Chapter 403 Years of Recollection Have Turned Him into a Demon
Shang Ruyi slowly frowned.
In fact, given her status and character, what she just said was not only superfluous but also unacceptable, as it could have been seen as sowing discord between the brothers. Yet she not only said it, but she didn't even wait until they were home and alone; she said it now because she knew the matter was of great importance and she couldn't let Yuwen Ye face any danger without knowing the full story.
However, Yuwen Ye rejected her as soon as he opened his mouth.
Normally, she would know when to back down and keep quiet, but at this moment, she couldn't help but say, "But I'm sure that what I saw in Crescent Moon City was really him!"
"..."
"I'm absolutely not mistaken!"
Yuwen Ye glanced down at her and said calmly, "I have no doubts about that."
"..."
“But I know that the ones we meet on the road are not him.”
"Why?"
"because,"
Yuwen Ye took a deep breath and said, "He wouldn't do something like that."
He spoke the word "that" with particular weight, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.
At this point, Shang Ruyi couldn't say anything more. After all, all she knew about Yuwen Qian came from his ethereal and elegant demeanor, which was like white clouds, when they first met, the phrase "after becoming a true dragon" that Jiang Yu had mentioned, and the words he had just spoken to her: "a mayfly in the vast universe."
She couldn't be certain of his "goodness," much less assert that he was "bad."
Thinking of this, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Yuwen Ye glanced at her again and said, "Don't mention this matter again. What you saw in Yanyue City was just a strange white-robed monk, not Yuwen Qian."
Shang Ruyi nodded, but then glanced at him hesitantly, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.
Before she could speak, Yuwen Ye calmly said, "I will investigate what happened in the valley."
"……good."
With that word spoken, the matter seemed to end there, and an eerie silence fell between the two. Then, Yuwen Yuan's deep, resonant voice came from ahead—
"Feng Chen, aren't you coming over here?"
The two looked up at the same time and saw Yuwen Yuan looking at them. Beside him was Yuwen Qian, who was surrounded by people but still stood out from the crowd. Hearing his father's voice, he slowly turned his head, his clear and bright eyes sweeping over the two of them, and then he smiled slightly.
The more subtle his smile, the more delighted Yuwen Yuan became.
Yuwen Ye immediately pulled Shang Ruyi over, whereupon Yuwen Yuan laughed and said, "You brothers haven't seen each other in ages, why don't you come over here—"
"Father,"
Yuwen Ye interrupted him, calmly saying, "Just now, Ruyi and I have already paid our respects to our elder brother."
Yuwen Yuan's thick eyebrows furrowed.
He seemed to be dissatisfied with his son interrupting him regardless of the occasion, but upon hearing this, he couldn't hold back his anger. He looked at Shang Ruyi, who had her head down, and seemed to realize something as well.
He let out a deep breath, then smiled and said, "It's good that we've met."
The people around who had been chattering and flattering each other fell silent. Although most of them were officials from Daxing City and not everyone knew about the marriage of the two young masters of the Yuwen family, their eyes were sharp enough to detect the strange and inexplicable atmosphere between the two young masters and their young mistress.
Once they quieted down, the already somewhat eerie atmosphere became even more awkward.
Fortunately, at this moment, Yuwen Qian smiled and said, "Although we have met, my second brother and I have been separated for too long, and there is still a lot I want to say, but it is not convenient to do so here."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Yuan's eyes lit up again.
He laughed and said, "Of course, this is a temple, so it's not appropriate to say anything intimate here. Well then, let's go back."
After saying that, he turned and left with Yuwen Yuan.
Yuwen Ye asked, "Father, won't you stay and continue to participate in the afternoon's Dharma assembly?"
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Yuan's thick, dark eyebrows furrowed slightly. He glanced at Yuwen Qian beside him with a wary look before saying, "The important matters of this Dharma assembly have been accomplished. The remaining scriptures will be left for the monks to recite."
"..."
Yuwen Ye's eyes flickered slightly.
After a moment of silence, he said softly, "Yes."
Yuwen Yuan then waved his hand and said, "Let's go."
After saying that, he turned and walked out with Yuwen Qian, and Xue Daotong and the others immediately followed.
Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi were a step too slow.
Although it was only half a step, the crowd in front of them was packed with people, while the two of them were the only ones behind them. They looked like a burden hanging at the tail end. Even if they followed closely, they still couldn't blend into the crowd in front of them.
Shang Ruyi's mood, like her steps, grew increasingly heavy.
Actually, just now, mentioning Yuwen Qian's matter in front of Yuwen Ye already seemed like an attempt to sow discord between the brothers, but at this moment, what was more troubling her was Yuwen Yuan's attitude.
According to Yuwen Qian, this Buddhist ceremony was to cleanse him of the grave crime of "regicide," meaning it was for the sake of Yuwen Ye and himself. However, Yuwen Yuan's statement, "Let the monks recite the scriptures," clearly indicates that he had finally managed to persuade Yuwen Qian to put down the Buddhist scriptures and return to the Yuwen family through this ceremony.
For him, this was the most important thing about this Dharma assembly!
Even if she was unwilling to admit it, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but realize this—
Yuwen Yuan is too biased towards Yuwen Qian!
Even though this son had never been in the Yuwen family, never enjoyed his father's company, never achieved anything, and never done anything that a son should do, his favoritism towards this eldest son was deep in his bones.
What about Yuwen Ye?
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but turn her head and look at the person beside her.
Just like before, Yuwen Ye's face remained completely expressionless, as if everything before him was already familiar to him, and he didn't even flinch.
Until his fingertips were gently pinched.
Yuwen Ye's breathing quickened, and when he looked down, he saw a small, fair hand gently taking his hand.
Although it was only her fingertips that were being held, the fragrance and warmth emanating from her body instantly traveled from his fingertips straight to his heart, causing Yuwen Ye's heartbeat to become unsteady.
He smiled gently at Shang Ruyi.
Before long, the group arrived at the gate of Dayan Temple, where some officials were still waiting. Upon seeing the Grand Chancellor and his eldest son emerge, everyone rushed forward to greet them, creating another lively scene of welcoming and seeing them off.
Just then, Shang Ruyi looked up and saw a carriage parked on the side of the road ahead, and it seemed that someone was getting on the carriage.
With a flick of her sleeves, she disappeared into the carriage.
For some reason, her heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously took another step forward. But her hand was holding Yuwen Ye's hand, and with this step, Yuwen Ye was also drawn to her.
He immediately asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"
Just then, a smiling voice came from behind: "Second brother, sister-in-law."
Upon hearing those two words, Shang Ruyi felt a chill run down her spine, while Yuwen Ye immediately turned around. Yuwen Qian slowly walked forward, smiling as he said, "I heard my father mention that you were in Jiangdu these past few days—the journey back must have been very dangerous."
"..."
Yuwen Ye glanced at him with a flickering look in his eyes, then smiled and said, "A close call, but no real danger."
Yuwen Qian nodded, then took out two sachets and presented them to him, saying, "These are peace charms I obtained for you. Although they are a bit late, they will still be of some use if you carry them with you."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi slowly turned around to look at him.
Even monks ask for peace charms?
Moreover, it is rather uncommon to put a peace charm in a sachet.
A sense of vigilance arose in her heart, but when she met those clear eyes again, there was not a trace of malice or evil in them. They were as bright as the moon in the sky, clear and bright for thousands of miles, so open and honest that she was speechless.
Yuwen Ye reached out and took it, smiling as he said, "Thank you, elder brother."
Yuwen Qian smiled, then turned and walked away.
As soon as he walked away, Shang Ruyi and Yuwen Ye exchanged a glance, but neither of them said anything. However, when she turned back, the carriage had already slowly driven away. Shang Ruyi subconsciously let out a soft gasp, and Yuwen Ye asked, "What's wrong?"
Shang Ruyi asked softly, "Whose carriage is that?"
Yuwen Ye glanced at it: "It looks like Zuo Xiaowei—"
Shang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat: "The Yu family?"
"Hmm. What's wrong?"
"……fine."
Although she said that, her eyes seemed to have deepened even more than before.
Just then, the officials, who had been arguing for half a day, finally finished their prepared flattery. Yuwen Yuan was about to turn and leave when he heard a Buddhist chant behind him. When he turned around, he saw the abbot, Master Xinzheng, come out and greet him with a smile, "Respectfully seeing off the Duke."
Upon seeing him, Yuwen Yuan stopped in his tracks.
He thought for a moment, then said with a half-smile, "Your Dharma assembly was very well organized, but I'm afraid my son and I will not be coming again. Mind your sutras, guide your people, and don't think too much about anything else."
His words sounded somewhat domineering.
But Master Xinzheng was so shrewd, how could he not understand the meaning behind his words? So he smiled and nodded repeatedly, his small eyes, which had been gleaming with a sharp light, were now just slits: "I have remembered what the Duke said."
"Um."
Yuwen Yuan nodded and turned to leave.
Just as Yuwen Qian bowed to Master Xinzheng and was about to turn and leave, Xinzheng suddenly said, "Young Master, I was deeply moved by the verse you recited in the lecture hall. It is a pity that I was unable to preach to you at the inner altar assembly. However, I have a word I would like to offer to you."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Qian stopped and turned to look at Xinzheng.
He smiled and said, "Please speak, Master."
Master Xinzheng cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "Few attain Buddhahood through reciting Buddha's name, but those who recite it for years often become demons. If you wish to attain Buddhahood, there are many more who practice no recitation."
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