Chapter 836 – What If I Kill You? (Part Three)
Yang Jian is dead?!
But before the alliance meeting ended, Yang Jian was perfectly fine.
Hearing the news of his death, Jiang Pengji was almost caught off guard.
She bit her lip, her dark, starry eyes showing a trace of confusion—Xu Ke said that Yang Jian was secretly poisoned.
“Poisoned? Who could be behind this?”
Jiang Pengji wasn’t well-acquainted with Yang Jian’s exploits, just knowing there was a grain borrowing connection with her father, and little more.
If it weren’t for an enemy, who would resort to such a despicable method as poisoning?
Xu Ke replied, “According to the rumors, it seems to have been orchestrated by the local aristocracy of Dongmen County.”
Jiang Pengji’s expression turned cold, countering, “Are you certain it was the local aristocrats of Dongmen County?”
Xu Ke answered, “Well, it seems highly probable. Other than the prominent families, the other aristocrats don’t have much backing. Zhangzhou is fundamentally the fief of Changshou Wang, and these aristocrats are trying to survive on his turf. For the sake of their family’s prosperity and lineage, they naturally have to take protective measures. Since Changshou Wang has ascended to the throne, Yang Jian boldly joining the pro-king faction is akin to openly opposing him. If Yang Jian were eliminated, they wouldn’t just clear the obstacle, but would also be able to submit to Changshou Wang…”
Yang Jian’s engagement with the pro-king faction was one thing, but the fact that most of the alliance didn’t act and failed to utterly defeat Changshou Wang was baffling.
Jiang Pengji pondered seriously, her tightly furrowed brow never relaxing.
Xu Ke’s speculation seemed plausible, yet there appeared to be some misunderstanding regarding the aristocrats.
“It shouldn’t be for that reason…”
While the aristocrats indeed liked to steer clear of danger, they preferred to take a backseat or watch others fight it out.
When the clam and the gull fight, it’s the fisherman who profits, and that is precisely their favorite.
Why would they personally go to poison and assassinate Yang Jian at this juncture?
The logic of assassinating Yang Jian to curry favor with Changshou Wang made sense, but did not align with the consistent behavior of the aristocrats.
Xu Ke was puzzled, humbly asking, “Then what does the lord think is at play?”
Jiang Pengji revealed a faint smile, though her eyes bore a touch of coldness.
“It’s possible it was the aristocrats, but likely not for the purpose of submitting to Changshou Wang; rather, it’s more likely a matter of personal grudge.”
Xu Ke was taken aback, inhaling sharply, “A personal grudge?”
Jiang Pengji coldly smirked with meaning, “In this pro-king endeavor, Yang Jian has certainly achieved significant merit.”
As Yang Jian’s influence grew, the first ones to be unable to sit still would obviously be his enemies; it was entirely possible they acted first with an assassination.
Xu Ke sighed, expressing regret. Regardless of whether it was the aristocrats or enemies behind it, the tragic demise of such a heroic figure as Yang Jian was truly unfortunate.
Though Zhangzhou was rich in resources, Changshou Wang’s mismanagement and extravagance had led to the common people living in hardship.
With the common folks struggling, the aristocrats who treated them like sheep to be sheared were likewise not living any better.
Yang Jian was known for his fierce disposition, but for the sake of the common people, he was capable of yielding; years ago during several natural disasters in Dongmen County, he shamelessly borrowed grain from his neighbor—Liu Zhi, the governor of Hujun—even if he received a closed-door rejection, he would still put on a nonchalant smile.
If it weren’t for Yang Jian, the people of Dongmen County would have perished in droves.
Jiang Pengji said calmly, “Dying young, how regrettable.”
Even though the aristocrats of Dongmen disliked Yang Jian, they still needed him as a shield; how could they easily kill him?
Wanzhou and Zhangzhou were quite far apart with slow news transmission.
Yet, she was not wrong in one thing; Yang Jian was not killed by the united effort of the aristocrats, but rather by an enemy seeking revenge.
Previously, during the pro-king actions, Yang Jian had sustained an arrow wound from Chen Ke—the location wasn’t fatal, but required rest.
However, to gain merit, Yang Jian put everything on the line.
As soon as the pro-king actions were concluded, his wounds reopened, and after nearly a month of recovery, they finally showed signs of healing.
Upon Yang Jian’s return to Dongmen County, he was instantly bombarded with invitations from various aristocrats, suddenly becoming the center of attention.
With Changshou Wang declaring himself emperor, everyone felt uncertain and naturally sought to gauge Yang Jian’s sentiments.
Yang Jian informed them candidly, even revealing his ambitions.
Changshou Wang had besieged Chenzhou with over a hundred thousand troops for a year and had yet to capture it, instead exhausting his resources and losing men. If it weren’t for the Cangzhou Meng Clan intervening, Changshou Wang would have been forced to retreat back to his Zhangzhou fief in disgrace long ago. Though he now called himself emperor, most of the troops he commanded were actually from the Meng Clan, not his own.
Having achieved great merit during the pro-king campaign, Yang Jian reaped numerous benefits.
He hurried back to Dongmen County intending to seize the opportunity to unite the power of the aristocrats and take advantage of Changshou Wang’s weakness to unseat him. Yet, all his painstaking efforts were dashed by an enemy, resulting in a bitter and untimely end.
His death was extraordinarily painful; his lips turned black, blood spilled from seven orifices, his pupils dilated, and his body convulsed for a day and a night before finally growing cold.
Such a horrifying sight, let alone witnessing it in person, even hearing of it was chilling to the bone!
Jiang Pengji raised her brow sharply, looking at Xu Ke, “So… Yang Tao succeeded Yang Jian’s position?”
Xu Ke pondered for a moment and said, “Naturally, Yang Jian’s only son will take over. However… he’s quite young, and I fear he won’t be able to hold the fort.”
Yang Tao, as the sole son, was the obvious choice to inherit everything, but he was young and inexperienced and couldn’t suppress the old ministers.
The aristocrats of Dongmen were anxious, the old ministers were overbearing, and outside there was the big trouble of Changshou Wang. Without Yang Jian to shield him from the wind and rain, Yang Tao was suddenly overwhelmed by pressure, almost unable to breathe, but he couldn’t collapse; he still had to arrange a dignified funeral for his father.
He felt like a blind man wandering through an unfamiliar wilderness, surrounded by thorns and scattered stones.
After Yang Jian’s death, there was no one to protect him from the storms!
“Zheng Ze… Lord, there’s still Lin here, so please rest assured to handle the old lord’s funeral; nothing else is needed to worry about.”
Yan Lin, dressed in plain clothes with a white cloth tied around his waist, knelt beside Yang Tao, accompanying him in guarding the spirit.
For a full week, Yang Tao had already lost considerable weight.
What had once fit him now hung loosely, causing those who saw it to feel especially uncomfortable.
Yang Tao had cried for several days; his eyes were now swollen and bloodshot, dry and unable to shed any more tears.
On the day Yang Jian was poisoned, he had remained inside, tending to him day and night, but felt utterly helpless.
Seeing his father, who had loved him dearly, suffer in excruciating pain before death, he wished he could take his place!
If not for having someone reliable by his side, he probably would have collapsed long ago.
“T-Thank you…” Yang Tao croaked in a rough voice, lacking its usual vitality, “You’ve worked hard, Shaoyang… these past days, if it weren’t for you being here with me, I truly wouldn’t know how I could have gotten through this… Zhao Shao, I will personally make the blood of this person flow!”
