Chapter 114 The Right Path of Humanity
"What?!"
Shang Ruyi panicked immediately. Without thinking, she spurred her horse and galloped towards the post station ahead.
"business--"
Yuwen Ye was about to call her back, but after thinking for a moment, he waved to the people behind him: "Follow them. Remember, do not make any moves without my orders!"
"yes!"
The group obeyed and followed him, spurring their horses forward.
In less than half a mile, almost in the blink of an eye, they rushed to the Zhanping River Post Station. It was just a small two-story earthen building on the riverbank. The outer earthen walls were less than a person's height and had collapsed in many places. Two lanterns hung at the entrance of the post station, one of which had already gone out. The broken wooden door was full of cracks, but even when it was closed, a lot of light still shone through. At this moment, the two large doors seemed to have been kicked open, slamming against the walls on both sides and creaking loudly.
Shang Ruyi rode her horse to the gate, and before the horse had even come to a complete stop, she jumped off and ran inside.
As soon as I ran to the gate, I saw what was inside.
The lobby on the first floor was empty, with two or three low tables and several gray carpets on the floor. Next to the earthen wall on the left was a long and thin wooden staircase leading to the second floor. Corridors on three sides led to five or six rooms for people to rest.
At this moment, it seemed that no one in the inn was resting; they were all in the lobby.
On the table in the center of the hall were several bowls of soup, two plates of flatbread, and a plate of meat pies. It was clear that they had just been eating. But now, everyone stood up. Several officials and the postmaster looked at the three people in the center of the hall with complicated expressions.
The man with his back to Shang Ruyi was tall and slender, wearing a dark blue long robe. The other two men were hugging him and crying as they spoke.
Shang Ruyi recognized the two people at a glance; they were her uncle and aunt.
The Shen couple, dressed in drab gray short clothes and covered in dust, were crying and talking when they suddenly heard a noise at the door. They looked up and their eyes lit up.
Mrs. Yu exclaimed with delight, "Ruyi, what brings you here?"
Upon hearing her words, the person she was holding tightly suddenly jolted and turned around abruptly.
He was a young man in his early twenties, handsome and refined, exuding an air of elegance. Especially when he looked at Shang Ruyi, a gentle smile immediately appeared on his face, with two deep dimples at the corners of his mouth, making his smile look both sincere and warm.
When she met those gentle, joyful eyes, Shang Ruyi's whole body trembled.
Instantly, all the previous tension and anxiety, even the frustration and dejection of the past period, were soothed by those eyes filled with gentle smiles.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but she was too excited to utter a sound.
Until the man strode over and pulled her into his arms.
"As one wishes!"
"..."
Shang Ruyi opened her eyes wide and felt a familiar, gentle aura surrounding her. Even though she had been away for several years, just this touch brought back all the tender memories.
Her nose tingled, and she hugged the person in front of her with both hands.
"elder brother!"
This person was none other than Shen Wuzheng, the only son of the Shen couple.
After several years apart, the brother and sister never expected to meet here. Shang Ruyi hugged her brother, tears welling up in her eyes. Shen Wuzheng looked down at her and said in a deep voice, "Why have you lost so much weight?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi looked at the familiar face before her—though, in truth, it wasn't familiar anymore. Compared to the chubby, childlike face he had when he left, Shen Wuzheng had become much thinner, his features now exuding the air of a mature man. But his gentle eyes remained unchanged, as did the warm aura he emanated, as if the years he had been gone had passed in the blink of an eye.
Shang Ruyi's throat tightened again before she said, "Brother, you've changed so much."
"..."
What are you doing here?
"I've come to see my parents."
As they were speaking, Mr. and Mrs. Shen approached with red eyes. Shang Ruyi hurriedly walked up to them, about to say something, when Mrs. Yu said with concern, "You silly girl, what are you doing here?"
"I--"
Shang Ruyi hesitated, looking at the officials, unable to speak.
But at this moment, even if she didn't say anything, looking at her travel-worn appearance and the fact that she came to the post station at this hour, everyone could guess what she wanted to do.
Shen Shiyan's face turned from red to green. He pointed at her and said, "You, how could you be so foolish? You're still young, with a bright future ahead of you. How could you be so short-sighted? Am I, an old man, worth you doing this?"
As she spoke, she glared fiercely at Madam Yu: "It's all because you spoiled her!"
Yu muttered, "Why are you blaming me again?"
He was usually refined and dignified, and had never scolded Shang Ruyi loudly. This was the first time in more than ten years that Shang Ruyi had been scolded.
She lowered her head, unsure of what to say.
After a while, one of the onlookers sighed and said, "Lord Shen is indeed a man of great righteousness. Your family will not abandon you. It's just that your children are too reckless."
Shang Ruyi looked up at him.
The official said, "Lord Shen is a wanted criminal of the imperial court. Even if you succeed tonight, can you hide forever?"
His words actually echoed what Yuwen Ye had just said.
Looking at Shen Shiyan and Madam Yu, although they looked somewhat haggard, they were clearly not mistreated. Not only were they not in shackles, but their bowls and chopsticks were even on the table.
They actually did sit together and eat.
The official sighed and said, "We won't hide it from you. Although Lord Shen has been convicted, in our eyes, he is a truly loyal minister."
Shang Ruyi was startled: "You—"
The official said, "Lord Shen, Lord Pei, and the others all tried to persuade the emperor to stop the attack on Liaodong—something that all the people under heaven have been hoping for. After years of war, the people have long been unable to survive, but our words could not reach the emperor's ears. Someone has suffered for speaking out for us, how can we let him suffer again?"
"..."
"Therefore, you don't need to do such a beheading thing."
"..."
“We will not mistreat Lord Shen along the way, and we will do the same even in Lingnan.”
The other officials, along with the postmasters, all nodded in agreement.
Shang Ruyi was filled with mixed emotions.
Sometimes, when we talk about the righteous path in the world, it seems like something too ethereal and elusive. The world is bustling with people coming and going for profit. Over the years, even Shang Ruyi has felt that the deepest emotions cannot compare to a little exchange of benefits. But she never expected that there would still be people who have that little bit of kindness in their hearts, who still give people, and even the world, a little hope, even when people are in the most desperate times.
Shang Ruyi and Shen Wuzheng bowed deeply to the group, saying, "Thank you all for your kindness."
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