Chapter 364 Shan Congzhen
Shang Ruyi was taken aback.
Just then, a cautious voice sounded in my ear: "Madam?"
"Um?"
Shang Ruyi snapped out of her daze and looked down. In front of her was a middle-aged man standing at the very front of the long queue, waiting to get his rice. Apparently, he had been waiting for a moment because of her distraction. At this moment, he cautiously asked, "Can I... can I get it now?"
"Yes, of course."
Shang Ruyi composed herself and quickly filled a bag with rice for him. The man thanked her profusely and left with the bag of rice.
After he turned and left, Shang Ruyi looked up at the other side of the street and saw that the place where the white-robed monk had just stood was now empty.
That person disappeared?
For some reason, Shang Ruyi subconsciously looked up again and glanced at both sides of the long street, but she couldn't see the monk's figure. He seemed to have really floated away like a light cloud in the blink of an eye.
Shang Ruyi was momentarily lost in thought again.
Could it be that I saw it wrong?
Just then, a warm, large hand gently touched her shoulder. Shang Ruyi hurriedly turned around and saw Yuwen Ye standing behind her, looking at her: "What are you daydreaming about?"
"Well?"
Shang Ruyi paused for a moment, then immediately shook her head: "No, no."
As soon as the people queuing outside saw the Second Young Master Yuwen emerge, they all raised their voices to thank him. Some monks even bowed and kowtowed to him, praising him endlessly.
Yuwen Ye remained calm, showing neither excessive humility nor arrogant superiority. He simply said, "There's no need for thanks. Take the grain and go back to your homes, and live your lives well."
After saying that, he looked down at Shang Ruyi and said, "You've been busy here all day, you should take a break. Dinner is ready, it'll get cold if we wait any longer."
"Oh, okay."
Shang Ruyi nodded obediently, put down the rice measure, and followed him into the temple gate.
Those queuing for rice couldn't help but sigh as they watched the two leave hand in hand, saying, "What a perfect couple!"
The two returned to their room. Shang Ruyi washed up first, feeling much refreshed. When she turned around, she saw that the food had already been set on the low table in the dormitory and couldn't help but ask, "Aren't we going to eat in the dining hall?"
Yuwen Ye said, "It's hot there."
"oh."
Shang Ruyi didn't ask any more questions, nodded, and sat down.
Although it was just a meal for two, and mostly vegetarian dishes, it was still much more substantial than a few days ago. There was still a bowl of tenderly stewed egg custard in front of her, with a few drops of sesame oil added. The aroma of the oil rising from the steam immediately whetted her appetite.
Shang Ruyi suddenly felt hungry. Just as she picked up her bowl and chopsticks to eat, she heard a series of thumping footsteps outside. Turning around, she saw Shan Tong'er rushing in like a little calf.
Upon seeing the two of them eating, Shan Tong'er immediately smiled and approached them, saying, "Second Brother Yuwen, Sister Ruyi."
Yuwen Ye shook his head somewhat helplessly, but didn't say anything.
Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "You're back. Where's that nun?"
The kind boy said, "I've escorted you to the city gate."
As she spoke, her round eyes darted toward the food on the table.
Seeing him like this, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but laugh. Especially when she saw his eyes fixed on the bowl of steamed egg custard and couldn't move away, she understood. So she pushed the bowl in front of him and said with a smile, "You've worked hard. Here, have this bowl."
"Thank you, Sister Ruyi."
The kind boy beamed and quickly reached out to take it.
Seeing this, Yuwen Ye was about to say something when Shan Tong'er tilted her head back and poured a bowl of steamed egg custard into his mouth like water.
Yuwen Ye immediately fell silent, only letting out a deep breath.
Shang Ruyi was surprised that the child ate a whole bowl of steamed egg custard in one go. She said with some amusement, "Why are you so greedy? Haven't you had any these past few days?"
Shan Tong'er put down her bowl, glanced at Yuwen Ye, and chuckled somewhat guiltily.
Yuwen Ye said indifferently, "He eats seven or eight eggs in one sitting. Do you think he's ever eaten them?"
"...!?"
Shang Ruyi stared at Shan Tong'er with wide eyes in surprise: "You ate so much?"
The kind boy continued to chuckle.
Shang Ruyi reached out and patted his round head, saying, "Eggs are good, but you can't eat too many, they're hard to digest."
Shan Tong'er immediately replied, "No, they always said I have a strong stomach and can digest stones."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi burst out laughing. Even Yuwen Ye, who had been cold and aloof, couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth, though he still managed to restrain himself from laughing out loud.
After a moment, he said, "Alright, stop standing here. Go back and eat your share. After you're done eating, go and move the grain. There are four more cartloads of grain tomorrow, and you'll be in charge of them all!"
"Understood!"
The kind boy jumped up and walked away happily.
Watching his figure disappear, Shang Ruyi turned around and couldn't help but sigh, "Fortunately, he had always been a monk in the royal temple. If he had really been a commoner since childhood, I'm afraid we don't know what his situation would be now."
Yuwen Ye did not respond to this.
After a while, he said, "From now on, don't share your food with others."
"Um?"
Shang Ruyi looked up at him in confusion, only to see Yuwen Ye say calmly, "He has his share, and yours is yours."
"Oh well."
Although it was just a bowl of steamed egg custard, Shang Ruyi didn't think it was a big deal, but since he said so, she obediently listened to him.
After all, he provided the food for the people here.
With no one to disturb them, the two began to eat. After only a few bites, Shang Ruyi suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, you said before that his original name wasn't Shan Tong'er, but just Shan, which he changed. So what was his real name?"
"..."
For some reason, Yuwen Ye's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this.
After a long silence, he slowly said, "Shan Congzhen."
"Single, from the truth?"
Shang Ruyi read the name aloud carefully, and couldn't help but smile, saying, "It's really a good name."
Yuwen Ye said in a deep voice, "Hmm."
Shang Ruyi couldn't help but read it aloud again, and then said, "Unexpectedly, although his parents treated him poorly, they gave him such a good name. It's quite rare."
"..."
As she spoke, she noticed that Yuwen Ye's expression seemed somewhat strange.
So he asked, "What's wrong?"
"..."
Yuwen Ye glanced at her and said, "This name wasn't given to him by his parents. When they sold him, they didn't even give him a proper name."
"Who gave him that name?"
"..."
Yuwen Ye remained silent for a while before saying, "Empress."
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