Chapter 782 Jiang Chongen
"What!?"
Shang Ruyi opened her eyes wide in surprise.
Jiang Chongen?
If it weren't for her remarkably good memory, she would have almost forgotten the name. But since she had heard of it and even met it, she couldn't forget it so easily. Besides, she was about to go in and see Empress Dowager Jiang.
And this Jiang Chongen is Empress Dowager Jiang's cousin.
Upon further reflection, long-forgotten memories slowly resurfaced in her mind. Shang Ruyi clearly remembered that the last time she heard this name and saw this person was when Chu Yang was about to head south to Jiangdu, abandoning Luoyang, the eastern capital. Because Empress Dowager Jiang was ill, she left behind several people around her, and Jiang Chongen was also left to guard Luoyang. However, fearing Liang Shide, who was eyeing Luoyang covetously, he even went to the then seriously ill Empress Dowager Jiang and loudly complained, saying that her illness had implicated him.
And then... the Eastern Capital fell.
Shang Ruyi never heard his name again, and had even forgotten about him, let alone his life or death.
Unexpectedly, they heard news of him again at this time, and even more unexpectedly, it was related to the secret report from Tongguan that surprised them all, but whose origins they could not trace.
That secret report, that map—he actually gave them to us!?
Could it be that—
Yuwen Ye said in a deep voice, "I had heard before that when Liang Shide attacked the Eastern Capital, Luoyang offered almost no effective resistance. Although Lei Yi was well-versed in the defensive layout of the Eastern Capital, Luoyang's defenses were strong, and it shouldn't have fallen in such a short time. Now that I hear he is still alive, it's not surprising."
Shang Ruyi said with almost certainty, "He has sided with Liang Shide."
That should be the case.
"Then he is now—"
Having said that, there's no need to continue. The moment Jiang Chongen's name appeared, some things became clear. Shang Ruyi even understood in an instant why Yuwen Yuan, overjoyed after receiving that secret report, allowed her to visit Dayan Temple to worship Buddha and relaxed Chu Ruoyan's confinement. Of course, it was because of Jiang Chongen. He was Empress Dowager Jiang's cousin and could be considered Chu Ruoyan's elder.
The emperor did not reveal this matter, and the reason was quite simple.
Yuwen Yuan was a cautious and prudent man. Jiang Chongen's sudden defection after so long under Liang Shide's wing was certainly strange. Yuwen Yuan's reluctance to announce it publicly likely stemmed from two reasons: first, to ensure the safety of his defector, and second, to verify the truth of the matter before making an announcement, thus avoiding any embarrassing misunderstandings. Regardless, the allure of the incomplete map was too great. If Jiang Chongen were to actually send the remaining map, Yuwen Yuan would undoubtedly reward him with high-ranking official positions and generous salaries.
And this time when he goes on an inspection tour of Tongguan, it is very likely that Jiang Chongen will appear there.
He had figured out the matter, but there were still many things he couldn't understand. Yuwen Ye frowned and said, "However, why would Jiang Chongen suddenly come to join my Great Sheng at this time?"
Shang Ruyi asked, "Is he not valued by Liang Shide?"
Yuwen Ye remained silent for a while, neither confirming nor denying.
No word came from Liang Shide's side. You can't guess what's going on; some people and things are hard to verify unless you face them personally. Thinking this, Yuwen Ye took a deep breath and said, "Alright, you go quickly. I'll stay here and think about it some more. The sooner you come back, the sooner I'll leave."
"good,"
This time, Shang Ruyi didn't delay or try to persuade him anymore. She turned and left the Buddhist hall. Seeing her come out, Master Xinzheng immediately greeted her with a smile. Shang Ruyi said, "His Highness Prince Qin wishes to stay here and rest for a while. Please trouble the Master to lead me inside to worship Buddha."
"yes."
Without asking any further questions, Xin Zheng raised his hand and led Shang Ruyi forward.
Walking along the long corridor to the end and climbing a stone staircase, one arrives at the lecture hall where the inner altar Dharma assembly was held. Shang Ruyi is quite familiar with this place. She glances at the tightly closed door of the lecture hall, then follows Master Xinzheng around the pavilion, through another door, and into a quiet courtyard.
It must have been arranged in advance, because there was no one in the courtyard except for a pavilion standing quietly inside.
A sense of tranquility permeated the air.
Master Xinzheng stopped at the courtyard gate, turned to Shang Ruyi and smiled, "The noble lady is waiting in this scripture pavilion. Your Highness may go and meet her. There is no one else here to disturb you, so please feel free to do as you please."
After saying this, he put his hands together, bowed his head, and chanted a Buddhist prayer to Shang Ruyi.
Shang Ruyi nodded and then turned and walked into the courtyard.
She carried a food box in one hand. Because there wasn't much food, it wasn't heavy. But because her body felt heavy, and perhaps more so because of her heavy heart, she walked very slowly, even though she knew she should go faster.
Until she approached the tightly closed door of the attic.
A deep, husky voice, yet still tinged with a tender, unforgettable quality, came from inside: "Is that Ruyi?"
Shang Ruyi immediately replied, "It's me."
After saying that, he reached out and pushed open the door.
A gust of wind suddenly rushed into the quiet attic from behind her, but immediately followed by a strong, almost tangible, scent of ink and paper. Shang Ruyi felt as if she had fallen into a deep pool formed from scriptures, and was almost suffocated by the overwhelming smell of ink.
This is the Sutra Repository of Dayan Temple!
The attic was filled with countless rows of bookshelves, reaching all the way to the ceiling. The bookshelves were densely packed with scriptures, and even the walls around the attic were almost completely obscured by the tall bookshelves. Only one wall was partially exposed, with a window that provided a little ventilation. Otherwise, the smell of ink and books inside would probably drown a person.
Shang Ruyi's gaze was also bewildered by the neat bookshelves and scriptures. After looking around for a while, she finally noticed a slender figure standing by one of the bookshelves, smiling at her.
It's Empress Dowager Jiang!
She was dressed in extremely simple clothes, almost like the simple long robe worn by monks. Her once enviable shiny black hair had long since turned white, but it was still neatly combed and tied back in a very proper way. At first glance, she looked no different from a Buddhist nun.
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath almost instinctively.
Suppressing the bitterness and heartache that she knew would well rise in her heart at this moment of reunion, she took a few steps forward, but stopped just before she reached Empress Dowager Jiang.
She said, "Empress Dowager..."
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