Chapter 504 Disaster, what kind of disaster?
Just as the two were beginning to have doubts, Tusheer slammed his hand on the door knocker, and they heard an impatient voice from inside saying, "My master has been convicted of a crime, and my mistress is too grief-stricken to receive guests today. Please leave."
Tushe'er said irritably, "Look who we are before you kick us out!"
Upon hearing her voice, the gatekeeper hurriedly opened the gate and saw that Shang Ruyi and Yuwen Ye had already arrived at the door. He quickly came out, bowed, and apologized before welcoming them inside.
The atmosphere in the mansion was naturally gloomy and desolate.
Upon entering the lobby, one sees Madam Yu sitting there, her eyes red and swollen, clearly having cried all night. Shen Wuzheng stands beside her, whispering something, presumably comforting her. Though his handsome face appears somewhat haggard, it remains calm and composed, showing no sign of distress or panic.
Shang Ruyi immediately went inside: "Aunt!"
When Madam Yu looked up and saw her, she was both surprised and delighted, but then she became aggrieved, her eyes red, and said, "You, why are you here? Did you hear the news too?"
Shang Ruyi nodded, walked to her side and took her hand. It was only early autumn and the weather was not cold, but Yu's hands were icy cold and her face was pale and bloodless, making her look several years older.
She had already suffered a lot.
She was already feeling down, and seeing her aunt like this made her even more heartbroken, almost bringing her to tears. But Madam Yu, seeing her like this, comforted her, saying, "Oh, it's nothing serious, why did you bother coming all this way?"
“Aunt, my uncle is in prison, how can I stand idly by?”
"It's none of your business, it's all your uncle's fault. He has a perfectly good life, but he insists on causing trouble!"
At this point, Madam Yu became even more aggrieved, gritting her teeth as she said, "He's caused such a terrible disaster, not only is he suffering himself, but he's also made us all worry about him—I've really had enough of this life! This time, when he comes back safe and sound, I, I will definitely divorce him!"
Hearing this, Shang Ruyi felt both sad and amused.
From childhood to adulthood, she had heard Yu say such angry words countless times. Every time, her uncle would soften even if he was right, and he could make her happy with just a few words. But this time, when her aunt said those angry words again, the person who was supposed to make her happy was not by her side.
I don't know if I can go back to her side and make her laugh through her tears.
Thinking about this, Shang Ruyi felt extremely bitter, and Madam Yu felt even more grief-stricken, sobbing, "How could he not know that no matter how important the world is, can it be more important than him?"
"..."
"No matter how we try to persuade him, he won't listen."
"...!"
Although her words were a complaint, they made Shang Ruyi's heart skip a beat.
Yuwen Ye seemed to sense something as well. He subconsciously looked up at Shen Wuzheng opposite him, only to see Shen Wuzheng say softly and calmly, "Mother, with Young Master Yuwen here, you don't need to say these things."
Madam Yu was originally an innocent and carefree woman. Even at her age, she had always been pampered by her husband and son and didn't pay much attention to etiquette. It wasn't until she heard Shen Wuzheng's reminder and saw Yuwen Ye standing in front of her that she wiped away her tears and said, "I'm sorry for making you laugh, Second Young Master."
Yuwen Ye said, "Auntie, please don't say that."
After a few more words of comfort from the crowd, Madam Yu invited the two of them to sit down and had tea served. However, the crowd had no interest in drinking tea and chatting. They only talked about Shen Shiyan. Shang Ruyi told them about Yuwen Yuan's worries and concerns, which made Madam Yu even more worried.
But Shang Ruyi still said, "However, Aunt, don't worry."
"..."
"No matter what, I will find a way to rescue my uncle. I will, I will definitely make sure nothing happens to him!"
"As one wishes……"
Yu was both relieved and worried about her husband. At this moment, she could not hold back her tears. Shen Wuzheng hurriedly comforted her and had someone help his somewhat distraught mother down to rest. Yu had no choice but to be helped down.
At this point, only the three of them remained in the hall.
The atmosphere, though filled with grief, also carried a hint of solemnity.
Yuwen Ye, who had been silent all along, raised his head and looked at Shen Wuzheng, saying, "Brother Fuming, I just heard my aunt say that she tried to persuade Uncle Shen, but he wouldn't listen. Could it be that—"
"good,"
Shen Wuzheng nodded slightly and said, "Actually, before entering the palace yesterday, Father already knew that His Majesty was very likely to summon him to the palace to ask about the events before Emperor Wen passed away."
"How did he know?"
"Because... I told him."
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ye frowned slightly, while Shang Ruyi stared at him in astonishment: "Brother, how could you know? Do you also have the ability to foresee the future?"
Her words drew the attention of both men.
Shen Wuzheng said, "Also?"
Shang Ruyi was taken aback, realizing she had misspoke, and hurriedly said, "I, I meant—"
The more anxious she became, the more she stammered and couldn't explain clearly. But Shen Wuzheng looked at her for a while and didn't press her further. He simply said calmly, "Actually, it's not necessarily true that I was a prophet. I just saw the stars that night, just like the Grand Astrologer."
"Astrology?"
“I also saw it the night the comet appeared.”
"..."
“I don’t know much about astrology, but I could still tell that it was an omen of impending disaster. So early the next morning, I went to the Imperial Observatory to see Lord Wei and asked him about his results, which were exactly as I had predicted. He also told me that almost the same astrological signs had appeared more than ten years ago, on the eve of Emperor Wen’s death.”
"..."
"At that time, I guessed that His Majesty would probably investigate this matter thoroughly in order to find a way to resolve it."
"..."
“When I told my father about this, I noticed that he looked unusual. Later, I heard from my mother that he had been thinking about something all night. The next day, sure enough, His Majesty’s decree came from the palace, summoning him to the palace for an audience.”
"So, what did your uncle say?"
Shen Wuzheng sighed softly and said, "He didn't say much, but he instructed us to close the door to visitors from now on. Unless it's you, we will not see anyone else."
"..."
"When his mother realized something was wrong, she asked him what he was trying to do. He only said that he had something to present to His Majesty, but it might lead to his death."
"..."
“My mother was terrified and tried to persuade him repeatedly. But by then, the palace staff were already waiting outside the gate and there was no time to stop him. My father went into the palace. After that, news came that he had been imprisoned. My mother and I then closed the gate and refused to see any guests from then on.”
"...!"
Shang Ruyi gasped.
Therefore, Shen Shiyan was not unprepared; he only revealed what happened back then when questioned.
Instead, he already knew what the emperor would ask, and after a whole night of deliberation, he made up his mind, prepared the word "submission," and risked being accused of deceiving the emperor before finally presenting it to the emperor!
He did it on purpose!
Having just ended his exile and barely had time to enjoy two days of peace, he stirred up a storm in Daxing City with his thin frame.
But why?
Why did he do that?
Doing that could cost him his life!
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi could understand her aunt's grievances just now. In fact, she also began to feel aggrieved and couldn't help but blame her uncle—what could be more important than his well-being?
If anything were to happen to him, regardless of her and Shen Wuzheng, I'm afraid her aunt wouldn't be able to survive.
Shang Ruyi bit her lower lip, and her eyes gradually reddened.
A gentle hand softly touched her shoulder. Shang Ruyi turned around and saw Yuwen Ye say softly, "Don't worry, things haven't reached the end of the road yet."
"..."
"At least for now, Shen Shibo is still in prison, so there is still a chance to get him out."
Shang Ruyi gave him a deep look.
The moment their eyes met, a strange emotion flickered in them, and Shang Ruyi immediately turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.
On the other side, Shen Wuzheng looked at them, and seemed to sense something, so he frowned.
At this moment, Yuwen Ye looked up at him again.
"Brother Fuming."
"What is it?"
"What are your plans for this matter, Brother Fuming?"
"arrange?"
These two words caused Shen Wuzheng's calm eyes to flicker slightly. He said, "This is the emperor's decree. Do you think I can make any 'arrangements' regarding this?"
Yuwen Ye looked at him and said calmly, "I just feel that no matter what happens, Brother Fuming is not someone who will sit idly by and wait for death."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi also raised her head.
Yes.
Even when they were children, neither of them had the status and position they have now, but Shen Wuzheng was someone who seemed to be able to handle anything with ease. He could calmly solve the small troubles he encountered in his childhood, and he could also calmly handle the big troubles he encountered when he grew up—such as Wanggangzhai.
So, Shang Ruyi looked at him intently and asked, "Brother, do you have a solution?"
"..."
When he met her gaze, Shen Wuzheng's eyes were no longer so cold and distant; they softened almost immediately.
He said, "I don't have a solution yet."
"..."
"But we always have to find a solution. I think sometimes we need to turn a crisis into an opportunity."
How to turn crisis into opportunity?
But now, the biggest crisis is the life and death of my uncle. How can this situation change, and what kind of turning point can it become?
Shen Wuzheng asked, "Father, what caused this incident?"
Why?
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and immediately said, "Because of the Grand Astrologer's words—'When a comet appears, disaster will follow.'"
"Indeed, right now, the attention of the entire court, including yourselves, is focused on Father's imprisonment and potential execution. Many have forgotten that what is truly imminent is the saying, 'Disaster is about to strike.'"
"...!"
Shang Ruyi gasped sharply.
Yes, she had forgotten.
When a comet appears, disaster strikes. In fact, the appearance of a comet is not that important. What truly frightens the emperor is the disaster. It is because he fears disaster that he summoned the old ministers who had served Emperor Wen to the palace to discuss ways to avert it, which led to Shen Shiyan's use of the word "xun".
but--
Shang Ruyi frowned and whispered, "What kind of disaster is it?"
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