Chapter 781 Urgent Report!
Before long, Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi, led by Master Xinzheng, slowly walked up a long corridor.
Although a year had passed, they were both people with excellent memories. Moreover, this place was more significant to them than other places. Almost the instant they stepped onto the corridor, they immediately recognized the place. The surrounding scenery was almost unchanged.
In particular, after walking a few steps, a familiar Buddhist shrine appeared beside them.
Yuwen Ye stopped in his tracks.
The doors of the Buddhist hall were wide open, and one could clearly see the Guanyin Bodhisattva enshrined inside. Although Master Xinzheng and the monks had come to the mountain gate to welcome them early this morning, they still did not forget to make offerings. Incense and candles had already been lit, and fruits were placed on the altar. A familiar, gentle, and compassionate atmosphere permeated the Buddhist hall, almost immediately soothing people's hearts.
Even Shang Ruyi's nervousness at the prospect of seeing her old friend was somewhat soothed at this moment.
This is the place where they opened their hearts to each other and gave themselves away.
Even Shang Ruyi immediately spotted the large door leaning against the wall—it was there that Yuwen Ye, like a ravenous beast, pressed himself against the door, uttering the words he had long suppressed, and then…
Her face suddenly flushed.
Seemingly sensing something, Yuwen Ye turned to look at her, his eyes flickering.
Master Xinzheng, who had been leading the way, was very perceptive and immediately sensed that the two noblemen had paused for a moment. So he also stopped, but did not ask any questions. He simply turned halfway to the side and waited with a smile not far from the door.
Yuwen Ye walked into the Buddhist hall, looked around at the unaltered arrangement of the candlesticks and incense table, and then turned to look at Shang Ruyi behind him.
At this point, her face was visibly flushed.
Yuwen Ye's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile. He coughed lightly before saying, "You should go with the abbot."
Shang Ruyi was taken aback, and said in surprise, "You—"
"I'll stay here and rest for a while."
"..."
Shang Ruyi stared at him blankly, her eyes flashing with countless surprises and astonishment. After a long while, she still whispered, "Aren't you going with me?"
Aren't you going to see Empress Dowager Jiang?
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If there is a next time, Yuwen Yuan may not be in such a good mood to allow them to see the Empress Dowager.
Shouldn't Yuwen Ye be the one who most wants to see her?
Seeing her surprised and puzzled expression, Yuwen Ye seemed to know what she was thinking. He shook his head, somewhat annoyed and helpless. Just then, the shrewd Master Xinzheng took a few steps back. Only then did he walk up to Shang Ruyi, lower his head to look at her, and grit his teeth as he whispered, "What did I remind you yesterday?"
"Um?"
"I told you not to overthink things, have you forgotten again?!"
"Well……"
Shang Ruyi immediately lowered her eyes, feeling somewhat guilty.
It wasn't that she forgot.
She didn't take those words to heart at all. After learning that Yuwen Ye was going to accompany her to Dayan Temple to worship Buddha, she was only thinking that he must want to see Empress Dowager Jiang again. Although she no longer felt jealous or possessive, there was still a hint of sourness that only she knew about.
Who knew—
Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Yuwen Ye knew she was definitely "overthinking things." He said coldly, "If you're going, hurry up. It's getting late."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi turned to look at the sky outside the Buddhist hall. The sun was high in the sky, but she thought that by the time she met with the Empress Dowager and Yuwen Ye accompanied her back to the palace to settle down, it would probably be almost dusk. If he set off then, he would have to ride fast to catch up with the imperial carriage before it arrived at Tongguan.
So he nodded, but just as he was about to walk forward, he couldn't help but stop and turn back to look at Yuwen Ye: "You, are you really not going to see her?"
Yuwen Ye still shook his head.
This time, however, he wasn't very angry, and his expression was calmer.
It wasn't that he didn't miss Empress Dowager Jiang; it was just that, to him, seeing her or not seeing her made no difference. He wasn't worried that Empress Dowager Jiang was doing poorly either. He knew that although the old monk was cunning and mercenary, people like that knew exactly what they should do. Besides, since Chu Yang died in Jiangdu Palace, the Empress Dowager's life had been devoid of joy and anger. Her only son, whom she cared about, was by her side, and her only daughter, whom she cared about, was by her side. As long as these two were safe and sound, her future life would be without any ripples.
As for Chu Ruoyan's current situation, it would be better for Shang Ruyi to tell her, as that would be more reassuring than if she told her herself.
Most importantly—
Whether it was due to his excessive worry or the psychological impact of the emperor's tour, he inexplicably had a sense of unease after stepping into Dayan Temple.
This premonition had only occurred on the battlefield in the past, and it had almost never failed to come true.
Thinking of this, he added, "Go quickly, we need to get back to the palace as soon as possible."
Shang Ruyi nodded and turned to follow Master Xinzheng, who was standing outside the Buddhist hall, chanting Buddhist mantras with his eyes closed. But as soon as she came out, Master Xinzheng, who was about to greet her with a smile, suddenly widened his squinty eyes in surprise and looked behind Shang Ruyi.
At the same time, Shang Ruyi heard a series of hurried footsteps behind her.
Looking back, it was Mu Xian.
He was one of the people who was supposed to accompany Yuwen Ye on his journey. He was also the one who escorted him all the way to Dayan Temple. He stayed outside the temple after just entering the mountain gate, but unexpectedly he suddenly ran in at this moment, looking very anxious, as if there was something important.
Yuwen Ye, with his sharp ears and keen eyesight, also heard the unusual footsteps and asked, "Who is it?"
Mu Xian immediately stepped forward, nodded to Shang Ruyi, then turned and walked into the Buddhist hall, bowing to Yuwen Ye: "Your Highness, there is an urgent report!"
Yuwen Ye's expression hardened: "What is it?"
Mu Xian leaned forward and whispered a few words in Yuwen Ye's ear, causing Yuwen Ye's brows to furrow immediately.
Seeing Mu Xian arrive, Shang Ruyi didn't leave. At this moment, seeing Yuwen Ye's expression, she knew something was wrong. She went back to the Buddhist hall and asked softly, "What happened?"
Yuwen Ye glanced at her, then looked behind her. The monk Xinzheng was still very perceptive. Seeing Mu Xian enter, he not only did not approach her, but instead took several steps back and stood in the courtyard, chanting Buddhist mantras in a low voice.
Yuwen Ye took a deep breath and said to Shang Ruyi, "The secret report from Tongguan was sent by Jiang Chongen!"
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