Chapter 336: Chapter 306 He Wants the "Success" Before Him
The warm breeze stirs gently, bringing the scent of spring flowers.
Shang Ruyi sits by the window, gazing at the azure sky outside. Occasionally, a breeze laden with floral fragrance wafts through. Normally, such scenery and weather would bring a sense of delight to the heart.
But now, it feels as though a heavy stone is weighing down on her heart, growing heavier by the day.
Since that day of unpleasantness, Chu Yang has not come to see her for two consecutive days.
Truth be told, she doesn’t feel it necessary to accompany him every day. Although Chu Yang said he brought her to admire the beauty, such beauty is not something a person like her can truly appreciate with an unburdened heart.
Moreover—
As she was deep in thought, two palace maids approached with tea and pastries, speaking softly as they walked.
"Are you sure about what you’re saying?"
"Who’d deceive you?"
"Did Your Majesty really execute someone in the hall? That’s never happened before."
"I heard it myself. They say the ministers pleaded for mercy, but Your Majesty refused to listen."
As the two approached, they noticed Shang Ruyi by the window, paused for a moment, and quickly bowed. Shang Ruyi frowned at them, "What were you discussing just now? Who was killed? What did Your Majesty do?"
The two palace maids exchanged glances, unable to lie. One cautiously replied, "A guard from the Old Palace mentioned it just now. Today, Your Majesty finally attended the morning court, but it seems some officials spoke words he disliked, and—he had them all beheaded."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi’s heart tightened.
The Emperor, executing people during the court session!
In recent days, she had already sensed the madness concealed beneath Chu Yang’s calm demeanor. As he continues to exhaust public resources and live decadently, the level of his madness intensifies. He’s like someone dangerously walking towards a cliff edge, accelerating his pace instead of stopping.
But to commit murder during the court meeting—it’s utterly insane!
Shang Ruyi pondered for a moment, then asked, "And now?"
The palace maid said, "I hear the ministers have left, but Your Majesty remains in the hall, with the doors and windows shut, not allowing anyone inside; Eunuch Yu and others are anxiously waiting outside."
"..."
Shang Ruyi contemplated for a moment, then said, "I’ll go have a look, don’t wander off."
After speaking, she hurried away.
Having previously visited Cheng Qiao, she knew the route, so Shang Ruyi quickly traversed the long corridor to reach one side of the square in front of the hall. As she stepped onto the square, she heard the sound of rushing water, looking up, she saw several little eunuchs atop the hall splashing water to clean the floors.
The water, trickling down the stairs of Danbi, rolled up waves of blood.
As Shang Ruyi moved closer, her limbs turned cold.
The water used to wash the floors was stained crimson.
Taking a deep breath, she lifted her skirt and walked cautiously upward. Despite being careful, her exquisitely crafted Feathered Immortal Shoes were soon dyed red by the flowing blood.
She finally ascended to the hall, finding it tightly shut with Eunuch Yu and several little eunuchs anxiously pacing outside, unable to enter and afraid to retreat.
At his wit’s end, Eunuch Yu saw Shang Ruyi and immediately reacted as if seeing a savior, "Madam, you’re here?"
Shang Ruyi softly replied, "I heard something happened here, so I came to see."
"Ah..."
Eunuch Yu sighed deeply, lowered his voice, "Today, several prefectures delivered urgent reports."
Shang Ruyi almost guessed without asking, "Another rebellion?"
Eunuch Yu nodded, leaned in to whisper, "If it were just small factions of rebels, it might be manageable. But the most concerning is Jincheng Prefecture’s Colonel Xue Xian killing County Magistrate Lin Xiaoyi and raising an army in revolt. This man is quite formidable."
Xue Xian...
Shang Ruyi had heard of him, a prominent figure from the nobility of Hedong, known for his imposing presence, martial prowess, wealth, and generous demeanor, he gained many influential friends. Despite not having a great reputation, his strength was undeniable, truly a man unlikely to stay beneath others.
Now, even he has revolted.
"What’s more alarming,"
Eunuch Yu lowered his voice further, fearing even the closed doors and windows couldn’t keep his words from reaching those inside the hall, "since Xue Xian raised his army, countless people have joined him. Within half a month, he amassed tens of thousands of troops. They’ve already defeated General Huangfu Ding sent for suppression, and now control the land of Longxi. It seems their next move is towards the Central Pass."
"What?"
Shang Ruyi’s eyes widened, "Are you saying Xue Xian plans to take Daxing City?!"
Eunuch Yu nodded.
Shang Ruyi gasped aloud.
Daxing City, although left idle since Chu Yang ascended by establishing the Eastern Capital, is nonetheless the capital of the Da Ye Dynasty. The fall of the Eastern Capital was merely the loss of a city, but if Daxing City were to fall, the presence of the Da Ye Dynasty in the people’s hearts would be utterly destroyed!
Shang Ruyi quickly asked, "So, what does Your Majesty plan to do?"
"Your Majesty..."
Eunuch Yu first had a pained expression, then said hatefully, "Your Majesty asked the people below whether the war news was true or false. As a result, some people actually said that these reports intentionally exaggerated the strength of the rebel army and the peril of the situation, aiming to gain military merit from it."
Shang Ruyi frowned upon hearing this.
Although Eunuch Yu did not explicitly say it, she understood somewhat that those "some people" were undoubtedly Wang Shaoji.
She asked, "And then?"
Eunuch Yu said, "Then, Your Majesty believed it. The Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and a few other ministers argued strongly, hoping His Majesty would quickly return to aid Daxing City. But not only did His Majesty not listen, he even—"
He couldn’t continue speaking, only sighed and looked at the ground not far away.
The blood red there was particularly deep and glaring.
Shang Ruyi could almost imagine how those ministers were dragged out of the hall, executed as a warning to others under the public gaze, their blood just washed away. The blood of loyal ministers that couldn’t turn green in three years could not stay green; in the Emperor’s eyes, it was merely puddles of bloodstains.
Shang Ruyi sighed deeply.
At this moment, the large door in front of them creaked loudly. Both of them were startled and turned to look, only to see the silhouette of the slender and graceful Chu Yang slowly becoming clear from the dim light in the hall.
He actually came out on his own!
All the people outside the hall were startled, especially Eunuch Yu and Shang Ruyi, who had been talking just now. Both of them knelt down with a thud, and the other little eunuchs cleaning the ground with water buckets all knelt down in the blood water as well.
"Your Majesty!"
"Long live the Emperor!"
Kneeling outside the hall, Shang Ruyi listened to the heavy breathing above her head. Then, she saw the hem of a robe fluttering before her eyes, and those spotless Feathered Immortal Shoes walked to her once again. She could even feel those slender phoenix eyes focusing intently on her.
For a moment, Shang Ruyi’s hands and feet went numb.
Did Chu Yang hear what they were talking about just now?
Would he, like those ministers, get angry at them and even hold them accountable?
Just as she was so nervous that her breath hitched, Chu Yang suddenly leaned over, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her up.
"...?!"
Shang Ruyi was shocked and looked up at him in disbelief.
When she looked up, she met a pair of slightly red eyes—those slender phoenix eyes were flashing with a nearly boiling brilliance, as if flames might ignite at any moment.
Chu Yang smiled at her and said, "You came at the right time."
"...What?"
"I just thought of something. Tomorrow’s Cold Food Festival cannot just be passed like this. We should decorate the entire Jiangdu Palace, not just the inner palace but also the Bright Hall. Everything here should be arranged as I desire."
"..."
"That way, we can enjoy the spring outing properly. This is what spring should be like."
"..."
"I will have them start right away. Everything must be done before tonight!"
The more he spoke, the more urgent he became. Shang Ruyi could even feel the hand holding her wrist trembling continuously, perhaps due to excitement or perhaps out of fear.
Or maybe both.
He was using such extravagant living to soothe his restless heart.
The state of the world had reached this point, and he was powerless to reverse it. But with his towering pride, he couldn’t admit it, much less face his own failure.
Therefore, he wanted success, he wanted the "success" before his eyes.
As he was about to step forward and issue an order, Shang Ruyi suddenly extended another hand, grabbed the hand holding her wrist, and said, "Your Majesty!"
Chu Yang paused and looked back at her.
He looked at her, then at her hand holding his, those delicate jade-like fingers spasming slightly due to excessive tension, but the touch of their skin still caused his heart to throb.
This seemed to be the first time she actively held his hand.
Chu Yang’s heart was pounding furiously, barely able to restrain his restless mood. At this moment, he became even more agitated, his eyes almost red. He turned to face her, his breath hot and carrying a bit of uncontrollable emotion: "You—"
Shang Ruyi said, "I have something I want to say to Your Majesty."
Chu Yang looked intensely at her: "Speak."
Shang Ruyi looked at him, then at the people around them trembling in the blood water. She took a deep breath and said, "Shall we discuss it inside the hall?"
"..."
Chu Yang also looked at her for a while. The smile on his face, amidst the rising scent of blood around, appeared surprisingly innocent. He nodded, "Okay."
With that, he pulled Shang Ruyi’s hand and turned to enter the hall.
The heavy hall doors closed again.