Chapter 741 If you are willing, you might as well follow the example of Empress Du.
For a long time afterward, the three of them remained silent.
But the seemingly strange atmosphere didn't make them feel anything was wrong. In fact, when Yuwen Ye got up, walked to another window alone, opened the window, and stood by the railing, the other two just looked at him without saying anything.
In truth, they all knew in their hearts that it was an unspeakable feeling of envy.
All three of them came from families of officials. Even though their official positions varied in rank and status, they had never experienced hunger or thirst from childhood to adulthood, and they certainly did not regard food as life itself like the common people below them.
But how can people not understand this when they live in chaotic times?
Even though they've never lacked food since childhood, as they've lived their lives, they've come to understand how vital food is. People rise up in rebellion because they have nothing to eat, and the factions that carve up a territory in this chaotic world mostly fight each other to the death over food and land. All the conflicts in this world, no matter how noble their goals may seem, ultimately boil down to nothing more than a mouthful of food.
However, someone suddenly told them that one day in the future, the yield per acre of grain would increase several times over, and in that case, the people would no longer go hungry.
This is the fundamental reason why the world has been able to remain at peace for decades!
Not to mention Yuwen Ye's envy, Shang Ruyi finally understood why even a person as calm as Shen Wuzheng would occasionally lose focus these days, even when he was waiting for them. It was because these things truly made them envious, so envious that it hurt their bones.
But it was impossible...
Firstly, it was very clear from Shen Wuzheng's words that even Yu Mingyue herself couldn't explain why so many things didn't need to be done by everyone in their world. Secondly, that Lord Yuan was a person from hundreds of years in the future, and the rice he bestowed upon the world was obviously not something Yu Mingyue carried with her. Otherwise, given her nature, she wouldn't have kept it hidden; she would have shown it off long ago, and even wanted to win the hearts of the people for Yuwen Qian.
In that case, they're doomed to lose.
Now, Yuwen Qian only won the position of crown prince after a fierce battle in Taiyuan. Obviously, Yu Mingyue can only talk about those two things that can change the world. She has no way to produce them or reach that level.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi suddenly remembered that when they first met, Yu Mingyue had ridiculed them as "uncivilized savages." Now that she thought about it, she wondered where Yu Mingyue got such a sense of superiority. This situation was like someone sitting in a carriage, laughing at the people walking slowly next to them. But she didn't build the carriage, nor did she drive it. If she were dragged off the carriage, she would be limping and not even as fast as a normal person.
So, it was just that the world she lived in gave her these conveniences, but she made no contribution to them except to enjoy them. Once she left that world and those conveniences, she would be no different from the "savages" she spoke of, that is, from them.
Maybe they're not even as good as them.
Thinking about it this way, Shang Ruyi felt more and more that she didn't need to be afraid of this "knowledgeable but unwise" person, and even more ashamed of her past fear of her existence.
After figuring things out, she felt much better. She looked back at Yuwen Ye, who was standing by the window on the other side. He was obviously still calming down. There was no need to disturb him in this situation. Shang Ruyi then looked at Shen Wuzheng, whose brows still had several vertical lines, indicating that he had not been able to relax these days.
She said, "These days, brother, you must have been thinking about how to reach the level that Yu Mingyue mentioned."
Shen Wuzheng nodded silently.
But clearly, he hadn't come to a conclusion, which was why he remained lost in thought. Shang Ruyi said softly, "Brother, haste makes waste. If some things only appear after hundreds of years, it's because their existence is only possible after hundreds of years. Forcing it will only be pointless."
"..."
Shen Wuzheng's eyes flickered slightly. When he looked at her again, the confusion in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a hint of helplessness, followed by a touch of joy.
He laughed and said, "Little sister, you are more insightful than me."
Shang Ruyi shook her head with a wry smile: "I'm not so clear-headed. I was completely fooled by that Yu Mingyue before."
"oh?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Wuzheng smiled gently and said softly, "What could she possibly say that could scare you?"
Shang Ruyi then told Yu Mingyue everything she had said, but she naturally kept the details of "one life, one love" and Yuwen Ye's reaction to herself. After all, those were matters between the couple, and it wasn't appropriate to gossip about them.
Upon hearing her words, Shen Wuzheng's expression gradually turned serious. After pondering for a long time, he slowly said, "Actually, I was also very surprised when I heard her say that women could take the imperial examinations. But there are too many surprising things in this world. These things that we find unbelievable become a normal state of affairs when they are put together. But I think that in the end, women should still study more."
"..."
"Only by reading and understanding principles can one be qualified to govern a country and bring peace to the nation. Those who do not read only think about how to win a man's love, how to make their husbands favor them more, and how to compete with the women in the harem for the man's affection... Even if you let such a person serve in the court, what achievements could she possibly make with her mind?"
"..."
“I know you’re not that kind of person. Your heart has always been big. And there should be more women like you in this world.”
"..."
"If you are so inclined, you might as well follow the example of Empress Du."
Shang Ruyi listened, nodding the whole time, but when she heard the last sentence, her eyes widened in shock, and she waved her hands repeatedly: "Brother, what are you saying!"
She's only a Princess Consort of Qin right now, and Yuwen Ye hasn't even gotten his position as Crown Prince yet. Talking about emulating the Empress is too far-fetched. If people heard that, even if they didn't accuse her of usurpation, they would laugh at her for wishful thinking.
Shen Wuzheng smiled and said, "Do you really think you're... that far away?"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi stopped waving her hand.
Looking again at Shen Wuzheng's eyes, which had completely calmed down and regained their former clarity, radiating wisdom, Shang Ruyi didn't even need to think; she instinctively sighed, "I—"
Shen Wuzheng smiled and said, "There are some things that anyone who knows Yu Mingyue's background can guess."
"..."
"While some things are still uncertain and some time away from us, you can still be prepared. After all, it will be too late to prepare when that day comes."
"..."
Shang Ruyi looked at him silently for a long time, and finally nodded gently: "I understand."
After they finished speaking, the two of them silently took a sip of tea. After the tea, Shang Ruyi felt a little clearer-headed. She casually asked, "By the way, brother, did you ask what kind of school Yu Mingyue usually studies?"
Mentioning this, Shen Wuzheng frowned slightly.
Shang Ruyi asked, "What's wrong?"
Shen Wuzheng said, "I did ask her specifically, but that drunkard couldn't explain it clearly even after talking for a long time. I asked her if she had read the Great Learning or the Doctrine of the Mean, and she said she had never read them, and she knew nothing about the works of the Strategist or the Mohist school. I asked her what books she had read, and she said something about not studying after her first academic year."
"Pen business?"
It's another word they don't understand.
Shen Wuzheng continued, "I pressed her for a long time, and she finally said that the book she had finished reading last time was called something like 'Palace'..."
"Palace? Taiji Palace? Or—"
"None of them,"
Shen Wuzheng frowned and tried his best to recall: "It seems to be something, the Cold Palace, or some concubine."
Shang Ruyi's eyes widened in surprise: "The Cold Palace? Concubines? What kind of book is this?"
Shen Wuzheng shook his head with a wry smile: "Who knows? I've only heard that Sima Changqing wrote 'Changmen Fu' for the disgraced Empress Chen. As for any other books about the Cold Palace or concubines, I've never heard of them."
As he spoke, he said casually, "It's probably not a very good book."
As they were talking, Yuwen Ye returned, clearly having calmed down; even his eyes had regained their usual coldness. Hearing their conversation as he sat down, he asked, "What book?"
Shang Ruyi said with certainty, "It's not a good book."
Yuwen Ye glanced at the two of them and said, "If it's not a good book, why are you talking about it for so long?"
However, he clearly didn't really want to know what books they were talking about. After sitting down, he didn't ask any further questions. Instead, after taking a sip of tea, he asked about Lüxiao's recent situation. Shen Wuzheng told him that although Lüxiao's arrival at the Shen residence had caused some displeasure among the Shen couple, their attitude towards her immediately changed after hearing that she had helped Shang Ruyi during the Xingluocang battle and the Jiangdu Palace incident.
Shen Wuzheng said, "On the contrary, she asked me for the most remote house to live in, and she rarely comes out to see anyone. A maid brings her tea and meals every day, and she eats and drinks as usual, so you don't need to worry."
Yuwen Ye nodded.
Mentioning Lüxiao, Shang Ruyi suddenly remembered what Yuwen Ye had said before: if she could stay in Dasheng, it would be best for her.
Did he think that it would be a bad thing for Lüxiao to return to Xiao Yuansui's side?
This matter had been on her mind all along, but she hadn't asked Yuwen Ye about it again. She seemed to vaguely know the answer, but she didn't want to think about it too deeply. Naturally, she hoped that Lüxiao, such a chivalrous and righteous woman who clearly distinguished between gratitude and resentment, would have a good outcome.
But what exactly will this "good result" be like?
Just then, Yuwen Ye took another sip of tea, looked up at the sky outside the window, and said, "It's about time. Let's go to the Pei family and see what's going on with Xingyuan."
Mentioning Pei Xingyuan, Shen Wuzheng's eyes flickered for a moment, and he said, "Yes, his injury..."
As they spoke, the three of them got up and went downstairs. A short while later, their carriage left Shenjuan Pavilion and headed towards Pei Mansion.
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