Chapter 37 Transformation
Inside the Jiade Hall of the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, Yang Guang listened to everyone talking with a frown on his face. The harsh policy of sentencing someone to death for a penny had not yet been resolved, and His Majesty had issued a new decree.

Those who take more than one dou of border rations will be put to death, and their family members will be confiscated by the government. If the government office takes more than one penny, anyone who hears about it and does not report it will be punished with death.

Not only in terms of policy, the emperor was so suspicious that he had already started sending people with silver and money pretending to ask for official favors, to actively bribe officials at all levels. Anyone who dared to accept the money would be beheaded the next day.

Everyone in the court was in danger and no outsiders were allowed to see them after the court was dismissed. If they saw anyone taking out money or treasures, they would immediately pounce on them and start biting and fighting them, as if they were their mortal enemy.

No one knew what had happened to the wise ruler who had been sage in the past, and most of the tough guys in the court had been banished from the capital for protecting the crown prince. Those who were left were silent when they saw the imperial staff in His Majesty's hand, which was as thick as a child's arm, and His Majesty's strong physique.

No one thinks that their body is any stronger than those colleagues who were killed by hammers in the past.

Therefore, even though they all suffered greatly, they did not dare to take the initiative to advise the emperor, and could only be forced to praise His Majesty for using severe punishments to govern the troubled times, thus creating the current Kaihuang prosperous era.

Whoever's property is precious, the ministers may not care about it, but Yang Guang could not accept it. He had put so much thought into taking over this prosperous world and then accomplishing something great, not wanting to take over a pile of rags.

But whether it was Yang Guang or Yang Su, their positions were not very stable. The deposed crown prince was still alive, and Gao Zuo was still alive. As long as the emperor who held power gave the order, the situation would be reversed in an instant.

Just as the King of Shu did not dare to rebel, Yang Guang did not dare to do so either, and he did not have the strength to do so. At this time, no one could go against the emperor's will, and they could only try to persuade him in every possible way.

After all, it still depends on the Empress. Yuwen Shu and Yang Su tacitly recommended Li Jiancheng to accomplish this task. If it succeeds, it is due to their contribution. If it fails, it is because Li Jiancheng is incompetent.

Li Jiancheng was very aware of being a chess piece. Since his family was weak, of course he would be assigned to do the dirty and hard work. But then again, how could he get ahead without any merit or hard work? Nothing would come for nothing.

Fortunately, Yang Guang was still able to take responsibility. He expressed his dissatisfaction and criticized Yang Su and Yuwen Shu a few times, and then asked Li Jiancheng to accompany him to pay a visit to the Queen.

On the way, Li Jiancheng said to Yang Guang, who looked unhappy, "It is not easy for Duke Yue and Duke Bao to have what they have today. It is understandable that they want to retain their strength for now and are unwilling to advise Your Majesty at the court meeting."

Of course Yang Guang could tell that Li Jiancheng was openly praising and secretly criticizing the two men, but he couldn't help thinking the same thing in his heart. He accepted subordinates to help them share worries and solve problems, not to worship them as Buddhas.

Li Jiancheng knew that his words had been heard, and he also knew that Yang Guang could not do without Yang Su and Yuwen Shu at the moment, so he did not say anything more, just thinking that it was a small thorn.

Soon the two arrived at the Queen's palace. After waiting for the palace maid to report, they went inside. When Li Jiancheng saw the Queen, he was shocked. In just a few months, Dugu Jialuo seemed to have aged more than ten years.

The queen, who used to be dignified and majestic, now looked like an ordinary old woman. Although incense was burning in the palace, one could smell decay.

Not only Li Jiancheng, but Yang Guang was also shocked. He even forgot to greet his mother and stared at her blankly. The queen had not summoned anyone for a long time. Except for a quick visit when she was enthroning the crown prince, he had not been able to meet her privately for a long time.

"Haha." Dugu Jialuo touched her face calmly and said, "Isn't mother getting old too fast? My son probably doesn't recognize her anymore."

Yang Guang ignored etiquette and stepped forward with tears in his eyes, holding the queen's hand and sobbing, "What...what happened? How could mother be like this? Did someone dare to humiliate you? It must be that the servants in the palace did not take good care of you. I will kill all these slave dogs!"

Li Jiancheng didn't dare to look anymore, he knelt on the ground and cried loudly for a few times, then he didn't look up. Dugu Jialuo reached out and wiped away her son's tears and said, "No one dares to treat me badly, but I haven't been eating well and sleeping well recently, and I don't have much energy all day."

Yang Guang also guessed what was bothering her but could only coax her: "My son will come to accompany you when he is free. The rest of the time, let Xiao bring Zhao'er and Liang'er to accompany you."

Dugu Jialuo smiled and glanced at Li Jiancheng in the distance and said, "You are here because of your majesty's harsh rule."

Yang Guang shook his head and said, "Don't bother with this, mother. My son is already the crown prince and will handle this matter himself."

These words were very responsible, which Yang Yong could not say. Dugu Jialuo was very pleased that she did not choose the wrong successor for the foundation of the Sui Dynasty.

She shook her head. "You can't persuade him. Your father has been simple and rigid all his life. Now that he is old, his temperament has changed drastically. I'm afraid it will get worse in the future. I just hope he doesn't squander his life's achievements and waste the efforts of so many of us."

"Go, ask your father to come over."

Li Jiancheng followed Yang Guang out and then said goodbye. This kind of royal family affair was not worth any effort. Whatever he saw or heard would only bring him harm and no benefit in the end.

Yang Guang didn't bother with him and just nodded casually and let him go. Li Jiancheng felt as if he had escaped a disaster. All he wanted now was to change his position. With Yang Jian's temper becoming more and more extreme, it would be too risky to be a Qianniu Bei.

…………

The next day, the emperor took the initiative to abolish those harsh policies. Although the civil and military officials in the court felt relieved, they also felt that the court always changed its policies every day, which was not a good thing.

But surprisingly, the emperor suddenly became normal again for some reason, and his policies and measures were all fair and steady, just like in previous years, which gradually brought stability to the government and the country.

Later, Li Jiancheng also resigned from his post as a Qianniu Beishen due to illness. Yang Jian didn't want to see him in the first place, so he readily agreed.

Although he had lost his real job, fortunately he still had a fifth-rank official position as a Palace Attendant, which earned him a salary of 150 dan from the court, so he was not considered a commoner.

After nearly a year of ups and downs in his official career, Li Jiancheng has become very different from before. Everyone who sees him no longer treats him like a young child, but as the young master of the Li family who has already established himself.

Although there is still some gap between him and Yang Xuangan, who is very popular in the court, no one will compare him with Yang Jishan and others. He has never been absent from the banquets in the Eastern Palace and always has a seat.

Li Jiancheng resumed his old habits and entertained guests lavishly. Gradually, around him gathered peers and juniors from many of his in-laws' and old friends' families, such as the Li, Dou, Xiao, Dugu, and Yuan families. He spent the whole day with them eating, drinking, having fun, reciting poems, painting, training horses, and hunting animals. He was very happy.

If it were after the Tang Dynasty, Li Jiancheng would not dare to say how good he was at writing poetry, but before the Tang Dynasty, he would be embarrassed. Because he was both civil and military and had no shortage of money, the reputation that Yang Su had created was gradually supported by Li Jiancheng.

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

(End of this chapter)