Chapter 934 Everyone has their own ambitions; you can't force them.
"People's likes should not be divided into high and low, noble and base. If they must be divided, it should not be based on people's likes, but on the means used to obtain them, which can be distinguished as upright and honorable or despicable and base."
At this point, his eyes suddenly became very deep, and he said, "Throughout history, the means men have used for power and money are probably far more despicable than the means they have used to pursue the ones they love. Therefore, women have no need to be conservative, or even belittle or judge themselves."
"But,"
Yu Mingyue thought for a moment and said softly, "Perhaps Your Highness still cannot fully understand our place—but pursuing money and power can at least make people live better lives. But pursuing a person, even if you get the one you love, may not necessarily make you live better. This is a... pragmatic idea."
"pragmatic,"
This somewhat novel word made Yuwen Qian's eyes light up again. After thinking about it carefully, he understood the meaning of the word and nodded with a half-smile, saying, "That's interesting."
"..."
"To be practical—in other words, to make people's lives better—is simply to satisfy people's desires, right?"
"That's right."
"Human desires are countless, and there are hundreds of ways to live well. Some people's desires need to be satisfied with money, some people's desires need to be satisfied with power, and some people's desires can only be filled by the companionship of a lover. Even from a worldly perspective, those who love others are no less inferior than those who are obsessed with money and power."
"..."
"Moreover, there are not only these three pursuits in this world."
"..."
“Do you remember me telling you that when I was practicing at Banyan Temple in Luoyang, I met a little novice monk? The abbot found him by the river at the foot of the mountain and raised him from a young age. This child was born with spirituality and had a connection with Buddhism. When I met you, he had just turned thirteen, and the abbot was already preparing to ordain him.”
Yu Mingyue nodded: "I've heard of it."
Yuwen Qian said, "I heard a few days ago that when you and I left your village, the child's maternal grandfather came looking for him. He was the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat during the reign of Emperor Wen, but he retired due to old age and thus avoided the chaos in the Eastern Capital. This child was born out of wedlock to his daughter, and because he was worried about bringing shame to his family, he abandoned the child in the river."
Yu Mingyue was startled and her eyes widened suddenly.
Yuwen Qian continued, "This old man has found his grandson and wants to take him back to his ancestral home to be properly raised. With his family background and connections, if this child really goes back with him, he will surely achieve great things in the future. Money and power will be within his grasp, which is what you mean by being able to live a very good life."
"..."
"However, the child still chose to stay at Banyan Temple to be ordained, wholeheartedly pursuing Buddhism and refusing to return to secular life."
At this point, Yuwen Qian looked at her calmly: "His ascetic practices will not make his life better; on the contrary, they will contradict what you call 'good.' Does that mean his pursuits are inferior, less desirable than those who pursue money, power, and love?"
Yu Mingyue didn't speak, her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her body was trembling.
After a long while, she finally managed to say in a trembling voice, barely containing her excitement, "No, it's not..."
Her voice trailed off: "He won't, he will, he will go down in history..."
Yuwen Qian said calmly, "In the end, everyone has their own ambitions, and we cannot force them. To judge others' desires based on our own likes and dislikes is not only ignorant but also unreasonable. Everyone's heart has flaws. Regret gives rise to inner demons, and inner demons give rise to countless desires, which leads to different kinds of struggle, grabbing, pursuing, and seeking. Regardless of gender, age, saint, or beast, everyone should be treated equally."
"..."
"So in the end, there is no such thing as 'female competition,' only different desires and methods."
"..."
Yu Mingyue finally snapped out of her shock at what she had just learned, but she never expected Yuwen Qian to say such a thing. She said softly, "So, you don't blame me?"
Yuwen Qian glanced at her and said, "The cause of this matter is you. If you and Duke Wushan hadn't taken it upon yourselves to do those things and get Father to release Su Qinglan, do you think General Ningyuan and Consort Lou would have resorted to such a desperate measure?"
Yu Mingyue lowered her eyes guiltily.
No matter how stubborn she was or how she tried to justify herself, she was actually annoyed that Lou Chanyue had stolen her thunder, made a name for herself in front of the emperor, and might even threaten her as the crown princess. That's why she encouraged Yu Dingxing to do those things. In the end, she was indeed competing with Lou Chanyue.
Seeing her like this, Yuwen Qian sighed softly and said, "But this time, if you hadn't been worried about what I told you that day, you probably would have discovered their problems sooner, and things wouldn't have turned out this way."
"..."
"It's not that I don't blame you, but I hope you understand that a wise person thinks ten steps ahead before taking one."
"..."
"And you—you are a smart person too, but I hope you will figure out how to be a smart person."
"..."
Yu Mingyue remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "I understand."
"..."
"And what about this time—"
Yuwen Qian said calmly, "Things have come to this point and there's no going back. Now that you've dealt with Lou Liangdi, there are some things I need to take care of as well."
Yu Mingyue hesitated for a moment, then said, "Leave it to me."
Yuwen Qian looked at her with some surprise. Yu Mingyue said in a low voice, "This matter—it was indeed caused by me, so I think it's best if I resolve it." As she spoke, she gave Yuwen Qian a deep look again: "I want you to know that I am qualified to be your Crown Princess, and I am no less qualified than anyone else."
"..."
Yuwen Qian stared at her in silence for a long while before finally letting out a long sigh: "Okay."
After saying this, the candle next to the shrine finally burned out. With a soft "poof," the candle flame gently went out into the wax, plunging the entire room into complete darkness.
Meanwhile, inside the prison on the other side, the darkness was even more profound and somber than the night, as if it were crowding in from all directions, making it hard to breathe.
Lou Yingxiong was panting heavily.
His life had been smooth sailing; even though he had suffered a few defeats, he had never been in a sorry state. This was his first time in prison, and he realized what it felt like to be locked up in a cell. The cold, damp, and suffocating feeling, even before he was fully convicted and tried, was enough to make life worse than death.
He huddled in the corner, drenched in cold sweat.
Just then, a man walked out of the passageway outside the cell. He was a jailer who had just changed shifts. He paused outside the bars for a moment, threw something inside, and then turned and left.
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