Chapter 773 Extraordinary Events
The moment the words "Dayan Temple" were uttered, the entire Qinqin Building fell silent.
Yuwen Yuan paused, his hand holding the wine cup nearly spilling the wine, but being a seasoned veteran, he quickly composed himself, slowly bringing the cup to his lips and taking a sip. After a moment's thought, he smiled and said, "It's been too hot lately, you should stay in the palace."
"Can--"
Before Shang Ruyi could say anything more, Yuwen Ye coughed lightly and said, "Ruyi, just listen to your father."
Shang Ruyi turned to look at him, only to see him shake his head gently at her without making a sound. After hesitating for a while, she looked at Yuwen Yuan, who was still smiling, but whose wrinkles at the corners of his eyes had clearly deepened. Shang Ruyi could only sigh in her heart and say, "Your subject understands."
Yuwen Yuan then smiled and nodded.
Despite this minor incident, the meal was still very pleasant. After the banquet, Yuwen Yuan specifically instructed, "Take it easy on your way back. It's getting dark, so have someone bring more lanterns."
Yuwen Ye said, "Father, rest assured."
Then everyone slowly left the Kissing Building.
On the way back, Changwan and Tushe'er each carried a lantern and led the way, while Yuwen Ye held Shang Ruyi's hand. The group walked quietly in the night until they passed Jinyu Garden again. Shang Ruyi glanced inside and saw that the doors and windows were already tightly closed, without even a single light. She couldn't help but sigh softly.
Yuwen Ye looked down at her and said, "Are you still upset about this?"
"I'm not sad,"
As Shang Ruyi spoke, she looked up at him again, pouting slightly, "You didn't speak up for me just now."
Seeing her somewhat aggrieved and unwilling expression, Yuwen Ye smiled and shook his head: "So, you really want to take advantage of the opportunity to go to Dayan Temple to worship Buddha to give that box of water chestnut cake to the Empress Dowager?"
"Um."
"Nonsense."
"..."
"Although your father loves you dearly, he doesn't allow everything. As the Princess Consort of Qin, you should understand their status and the significance they represent, which are extraordinary. Unless there is an exceptional matter, your father will not allow anyone to contact them."
Shang Ruyi was initially somewhat indignant when she heard him say "nonsense," but after hearing the rest, she sighed.
Actually, she knew that this request was indeed a bit risky. Under normal circumstances, Yuwen Yuan probably wouldn't have been so kind to her. She was indeed a bit "spoiled and arrogant," but sometimes, when her heart softened, she became bolder. She sighed, gently stroked her belly, and then said softly, "I just, probably because I'm pregnant myself, I can better understand that feeling of a mother and child being connected."
"..."
"It's not just mothers who worry about their children; how could children not miss their mothers?"
"..."
"If the Empress Dowager can really eat the water chestnut cake made by Madam Chu, not only will the Empress Dowager be happy, but Madam Chu will also feel much more at ease. I always feel that she has been wronged for nothing this time, and I feel uneasy about it."
Hearing her gentle words, Yuwen Ye's eyes softened, but he remained calm. He gently squeezed the slender hand in his and said softly, "I know you are thinking of them wholeheartedly, but you must remember that in the palace, you must protect yourself first before you can consider others."
"..."
"Especially this matter, it is extraordinary. Father Emperor would not send anyone unless there was an extraordinary reason."
"..."
"You shouldn't touch his sore spot."
Shang Ruyi had already understood this point, so she simply nodded and was led forward by Yuwen Ye.
Back at Qianqiu Palace, Woxue had already made up the beds, but neither of them went to sleep immediately. After all, the banquet held by the Emperor at Qinqin Tower was a joyous occasion, and no matter how happy they were, they couldn't eat and drink to their hearts' content. As a result, Yuwen Ye didn't eat his fill, and Shang Ruyi, because her request to go to Dali Temple had not been granted and she was feeling uneasy, didn't eat much either. Now that they were both a little hungry, they asked Tushe'er to bring over the box of pastries that Chu Ruoyan had brought, and the two of them shared them.
After eating, I drank some tea to calm myself down before washing up and going to bed.
After the candles were extinguished, the entire inner hall was plunged into darkness. Yuwen Ye held the warm body in his arms, gently stroking her back as he closed his eyes. Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, he suddenly heard Shang Ruyi whisper in his ear, "What extraordinary thing could possibly happen?"
In the darkness of the night, Yuwen Ye let out a soft laugh.
Originally, I just thought Shang Ruyi was being a bit far-fetched, but little did I know that just over half a month later, something truly extraordinary would happen.
This day was in mid-autumn of August.
Yuwen Yuan hosted another banquet at Qinqin Tower, but this time it wasn't just Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi present; Crown Prince Yuwen Qian was also there. Before the banquet began, he led them on a tour along the Thousand-Step Corridor. At this time, dusk had just fallen, yet a bright moon already hung in the sky, its clear light stretching for miles. The moonlight, pure and bright, spread across the corridor like frost and snow, reflecting in the shimmering pool below. Besides the trembling moon reflected in the water, it seemed as if countless stars had been shattered and scattered within the pool.
Yuwen Yuan rarely had the mood to appreciate the moon, and at this moment he sighed, "What a beautiful moon."
After saying that, as if remembering something, she couldn't help but sigh softly: "It's a pity that the moon is full but people are not together."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi simultaneously looked up and exchanged glances, knowing that Yuwen Yuan was thinking of Yuwen Cheng, who had accompanied the army on the expedition. Before the two could say anything, Yuwen Qian, who was beside Yuwen Yuan, whispered, "Is Father waiting for good news about Third Brother's meritorious service?"
A smile immediately appeared in Yuwen Yuan's eyes, followed by a hint of melancholy.
After a moment of silence, he suddenly came to his senses, as if he felt that as the emperor, showing his longing for his son was too sentimental and would lose his imperial dignity. So he waved his hand and laughed, "What merit? I just hope this kid doesn't cause any trouble."
Yuwen Qian said, "Father, rest assured, my third brother has grown up."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Yuan sighed softly and said, "Yes, he's not young anymore."
That sigh clearly revealed a tenderness that did not belong to an emperor, but only to a father. Shang Ruyi immediately understood and said with a smile, "Father is worried about Third Brother's marriage, isn't he?"
Yuwen Yuan smiled and nodded, saying, "The daughters of those good families that I mentioned to you before are all well-educated and polite young ladies. If he really makes a contribution this time and they take a liking to him, it's time for him to consider marriage."
Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "What Father Emperor chose is naturally good."
Because there were no other female elders in the family, and Aunt Hui had been temporarily neglected, Shang Ruyi, as Yuwen Cheng's second sister-in-law, was summoned by Yuwen Yuan a few days ago to discuss this matter. The women chosen by the emperor were all from prestigious families, well-educated, gentle, and virtuous, fully qualified to become Princess Consorts of Qi. Shang Ruyi was only worried that Yuwen Cheng was unruly and untamed, and even if he got married, it might not be possible to keep him settled.
But as the second sister-in-law, I also have to do what I'm supposed to do.
Hearing their conversation, Yuwen Ye smiled and said, "So you also went to help Father Emperor choose people."
Shang Ruyi laughed and said, "I don't know anything about it. I just went to cause trouble for Father."
Yuwen Yuan smiled and waved his hand, saying, "If she were as intelligent as you two brothers, I would have preferred her to—"
As he spoke, he hesitated for a moment, then immediately smiled to cover it up.
Yuwen Qian, who was standing to the side, seemed to flicker his eyes as well. He gave Shang Ruyi a deep look before turning his head away.
If Yuwen Cheng returns this time and truly chooses a daughter from a prestigious family as his Qi Princess, then among the three brothers, only Crown Prince Yuwen Qian will not have a formal wife yet. This is something that Yuwen Yuan cannot help but worry about.
He had originally intended to marry Yu Mingyue, but changed his mind because of Yu Mingyue's outrageous remarks at the victory banquet. Even though he later bestowed two concubines upon Yuwen Qian, the fact that the Crown Prince had no one to manage the household affairs was always a knot in his heart. Since he had already asked Shang Ruyi to help choose his third daughter-in-law, it was not unreasonable to let her have a say in the eldest daughter-in-law's opinion.
But it really is not possible.
After all, Shang Ruyi and Yuwen Qian had such an awkward past. Even though Shang Ruyi is now pregnant and Yuwen Qian has two concubines by his side, and no one mentions the past anymore, it is still inevitable to feel awkward when they think about it.
Shang Ruyi glanced at Yuwen Qian. In the moonlight, he was dressed in flowing white robes, and his handsome face was outlined by the moonlight, making him appear even more gentle and gentle, as if he were made of solidified moonlight. However, his clear eyes were almost transparent under the moonlight, as if they were covered with a layer of frost, giving them an inexplicable coldness. It was even impossible to tell where he was looking or who he was looking at.
That sense of vast, boundless desolation exudes an even more chilling feeling.
Shang Ruyi inexplicably felt that although his face was turned towards Yuwen Yuan, his cold gaze seemed to be looking at her. Just as she hesitated to look away, Yuwen Qian seemed to have foreseen something and turned his face to the other side.
For a moment, the atmosphere became somewhat somber.
This time, it was Yuwen Ye who broke the silence. He said, "Father, it's getting dark. Let's go back now."
Yuwen Yuan immediately laughed and said, "That's right, we've enjoyed the moon enough."
After saying that, he waved his hand and led the two brothers and Shang Ruyi down the Thousand Steps Corridor, heading towards the Qinqin Tower. Because Shang Ruyi's belly was much bigger than before, Yuwen Yuan specially arranged for Eunuch Yu to arrange a little eunuch to carry a lantern to light the way for her. Even so, Yuwen Ye stayed close by, supporting her hand as they walked. Yuwen Qian only walked two or three steps ahead of them, glanced back once, and then said nothing more, continuing to walk forward.
Before long, they returned to the Kissing Building.
Although it was completely dark, the Qinqin Tower was brightly lit. Lanterns were lit in both the upper and lower floors, illuminating the small building. While serving Yuwen Yuan, Eunuch Yu kept giving silent instructions to the eunuchs behind him. As soon as they reached the door, a group of palace maids came forward to greet them.
Just as the four were about to go inside, a series of hurried and heavy footsteps suddenly sounded in the night behind them, breaking the silence.
Yuwen Yuan frowned slightly.
Eunuch Yu immediately stepped forward, pointed outside, and asked, "Who's running around there?"
A young eunuch hurriedly ran over from the darkness. Although this disturbed the emperor, the two princes, and Princess Qin's enjoyment, he was not afraid. Instead, he whispered a few words to Eunuch Yu with a happy expression on his face.
Upon hearing this, Grandpa Yu's cloudy eyes lit up as if they had been lit.
Yuwen Yuan asked, "What's wrong?"
Eunuch Yu took a document from the young eunuch's hand, turned around and knelt down before Yuwen Yuan with great joy, loudly proclaiming, "Your Majesty, news of victory in Songzhou!"
Upon hearing the words "good news," everyone's spirits lifted. Yuwen Yuan took two steps forward, snatched the document from his hand, and quickly opened it. After only a cursory glance, a joyful smile immediately appeared on his face. However, he didn't say anything immediately. Instead, as if to reconfirm his findings and fearing that he might have misread a word or two, he read it over again from the beginning.
Yuwen Ye, standing beside him, could no longer contain himself: "Father—"
This time, Yuwen Yuan finally read the text on the victory report again to make sure he hadn't misread it. Then he looked up, smiled, and said, "Songzhou has surrendered!"
"This is wonderful!"
Shang Ruyi was both surprised and delighted, her eyes widening in surprise.
Yuwen Yuan chuckled and said, "Yes, Shen Tu Tai is a fine man."
As he spoke, he clutched the letter tightly in his hand, as if he wanted to hold the fruits of victory firmly in his palm. He led the three of them and turned to walk into the Qinqin Tower. As they walked, he said, "After he occupied Xuzhou, he has remained inactive, only holding out against Fan Chengen. From the several letters we exchanged, it is clear that although Fan Chengen is willing to surrender, those around him are not, and they still want to persuade Fan Chengen to completely submit to Luoyang."
Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi exchanged a glance, their brows furrowing in unison.
Yuwen Qian, who had been silent all along, said, "If that's really the case, then it would be very disadvantageous for us."
Yuwen Yuan said, "That's right, so Shen Tu Tai made a decisive move and sent men to infiltrate Songzhou and kill those who had proposed to surrender to Luoyang."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat.
Is this feasible?
Although the facts were now clear, she had different thoughts. At this critical juncture, Shen Tu Tai's sending men to kill the officials in Songzhou City might urge Fan Chengen to make a decision, but this matter was also very sensitive. If Fan Chengen felt that he was ruthless, or felt that he was threatened, he might really turn to Luoyang in a fit of anger.
By then, they will truly be at a great disadvantage, just as Yuwen Qian said.
As she feared, Yuwen Qian also asked, "Won't his actions anger Fan Chengen?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yuwen Ye said thoughtfully, "Shen Tu Tai won't make a move casually. If he does, he must be confident of victory, and the people he kills are probably carefully selected."
Yuwen Yuan smiled and said, "You're right."
Tonight, to take care of Shang Ruyi's health, the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was only held on the first floor. After they went in, they quickly took their seats. After Yuwen Yuan sat down, he continued, "After he sent people to kill those people, he also presented the evidence of those people's collusion with Wang Shaoqiu to Fan Chengen."
As he spoke, Yuwen Yuan glanced down at the letter in his hand again and said, "It was Nie Chong who gathered the information, and it was that brat Shan Tong'er who made the move."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately understood why Fan Chengen had surrendered.
He was originally a loyal subject, which is why he mistakenly believed the rumors of his own regicide and sent troops to kill him. However, later, at the Dharma assembly at Dayan Temple, the Wang brothers' heinous act of regicide was announced to the world, and he must have learned of it, thus harboring deep hatred for them. A few days ago, Wang Shaoji died at Shuishen Mountain, with only Wang Shaoqiu escaping with the remaining troops. At that time, they guessed that he must have gone east to join Liang Shide, which is why Fan Chengen, despite being so close to Luoyang, has not yet submitted to Liang Shide.
Now that he knows Wang Shaoqiu's influence has extended to Songzhou, he naturally cannot agree to it.
In this situation, he only has one choice left.
It means submitting to the Great Sheng!
After listening to Yuwen Yuan's words, Yuwen Ye picked up the wine cup that was already filled with fine wine on the table, stood up and said, "This time, we captured Songzhou without bloodshed, all thanks to the Emperor's divine protection. Your son respectfully offers this cup to congratulate the Emperor!"
Yuwen Yuan was already happy, and hearing him say that made him even happier, so he picked up his wine glass.
Shang Ruyi also stood up and raised his cup, saying, "Your subject also congratulates Your Majesty. With the capture of Song and Xu prefectures this time, it will be easy to advance eastward and take Luoyang again. Your Majesty's Great Sheng Dynasty will surely be benevolent and powerful throughout the world and be remembered for eternity!"
These words made Yuwen Yuan burst into laughter.
If his previous joy in bestowing the title upon Shen Tu Tai was due to the latter's proper handling and effective command of troops, then this time his delight was truly because the merits of this battle were crucial to the Great Sheng Dynasty. He could not remain confined to the Guanzhong region forever; he had to advance eastward and conquer the world. Luoyang, originally the eastern capital that Chu Yang had managed for over a decade, was also the center of the world. Only by taking it could his dynasty become a complete and unified one.
"Well said!"
After speaking, Yuwen Yuan raised his cup and drank with the two of them.
Although she had spoken up, Shang Ruyi, mindful of her health, only took a small sip. Yuwen Yuan and Yuwen Ye, on the other hand, drank their cups in one gulp. After finishing their cups, Yuwen Yuan turned to Yuwen Qian with a smile and said, "Qian'er, don't you have anything to say to me?"
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