Chapter 607: Draw Wu Zheng and hang it up.
"What a beautiful view!"
Although it was just a soft exclamation, it startled a bright red koi in the water, causing it to swirl its tail and splash before darting into the depths of the pond, leaving only a red shadow. The once calm water surface immediately began to ripple.
Pei Xingyuan, who had let out that soft sigh, immediately said unhappily, "Why are you running so fast? I'm not going to eat you!"
Hearing his complaints, Shen Wuzheng and Yuwen Ye beside him both shook their heads.
Yuwen Yuan originally intended to take these meritorious officials who had helped control the plague on a tour of the inner court as a reward, but he was unable to leave due to temporary government affairs. As the Prince of Qin and his wife, they took the initiative to take on this responsibility. The four of them, along with Tushe'er and other palace servants, went to the inner court and strolled slowly along the pool of clear water. Before long, they arrived at the Thousand-Step Corridor.
Beneath the corridor lies a mountain, water, and pond.
Although it's called a pond, this pond is more like a lake, and it's so deep that you can't see the bottom. The surface of the pond water looks like a dark blue-green, but below it is a deep, dark green. The koi carp quickly disappeared into the depths of the pond. When Pei Xingyuan was standing under the corridor and peering down at the fish, he had a feeling of envying the fish while standing by the abyss.
Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "Young Master Pei, be careful not to fall."
Pei Xingyuan waved his hand: "That won't do."
Even so, he still carefully reached out and held onto a pillar on the corridor, then leaned forward to look ahead. The mountain and water pool was already vast, stretching as far as the eye could see. Because of the rain last night, the weather was slightly cool, and a misty haze hung over the water, making it even more mysterious.
However, what's even more mysterious is that he slowly raised his head and looked towards the side of the mountain and water pool, at the building behind the misty waves.
Although it was far away and shrouded in mist, he could still clearly see the pavilion. It had three floors and, while not elegant or exquisite, it exuded a solemn air in its simplicity, which pleased people. Even when Shen Wuzheng looked up at the pavilion, he felt a strange sense of joy and a smile appeared in his eyes.
Pei Xingyuan asked, "What building is that?"
Shang Ruyi also looked up and said, "That building faces the Thousand-Step Corridor and the Mountain and Water Pond, it should be—"
Pei Xingyuan suddenly remembered and said, "Linyuan Pavilion!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Shang Ruyi's expression changed immediately. She made a "shh" gesture at him, and Pei Xingyuan then came to his senses, tapped his forehead, and said, "Hey, I almost forgot."
Shang Ruyi smiled and, fortunately, there weren't many people around, so no one noticed. She said, "Just don't forget tonight."
After saying that, he turned his head and glanced at Linyuan Pavilion, saying, "It is the place in the palace where calligraphy and paintings are collected. But since most of the calligraphy and paintings have been moved to Luoyang, there are not many left here. His Majesty plans to collect some more good calligraphy and paintings to put in."
Pei Xingyuan glanced at the building again and laughed, "Such a fine building, it would be rather boring to only collect some ordinary calligraphy and paintings."
Yuwen Ye, who was standing to the side, asked, "What do you think we should put here?"
Pei Xingyuan thought for a moment, then looked at Shen Wuzheng, who stood behind him, handsome and silent, surrounded by the mist gradually spreading ashore, like a celestial official. Suddenly, he revealed a sly smile and said, "In my opinion, I will paint Wuzheng and hang him up."
"..."
"Let him enjoy the scenery here every day, so he won't keep nagging me."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately burst out laughing. Even Tu She'er and the others who were serving behind her lowered their heads, trying their best to hide their smiles. Shen Wuzheng was so angry that he had nothing to say, and could only glare at him.
Yuwen Ye, though he smiled, glanced at Lin Yuan Tower again, seemingly lost in thought.
After Shang Ruyi laughed, she waved to Tu She'er and the others, telling them to step back further to avoid hearing anything they shouldn't. At this moment, Shen Wuzheng seemed to have given up on Pei Xingyuan and silently walked forward. Yuwen Ye walked beside him. After the two walked a short distance in silence, Shen Wuzheng said, "My little sister just told me that His Highness recommended me for the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel."
Yuwen Ye nodded.
Before Shen Wuzheng could ask any more questions, he continued, "I've asked around. There aren't many people who would dare to submit a memorial to His Majesty at this time. There are a few, but they are all people he trusts or old acquaintances. However, there aren't many people who can suppress my opinion."
Shen Wuzheng nodded slightly.
Yuwen Ye added, "More importantly, this secretary position seems more like preparation for an upcoming major battle."
"..."
"So, we were right before."
"..."
"Or perhaps someone foresaw that a great battle was about to begin, and that the opposing side might be targeting them in that battle—"
At this point, Pei Xingyuan and Shang Ruyi, who were behind them, noticed that the two had walked far away. They followed along while chatting and laughing. So, the two of them stopped talking at the same time. Only Shen Wuzheng silently looked at him and said to himself: I understand.
At this moment, Pei Xingyuan caught up and asked, "What are you two talking about? You're ignoring us."
Shen Wuzheng said coldly, "I'm not talking to you. Are you even talking seriously?"
Pei Xingyuan sighed deeply and said, "Wuzheng, your name is Wuzheng, not Wuqing. What's the point of speaking so rigidly?"
Shen Wuzheng said, "I'm afraid you'll develop a habit of speaking recklessly and say the same thing at the banquet tonight."
"..."
"Don't forget, you've only just taken office as the head of the Ministry of Revenue. If you go to jail for saying the wrong thing, the ministers in the court will only plead for loyal ministers who speak frankly and honestly, not for those who speak recklessly. You'll see what happens then."
Hearing him say that, Pei Xingyuan had nothing to say and could only obediently reply, "Oh."
After saying that, he walked over to Yuwen Ye and muttered, "This person is even more boring than you. It's a pity that you and Ruyi are both in the palace now, so I don't have a chance to see you."
"..."
"If only you could also establish your own government offices and military headquarters."
Yuwen Ye glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Shang Ruyi walked up to Shen Wuzheng, who said, "Establishing a government office and a military headquarters... Now the Prince of Han has this power, yet he still lives in the Chengqian Hall in the palace, which shows how great his favor is."
"..."
"If the King of Qin cannot seize this opportunity to regain some momentum, I fear that in the future, his attitude in court will be even more distinct."
Shang Ruyi's brows gradually furrowed.
She knew this, of course, but the situation was far from optimistic. She whispered, "Even so, His Majesty's attitude is already very clear."
Shen Wuzheng glanced at her, then at Yuwen Ye, who was being dragged by Pei Xingyuan to see the scenery and was now some distance away from them, and said, "Your husband has never been one to wait for gifts, but rather someone who has to reach out and take whatever he wants."
"..."
"His Majesty's attitude may not be able to influence him."
That's the truth.
But Shang Ruyi was still uneasy. Yuwen Ye's ability and character were beyond doubt, but Yuwen Yuan was, after all, the ruler of a country. His attitude could determine too many things, and even the attitude of the people in the court. Once Yuwen Ye was "betrayed by all", no matter how strong his ability was, how many chances would he have to turn the tide?
At this moment, she even sighed, "If only the official's wife were still here."
Shen Wuzheng glanced at her.
Shang Ruyi felt helpless again, and her voice was tinged with bitterness as she spoke, "If the official's wife were still alive, at least the relationship between the father and son could be eased, and His Majesty could show more favor to the Prince of Qin because of the official's wife."
Shen Wuzheng looked at her for a while, then suddenly chuckled and said, "Silly girl."
"Um?"
Shang Ruyi was taken aback and looked up at him: "Brother, you—"
Although she knew that her status as the Princess Consort of Qin was not enough to distance her from Shen Wuzheng, and that she needed someone who would always treat her only as Shang Ruyi, not as the daughter-in-law of the Duke or the Emperor, she was still somewhat surprised as to why Shen Wuzheng would say such things to her at this time.
Shen Wuzheng said softly, "Your father-in-law is already His Majesty the Emperor. He understands all too well how to express his likes and dislikes, or rather, how he should express his likes and dislikes."
"How about letting go of likes and dislikes? What does that mean?"
"In other words, many people's emotions are enslaved by external things, adding extraneous elements to their preferences—for example, I like someone because they like me; I like someone because they are good to me; I like someone because they are a relative or old friend."
"..."
"But the emperor is too clear-headed, or rather, he is not emotionally enslaved by external things, so his preferences can be purer."
"..."
"That is, I only like someone if they make me like them."
"..."
"The other person's feelings, attitude, and status towards you are all just extras. What truly makes someone like you is that person's temperament, character, and even soul."
"..."
"So even if it is his son, even if it is the son born to the woman he loves, if the son's temperament and character are not what he likes, he will love his son, but he will not like the person behind the identity of 'son'."
"...!"
Upon hearing these words, Shang Ruyi immediately took a deep breath.
She began to understand.
Shen Wuzheng continued, "Of course, there's one more crucial point—"
Shang Ruyi immediately looked at him: "What?"
Shen Wuzheng said in a low voice, "Two tigers cannot share one mountain."
"..."
"His Majesty is a man of strong will and great talent. Such a man can tolerate his capable ministers and brave generals, but there is one person by his side who makes him instinctively feel threatened."
"..."
"Yuwen Ye's brilliance is too conspicuous, which is both a good thing and a bad thing."
"..."
"If he cannot change his current temperament and way of doing things, then he will only have one path left to take—"
Shang Ruyi looked at him intently: "What road?"
Shen Wuzheng said, "Or, military merit."
"..."
Shang Ruyi's heart sank suddenly.
So, this time in Taiyuan...
Just then, Pei Xingyuan, who was behind him, suddenly looked at the pavilion behind the misty waves and said softly, "There seems to be someone upstairs."
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