Chapter 1176 The Past Cannot Be Retrieved
After years and several months, they finally recaptured Luoyang.
As she entered the city gate with the army, Shang Ruyi suddenly felt dizzy, but it wasn't from illness or weakness. Instead, it was a strange feeling, as if something had returned to her body invisibly.
As you walk along the long street, familiar scenes come into view, like faded paintings unfolding before you once again.
They really are back.
Even the tense atmosphere was exactly the same as when he left back then. Just as Yuwen Ye said, several city gates of Dongdu, Ziwei Palace, and some checkpoints and fortresses were firmly occupied. Of the more than 20,000 troops he brought, apart from the more than 1,000 armored cavalry who followed Shang Ruyi to surround the altar, the rest all entered the city.
Of course, this also includes Yuwen Cheng's men.
Although Yuwen Ye only mentioned on the altar that he himself had breached Huian Gate and occupied Luoyang, Shang Ruyi knew that Qi Wang Yuwen Cheng had also contributed half of the victory, but Yuwen Ye simply didn't mention it. He and Yuwen Ye's troops occupied the city together and controlled all the major transportation routes.
This time, apart from Liang Shide, they occupied the Eastern Capital without bloodshed.
But this is only the beginning.
What they are about to receive here is not just a city, but the victory of a long-running war.
Then, a strangely familiar scene appeared ahead, a scene they had lingered over countless times in their dreams.
It is the old residence of the Yuwen family.
Although they were rushing to the Ziwei Palace, they instinctively stopped when they got here. Yuwen Ye dismounted and took only two steps forward before stopping.
Since Chu Yang went south to Jiangdu Palace, with all the officials following him, and Shang Ruyi temporarily left Luoyang to avoid that "disaster," three years have passed. In the grand scheme of things, three years is just a blink of an eye, but they know very well that it has been more than a thousand days and nights, and countless times of worry and longing.
This old house had already become dilapidated after three years of wind and rain.
Seeing the two filthy stone lions at the entrance, the peeling vermilion paint on the gate, the threshold that had collapsed halfway, and the dilapidated walls on both sides, Shang Ruyi's nose tingled and her eyes immediately reddened. She couldn't help but turn her head away. Yuwen Ye, who was standing next to her, silently stepped forward and gently placed his shoulder against her back.
But when he spoke, his voice was uncontrollably hoarse: "Where is he?"
The official behind him said, "Most of them are in my residence."
Yuwen Ye turned to look at him, about to say something, but Guan Ao continued, "But Jin Yun..."
Upon hearing Jin Yun's name, Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi instinctively held their breath. Seeing their expectant yet uneasy eyes, Guan Ao couldn't bear it and could only tell the truth: "Actually, when Liang Shide first occupied Luoyang, he did not commit any offenses. Apart from killing some soldiers and generals during the siege and imprisoning us after entering the city, he did not make things difficult for us."
"..."
"However, when the news of His Majesty's ascension to the throne in Chang'an arrived, he was furious and wanted to execute all the Yuwen family members who remained in Luoyang."
"..."
“At that time, we were all placed under house arrest by him and could not be rescued. We only heard that Jin Yun sent people to guard the Yuwen Mansion, and walked out of the mansion alone, demanding to exchange her life for his own.
Shang Ruyi felt a dull pain in her heart and couldn't help but reach out and clutch her clothes.
Mentioning the past, even the usually calm and reserved Guan Ao couldn't help but tear up. He took a deep breath and continued, "I heard that Xiao Yuansui pleaded for her, and Liang Shide also cared about his reputation, so he granted her request."
"..."
"Therefore, Jinyun committed suicide here."
As soon as she finished speaking, Shang Ruyi could no longer bear to listen and closed her eyes in anguish.
She hadn't spent much time with Jin Yun, and their relationship wasn't particularly deep. However, this Aunt Yun was a humble and gentle person who served Guan Yunmu. She did a lot of work and suffered a lot in maintaining peace in the mansion. Although she didn't shower Jin Yun with affection, she still cared for and cherished her. Now, hearing the news of her death, and such a tragic one at that, how could she not feel heartbroken?
This is still Shang Ruyi.
When she heard the person next to her clenching their teeth, she immediately understood that Yuwen Ye was probably in excruciating pain at that moment.
Looking up, I saw that his eyes were indeed red.
Shang Ruyi immediately suppressed the grief in her heart and reached out to gently stroke his hand. She felt that his fist was clenched tightly, and his knuckles were cracking. Shang Ruyi had no doubt that if Liang Shide were alive and standing in front of him right now, he could tear this person apart on the spot!
Seeing the veins throbbing on Yuwen Ye's forehead, Shang Ruyi said softly, "Feng Chen."
Yuwen Ye didn't speak, but his face was frighteningly ugly.
He came from a military background and was a ruthless killer. Such a person didn't need to make a fuss; as soon as he got angry, he would exude a strong, almost tangible, killing aura that made it hard for anyone who got close to him to breathe. Sure enough, Guan Ao, Guan Chiying, and the others showed some panic and subconsciously took two steps back. The others didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
So Shang Ruyi reached out with both hands and grasped one of his hands, letting him clench his fist. She only whispered, "Aunt Yun... went to keep Mother company."
"..."
These words, spoken softly, seemed to instantly drain most of his strength.
Yuwen Ye's breathing suddenly faltered, and he immediately began to cough. The tension dissipated, and he coughed incessantly, almost unable to straighten up. Shang Ruyi hurriedly took his arm and gently patted his back, saying softly, "Let's find her remains and give her a proper burial so she can stay with Mother."
"Cough cough cough..."
Yuwen Ye coughed for a long time before finally calming down. When he looked up at her again, his eyes were red. Although there were no tears, Shang Ruyi knew that some tears didn't need to be shed in front of others.
He said in a hoarse voice, "You're right."
After saying that, he looked at Guan'ao and hurriedly said, "After Jinyun died, I had her remains collected, but we could only give her a hasty burial. Now that Luoyang has been relieved of its affliction, we should naturally give her a proper burial."
Yuwen Ye nodded heavily.
He looked up at the old house, now completely changed and devoid of people, let out a long sigh, turned his back to it, and said, "Send the order to have people repair and clean the old house. No unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter."
The accompanying attendant immediately replied, "Yes."
After saying this, he turned and walked towards his horse. As he took the reins, he suddenly remembered something and asked, "Third brother—where is the King of Qi?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a series of rapid hoofbeats came from the other end of the long street. Because of the Sheng army's entry into the city, some of the people in the city were terrified and kept their doors and windows tightly shut, not daring to come out or even breathe. The market was so quiet that you could almost hear a pin drop. So this series of hoofbeats was particularly startling. Everyone couldn't help but turn their heads and saw a familiar figure riding towards them.
"Your Highness!"
It was Mu Xian!
Upon seeing him, Yuwen Ye's eyes lit up. He and Shang Ruyi stepped forward at the same time. Mu Xian rode over and stopped his horse a dozen feet away from them. He dismounted and ran to the two of them. He was a little surprised to see Shang Ruyi beside him, but immediately bowed and greeted her: "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Qin, greetings, Your Highness Princess."
Yuwen Ye waved his hand: "Why did you come here?"
Previously, when Yuwen Cheng attacked Luoyang, he sent Mu Xian and Cheng Qiao to assist him in the siege. He did not see the two of them by the Luo River in the morning and knew that Yuwen Cheng had deliberately come to make things difficult for him, so he naturally did not bring them. Unexpectedly, Mu Xian appeared here now.
Mu Xian immediately said, "King Qi ordered us to stay and guard the main camp, but we just received news that Luoyang City has been breached. We suspected it was a trap, so we immediately led our troops here, only to find out that Your Highness has also come."
Yuwen Ye nodded.
He then asked, "Where are your people?"
As he spoke, Mu Xian's gaze fell on the old Yuwen residence behind him. Seeing its dilapidated state, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. When he heard Yuwen Ye's question, his face immediately darkened, and he said, "I sent Cheng Qiao to keep an eye on Prince Qi. He—he went to the Ziwei Palace and is about to open the treasury."
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi's face immediately darkened.
She went to great lengths to relieve the crisis in Xia Prefecture and forced back the Western Turkic army brought by Ashina Zhuxie; Yuwen Ye swept through the eight passes and cities, held Hulao Pass, and defeated Xiao Yuansui's army of 100,000 with a force of several thousand. With the efforts of both sides to clear the surrounding obstacles, even the incompetent Yuwen Cheng could not conquer Luoyang. In the end, it was only with the arrival of the two of them and the help of Yuwen Ye and the two hidden agents she had planted that Luoyang was finally captured.
Because she didn't want all her hard work to benefit others, Shang Ruyi deliberately made such a grand display at the altar outside the city, going up to the altar without even a single attendant. She wanted to tell the officials and people there that she, the Princess Consort of Qin, was both literate and martial, and invincible.
She played a part in the Battle of Luoyang!
Of course, she wasn't the only one who thought this way. Although Yuwen Ye showed an angry expression when he saw that she had gone up to the altar without any attendants, and looked like he was going to settle accounts with her, when he arrived he said that his men had breached Huian Gate, and he didn't mention Qi Wang Yuwen Cheng at all. This clearly gave the officials and the people that kind of impression.
Luoyang belongs to the King of Qin and his queen!
But now, Yuwen Cheng is going to open the treasury!
Shang Ruyi was furious and wanted to stop him immediately, but Yuwen Ye, although frowning, did not show any anger. It seemed that he had long been aware of his third brother's character. He simply leaped onto his horse.
With a wave of his hand: "To the Ziwei Palace!"
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