Chapter 267 You are a miracle given to me by gods and Buddhas
The river wasn't wide, and they soon reached the other side.
Banyan Temple is built on the mountainside. Although it is only halfway up the mountain, it is still very tiring to climb up because of the height of the mountain. In addition, since her body has not fully recovered, Shang Ruyi was already panting after walking halfway.
Yuwen Ye said, "When I came here last time, I think I saw a pavilion in front of us where we could rest for a while. Let's go there and rest for a bit."
Shang Ruyi nodded.
Before long they arrived at the pavilion, which was built on a huge protruding rock beside the mountain path. The scenery was beautiful, but it was already crowded with people. Upon closer inspection, they saw an old man with white hair and beard sitting in the center of the pavilion. Strangely, his hair was only an inch or so long. He was wearing a gray robe that had been washed until it was almost white. He looked like a monk, but he wasn't.
Around him were several children from mountain hunters and fishermen, who seemed to be pestering him to tell them stories.
The old man took a sip of the warm wine from his gourd, his cheeks flushed, and his eyes shone even brighter. He stroked his beard and said, "Alright, then I'll tell you another story. Once upon a time—"
The children asked, "How long ago?"
The old man thought for a moment, then said with a smile, "It was a few years ago, or a dozen years ago, before you were all born, that a young lady from a wealthy family in the city suddenly fell seriously ill. It looked like she was about to die, but then one day, she was completely cured."
The children asked curiously, "How did it get better?"
The old man said, "My family finds it strange. Moreover, after the young lady recovered from her illness, she seemed like a completely different person. She kept saying that she was not the daughter of this family, but a snake catcher who made a living catching snakes outside the city. Last night, she accidentally fell off a cliff while catching a poisonous snake, and when she woke up, she was in this young lady's body."
The children were stunned, and one of them asked, "Then, where is the young lady?"
The old man said, "The snake catcher didn't know either, and nobody knew. The family immediately sent people to investigate outside the city, and they found the snake catcher's house. However, his body had fallen off a cliff and had been eaten by wild animals."
Everyone sighed repeatedly.
Someone asked, "So, what happened to the snake catcher who was born into the young lady's body?"
The old man said, "This family thought that their daughter was pure and innocent, and they couldn't let a man take her body and ruin her reputation. So, they nailed him into a coffin and suffocated him to death, which can be considered as preserving their daughter's chastity."
The children sighed and marveled, while others said the story was boring and ran away.
However, as he ran away, the mountain path was narrow, and he bumped into Shang Ruyi.
Shang Ruyi stood motionless, seemingly mesmerized by the story. Yuwen Ye, standing beside her, noticed her stunned expression and couldn't help but ask softly, "What's wrong?"
It took Shang Ruyi a while to come to her senses. She glanced at him and gently shook her head: "It's nothing."
Yuwen Ye laughed and said, "It's just a story about someone else's body being resurrected. Did it scare you?"
Who was scared?
Shang Ruyi muttered, but her eyes flickered slightly.
As they entered the pavilion, the old man stood up with a smile and said, "The story is over, and I should go home now."
After saying that, he staggered out.
As they passed each other, Shang Ruyi nodded at him.
Yuwen Ye took her hand and helped her sit down. He glanced at the old man's figure again and asked, "Do you recognize him?"
Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "Most of the children who grew up in Dongdu City and have been to Banyan Temple know him. He was originally a monk in Banyan Temple, but he loved to eat meat and drink alcohol. He broke the precepts several times and was expelled from Banyan Temple by the abbot. However, he couldn't bear to leave the Buddha, so he often came to Banyan Temple to chant sutras and worship the Buddha. After that, he would go home to eat his own meat and drink alcohol. Every time he came, he would tell stories to the children who passed by. I have heard them before."
"Such a thing is true."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ye smiled faintly and said, "He loves to eat meat and drink wine, yet he can't bear to part with the Buddha. It's true that human desires are hard to satisfy."
For some reason, upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi recalled what he had told her a couple of days ago—you can't choose both sides, nor can you have everything.
Is this also a sign of my own unfulfilled desires?
The old man's desires were insatiable, and he found a way to satisfy both sides. But could I have such a good solution?
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but sigh.
Sitting to the side, Yuwen Ye frowned slightly: "Why are you sighing like that?"
"ah?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi quickly smiled to cover it up and said, "By the way, you don't recognize him? Didn't you come to Banyan Temple when you were a child?"
"I've never been here before."
"You don't usually come?"
Yuwen Ye shook his head: "I'm not coming."
Shang Ruyi said, "Aren't you coming to worship Buddha?"
Yuwen Ye still shook his head.
Shang Ruyi stared at him with wide eyes, and after a long while, she said softly, "You... don't believe in gods or Buddhas?"
Yuwen Ye glanced at her and said, "I don't believe it."
Shang Ruyi was even more surprised and said, "You don't believe in gods and Buddhas?"
Yuwen Ye thought for a moment, then said, “People believe in gods and Buddhas in two ways. One is to believe that gods and Buddhas exist in the world, and the other is to believe that gods and Buddhas can bring them benefits. I don’t believe in the latter. As for whether gods and Buddhas actually exist in this world, it doesn’t really concern me.”
Shang Ruyi said, "Then you—"
Yuwen Ye smiled faintly and said, "I have always believed that you have to fight for what you want. Isn't it ridiculous to do nothing yourself but pray to gods and Buddhas and expect them to perform miracles?"
Shang Ruyi still looked at him with surprise, but after a while, she smiled.
Come to think of it, she shouldn't be surprised, because Yuwen Ye is exactly the kind of person he should be. Everyone in the world has moments of vulnerability, helplessness, and desire, which is why they are especially devout to gods and Buddhas. But he—at least in all the time we've known each other, she has never seen this man appear vulnerable or helpless. It seems that this kind of situation will never occur in him.
She laughed and said, "So, you only believe in yourself, right?"
Yuwen Ye said, "People should trust themselves."
He said it so casually, as if it were nothing more than eating and sleeping. But every word of his words was filled with unbridled arrogance. Shang Ruyi couldn't help but wonder if he and the emperor were equally arrogant and looked down on the world. He didn't even know who was more arrogant.
Is there any place in the world for two such arrogant people?
After resting for a while, they continued on their way and soon arrived at Banyan Temple.
There weren't many people at the temple today. The monk who had helped settle everything during the last memorial service was the same one who greeted them and politely welcomed them inside. This was their first time visiting to pay their respects since the memorial service, so a ritual was performed in a Buddhist hall. By the time everything was finished, the day had already passed.
The two decided on the spot to stay overnight at Banyan Temple.
It wasn't the first time they had stayed at this place. The monk led the two of them to a room in the lay Buddhist monastery. When they pushed open the door, the room looked familiar; it was the same room they had stayed in when they came to pay respects to Guan Yunmu's spirit last time.
Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "We stayed here last time we came."
The old monk smiled and said, "Not many people used to stay in this room. Besides the two of you, the only other person who stayed here was your eldest son, who stayed here more than half a year ago."
As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent.
Shang Ruyi's expression immediately darkened.
It turned out that they had stayed in this room last time. No wonder she vaguely heard Yuwen Ye asking about the monk Yuwen Qian that night. She never expected that they would be staying in the same room.
If you ask what she feared most in the Yuwen family, it wasn't the difficulties caused by her in-laws that ordinary daughters-in-law fear most, nor was it Aunt Hui's subtle harassment or Yuwen Cheng's difficult nature, or perhaps it was Yuwen Ye's indifference and aloofness towards her in the past.
What she feared most was someone mentioning that eldest son—Yuwen Qian.
But she couldn't avoid it.
When he looked at Yuwen Ye again, there seemed to be something flickering in his eyes, but his face remained expressionless. He simply said calmly, "Thank you for your trouble."
The monk put his hands together and said, "Amitabha, please make yourselves at home."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Although he left, the atmosphere in the room became heavy, not only heavy but also somewhat awkward. Although Yuwen Ye did not show anger, Shang Ruyi could still tell from his indifferent appearance that some parts of his heart that should not have been touched seemed to have been touched again.
She thought for a moment and said softly, "It's a bit stuffy in the house, shall we go for a walk?"
Yuwen Ye glanced at her and nodded calmly.
So the two of them went out.
The sun hadn't set yet, and the orange-red sunlight shone on the snow piled up by the roadside, reflecting a dazzling light that even made it feel less cold. The two walked along the corridor out of the side gate of Banyan Temple, and then followed the path for a while before finally seeing a platform ahead, seemingly for people to stop and enjoy the scenery. The monks had even specially built a railing around it.
There, you can not only look up at the mountaintop scenery above Banyan Temple, but also look down at the river at the foot of the mountain.
At this moment, the shimmering river surface is reflected by the setting sun, turning into a golden ribbon.
The two walked to the platform. One looked up at the mountaintop with his back to the railing, while the other leaned on the railing and looked down at the river. Neither of them spoke.
The sound of evening drums echoed through the mountains, making the surroundings seem even more tranquil.
After an unknown amount of time, Shang Ruyi finally said softly, "Do you remember when you and Dad came to my uncle's house to discuss the marriage, my family told you that I was seriously ill at that time?"
"Remember."
"Actually, I suddenly fell ill when I came to Banyan Temple to worship Buddha."
"oh?"
Yuwen Ye slowly lowered his head and turned to look at her: "Why did you suddenly fall ill?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi paused for a moment, not answering the question, but continued, "That illness came on very suddenly and was very serious. It almost took my life. After I recovered a bit, I told my uncle and aunt, 'I will not marry Young Master Yuwen.'"
Yuwen Ye took a deep breath.
This was almost the most taboo topic between them, even more so than their respective relationships with people in the palace. So, in the more than six months since their marriage, almost no one had mentioned it.
But in truth, it's all in the past. Even if the two of them aren't in sync anymore, they've already confessed their feelings to each other. Bringing it up again doesn't seem to have any impact on them. But for some reason, whenever Shang Ruyi brings it up again, it still gives him a jolt.
Shang Ruyi said, "Of course they disagreed at first. Our two families have been friends for generations, and my family has fallen into such a state. The Duke of Sheng does not look down on me and even allows his eldest son to marry me. This is a good thing that others can't even imagine. It is really wrong of me to break off the engagement."
"But in the end, they agreed."
Shang Ruyi nodded and said, "Because at that time, I was so anxious that I vomited blood."
"...!"
“My uncle and aunt usually dote on me the most, and they really can’t bear to see me suffer. But they also feel really guilty towards the Duke.”
Yuwen Ye narrowed his eyes slightly: "So—they transferred this marriage to me."
"..."
"Marry me instead of my elder brother. This won't break the marriage agreement, and it will also fulfill your wish."
Shang Ruyi turned to him and said softly, "I'm sorry for dragging you into this."
Yuwen Ye looked at her for a while and said, "So now, you still refuse to tell me why you won't marry my elder brother?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi remained silent and lowered her head.
Clearly, this is an implicit acceptance.
Yuwen Ye's gaze gradually turned cold. Even bathed in the seemingly warm glow of the setting sun, his stern eyes seemed to be frozen with frost. He slowly said, "So, what is the purpose of telling me all this?"
"..."
Are you trying to tell me that I was a choice you had no other option for?
Shang Ruyi paused for a moment, then said softly, "You are a miracle given to me by the gods and Buddhas."
"...!"
Yuwen Ye's breath hitched.
He seemed somewhat unable to believe his ears. It wasn't that he hadn't heard such loving words before, but he hadn't expected Shang Ruyi to tell him these words at this moment. Meanwhile, the evening drum of Banyan Temple was still ringing out all around them, as if confirming the miracle of this moment.
It was as if their being together was the most tender miracle in the world.
Shang Ruyi suddenly felt her face burning. She didn't know why. She had meant to explain something to him, but she had blurted it out. Her face turned red, and she immediately turned to leave.
But as soon as she turned around, she felt a hand reach out and pull her back into its embrace.
Pressed against his firm chest, she could even feel his heart pounding violently beneath his thick, strong chest, as if it were about to burst out of his chest. His iron-like hand encircled her slender waist, leaving her completely unable to struggle.
With his other hand, he pinched her chin and gently lifted it.
The moment she met his burning gaze, Shang Ruyi felt a shiver run down her spine.
Just moments ago, his eyes were filled with frost, but in an instant, it seemed as if the ice and snow had melted away. When he looked down at her, his hot breath almost set her on fire.
He slowly lowered his head and kissed her.
"don't want……"
Shang Ruyi was both embarrassed and anxious, but she couldn't avoid it, so she could only whisper, "No, this is a temple..."
Yuwen Ye's lips were almost touching hers.
Breathing in the sweet fragrance of her breath, he murmured, "This is outside the temple; they can't interfere here."
After saying that, he gently kissed her.
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