The substitute prince: Reported the emperor's brother at the beginning

In the backyard of the luxurious Yang family mansion, dozens of servants were busy serving.

More than twenty tables and chairs were placed in the yard, and all the members of the Yang family were in place.

The two seats next to Yang Long on the main seat were empty.

This is reserved for His Royal Highness the Sixth Prince and his wife.

On the left below are the second and third masters of the Yang family, as well as all the direct descendants.

On the right are their respective wives, legitimate daughters.

The second row is for the illegitimate sons and concubines.

In a wealthy family, the most distinguished persons are the sons of the direct line, followed by the daughters of the direct line.

Of course, sometimes the status of a concubine's son is also extraordinary and is no worse than that of a legitimate daughter.

The Yang family is busy with many businesses, and many of their illegitimate sons are in charge of important matters everywhere.

The bastard's status in the Yang family is naturally more noble.

The status of concubines' daughters was the lowest, and their final fate was either to marry someone who could benefit the Yang family or someone of noble status.

If you are lucky, you can marry into a middle-class family and become the wife. If you are unlucky, you can only be a concubine.

There is another category of children who stand at the back and cannot sit at the table. They are the children of the master and the young masters and the maids.

Their status is much lower, they are not recognized, and can only be treated as slaves.

Everyone present looked unhappy.

Yang Jingzhong, one of the direct descendants below, was the first to express his dissatisfaction: "Uncle, how long do we have to wait? Why don't we start the feast first?"

As soon as he opened his mouth, Yang Jingyu beside him immediately said, "Yes, Dad, we are all hungry. Third sister, this is not a banquet, it's simply bullying."

All the direct descendants expressed their dissatisfaction, and they all felt that the Sixth Prince and the Third Sister were too unpunctual.

Yang Long frowned at the main seat and glanced around calmly: "Anyone who is dissatisfied can leave first."

All of a sudden everyone became quiet.

As the head of the Yang family and also the Minister of War, Yang Long holds an extremely important position in the Yang family, and no one dares to disobey him.

Yang Cheng, the second master beside him, suggested: "Brother, how about we call someone to urge them?"

Yang Long shook his head slightly: "Qin'er has already sent someone to reply, and they are almost here."

"I've been told several times that it's almost here, but it still hasn't arrived." Yang Jingzhong grumbled dissatisfiedly.

Yang Jingyu snorted coldly, "Needless to say, it's the Sixth Prince who is deliberately wasting time again, not taking our Yang family seriously."

"What use is the Sixth Prince other than relying on his status as a prince?"

Yang Jingzhong echoed, "Second brother is right. With Third Sister's looks and talent, no man of talent or beauty could be unworthy of her. Even the Second Prince's consort is inferior to Third Sister, yet she is held back by a loser like the Sixth Prince."

The conversation between the two was not quiet and everyone in the audience could hear it.

Yang Long, who was sitting in the main seat, frowned: "Zhong'er, shut up."

Yang Jingzhong was unconvinced and wanted to refute.

"The Sixth Prince has arrived, and the Princess has arrived." The butler at the door shouted loudly to announce.

Ning Yi, dressed in a python robe and with a cold and imposing manner, strode over.

She was accompanied by Yang Ziqin, who was dressed in a gorgeous dress.

"Haha, Your Highness is able to come to my Yang family to attend the family dinner. I am sorry that I was unable to welcome you from afar!" Yang Long took the initiative to stand up and walk over to greet him.

Ning Yi smiled and bowed, "Father-in-law, you're joking. I've been busy with official duties and have delayed you. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"It's okay, it's okay. It's a family dinner, no need to be so polite." Yang Long smiled kindly with his big belly.

Yang Ziqin beside him bowed slightly: "Qin'er greets father."

"Okay, okay, Qin'er hasn't been home for a while, so it's just right for you to attend the family dinner. The family members miss you so much."

Yang Long smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed, and he looked extremely happy.

"Come on, come on, take a seat."

Although Yang Long greeted them with a smile on his face, none of the other legitimate and illegitimate children who stood up to greet them had a good look on their faces.

Because of their identities, they sat on Yang Long's left and right.

Yang Long ordered the banquet to begin. Many people were hungry and immediately stuffed food into their mouths.

Ning Yi also picked up the chopsticks and ate his own food.

Yang Long raised his glass and said with a smile, "Your Highness, I offer you a toast."

"Okay, okay." Ning Yi put down his chopsticks, picked up the wine glass and drank it in one gulp, chuckling, "The wine from the Yang Mansion tastes delicious, but it's much more flavorful than the wine in the Prince's Mansion."

"That's easy. I'll have the butler bring back a few more jars for Your Highness later."

The two of them chatted and laughed while exchanging polite words.

After three rounds of drinks, Yang Long brought up the topic: "Your Highness's thundering methods are truly impressive. I admire them."

Ning Yi naturally knew what he was talking about. He lowered his head and ate without paying any attention: "It's just normal official business, not worth mentioning."

Yang Long's mouth twitched. You killed a third-rank official on the spot. Is this considered normal official business?

He still smiled and said, "Your Highness, the man has been killed and the authority has been established. It's time to stop now."

Ning Yi paused with his chopsticks and continued eating: "Father-in-law, we are family, let's talk straight."

Yang Long is still very satisfied with Ning Yi's current attitude.

He smiled and said, "Your Highness, you have done a good job in disaster relief. The entire court is praising your achievements. Now that you have succeeded, you can stop. I believe..."

"Father-in-law, do you mean to let those disaster victims who didn't get relief food starve to death?" Ning Yi suddenly looked up and interrupted him.

Yang Long's smile froze, and he opened his narrowed eyes in disbelief as he looked at Ning Yi: "Why do you say that, Your Highness?"

Ning Yi leaned over and chuckled, "Father-in-law, you know there are more than a million people affected by the disaster in Jiangdong. The money and food we've collected so far is less than 10% of it. If we hand it over now, what will happen to the remaining victims?"

"Is this worthy of the court, or is this worthy of my father?"

Yang Long frowned at Ning Yi's blunt question: "Your Highness, that seems too serious."

"The disaster in Jiangdong has lasted for so long and has yet to be alleviated. If Your Highness can resolve it, the Emperor will naturally be delighted. But if so, will the entire court become incompetent?"

"By then, you will be isolated in the court and become a thorn in everyone's side."

Ning Yi naturally knew what Yang Long said. This was the knowledge of officialdom.

Is there not a single loyal or capable minister in the entire court?

This is not the case. It’s just that sometimes loyal and capable officials are more likely to be attacked collectively.

"Father-in-law, do you want me to fool the emperor?"

"Your Highness has already gathered such a large amount of relief money and food, which is several times more than before. It is more than enough to send to Jiangdong."

Yang Long said in a low voice: "In front of the emperor, we should not seek to be meritorious, but to avoid mistakes, so as to protect ourselves."

Ning Yi still had a faint smile on his face. Yang Long thought he had heard it and was about to say something else.

Suddenly, Ning Yi threw down his chopsticks, his face changed drastically, and he shouted angrily: "Yang Long, you are an official appointed by the court, holding the high position of Minister of War, and yet you actually said such heartless words. This is simply deceiving the emperor and committing treason."

The sudden change frightened everyone present.

Yang Ziqin was standing next to Yang Long, and her pretty face was also horrified. She had heard the entire conversation between the two of them.

Although what my father said was indeed too cold-blooded, it was also for the sake of the Sixth Prince.

The Sixth Prince was so heartless to scold his father like that.