Chapter 266: Your Majesty, I'm sorry, they gave too much

"Stripped of the royal title?"

"Demoted to a commoner?"

Yuwen Lun stumbled back half a step, almost falling, his face instantly drained of all blood, white as hemp cloth dragged from an ice cellar. His lips trembled: "Cou... Cousin, didn't you say outside just now that this younger brother knew his mistakes and repented, and would be dealt with leniently?"

His cold sweat streamed down his temples, soaking his collar.

He was truly, thoroughly panicked!

If the royal title was gone and he became a commoner, wouldn't his life be over?

Especially for someone who had lived in luxury for over a decade, making him live like a pauper was no different from taking his life...

"Is this punishment not light enough?"

Yuwen Heng glanced sideways, without a hint of emotional fluctuation, and countered.

He paused and continued: "A-Lun, you must know that every crime you committed is a capital offense!"

"If it weren't for the Grand Chancellor's consideration of the bond of brotherhood, you would have faced the fate of being cut in half at the waist in the street!"

As he spoke, he slammed the table in front of him, making a loud noise.

"Cousin!"

"Cousin!"

"Please plead for mercy for this younger brother!"

Yuwen Lun knelt on the ground with a "thump," his knees hitting the bluestone slab with a dull sound, but he didn't notice, only busy crawling forward a few steps on his knees, his robe dragging messy wrinkles on the ground, while he kept begging:

"This younger brother just had a bad brain and was confused for a moment!"

"Please, don't strip the title!"

Yuwen Lun, having his lifeline pinched, performed the act of being arrogant before and humble after, fierce in appearance but weak in reality, to the fullest...

There was no sign of his previous arrogance.

"A-Lun, it's not that your brain is bad; it's that you took the wrong path, followed the wrong person, and pledged loyalty to the wrong object!"

Yuwen Heng heard this, shook his head, smiled without smiling, and said: "You must understand, once a person stands on the wrong side, one wrong step will lead to eternal damnation..."

"I... I..."

Yuwen Lun was speechless for a moment.

Listening to his cousin's words, he felt there was a deep meaning...

But he couldn't taste exactly what aspect it was.

Chen Yan had been observing Yuwen Lun's expression. He walked slowly to his front, stopped, and applied pressure: "Your Highness, no, Commoner Yan, do you still remember the question this Superintendent asked you outside?"

"What question?" Yuwen Lun blurted out subconsciously.

At this moment, his mind was full of the lingering fear of being stripped of his title and demoted, so Yuwen Lun couldn't remember that much...

"What was the final fate of the last person who attacked the Mingjing Si?"

Chen Yan's mouth curled slightly upward, repeating the question again.

He paused, changed the subject, and continued: "Although you have committed a major mistake now, it hasn't reached the point of being unable to be saved..."

"How to save it?"

Yuwen Lun's eyes lit up, capturing the key words. He looked up at Chen Yan and begged: "Please, Superintendent, teach me!"

That humble and pitiful appearance was just like someone about to drown, whose life was in danger, grabbing the only straw...

As long as he could keep his title, he would do anything!

"How to save yourself, the Grand Marshal has already told you clearly just now..."

Chen Yan smiled indifferently, raised his hand and pressed it lightly on Yuwen Lun's shoulder, saying meaningfully: "Think about it carefully again!"

It was following the wrong person and standing on the wrong side... Yuwen Lun's mind raced, searching. He muttered and repeated those words. His originally confused eyes began to become bright. Without any hesitation, he said loudly: "Cousin, from now on, this younger brother will only follow the orders of you and the Grand Chancellor!"

"There will never be a second heart!"

No matter how dull Yuwen Lun was, how could he not understand the hint in Yuwen Heng's words?

To keep his title and wealth, he had to abandon darkness and turn to light!

That smuggling merchant guild was managed by him, but he was doing it for the little Emperor, Yuwen Yan...

Now that his own interests were damaged, he made a decisive choice!

Moreover, choosing to follow the Grand Chancellor and the Grand Marshal would lead to a brighter future!

"A-Yan, look, this cousin of this Prince is not stupid; he is not stupid!"

"Hahahaha!"

Yuwen Heng raised his hand, pointed at the wise Yuwen Lun with satisfaction, and laughed heartily.

Chen Yan nodded, looking at him with deep eyes.

He wasn't stupid, just cowardly...

The little Emperor actually hoped to achieve things with the help of such a person?

He didn't even know how to use people, yet he dreamed of toppling the Grand Chancellor?

That was a bit too delusional!

"It's all thanks to Cousin's guidance!"

"Please, Cousin, pull this younger brother up!"

"I will definitely engrave this great kindness in my heart!"

Yuwen Lun was all smiles, flattering.

As long as he could keep his title and continue to be wealthy, how much was face worth?

Yuwen Lun understood this better than anyone...

"Although the Grand Chancellor has always upheld the law and never favored his own feelings, he has always been generous to his own family!"

Yuwen Heng leaned back in his chair, looking at the submissive Yuwen Lun, and said meaningfully: "As long as one is willing to turn back, he is willing to give an opportunity..."

"What does the Grand Chancellor need this younger brother to do?"

"Mountains of blades and seas of fire, absolutely no second words!"

How could Yuwen Lun not understand the hint in the words?

He was also thoroughly going all out!

As long as the Grand Chancellor could give an opportunity, he would spare nothing to do it...

"Return to the Emperor's side and listen to the Emperor's orders and dispatches!" Yuwen Heng smiled and said word by word.

"Ah?!"

Yuwen Lun heard this unexpected arrangement, suddenly stunned, opened his mouth wide, thought for a moment, and then suddenly realized, understanding the deep meaning, "Oh! Understand, this younger brother understands..."

This was to have him act as eyes to monitor the little Emperor.

To pass messages at any time and listen to orders at any time!

It was simply too easy, and there was no danger to his life...

"My Yuwen clan members are all smart people!"

Yuwen Heng saw this, nodded with satisfaction, and laughed: "As long as you do well, the Grand Chancellor will not treat you unfairly!"

"Just look at A-Yan and you'll know..."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed at Chen Yan over there.

At this time, the effect of "buying horse bones with a thousand gold" was reflected...

A perfect positive example of subduing a "surrendered general."

"Yes... yes..."

Yuwen Lun nodded, his hanging heart relaxed a little, and he asked tentatively: "Then when can this younger brother's title be restored?"

"The Grand Chancellor intends to use you as an example to give an explanation to the commoners and clans of Chang'an!" Yuwen Heng heard this, tapped the table with his knuckles, and said in a deep voice.

This was both killing the chicken to warn the monkey—killing the chicken that was the Prince of Yan to warn the royal clan members who stood on the wrong side...

At the same time, there always had to be someone with weight to take the blame and give an explanation to the court and the public!

"Ah?!"

Yuwen Lun was dumbfounded.

He never expected that he had become the price to be paid at all costs...

While he was stunned, Yuwen Heng suddenly changed the subject and continued: "But it will be raised high and put down lightly..."

"After this matter calms down, not only will your title be restored, but you will also be rewarded with high official positions and generous salaries, fiefs, and benefits for your descendants!"

Your Majesty, I'm sorry, they gave too much... Yuwen Lun heard this, his eyes lit up instantly, and without any hesitation, he chose to thoroughly abandon darkness and turn to light, heavily knocking his head on the ground: "Willing to die for the Grand Chancellor and the Grand Marshal!" ===== CHAPTER 267 =====