yu Shiji's docility, so he trusted him and promoted him, but this also made him lose his last chance.

Not long after, the palace fell and the Xiaoguo Army entered the palace. Such a big commotion made the emperor realize that it was not a fire. As it was getting light, the emperor changed into a guard's clothes and fled to the West Pavilion in a hurry.

Pei Qiantong and Sima Dekan led troops to clean out the remnants of the party who were still loyal to the emperor in the palace, such as General Dugu Sheng of the Right Tunwei Army and Qianniu Beishen Yuwen Changyuan.

When there were no more of the emperor's men in the palace, they sent people to invite Yu Wenzhi, and then intensified the search for the emperor. All the palace gates were controlled by them. Where else could the emperor escape to? He must be hiding somewhere.

The Xiaoguo Army sniffed around like a cat catching a mouse, but Linghu Xingda finally found the emperor in the West Pavilion. Yang Guang still maintained his composure and slowly took off his guard robes: "You want to kill me?"

The emperor's majesty over the years made Linghu Xingda bow and clasp his hands: "I dare not, but I wish to escort Your Majesty back to Chang'an."

Pei Qiantong arrived soon after, and the emperor asked calmly, "You are an old friend of mine, why do you hate me so much?"

Pei Qiantong didn't know how to answer for a moment. The emperor was still kind to him, so he could only bow and say, "I dare not rebel, but the soldiers miss home, and I want to escort Your Majesty back to the capital."

The emperor suppressed his excitement, looked at the brave soldiers around him and said loudly: "I want to return to Chang'an, but I am waiting because the grain ships from the Yangtze River have not arrived. Since the soldiers are anxious, I will take you back with me!"

These words made the soldiers of the Xiaoguo Army a little excited. The king and the father are the king and the father. Killing the king and the father cannot be a good thing. If possible, they do not want to bear this crime.

But soon everyone quieted down, because the emperor had repeatedly proved with his actions that his words were not golden and he was not a benevolent monarch.

At this time, the sky was getting light and the truth came to light. All the officials in Jiangdu Chengcheng knew that General Yuwen had raised an army and had taken control of the entire city, including the emperor's life and death.

Yu Wenzhi was about to enter the palace under the escort of his younger brother. He lay trembling on the horse's back. Those who didn't know would have thought that his rebellion had failed and he was going to be taken to the palace to be punished.

But the fact is that Yu Wenzhi succeeded. So on the road, there were always officials who came forward to express their loyalty, but Yu Wenzhi simply ignored them and just kept muttering: "Guilt, guilt."

When they arrived at the palace gate, Pei Qiantong, Sima Dekan and others came to greet him. Yu Wenzhi walked lightly and heavily to the familiar court hall, and was pushed to the top by everyone. Everyone bowed and said, "Knowing the Prime Minister!"

Yu Wenzhi's legs went limp and he almost fell backwards on the dragon throne. He had committed all kinds of evil including rape and looting since he was born, but he never felt that his death was approaching.

Now he has inexplicably become the Prime Minister, and Your Majesty has become his prisoner, but he only feels an itch on his neck, and he always wants to touch his head to make sure it hasn't fallen off.

Yuwen Zhiji was extremely excited. He stood proudly in the front row of the ministers and even turned around and looked at them with contempt.

Then comes the highlight. It is easy to kill the emperor, but there must be a reason to convince the people of the world, otherwise everyone will be considered disloyal and unfilial, and will kill their fathers and the emperor.

Pei Qiantong went to ask the emperor: "All officials are in the court, your majesty must go out in person to comfort them." The emperor sneered and said: "I want to see which person who has no father and no king dares to lead his troops to rebel. Pei Qing, bring the imperial horse here."

Where can we find imperial horses at this time? Besides, a plucked phoenix is ​​no better than a chicken. There is no need to waste too much effort on a dying emperor.

He just randomly picked a mount from the Xiaoguo Army. The emperor didn't complain that it wasn't an imperial horse, but just frowned and said, "The saddle is too worn out. Change it to a better one!"

Pei Qiantong still didn't have the courage to whip the emperor, so he could only take off his own saddle and put it on, and then the emperor got on the horse.

Pei Qiantong stopped riding his horse. He held the emperor's horse reins in his own hand and walked out of the palace with a knife in his other hand. When the Xiaoguo Army and the Imperial Guards saw the emperor like this, they were all so happy that they shouted loudly.

Yang Guang closed his eyes and felt the sway of the horse under his crotch, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised. He recalled the beauties, palaces, and pavilions he had enjoyed in his life...

When they arrived at the palace, the emperor had no intention of dismounting. He wanted to ride the horse into the court, but was pulled off by Pei Qiantong. The emperor staggered to his feet and gently and carefully adjusted his dragon robe.

Then he strode inside and heard Yu Wenzhi saying in panic: "Why bother to meet? Just kill him!"

Yang Guang stopped in shock. He never expected that it was Yu Wenzhi who was in charge.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

The emperor laughed so hard that tears came out of his eyes. Then he strode into the room and pointed at Yu Wenzhi who was still covering his face with his sleeves. He wanted to say something, but in the end he shook his head and said nothing.

The emperor slowly looked at his ministers, seeing them all turning their heads away, and then he asked, "Where is Shiji Pei Yun?"

Yuwen Zhiji sneered and said, "Behead him!"

The emperor nodded happily: "Good, I also need ministers to be buried with me."

Then he frowned and asked, "What crime have I committed to deserve this?"

Ma Wenju, a lieutenant general of the brave and fruitful army, said: "Your Majesty has neglected the ancestral temples, has been on tours without stopping, has been engaged in external campaigns, and has been extremely extravagant and licentious at home, causing the young men to be killed by arrows and swords, and the weak women to be buried in ditches, causing the people to lose their jobs, and causing thieves to rise up. You have only relied on flatterers, covered up your faults and refused to remonstrate with them. How can you say you are innocent?"

Yang Guang listened carefully, sighed and nodded: "I really let the people down."

Everyone was delighted to hear him confess and was about to continue to tell of his crimes, but the emperor waved his hand and looked at them and said, "As for you, you have both honor and wealth, how dare you betray me?"

These words left all the officials speechless. Those who could accompany the emperor to Jiangdu were all his confidants. Naturally, they had no shortage of wealth and glory. His Majesty was indeed good to them.

Sima Dekan hurriedly said: "Your Majesty is the enemy of the people of the world, we are just following the will of heaven and the people."

After that, he asked Feng Deyi to read out the emperor's crimes. This was to be announced to the world, letting everyone know that they were punishing the tyrant for the sake of the people, not killing the king to usurp power.

...............

(End of this chapter)