Draw the sword...self-slaughter...
Shang Ruyi slowly, almost weakly, sat back down, and for a mont, her heart was in turmoil.
Empress Jiang...took her life after hearing news of Chu Yang’s death?
She never quite understood Empress Jiang’s feelings for Chu Yang. After all, she herself was in an awkward situation, and the Empress was always kind and even open-hearted towards her, making it hard to discern the true feelings behind the Empress’s gentle deanor,
Yet, upon hearing this news, she suddenly understood.
So, even such a gentle woman, seemingly indifferent to everything, had such fierce emotions hidden in her heart.
She was truly in love with Chu Yang.
So much that after knowing of his death, she wanted to imdiately follow him, even in such a tragic manner!
And Shang Ruyi slowly raised her head to look at Yu Wenye—facing the Empress like this, what was his mood?
Clearly, she couldn’t understand.
At that mont, the expression in Yu Wenye’s eyes was complex, the only clear aspect being the undisguised grief, and beyond that, she could not fathom his emotions.
She only understood why Shen Wuzheng would suddenly inquire anxiously about the Empress when speaking of Daxing City.
Perhaps, he understood.
He knew that the person in his heart loved her husband dearly, and realized that upon hearing of Chu Yang’s death, she would end her life in such a tragic way.
Shang Ruyi said bitterly, "She—"
Yu Wenye glanced at her and said, "I told you this news beforehand so you could be prepared. You were the one by his side until the end at Jiangdu Palace; maybe once you return to Daxing City, many will co to you for answers, but you may only need to face her."
As he spoke, he looked deeply at Shang Ruyi again: "You don’t have the heart to deceive her, do you?"
Shang Ruyi said, "How do you hope I will answer her?"
Yu Wenye said, "I hope your response can ease her pain."
"..."
Shang Ruyi was silent for a while, then said softly, "I understand."
Then she glanced at Yu Wenye, saying, "You seem to have never asked about what happened at Jiangdu Palace. Do you not care about what happened, or do you not care about the people involved?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Wenye’s eye seed to twitch slightly, as he lowered his head to look at her.
As their gazes t, Shang Ruyi imdiately felt the profound depth in his eyes, a force as if wanting to pull her soul into it, and Yu Wenye said, "Are you now able to talk about it?"
"...!"
Shang Ruyi’s heart trembled.
Though the words did not directly ntion Jiangdu Palace, she suddenly felt plunged back into that nightmare of blood, the agony deeply engraved in her soul from that night once more awakening within her heart and body.
The pain made her pulse beco chaotic.
Seeing her shattered gaze, Yu Wenye seed to have gotten his answer, and he sighed softly: "So, I won’t ask anymore."
"..."
Shang Ruyi still couldn’t speak, only breathing gently.
Seeing the cold sweat forming on her nose and forehead, Yu Wenye sighed deeply, and said: "Rest early; tomorrow morning, we set off."
Shang Ruyi struggled for a long ti before uttering a faint "Hmm."
That night passed in silence between the two, yet it seed filled with entangled thoughts.
Early the next morning, they rose.
At dawn, Tushere and the others had already packed up all the luggage. As instructed, Yu Wenye left ten carts of grain and a team responsible for the last day of distributing food. He also settled the accounts for the rice, grain, and silver spent during the stay with the monastery’s abbot in advance.
He was generous with his giving naturally, and the abbot didn’t refuse. After receiving it, he only said: "As a poor monk, I have nothing beyond; I can only pray that the Second Young Master and Young Madam have a smooth journey without obstacles ahead."
Yu Wenye replied: "Thank you."
At this mont, Shantong’er moseyed over to the abbot and knelt: "Master."
The old monk’s cloudy eyes revealed a hint of reluctance, even glistening with tears, as he said: "Are you going with them?"
"Yes."
The old monk sighed: "I knew the Buddhist Sect couldn’t keep you."
Shantong’er pouted, muttering: "The Buddhist Sect can’t feed ."
Although everyone was imrsed in the sadness of farewell, sowhat downcast, upon hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but laugh. Even the old abbot laughed, though the laughter was filled with bitterness, saying: "Yes, the Buddhist Sect can’t feed you, and you must rely on your strength. But rember—do not let past successes make you forget caution, and rethink when the road ahead seems closed. In all things, do not rush recklessly or delve too deeply."
Shantong’er said: "I understand, Master."
The old monk reached out and stroked his head, finally hardening his heart to close his eyes, turned, and said: "Go."
Shantong’er gave him a deep bow three tis, then slowly got up and left.
Thus, under the morning light, a group of people departed from the temple and left Yanyue City.
The original team, plus the two thousand n led by Dabo, ford a formidable large group. Shang Ruyi, as before, sat in the carriage, accompanied by Yu Wenye. Shen Wuzheng was invited to ride in the carriage too, but he refused, choosing to ride on horseback beside the carriage instead.
The procession moved quietly forward, the carriage swaying incessantly on the wide official road. Yu Wenye was initially resting his eyes, but amidst the rattling of the carriage wheels, he seed to hear a faint murmuring. Opening his eyes, he saw Shang Ruyi silently reciting sothing.
So he asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Shang Ruyi looked up at him and said softly, "What do you think the situation in that village is like now?"
Yu Wenye chuckled softly and said, "You’re still thinking about that."
Shang Ruyi said, "Leaving just like this, I still feel uneasy."
Yu Wenye thought for a mont and said, "Shen Tu Tai ca over last night, proving that he has left Wanggang Village. Moreover, he is different from Shantong’er. Shantong’er was rely a nominal leader in Wanggang Village, and being young, he never managed to develop his own force. However, Shen Tu Tai has a military background and must have his own followers within Wanggang Village. Those coming to join us today might just be a part of them."
"..."
"In other words, with his departure, he will at least take away a significant portion of people."
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help counting on her fingers and said, "Then now, what’s left in Wanggang Village—"
Yu Wenye responded, "Wang Quyi and Wang Quren were both killed by Xiao Yuansui. Li Wen Yang was killed by Wang Quyi, Wu Qian was killed by Li Wen Yang. Shantong’er joined us, and Shen Tu Tai also left Wanggang Village."
"..."
"Now, what remains there are only Xiao Yuansui, the unseen Fourth Master, and Fifth Master."
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but sigh and said, "We’ve stopped here for less than ten days, yet we’ve wiped out half of their elite forces."
"..."
Yu Wenye was silent for a while, then said, "If it weren’t for your elder brother, nothing would have gone so smoothly."
Hearing this, Shang Ruyi felt a slight stir in her heart.
She lifted the corner of the curtain and looked at Shen Wuzheng riding outside. As Yu Wenye said, it all started with his map of the Left General’s Tomb. It was his strategy that led Wu Qian and Li Wen Yang to kill each other, setting Wanggang Village on this path to its eventual downfall. Yet he appeared so indifferent, as if what he did was just an ordinary task.
Yu Wenye glanced once again at the man on horseback outside and said, "He makes think of a saying."
"What?"
"The highest good is like water, benefiting all without contention."
Saying this, he smiled faintly to himself, "That na indeed suits him."
Shang Ruyi also smiled, her eyes filled with tenderness, and said, "Actually, my brother doesn’t completely avoid contention."
"Oh?"
Yu Wenye raised an eyebrow at her, only to hear Shang Ruyi say, "When it cos to my matters, my brother contests fiercely."
"..."
"I rember when I first arrived at my uncle’s house as a child, so noble family’s sons and daughters ca to play. They would often mock , saying I was born to be a servant girl and that I caused the death of my parents. My brother not only argued with them but even fought them, taking on several at once without losing."
"..."
"After a few fights, those people stopped coming to our house, nor did they play with my brother anymore. But my brother didn’t mind at all; he even said that if those people dared to say another word to , he would go to their hos to beat them up."
Saying this, Shang Ruyi looked up at him and smiled, "Could you have imagined that?"
Yu Wenye seed a bit surprised.
As he looked again at the figure outside the carriage, his face seed to gain a more complex expression. After a long silence, he said, "You have a good brother."
"..."
For so reason, Shang Ruyi felt that there was more aning to his words.
Upon reflection, doesn’t he also have an elder brother?
Yu Wenqian...
Thinking of this person once again weighed a heavy, indescribable burden on Shang Ruyi’s heart. Even if he doesn’t appear, his na and image lood like a towering mountain over her heart and blocked her path ahead, an insurmountable, perilous peak.
But now, she had no way to avoid it.
As she thought of returning to Daxing City to face him, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but feel sowhat nervous. Suddenly, she rembered sothing and said, "By the way, last night you ntioned that many things had happened in Daxing City, but you would tell later. What exactly happened?"
"..."
Bringing this up again, Yu Wenye’s eyes flickered.
Observing his serious expression, Shang Ruyi seed to sense sothing and softly asked, "Does it have sothing to do with your elder brother?"
"..."
At that mont, the carriage suddenly shook and ca to a stop.
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