Chapter 83 Reasons
Zhou Yan'an's knuckles turned slightly white as he held the empty bowl.
He picked up the coarse earthenware wine jug on the table and poured himself another half bowl.
This time, the action was a bit melancholy.
The wine was poured into the bowl, making a gurgling sound.
He didn't drink it immediately, but just watched the wine swaying in the bowl.
a long time.
He then spoke softly.
"Indeed...amazing..."
There was a complex feeling in the voice, including surprise, sigh, and a hint of chill.
He paused and changed the subject.
The sound also returned to its previous stability.
“Miss Shen.”
Shen He raised his eyes to look at him.
Zhou Yan'an looked at her with inquiry in his eyes.
"What you said to us in the teahouse today..."
Chen He's heart moved slightly.
She knew that he was referring to her idea of promoting children from poor families to enter the court and break the monopoly of the aristocratic families.
Zhou Yan'an's eyes were fixed on her.
"But do you really mean it?"
His tone was serious.
In this vortex full of calculations and hypocrisy, the word "sincerity" seems particularly heavy.
Shen He met his gaze without dodging at all.
Her eyes were clear and firm.
"At least, that's what I sincerely hope to see."
She paused and added.
"As for Your Majesty..."
"I think he was really touched."
Chen He changed the subject, his tone tinged with a hint of historical vicissitudes and helplessness.
It was as if I could see through the thorns on the long road ahead.
"But nothing in this world can be accomplished just by talking."
She lowered her eyes slightly and looked at the table.
"Throughout the dynasties, how many reformers and innovators have had a good ending?"
There was a hint of coolness in the voice.
"Shang Yang was torn to pieces in the marketplace, and his body was not found."
"Wu Qi fled from Chu to Wei, but ultimately he could not escape the fate of being shot to death by a hail of arrows."
She raised her eyes, her gaze deep.
"The resistance is far greater than we imagined."
"The aristocratic families are so intertwined and have so many interests involved, how could they let go so easily?"
"It's hard to predict how far it will go."
Having lived a new life, she knows better than anyone what price it will cost to shake the existing power structure.
Zhou Yan listened quietly.
After Shen He finished speaking, he slowly spoke.
His voice carried a different kind of power, steady and powerful.
"Miss Shen's words make sense," he first expressed his understanding. "But it may not be entirely true."
Zhou Yan'an's gaze seemed to penetrate the dim light of the small noodle shop and look into the distance.
"Those who reform and strengthen the country will also achieve success and fame."
"Guan Zhong served as prime minister to Duke Huan of Qi, united the nine states, brought order to the world, and became the first hegemon of the Spring and Autumn Period."
His tone was full of admiration for the achievements of the predecessors.
"Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty promoted Sinicization, moved the capital to Luoyang, and reformed the civil service, which led to the country's growing strength and laid the foundation for the prosperous Sui and Tang dynasties."
Throughout the long river of history, there are not only tragic songs of failure, but also triumphs of success.
He looked at Shen He with a firm gaze.
"Everything depends on human effort."
Just four simple words, but powerful.
"If we hesitate to move forward because of the setbacks suffered by our predecessors, fearing difficulties and obstacles, then this world will never see peace and prosperity."
Chen He raised his eyes and looked into Zhou Yan'an's eyes.
At this moment, a burning light was dancing in those eyes that always seemed cautious and distant.
It wasn't a profit-seeking ambition, nor was it a calculating shrewdness, but rather a firmness that bordered on faith. It was for the firmness of the "Qingming Day" he spoke of. *
Chen He's heart seemed to be gently touched by something.
Slightly numb, yet warm.
She took a deep breath, her throat tightening slightly.
Then she whispered.
With a sense of relief that she herself had not even noticed.
"Mr. Zhou..."
Her voice was soft but clear.
"Thank you."
Zhou Yan'an was obviously stunned.
He put down the rough pottery wine bowl in his hand, which was only left with the bottom, frowned slightly, with obvious confusion.
"Thank me for what?"
Chen He's gaze was calm and honest, without any evasion.
"Thank you,"
She paused, as if considering more appropriate words.
"It makes me feel that what I said in the teahouse today was not just wishful thinking."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan'an frowned even more.
He doesn't understand.
It was clearly she who ignited that spark in the stormy sea, giving a glimmer of light to countless poor children struggling at the bottom of society like him. Why was she the one to express this gratitude?
He shook his head, his tone more serious than ever before.
There was even a hint of excitement.
"Miss Shen, you are wrong!"
His voice was a few notches higher than before.
"I'm the one who should say thank you!"
"It's me, one of the countless poor scholars in the world who, like me, long to break free from the mire, yet face an uncertain future!"
He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.
“It’s you, Miss Shen.”
"It was your words today that gave us a ray of hope that might tear through this darkness and illuminate the way forward!"
"We should be the ones to say thank you!"
He looked at Chen He, his eyes more inquiring.
With an obsession that almost wants to analyze it to the end.
"only……"
He changed the subject, his voice lowering again with scrutiny.
"Forgive me for being so presumptuous."
"Miss Shen,"
His gaze, as if carrying weight, fell on Shen He.
"You are the eldest daughter of the Shen family, the head of the four great families of Shen, Xue, Zhao, and Yan, and the most prosperous family in the world."
"Your status is noble and your future is bright."
"The future holds a smooth path that countless people dream of."
He spoke each word slowly and clearly.
"Why..."
His eyes were fixed on her, filled with confusion and even a hint of subtle vigilance.
"Are you going to speak up for those poor kids who are so different from you?"
"Even at the cost of angering His Majesty and offending all the powerful officials in the court?"
Zhou Yan'an's question was like a needle, gently piercing the surface of tender affection that had just emerged.
Go straight to the core.
Shen He was silent.
She didn't answer immediately.
He just picked up the bowl of tea in front of him, which had already gone cold and had a few grains of dust floating on it, but did not drink it.
A chill penetrated her bones at her fingertips, just like the state of mind she was in at the moment, immersed in memories.
Why? Yes, why? *
She had seen too many brilliant young men from poor families, full of knowledge and the ability to govern the world, but because of their birth barriers, they were suppressed to the bottom of society their entire lives, like a pearl covered in dust, and eventually died of depression or even an unnatural death.
She had seen those children of wealthy families who were fat and bloated, occupying high positions with the help of their fathers, but they only knew how to form cliques, fight for power and profit, and treat the country's economy and people's livelihood as toys in their own backyard.
She had seen how the once powerful dynasty, under the gnawing of these termites, had its foundations rotted, its officials became corrupt, and it eventually declined step by step, with wars raging everywhere and the people living in misery until the empire was on the verge of collapse!
The feeling of watching her country and family sink, watching outstanding talents being buried, watching treacherous villains celebrating, but being unable to do anything, gnawed at her soul day and night, and even after reincarnation, it never dissipated!
She really didn't want to experience that kind of despair again.
God gave her a chance in this life again. Standing in this position, if she could do something, even if it was just to pry open a crack in this iron structure and let a ray of light in.
How could she not try? How could she not try?!
Chen He slowly put down the cold tea bowl, raised his head, and met Zhou Yan'an's eyes full of inquiry and confusion.
Her eyes were calm and peaceful, like an ancient bottomless pool.
But it seems that beneath that silence, there are countless ravines hidden, and the turbulent waves of past and present lives.
Some unforgettable reasons do not need to be said, and cannot be said.
Time will give the answer.
And action is her only vow.
How should we answer such a question?
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