Chapter 732 The Third Cup of Wine
Unlike those around her who were watching Yu Mingyue with various thoughts or staring at her, Shang Ruyi kept looking towards the back of the main hall, glancing at it several times with a worried expression.
Yuwen Ye turned to look at her: "What's wrong?"
"I'm a little worried about my brother."
"Worried about Fuming?"
"Um,"
Shang Ruyi nodded, her gaze still fixed on Shen Wuzheng, and said softly, "He's not exactly a silver-tongued person, but after he questioned Yu Mingyue just now, he couldn't utter a single word. I've never seen him so angry before. My brother is a scholar; he should be the one to refute Yu Mingyue's words. But he—"
Yuwen Ye paused for a moment, then looked at Shen Wuzheng, who was sitting a few seats away from him and whose expression had not yet fully calmed down, and said in a deep voice, "You're right."
"Um?"
"He has never been this angry before."
"..."
“If I hadn’t spoken up just now, I can’t even imagine what your brother would have done or said. It’s because he’s a scholar that Yu Mingyue’s nonsense made him so angry.”
"..."
“A scholar like Fuming has a firm belief in justice. He followed us in our battles, do you really think it was just because you married me that he wanted to help his brother-in-law?”
Shang Ruyi immediately shook her head: "Of course not."
She knew very well that no matter how much Shen Wuzheng cared for her and was close to her, when it was time for him to go out and study, he would leave without hesitation and be gone for several years. This was because his life was not only for loving his younger sister and being filial to his parents; he also had aspirations for his own life and his own destiny.
Hearing her words, Yuwen Ye nodded, and when he looked at Shen Wuzheng again, his eyes showed even more respect as he said, "We are the same as him."
"..."
"Although one is establishing one's own dynasty, who would want such an enterprise to be filled with human evil?"
"..."
“Your elder brother, a scholar, must have high hopes when listening to the teachings of the sages, hoping for national prosperity and peace for the people. To achieve all this, besides conquering the world and winning battles in all directions, the most important thing is to establish a human order, and the foundation of such a human order is the people’s adherence to justice and goodness.”
"But she made doing evil seem so justifiable,"
Shang Ruyi gritted her teeth and said, "She can't break my brother's belief, but she's insulting it."
Yuwen Ye nodded and said coldly, "It seems that I overestimated her when I said she was knowledgeable but not intelligent."
"..."
"To utter such words and then hold them as a belief to despise and attack those who have genuine good intentions is not only unwise but also shameless!"
As he spoke, he glanced at Shen Wuzheng again and murmured, "However, his reaction was a bit too much."
Although the two still had many feelings and questions in their hearts, everyone was already seated. As the sound of drums and music gradually rose from behind the screens on both sides, a group of beautiful palace maids entered through a side door and set out wine and dishes on each table. After they withdrew, Yuwen Yuan reached out and picked up a wine cup.
Seeing this, everyone in the hall hurriedly raised their cups.
Yuwen Yuan said solemnly, "As all my beloved ministers know, tonight's banquet is for the great victory of retaking Taiyuan and recovering the land of our dragon's rise. Therefore, for this first cup, I would like to join you all in toasting the soldiers who fought valiantly in this battle!"
Having said that, he raised his wine cup high and proclaimed loudly, "The soldiers of my Great Sheng Dynasty are brave and fearless, and invincible!"
Upon hearing this, the courtiers in the hall were all filled with fervor, raising their wine cups and shouting: "Brave and fearless, invincible! Brave and fearless, invincible!"
In an instant, these words filled the entire hall, resounding throughout the heavens!
After speaking, Yuwen Yuan and the others drank the wine in their cups in one gulp.
After finishing his wine, Yuwen Yuan placed the cup back on the table. Eunuch Yu, who was standing nearby, immediately stepped forward with a wine pot and refilled Yuwen Yuan's cup. Yuwen Yuan picked up the cup and his gaze fell upon Yuwen Qian, who was closest to him in the hall. The slight dissatisfaction and hidden anger he had felt earlier had largely subsided, replaced by a complex emotion that surfaced in his deep eyes.
However, even if it appears, no one can understand it.
He said, "He Xin."
Yuwen Qian immediately stood up: "Father."
Yuwen Yuan waved his hand at him, gesturing for him to sit down, and then said, "In this battle, you were the first to capture Taiyuan, and your contribution was outstanding. I hereby appoint you as Crown Prince, not only as a reward for this battle, but also as an encouragement. I hope you understand my intentions. This empire will eventually be handed over to you, so you must strive to do your best."
The entire Hundred Blessings Hall fell silent immediately.
These words were not unexpected. Most people were secretly glad that they had chosen the right side, while some, feeling resentful, couldn't help but turn to look at His Highness the Prince of Qin, who was sitting opposite Yuwen Qian and remained calm and composed, without even changing his expression.
Yuwen Ye looked at his elder brother calmly, placing his hands more peacefully on the table.
Only the finger bones were slightly white from struggling.
Although Yuwen Qian sat back down behind the desk, his back was ramrod straight as a javelin. After hearing Yuwen Yuan's words, he immediately bowed his head and said, "Thank you, Father. Your son will do his utmost to live up to your expectations and the heavy responsibility entrusted to him by the country!"
"good!"
Yuwen Yuan finally showed a smile for the first time since stepping into the Hundred Blessings Hall that evening, and raised his wine cup, saying, "Come, let us, father and son, drink this cup to the brim!"
So the two raised their glasses and drank them down in one gulp.
After finishing the drink, Yuwen Yuan seemed to be in a better mood, and his smile broadened. He then said, "And there's yours—"
At this point, he paused. On one side, Eunuch Yu came forward to pour him a third cup of wine, while on the other side, his gaze shifted slightly to the back of Yuwen Qian's row of tables. Yu Mingyue was sitting there properly, but compared to her arrogant demeanor when she first stepped into the hall, she was now noticeably more cautious.
Upon meeting Yuwen Yuan's gaze, she immediately lowered her head cautiously.
Upon seeing her, Yuwen Yuan's expression darkened once again.
The hall fell even quieter.
Everyone knows that the emperor usually drinks three cups of wine at his banquets. After much deliberation, everyone concluded that the first cup of wine would be offered to the soldiers who fought on the battlefield, and the second cup would be drunk with His Highness the Crown Prince, who was just appointed today.
As for the third cup—
Judging from Yuwen Yuan's gaze and the words he hadn't finished saying, one could probably guess what was going on.
After all, the second son, Prince Qin, has been married for several years, while the eldest son, Yuwen Qian, is still unmarried. Now that he is the crown prince, it is no longer his parents' expectation that he should get married and start a family to continue the royal lineage, but rather his responsibility.
So, will Yuwen Yuan place this third cup of wine on the person he has chosen?
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