Chapter 191 The Swift Steps on Water, Dust Rising from Silk Stockings
The current emperor is Chu Yang!
Upon seeing that incomparably handsome face, all the doubts and guesses she had had along the way were confirmed at this moment. At this moment, Shang Ruyi didn't have time to think about why he did this; she could only kneel down immediately.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"
The vast palace fell silent instantly.
However, this quiet was not absolute; the sound of running water under the floor continued, which only made the silence at this moment feel more oppressive and suffocating.
Shang Ruyi then realized that the palace was incredibly hot.
As soon as she knelt down, a wave of heat rose from the soles of her feet, enveloping her completely and causing her to break out in a sweat.
The greater sense of oppression comes from what's right in front of us.
Shang Ruyi watched as the handsome figure slowly walked towards her. Clad in a light, flowing gauze robe, he seemed like a different world compared to her, who was still dressed in heavy clothes. He still wore those exquisite white silk shoes, his footsteps making no sound on the soft, thick map, truly like a celestial being walking on water under the moon, creating only ripples without making a sound.
Finally, he stopped in front of her.
Shang Ruyi buried her face even lower.
A deep voice came from above: "Why can't you remember what I said?"
"...?"
Shang Ruyi was startled, only then realizing that she had used the wrong self-reference again.
She bit her lower lip and said softly, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. Ruyi... Ruyi never expected to see Your Majesty here. In my panic, I forgot Your Majesty's decree."
"..."
The person standing in front of her didn't speak again, but Shang Ruyi could clearly feel his gaze. It seemed very gentle, but at this moment, even a feather falling on her would be enough to crush her fragile nerves.
After a long while, Chu Yang finally let out a long sigh.
He said, "If I had known, I should have let 'Yang Suiyi' go see you."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi's heart sank again.
That's clear.
After his identity as emperor was revealed, when I saw him again, he was no longer as outspoken as before, and his behavior became much more cautious. But when he was still "Yang Suiyi", I even dared to scold him.
Shang Ruyi smiled bitterly to herself.
This is something that probably only he would reminisce about.
After everyone learned of his identity as the emperor, who would dare to reminisce about the dashing young man named "Yang Suiyi"? Not only did she not dare to think about it, she didn't even dare to discuss the topic of "Yang Suiyi" anymore.
Sensing her caution, Chu Yang remained silent for a long while before finally sighing and saying, "Rise."
Shang Ruyi breathed a sigh of relief, thanked the emperor, and slowly stood up.
Even after standing up, she didn't dare to raise her head. She could only cautiously lower her head, pretending to be indifferent to her own thoughts. Chu Yang stood in front of her for a while and then suddenly smiled bitterly, "Sure enough, if it weren't for Yang Suiyi, and we weren't in Yanmen County, you wouldn't even be willing to look at me."
"..."
This sounds like a complaint.
Shang Ruyi pretended she had misheard and could only go along with him, raising her head to give him a careful look.
In fact, he is still himself.
Even without the name Yang Suiyi, he would still act willfully, even in this majestic Eastern Capital, within the Ziwei Palace.
Shang Ruyi said cautiously, "Your Majesty."
"Um?"
"Why did Your Majesty have Ruyi brought here? Ruyi should have left the palace."
Upon hearing this question, Chu Yang frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure rising in his eyes: "So you really don't want to see me."
Shang Ruyi never expected that the emperor would say such a thing. It was hard to tell whether it was a complaint or a grievance, but it was enough to terrify all the ministers. They raised their heads to explain, but he suddenly smiled and said, "However, I want to see you."
"..."
"As long as I want to see you, I can always see you."
"..."
"Isn't that how it is right now?"
For some reason, even though he was acting strangely and arrogantly as emperor, when he said these words, there was a childlike sense of pride and confidence on his face.
Shang Ruyi was a little confused about what he was thinking.
She could only go along with him and softly asked, "I wonder what Your Majesty's instructions are in summoning Ruyi here?"
Hearing this, Chu Yang's face lit up with a smile. He said, "I have a decision I want to tell you—you are the first to know."
Shang Ruyi was taken aback: "What is it?"
Chu Yang looked into her eyes and said, word by word, "I will launch another campaign against Liaodong!"
"...!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi felt her heart skip a beat.
Is Chu Yang planning another campaign against Liaodong?
During the siege of Yanmen, at such a critical moment, she risked her own life and even the lives of her entire family to advise the emperor to stop the campaign against Liaodong in order to boost the morale of the army. Chu Yang promised everyone in front of everyone that the campaign against Liaodong would not be carried out in the first place, when the Turkic soldiers were almost inside the city. This greatly boosted the morale of the army and lifted the siege of Yanmen.
Unexpectedly, he has now brought up the old matter again.
And what's more, they actually sent me into the palace, specifically telling me first?!
Is this a deep-seated obsession, or is he deliberately trying to present a certain image to himself?
Shang Ruyi's mind was in turmoil, but she immediately dismissed the second absurd thought—he was the emperor, and whatever he did was for his own sake, for his own country and its people. In the face of such important matters, she, a mere subject, was utterly insignificant.
But—another campaign against Liaodong?
Shang Ruyi opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but her throat was blocked at that moment, and she couldn't squeeze out a single word.
She could only look at the man in front of her with a furrowed brow. He was not only happy, but a joy was spreading from the bottom of his heart. He turned around and walked a few steps to a spot, pointing to the map at his feet and said, "This time, we will start from this place, send troops first, and destroy the Great Wall that Mou Zifeng built in Liaoxi."
"..."
"Then, we will send troops from here into Liaodong. Once we capture Liaodong City, I will have someone personally escort Mou Zifeng to Luoyang!"
"..."
"I want him to know who his master is, how his city should be built, and who he should be wary of!"
At this point, he was already in a state of victory, even somewhat overjoyed. When he looked up at Shang Ruyi again, his eyes were a little red. He said, "This time, the reason why Ashina Shali attacked me in the northern border was because he received news from me. After dealing with Mu Zifeng, I will lead my troops north!"
"..."
"Ashina Shali, with the ambition of a wolf, has long coveted my Great Ye Dynasty. I will never forgive such a person!"
"..."
"Once we conquer the Western Turks and the Eastern Turks surrender, our road to the Western Regions will be open. When that time comes, all corners of the world will submit, and all nations will come to pay tribute. The prestige and culture of our Great Ye Dynasty will spread far and wide overseas. That will truly be a glorious and prosperous era!"
He became more and more excited as he spoke, his eyes even turning bloodshot with ecstasy.
After he finished speaking, he looked up at Shang Ruyi. Even though they were so far apart, his heavy breathing seemed to reach her face, and Shang Ruyi subconsciously took a step back.
But Chu Yang immediately pressed on, "Tell me, is that alright?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi couldn't answer.
She couldn't say whether it was good or bad, because at this moment, whether it was good or bad didn't matter at all.
She felt as if she were facing a madman.
However, this madman saw further and moved more quickly than anyone else. In fact, the "good" in this madman's mouth was truly the most beautiful picture, a picture that everyone longed for but no one had the ability to paint. Only he, only he had this ability.
But who can expect a madman to paint a truly beautiful picture?
Just thinking about it gave me a sense of fear.
When she came to her senses, Chu Yang, who had not received an answer, suddenly strode towards her. Although he was not as burly as a military general, his tall stature and his crazy yet imposing aura still startled Shang Ruyi, and she subconsciously took another step back.
As she stepped back, her oversized silk shoes slipped off her feet and fell down.
"ah!"
Shang Ruyi gasped and staggered, almost falling over. Fortunately, she only swayed for a moment before regaining her balance.
However, when she looked up again, Chu Yang was already standing in front of her.
Startled, Shang Ruyi quickly took another step back: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, I have been impolite!"
"..."
Chu Yang didn't speak, but just gave her a deep look.
In what seemed like an instant, the fanatical crimson in his eyes gradually faded. He looked down, and his toes, clad in white stockings, immediately tucked back into his skirt.
But those oversized silk shoes were left outside.
A hint of a smile flashed in his eyes. He slowly squatted down, reached out and picked up the silk slipper. He looked at it, and then reached out again, actually grabbing Shang Ruyi's snow-white, delicate foot, which she was trying her best to hide under the hem of her skirt.
Upon being caught, Shang Ruyi was so frightened she almost jumped up.
But her slender feet, through a layer of clothing, had already fallen into his palm. She dared not move at all, and could only tremble as she said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you mustn't!"
Chu Yang, however, seemed not to hear him at all.
He gently pinched her foot with his palm, then looked at the silk slipper in his other hand, and laughed, "Too big."
"..."
"It seems I misjudged the situation."
At that moment, Shang Ruyi couldn't breathe.
Anyone who saw this scene probably wouldn't believe their eyes.
And she just wanted it all to be a lie.
Because—after Chu Yang finished speaking, he lowered his head, carefully placed the silk shoes at her feet, and then, through a layer of clothing, gently pinched her feet and put them on for her.
Then, he smiled faintly and said, "Lingbo Weibu, Luo Suqiqi."
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