Chapter 316 I have never made a mistake in my life!
The doors of the Great Hall of Light slowly closed before my eyes.
It also shut out all the dangers and splendor outside. With a heavy thud as the palace doors closed, the hall fell silent once more.
Shang Ruyi raised her head and looked at Chu Yang, who was walking up the steps to the Danbi and staring blankly at the golden dragon throne.
His silhouette remained as lonely as ever.
Just moments ago, surrounded by swords and blades, almost driving him and them to the brink of despair, Chu Yang said only one sentence to Wang Shaoji and Wang Shaoqiu: "The emperor has his own way of dying, the emperor has his own place to die." These people seemed not to dare to push him too far, so they gave up the Hall of Light, allowing him to depart from there.
Then, they all retreated outside the hall.
At this moment, only the two of them remained in the Hall of Light, and in the center of the hall, only the sword that Wang Shaoji had left behind was left.
This is their fate...
Just as Shang Ruyi was staring blankly at the gleaming sword, a pair of embroidered fairy shoes slowly entered her line of sight, followed by a long, snow-white robe that floated in. Chu Yang walked to the side of the sword, bent down, and picked it up.
"His Majesty……"
Shang Ruyi stepped forward.
At this point, she had nothing left to say. The entire Hall of Light was surrounded, and even the palace gates were under the control of the Imperial Guards. From tonight until now, they had nowhere to escape, and their only fate lay on the edge of this sword.
Chu Yang held the sword, carefully examining its sharp blade.
After a long pause, he looked at his reflection in the sword's edge and suddenly smiled. The smile was as sharp and cold as the blade: "I never thought that such a bunch of brutes could actually point out my mistakes."
Shang Ruyi felt a pang of pain in her heart.
Actually, she had dismissed Wang Shaoqiu's words as nonsense, but—no matter how offensive they were, she couldn't deny that they were true.
Otherwise, those words would not have stirred up the indignation of the Imperial Guards.
The world is indeed ravaged by war and fragmented, and Chu Yang has taken no steps to make amends. Instead, in his attempt to escape, he has created an even greater and more devastating crisis for the world.
As she remained silent, Chu Yang's gaze slowly shifted from the gleaming sword blade to her.
"Do you really believe what they say, that after I am killed, a wise and virtuous person will come to bring prosperity to the people and usher in an era of lasting peace?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi's mind suddenly went blank.
There are other wise men...
To seek the well-being of the people and usher in an era of lasting peace...
Could it be—
Just as she was distracted, Chu Yang seemed to see something in her eyes. He narrowed his long, slender phoenix eyes slightly and said, "What, you really believe it?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi looked up at him, speechless.
At that moment, she shouldn't have said she believed him.
But she knew better than anyone else that this matter probably didn't need to be doubted.
Yes, there must be.
But that person and his son had already abandoned him. All their achievements, their efforts to bring happiness to the people and establish lasting peace, had nothing to do with him anymore.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi smiled calmly and said, "Your Majesty need not ask Ruyi."
"..."
"As for this issue, Ruyi doesn't actually care."
"..."
Chu Yang looked at her in silence for a while, then suddenly smiled and said, "Yes, we've already come this far, so I really shouldn't be thinking about those things anymore."
As he spoke, he slowly raised the long sword in his hand. A cold glint flashed in his eyes from the blade, and at that moment, it seemed to sting him.
Shang Ruyi said, "Your Majesty!"
Chu Yang didn't look at her, but stared at his reflection in the sword's edge. He smiled faintly and said, "You're right. In fact, I have indeed given up."
"...?"
Shang Ruyi was stunned and couldn't quite come to her senses for a moment, but after thinking about it again, she immediately understood that his words were a response to her earlier accusation that he, as the emperor, had easily given up everything.
Shang Ruyi's voice suddenly became hoarse.
"His Majesty……"
"But I regret it now."
"Why?"
How could someone like Chu Yang utter the word "regret"? Shouldn't he be the kind of person who, even if he's covered in wounds and blood, would never back down or regret his actions?
Why did he regret it?
Turning to meet Shang Ruyi's surprised gaze, Chu Yang smiled faintly and said, "I regret bringing you to my side."
"..."
This time, Shang Ruyi immediately understood.
A wave of sorrow washed over her, and her eyes reddened slightly. Perhaps she had once been grateful that Chu Yang had sent someone to take her away from Yuwen Ye, sparing her from that excruciating pain; however, bringing her to Jiangdu Palace meant facing everything here.
Including their current predicament.
After a long silence, she whispered, "Your Majesty, I—I am here with Your Majesty today willingly."
"..."
Upon hearing this, a slight tremor appeared in Chu Yang's slender phoenix eyes.
Willingly?
At this point, she can still say "willingly." Does that mean she's not afraid of death? Or even unafraid to die here with him?
He slowly walked up to Shang Ruyi, sword in hand, and looked down at her, saying, "You...don't you dislike me?"
Shang Ruyi looked at him calmly and said, "There are other kinds of feelings between people besides liking each other."
"..."
"Your Majesty considers me a confidant, and I am willing to repay your kindness with my life."
"..."
"If your Majesty is really true today -"
At this point, her voice finally trembled and she could no longer hold on. Even though she had already made up her mind and was ready to face everything, death was death. Even though she had experienced some life-or-death situations, she had not yet reached the point where she could be calm or even smile at death.
She was still afraid.
Even when she looked down at the cold, gleaming longsword in Chu Yang's hand, the chill that rose in her heart still made her tremble.
She could only look away, but her gaze fell upon the two people's shoes at their feet—exquisite and luxurious shoes, the legendary Feathered Immortal Shoes, said to grant immortality.
If tonight, they both truly perish here...
Shang Ruyi remained silent for a long time, clenching her fists tightly, before softly saying, "I am willing to go with Your Majesty."
"...!"
Chu Yang's eyes widened suddenly.
The long sword he held in his hand gleamed coldly as his hands trembled. Throughout his life, many people had groveled at his feet, begging for survival, while others had flattered him to the point of elevating him to the heavens. But no matter who they were, they all ultimately betrayed him. The only one who would follow him at this moment was this young woman before him.
His confidant.
Chu Yang smiled slightly: "A confidant."
He smiled and nodded, gazing at the grand, empty hall. Above him stood a golden dragon throne, surrounded by rows of court officials. He recalled how, since the beginning of his reign, the civil and military officials had lined up on both sides, constantly advising and criticizing the national policies he had formulated. In his eyes, these people were always short-sighted. And outside the hall, those who held swords and glared at him angrily were even more foolish and despicable. He was the one who had betrayed and let down by these very people.
Now, he only has this one left—
"Confidant, confidant..."
Chu Yang laughed, his laughter growing louder and wilder, as if at this moment, the fear of death was no longer enough to overwhelm him, nor could the swords and thugs surrounding him frighten him. He raised his long sword once more, examining the sharp blade closely, and suddenly reached out and pulled Shang Ruyi into his arms.
"ah!"
Caught off guard, Shang Ruyi let out a startled gasp.
At the same time, Chu Yang had already reached out to her, one hand around her slender waist, the other holding her hand, and the two of them gripped the sword hilt together.
This posture is the starting stance for a sword dance.
Shang Ruyi immediately quieted down.
She turned her head to look at Chu Yang behind her. The two of them were pressed tightly together, their breaths and heartbeats seemingly synced. As before, Chu Yang led her around, and with a sudden movement, his longsword twirled in his hand, instantly flashing with a dazzling cold light, unfolding a beautiful scroll.
In this painting, Shang Ruyi moves with him, like a pair of butterflies fluttering among flowers. Having had their sword dance before, the two are even more in sync, like twins.
At this moment, Chu Yang slowly began to chant—
Three thousand guests sat below him, and civil and military officials sat in the hall.
Drinking and singing wildly, I have only one true friend...
Shang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat.
Her hand paused, but Chu Yang still gripped the hilt of the sword tightly, extending her long arm. Instantly, the sword's momentum was like a shooting star, even striking out a majestic dragon's roar in the air. Then, the two of them slowly bent their arms, their wrists turned, and the long swords retracted. A gentle force crushed its cold light, like a dragon swimming in the Milky Way, meandering and turning.
Yet, like him, she was also lonely.
His wandering steps were actually circling around the three thousand guests and civil and military officials in his mind, but after the drunken singing, he was left with only himself...
For some reason, at this moment, with death looming, the Emperor tightly embracing her from behind, and swords and spears clashing around them, the Imperial Guards watching with predatory eyes, Shang Ruyi suddenly thought of Yuwen Ye…
She thought of him again.
What is he doing right now?
Since he was able to help Duke Sheng raise an army, his injuries should have healed by now, and with Empress Jiang by his side, there will be no more barriers between them.
The only obstacle—
Just then, the longsword in her hand trembled again, and a burst of sword light shook her thoughts, making her even more clear-headed.
I have never been an obstacle for them.
Yuwen Ye can do whatever he wants, and no one can stop him. He is a man who is not afraid of even gods and Buddhas, so how could he possibly care about such a small "obstacle" as himself?
What's the point? This "obstacle" is about to disappear.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but chuckle to herself.
This smile, however, could not stop the bitterness in her heart, which surged up like a tide. Instantly, her eyes filled with hot tears, and she could not even see the sword light waving in front of her.
However, she still followed Chu Yang's steps and danced slowly, driven by instinct.
After an unknown amount of time, the song stopped and the sword fell still.
Just like last time in the garden, the two stood facing each other after finishing their stances, their long swords held together and positioned between them, their gleaming blades reflecting each other's eyes.
This time, however, Shang Ruyi's breathing was heavier.
She knew it was the end.
Although her heart was pounding, she could hear the impatient voices of the people outside the hall. In fact, the Tiger General had already drawn his sword, seemingly ready to rush in at any moment.
As for why they hadn't come in yet, she had no time to think about it at the moment.
At this moment, all she could see was the person in front of her, and the sword in front of her.
Her eyes were still reflected on the sword. She had clearly come to this point in a very conscious state, but at this moment, her eyes were still blurry, as if a stream of light had flashed by. When she looked up at the person opposite her again, she could no longer even see that handsome face clearly.
Suddenly he said, "As you wish."
Shang Ruyi raised her head.
She didn't have time to answer, and Chu Yang didn't seem to need her answer either. He calmly said, "They just said that after my death, there will be another wise ruler to bring happiness to the people and create lasting peace for the world. You didn't refute that when you heard it."
"..."
"You believe it, don't you?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi's eyes flashed, and a tear fell without warning. She finally saw the person in front of her clearly. Chu Yang smiled slightly at her.
He said, "You really believe it."
"..."
"But let me tell you, the people of this world are all foolish, and the officials of this court are all dull-witted. I see further than they do, and I am ahead of everyone else. Everything I do is for this world, and for the Great Ye Dynasty. You once said that I am moving too fast, and my people and subjects cannot keep up. But I want to tell you—"
"..."
"If the people of the world cannot keep up with me, then they are all useless!"
"..."
"After my death, it is impossible for anyone to do better, let alone for there to be a wise ruler who will bring prosperity to the people and usher in an era of lasting peace for the world."
"..."
"so--"
Shang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat. She looked up at him and saw his bright, radiant phoenix eyes smiling at her with an air of arrogant superiority. He slowly said, "In my life, I have made no mistakes!"
After he finished speaking, he suddenly exerted force with his hand!
Caught off guard, Shang Ruyi's arm was pulled towards him by the force of the sword hilt. The longsword, which the two of them held together, was raised to his throat, and with a forceful slash—
"No!"
A piercing scream erupted from the depths of Shang Ruyi's soul, but it was too late!
In that instant, heaven and earth seemed to freeze on the longswords in their hands, and a flash of cold light from the blade streaked across Chu Yang's throat, and also flashed into Shang Ruyi's eyes—
Before my eyes, everything was blood red!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com