novelAbuy Chapter 352 Everyone's taking Yang You's belt, I'll take two chapters!
Chapter 352 Everyone's taking Yang You's belt, I'll take two chapters!
"Aunt...uncle?"
Yang You watched as Lü Xiao pulled out the leather belt from his waist, his pupils suddenly shrinking.
He recognized that thing; it was made of leather with several rows of thin copper plates embedded in it. It would hurt terribly when it hit you, but it would never kill you.
Lu Xiao didn't speak, but simply gripped his belt and walked towards him step by step.
The boots made a sticky, squelching sound as they stepped into the pool of blood, each step feeling like it was pounding on Yang You's heart.
"Uncle..."
"Snapped!"
Before he could finish speaking, the belt had already fallen.
The crisp sound of whipping was particularly jarring in the empty valley, and even had a faint echo reverberating between the mountain walls.
A red mark appeared on Yang You's shoulder, and the swelling of the skin could be seen rapidly even through his robes.
"This draw is for His Majesty!"
Lu Xiao's voice was deep and cold, without any roar or howl, yet it was more oppressive than any reprimand.
"Do you know that His Majesty fell ill on the spot upon hearing of your defeat and capture?"
Yang You gritted his teeth, neither dodging nor crying out in pain.
His eyes were red-rimmed, and his lips trembled slightly.
Is Grandfather sick?
His grandfather, who had doted on him since childhood and raised him to be the heir apparent, fell ill because of him?
"Snapped!"
Another lash of the belt, heavier than the first, left another red welt on Yang You's shoulder.
"I'm drawing this number for General Zhang Xutuo!"
A flicker of emotion finally appeared in Lü Xiao's voice—an barely suppressed rage.
"To save you, General Zhang led his personal guards all the way to Yumen Pass, where he was surrounded and killed by Xue Rengao. He didn't even leave behind a complete corpse!"
The severed head was hung on Yumen Pass, exposed to the wind and sun!
Yang You's tears finally fell.
Zhang Xutuo.
The old general who kept advising him to be cautious and not to act rashly.
He finds people annoying, timid, and in the way.
But looking back now, every word Zhang Xutuo said was true.
He just wouldn't listen.
He acted unilaterally.
He was the one who killed Zhang Xutuo.
"Snapped!"
The third belt fell, its force undiminished.
"This draw is for the hundreds of thousands of soldiers you've ruined!"
Lu Xiao's voice grew louder and louder, each word like a knife piercing Yang You's heart.
Yang You lowered his head, his shoulders trembling violently.
Tears fell drop by drop to the ground, mingling with the pool of blood, making it impossible to distinguish which was blood and which was tears.
"Slap! Slap! Slap!"
The belt fell one after another, striking Yang You's shoulders, back, and arms.
Yang You gritted his teeth and remained silent.
He has no right to complain of pain.
He deserves all of this.
If he hadn't been so greedy and reckless, if he hadn't wanted to prove himself superior to Lü Xiao, if he hadn't refused to listen to anyone's advice...
Zhang Xutuo wouldn't die, hundreds of thousands of soldiers wouldn't die, his grandfather wouldn't fall ill, and Lü Xiao wouldn't have had to travel thousands of miles to the Western Regions to risk his life to save him.
"Do you know?"
Lu Xiao slapped it a dozen times before finally stopping.
His breathing was a little rapid, and his fingers gripping the belt trembled slightly.
"His Majesty came to me in the middle of the night to beg me."
He raised his head, gazing at the gradually darkening sky.
"He is the emperor, the supreme ruler, the master of the world."
But for your sake, he ran to the Prince of Shuo's residence in the middle of the night, stood before me, and said that he wasn't issuing the decree as the emperor, but as a grandfather begging me.
Lu Xiao closed his eyes, recalling the scene from that night.
Yang Guang stood before him, his eyes red-rimmed, his voice hoarse, and his back bent deeply.
In his life, he had seen Yang Guang angry, Yang Guang laughing, and Yang Guang full of vigor.
But he had never seen Yang Guang lose his composure like that before.
He was genuinely afraid, afraid of losing his grandson.
Lu Xiao opened his eyes and his gaze fell on Yang You.
He was grateful for Yang Lin's recommendation and Yang Guang's recognition of his talent.
Over the years, he fought for the Sui Dynasty in campaigns to the east and west, from the northern grasslands to the Jianghuai region, from Jiangling City to the western border.
Countless times they faced life and death, countless times they fought bloody battles.
He never complained, because it was his duty.
In the court, he was the emperor and his subject; at home, he was husband and wife with Yang Ruyi.
Now his wife is thinking about how to help her son seize power, forming factions in the court, and secretly paving the way for Lü Zhen.
He was caught in the middle, torn between the emperor and his ministers, and between husband and wife.
He risked his life to come to the west to rescue Yang You.
From now on, he no longer owed Yang Guang any favor.
In Yang Ruyi's case, they sided with their relatives regardless of right or wrong.
Yang You suddenly raised his head, and the image of Yang Guang appeared in his mind.
At this moment, he could no longer hold back.
Tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from afar.
Yuwen Chenglong and Pei Yuanqing ran down from the other side, panting heavily, clearly having run all the way.
"Your Highness! Your Highness!"
Yuwen Chenglong ran and shouted, his voice full of urgency.
When he got closer, he immediately saw the red and swollen whip marks on Yang You's body, and the belt that Lü Xiao hadn't had time to fasten.
"oops!"
Yuwen Chenglong slapped his thigh and stamped his feet in frustration.
Your Highness didn't use any force at all!
How can this possibly kill someone? No, how can this possibly teach them a lesson?
"You rest, let me do it!"
Yang You raised his head and looked at Yuwen Chenglong blankly.
Why does everyone have to slap themselves in the face?
Lu Xiao slapped him, and he had his reasons.
His uncle saved him, was injured for him, served his grandfather faithfully, and avenged the soldiers.
But what reason do you, Yuwen Chenglong, have?
Yuwen Chenglong seemed to have seen through Yang You's thoughts, puffed out his chest, and said in a serious tone:
"I'm taking this cigarette for your aunt!"
Yang You was taken aback.
aunt?
Yang Ruyi?
"Your aunt has been so worried about you being arrested that she hasn't slept well for days!"
Yuwen Chenglong lied through his teeth without batting an eye.
"Tell me, was this a worthwhile draw?"
Before he could finish speaking, the belt had already fallen.
"Snapped!"
This time, the force was much greater than that of Lü Xiao.
Yuwen Chenglong was aiming to eliminate any potential threat at its root. If someone like Yang You were to become emperor, the Sui Dynasty would likely perish after only three generations.
Yuwen Chenglong has made great contributions to the people, and history should at least record his deeds.
Yang You gritted his teeth and withstood the blow.
aunt……
He never expected that his aunt, who usually didn't care about him, would actually care about him so much.
He recalled that before he set off, Yang Ruyi stood in front of the city gate and said to him with a smile, "My dear nephew, your aunt wishes you to wipe out the rebels and return in triumph."
He initially thought it was just polite talk, a way of putting things.
It turns out that his aunt really cared about him.
This was worth it.
It's time to draw.
He's the one who made his aunt worry.
"I...I have one too..."
When Pei Yuanqing saw that Yuwen Chenglong had also started smoking, he couldn't hold back any longer.
He took a step forward, rolled up his sleeves, and was eager to try.
After all, everyone smokes, so he'd have to smoke at least twice.
Yang You's lips twitched incessantly, and Pei Yuanqing also had reason to slap himself?