Chapter 387 Eloquent
In an instant, the entire Dayan Temple fell silent.
All eyes were focused on the indigo figure. Although the gazes of the crowd were intense, almost burning with passion when they converged, the gazes that met theirs were cold and calm, without even a trace of emotional fluctuation, as they watched Ji Hong walk heavily towards her step by step.
Shang Ruyi raised her hand and respectfully bowed to the old man before her, saying, "Greetings, Lord Ji."
Ji Hong stared intently at her with cloudy eyes, his gaze filled not only with hatred but also with an unconcealable sorrow. He sneered, "You have an advantage, but I've come here today to question you."
"..."
"Your Majesty, how exactly did you die?!"
"..."
"Was it you—?"
"Lord Ji!"
Before Ji Hong could finish speaking, a heavy voice suddenly interrupted him from ahead. Ji Hong's eyes turned cold, and he looked up. As expected, he saw Duke Sheng, Yuwen Yuan, frowning as he walked towards him and said, "How can Ruyi bear such a reputation, Duke Ji? Today's Dharma assembly is for the late Emperor. Duke Ji, you should wait until the assembly is over before asking for the reason."
Ji Hong sneered, "Duke Sheng's words puzzle me. His Majesty's cause of death is unknown, so why hold a Buddhist ceremony to pray for his soul? Do you not want the world to know the reason for His Majesty's passing?"
"..."
"Was it a natural death, or—"
At this point, Ji Hong turned to look at Shang Ruyi, whose face had turned somewhat pale, and said, word by word, "Someone has murdered the emperor!"
A gust of fierce wind blew by, causing the prayer flags around to flutter wildly. The tightly closed doors of the main hall were also blown by the wind, slamming against the threshold with several muffled thuds that sent shivers down one's spine.
Yuwen Yuan's heart sank.
Although he loves his family, he is also very clear-headed, and last night he made his point very clear.
This matter is of great importance and cannot be resolved by one person speaking up or remaining silent. Even with the Yuwen family's involvement, it may not be possible to resolve it!
Just as he hesitated, Ji Hong coldly said, "Duke, are you coming forward now to answer this question on behalf of your daughter-in-law?"
"..."
"Could it be that she has already told you what happened before His Majesty died?"
Now, everyone's gaze was even more intense, all fixed on the two people directly in front of the square. Some in the crowd had already begun to echo their sentiments.
"If the Duke knows the truth, he might as well give us the truth."
"Yes, how exactly did His Majesty die?"
"If someone has truly murdered the emperor, we must not let them off lightly. We must tear this person to pieces and exterminate their entire family!"
Yuwen Yuan was suddenly thrust into the eye of the storm.
Despite this, he was a seasoned veteran, and even when everyone criticized and interrogated him, he remained unfazed. However, when the guards surrounding the main hall saw that the Duke of Sheng was surrounded, his attendant Xue Daotong immediately gave a signal to the others, and they reached for the hilts of their swords, ready to rush forward.
Just then, a fair hand gently rose, stopping everyone's actions.
It also silenced everyone's angry questions.
It is Shang Ruyi.
She remained standing there, her face pale yet her expression calm. At this moment, she raised her hand, immediately attracting everyone's attention. She slowly said, "Gentlemen, I know that the brothers Wang Shaoji and Wang Shaoqiu have spread the news of His Majesty's passing throughout the land. You should have all heard it, but you probably don't believe it, which is why you are questioning the Duke at this time."
"..."
"But, the Duke doesn't actually know anything either. I haven't told anyone the truth along the way, so you're asking the wrong person."
"..."
You should be looking for me!
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at her with some surprise.
Yuwen Yuan frowned slightly and looked down at his daughter-in-law, who looked incredibly weak but had single-handedly incurred everyone's blame at this moment. Although he knew he shouldn't say anything more, he couldn't help but take a step forward.
But just as he was about to speak, a hand reached out and stopped him.
It was Yuwen Ye!
He had somehow walked up to her side, his face cold and his eyes even colder as he looked at Shang Ruyi. Then he said in a low voice, "Father, don't interfere in this matter anymore."
"..."
Yuwen Yuan frowned as he looked at him.
Last night, my second son kept saying that he would handle this matter. But now—
At this point, there was no time for them to do or even think. Shang Ruyi raised her head and glanced around. The officials who had been sitting upright on the prayer mats, and who had even been dozing off, had now completely gathered around her, surrounding her so tightly that not even a breeze could get in.
All eyes and breaths converged, the intense heat almost setting her ablaze.
But she, who was at the very center, was cold.
She felt as if she had fallen into an abyss when Yuwen Ye walked away from her, but the icy coldness made her calmer at that moment.
But she didn't even turn her head to look at him.
She met Ji Hong's resentful gaze and calmly said, "Lord Ji, have you come here to inquire how His Majesty died?"
Ji Hong sneered, glanced at Yuwen Yuan and Yuwen Ye beside him, and then said, "Actually, I have many more questions to ask, but since the Duke is protecting you, you can answer the most important question: How exactly did His Majesty die?"
Shang Ruyi smiled faintly and said, "Lord Ji, there's no need to hold back."
Everyone was taken aback by these words, even Yuwen Yuan frowned slightly, but Shang Ruyi calmly smiled and said, "Lord Ji, you can ask whatever you want from beginning to end, so that you won't have any more doubts after today. Besides, if you ask all kinds of questions, you'll understand the whole story better once you've figured out the cause and effect, won't you?"
"..."
Ji Hong narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the young mistress of the Duke's mansion with a hint of surprise.
Over the years, he had stayed away from the court and its infighting. Even when his own son died in Jiangdu, he only considered it a civil official's death in remonstrance. But when the news of the assassination of the emperor in Jiangdu Palace came, he was filled with grief and even thought of following the late emperor in death. But today, he was suddenly told by some people in the court that Shang Ruyi, who was rumored to have assassinated the emperor, had returned to Daxing City. So, he immediately rushed over with the help of everyone to find out the truth.
Unexpectedly, this regicide was so upright.
He was even so frank as to be somewhat arrogant.
Was she fearless because she had nothing to fear, or did she know that she had committed an unforgivable crime and was doomed to die, so she didn't care?
But regardless, getting to the bottom of things is his purpose in coming here today.
Ji Hong sneered and said, "Fine, then I'll ask, and you answer!"
Shang Ruyi said, "Please tell me."
Ji Hong asked, "My first question is, I heard that when His Majesty led the officials south to Jiangdu Palace, the young mistress was originally on the list, so why didn't she accompany him?"
Shang Ruyi said, "I believe that going south to Jiangdu Palace at that time would be detrimental to the country and the court, so I did not go with them."
Some people around them were already sneering.
Some people say, "Does the harm to the country and the court justify disobeying imperial orders?"
"She had no respect for His Majesty whatsoever; no wonder she dared to commit regicide!"
"It must be her—"
Just as everyone was making their accusations, Shang Ruyi suddenly turned her head and gave them a cold look.
Although she was merely a noblewoman and not powerful enough to suppress the officials around her, a single glance from her cold gaze sent a chill down their spines, and they instinctively shut their mouths.
After those people fell silent, leaving a blank space, Shang Ruyi finally spoke up: "Do you all believe that Lord Ji would also commit regicide?"
Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.
Even Ji Hong frowned, his face showing anger: "What did you say?!"
Shang Ruyi turned to face him and calmly said, "Back then, when the late emperor moved the capital east to Luoyang, Lord Ji knelt outside the gate of Daxing Palace to stop His Majesty from moving east. Is this true?"
"..."
"At that time, it seems that in his words of advice to the late emperor, Lord Ji also said that Your Majesty's construction of the Eastern Capital would be a waste of resources and manpower, and would be detrimental to the country and the court."
"..."
"Ruyi simply did not wish to follow, but Lord Ji, you personally went to stop His Majesty from moving east."
"..."
"If my actions can make you all think of regicide, then Lord Ji's actions are not only regicide, but also an act of defiance against the entire court and the world!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Hong's throat tightened, and he was unable to utter a word.
Even he was speechless, and everyone around him was even more speechless.
No one expected that Ji Hong, a highly respected figure whom even the powerful Yuwen Yuan dared not pressure, would be used by Shang Ruyi to explain her actions by Ji Hong's own deeds.
It was as if she had been given a get-out-of-jail-free card.
As long as Ji Hong is still alive and standing here today, and can still question her, then Shang Ruyi is innocent!
Brilliant plan!
At that moment, even Yuwen Yuan's eyes lit up.
He knew, of course, that his old friend’s daughter was exceptionally intelligent, and he had long since witnessed his own daughter-in-law’s brilliance. But what he didn’t expect was that, faced with questioning from high-ranking officials and an attack from so many people, she could remain so calm and launch a counterattack.
Now, even the eloquent Ji Hong was rendered speechless by her words.
Yuwen Yuan couldn't help but nod slightly.
Yuwen Ye, standing beside him, remained solemn and showed no pleasure whatsoever at the slightest chance for Shang Ruyi to catch her breath.
At this moment, applause rang out from the crowd, and a voice sneered, "What a talent for debate! What a talent for debate!"
Everyone hurriedly turned their heads. Shang Ruyi also frowned slightly. Looking up, she saw a middle-aged man walking out from the crowd. It was Zhou Ying, the Grand Master of Ceremonies who had just been standing behind Yu Dingxing. He walked step by step to Shang Ruyi and smiled as he bowed his head, saying, "Young Madam Yuwen is quick-witted and talented, which is truly admirable."
Shang Ruyi said, "It's not that I'm quick-witted, I'm just telling the truth."
Zhou Ying said, "Then, please tell me more, young mistress. Since you believe that going south to Jiangdu is detrimental to the country and the court, why did you go to Jiangdu in the first place? And why are there rumors circulating in the Jiangdu palace that you spend your days drinking and making merry with His Majesty?!"
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