Chapter 1304 A Benevolent Ruler with a Stain
The two returned to Qianqiu Palace silently, one after the other. Everyone was extremely nervous, fearing that something might go wrong in the court today, but so far no bad news has come. Seeing that the two had returned safely, everyone was very happy.
However, amidst the thunder and lightning, everyone could see that both of them looked somewhat off.
Especially Yuwen Ye, who came from a military background, was naturally imposing. Once he became angry, he would exude an invisible pressure that would terrify ordinary people even if they just got close to him. So when he returned, everyone was very careful and dared not breathe.
After the two ate dinner and dealt with some internal and external matters, it got dark.
Thunder rumbled for half a day, but no rain fell. The tense atmosphere in the air grew stronger with each passing clap of thunder.
Yuwen Ye took a bath and when he returned, he saw that there was only a faint candlelight in the bedchamber. Shang Ruyi had also finished bathing, changed into her nightgown, and gone to bed.
But she turned to her side and fell asleep with her back to him.
Yuwen Ye's brows furrowed involuntarily.
He didn't speak immediately, but slowly walked over, watched her back for a while before sitting down, and after a while, lay down next to her.
The candlelight grew dimmer, but the two people's breathing gradually became clearer in the dim light.
His breathing was heavy and rapid, and Shang Ruyi's breathing was not easy either.
After an unknown amount of time, the candle burned down to the bottom, and the last bit of flame struggled to extinguish itself in the wax, plunging the entire bedchamber into darkness.
Although she remained motionless, Shang Ruyi did not fall asleep; in fact, her eyes remained open. At this moment, a hint of loss inevitably surfaced in her clear eyes in the pitch-black night.
Just as she sighed inwardly and was about to close her eyes, a clap of thunder suddenly sounded.
Immediately, a large, burning hot hand grabbed her shoulder, lifted her up, and pressed her heavily onto the bed. Caught off guard, Shang Ruyi had no time to react before her eyes widened as a flash of lightning appeared, and in the bright, pale light, Yuwen Ye's handsome yet gloomy face came into view.
He was holding her shoulders with both hands, leaning down to look at her!
"...!"
Shang Ruyi's breath hitched for a moment, but she quickly regained her senses and reached out to try to break free from his grasp, but the strength in his hand was something she could not budge.
Unable to break free, Shang Ruyi could only say in a deep voice, "What are you doing?"
Yuwen Ye said in a deep voice, "That's the question I should be asking you."
"..."
What are you going to do?
"..."
"We've come this far, and you're going to get angry with me just for the sake of the Crown Prince's Palace and the Qi Prince's Mansion?"
Shang Ruyi turned her face away to avoid his burning gaze, which was exceptionally sharp in the electric light, as if it wanted to devour her whole.
She said, "I'm not angry with you, I'm just angry with myself."
"..."
"Why can I accompany you to become a king, but not advise you to be a benevolent king?"
"...!"
Yuwen Ye frowned and loosened his grip on Shang Ruyi's shoulder.
But he still didn't get off Shang Ruyi, still leaning down and staring intently at her, saying, "If I killed those people, would I not be a benevolent ruler?"
Shang Ruyi turned to look at him: "You once said that the history books should not record one line about you killing your brothers and another line about you killing your father and emperor. Now, the killing of your father and emperor is gone, but if the indiscriminate killing of innocent people is recorded, how do you think people will view you thousands of years from now?"
“I practice benevolent governance, virtuous governance, and revere Heaven and protect the people. How can I not be a benevolent ruler?”
"Of course not."
"That--"
"But you will be a tainted benevolent ruler. Anyone who discusses your benevolent and virtuous governance will also inevitably mention your fratricide and indiscriminate killing of innocent people."
Yuwen Ye's face darkened further: "Since I've already made one, why not make another?"
Shang Ruyi said, “In the past, the last edict of Emperor Zhaolie of Shu Han said, ‘Do not refrain from doing good because it is small, nor do evil because it is small.’ Today, I will only change one word to advise the King of Qin: ‘Do not do evil because it is small.’”
"..."
"If life consists of only three things, a person who does no evil in any of them is a saint; a person who does one evil is a good person; a person who does two evils is an ordinary person; and a person who does all three evils is an evil person..."
"..."
"Often, the difference between good and evil lies in that one extra thing."
This time, Yuwen Ye remained silent.
He gazed intently into Shang Ruyi's bright eyes in the darkness. After a long while, as if somewhat exhausted, he rolled off her and lay down beside her.
Shang Ruyi didn't breathe a sigh of relief either. She gripped the bedsheets tightly, her body drenched in cold sweat.
The two of them didn't say another word, and on this thunderous night, the entire Qianqiu Palace fell into a heavy silence.
The next morning, the weather turned out to be clear and sunny.
Shang Ruyi got up very early, but even so early, when she opened her eyes, there was no one beside her. She guessed that Yuwen Ye had either gone to handle government affairs or to the military camp, so she didn't ask any more questions. After washing up, she asked Tu She'er to bring her breakfast and sat down to eat.
Just as he picked up the bowl, he saw Yuwen Ye walk in from outside.
He was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, drenched in sweat and radiating heat, clearly having just returned from practicing swordsmanship outside. Shang Ruyi was somewhat surprised that he was still in the palace, and was wondering what to say when Yuwen Ye casually tossed the sword to Woxue, then walked to the table and sat down, saying indifferently, "What, it's been a whole night, are you still angry with me?"
Shang Ruyi was taken aback, and instinctively retorted, "Who's angry with you?"
"Why didn't you call me for breakfast?"
I thought you had already left.
"Walk?"
Yuwen Ye glanced at her again and said indifferently, "How can I leave before things are settled?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi tensed up again. She still didn't know when Yuwen Ye planned to deal with the remaining people in the Crown Prince's residence and the Qi Prince's residence; at least for now, there was no movement from there.
Yuwen Ye glanced down at the simple porridge and dishes on the table and said indifferently, "Give me a bowl of porridge."
Tushe'er dared not delay and hurriedly served him a bowl of porridge.
Yuwen Ye took the bowl and drank a sip, then lowered his head to pick up more food. Shang Ruyi held the bowl and chopsticks, looking at him with a serious expression. He said without looking up, "You should eat quickly too. After you finish eating, come with me to the East Palace."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi's breathing suddenly tightened.
After a long pause, she said softly, "Mmm."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com