Chapter 297: Chapter 274: There are still too many people in the world
Once again stepping into Tinghe Building, looking at those clearly disguised guests on the ground floor, full from early dawn, and the now familiar owner and shop boy cowering behind the counter, Shang Ruyi surprisingly did not feel frightened, nor uneasy.
She only felt a bit powerless.
Like an individual, powerless in the face of fate.
But the next moment, she suddenly drew a bit of strength—after all, in the face of fate, she seemed not entirely powerless, so she took a deep breath and followed Eunuch Yu’s guidance upstairs to the second floor.
It was still that elegant room by the window, with the doorway, where beads draped and gently swayed.
Eunuch Yu walked to the doorway, bowed and said something inside, then turned to smile at her before retreating.
Around her, silence immediately fell.
Shang Ruyi couldn’t even hear her own breathing and heartbeat, only feeling a sense of oppression coming from inside, almost enveloping the entire Tinghe Building. She seemed to understand where that oppressive feeling came from, so after taking a deep breath, she reached out to lift the bead curtain and walked inside.
Inside the elegant room, even the layout was the same as last time.
A low table was placed centrally in the room, with a delicate incense burner, a freshly warmed pot of liquor, two wine cups, and thick carpet underneath the table. The air still carried that unique cold fragrance belonging to someone, like a cold hand, clutching Shang Ruyi the instant she entered the room.
At this moment, Shang Ruyi noticed what was different from their last meeting here: there was no fire bowl inside the elegant room, and with the sun yet to rise, it felt as cold as an ice cellar.
She involuntarily shivered.
Looking up, she saw Chu Yang standing tall by the window, seemingly gazing at the scenery outside. But on closer inspection, his eyes appeared very lost, as if he didn’t know what he was seeing, and one of his hands slightly bent, hanging over the windowsill, his pale fingertips constantly caressing something.
It was that jade pendant.
Shang Ruyi’s heart sunk slightly, but she quickly regained her clarity and stepped forward to bow in greeting: "Ruyi greets the Emperor, may Your Majesty live forever."
Her voice was almost the only sound in Tinghe Building.
Yet no one responded to her, as after her voice faded, everything returned to an unbearable silence.
Shang Ruyi knelt on the ground, not daring to move, feeling cold all over, even her hands and feet were trembling slightly.
She didn’t know how long had passed before she finally heard a sound, the sound of clothes rustling, followed by the light sound of footsteps approaching, until finally, a pair of pure white Feathered Immortal Shoes appeared in her line of sight.
"You’ve forgotten what I told you?"
Upon hearing the voice above her head, Shang Ruyi trembled once more, then suddenly understood the implication, that Chu Yang had come to see her multiple times disguised as "Yang Suyi," and even she herself had gotten used to not saluting formally before the Emperor. But this time—
She lowered her head and said softly: "Ruyi believes that the one who came today is Your Majesty."
"..."
The person standing before her was silent for a while, then a light chuckle came from above.
He said: "You do understand me."
After saying this, he swung his sleeve and sat in front of Shang Ruyi.
Although he sat down, he did not let her rise, and his sleeve brushing past even cleared her mind more—her guess was correct.
Therefore, she remained motionless, kneeling in place, not looking up.
Chu Yang looked at her for a while and said: "Did you see him off?"
Shang Ruyi replied: "Yes."
"Last time he went on a campaign, you saw him off at your home. This time, you only went as far as the city gates. How hard it is to part."
"...This time, he traveled far."
"I almost thought you were going to follow him."
"There can be no family in the army, let alone women; this Ruyi understands well."
"If the army could have families, could have women, would you have truly followed him?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi knelt on the ground, her brow furrowed, unable to speak. At this moment, she also completely understood whose idea it was that Deputy General at the city gates stopped and interrogated them several times during their trips.
She was silent, but the other party did not intend to let her remain so, coldly replying "Hmm."
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment, then softly said: "This—Ruyi never thought about it."
"..."
Chu Yang was silent for a while before letting out another light laugh, saying: "You’re really good at keeping me from getting angry."
Speaking, he slowly stood and walked to the bedside. This time, the sky was brighter than before, and his eyes could clearly see the movements of the pedestrians down on the long street, coldly saying: "It’s a pity, under this heaven, so many people want to anger me."
Shang Ruyi’s heart thudded.
Was he talking about the Lei Family father and daughter? Liang Shide?
Or perhaps...
But, before she could think further, she heard Chu Yang say coldly, "When there are too many people, trouble is inevitable."
"..."
"Clearly, there are still too many people in this world."
"...!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She looked up at him in disbelief, while the person who uttered those words remained standing by the window, holding a cup of wine and enjoying its faint aroma at the tip of his nose, looking cold and elegant, like a celestial being sipping the wind and drinking dew.
Yet, beneath the feet of this celestial being, there was blood everywhere!
Shang Ruyi could not believe he would say such a thing!
Even Yu Wenye had told her about the years of continuous warfare that had brought unbearable suffering to the common people, especially the three campaigns in Liaodong that relied heavily on conscripting soldiers. Even if not ten households were devoid of people, seven were already empty, and yet he surprisingly said there are still too many people in the world!
Shang Ruyi tried hard to restrain herself, but she couldn’t hold back any longer and said tremulously, "Your Majesty, do you truly believe there are...too many people in the world?"
Chu Yang slowly turned to look at her, his gaze colder.
"Aren’t there?"
"..."
"You probably don’t know that I recently ordered the construction of ships in Bohai County, and within less than half a month, ten thousand laborers gathered to rebel; also Liang Shide and Wanggang Village’s people—these you should know, Yu Wenye wouldn’t have kept them from you; and at Dragon Gate, the rebellion led by Shu Duan last year had just been pacified, yet this year, his cousin began another rebellion, now joined by the Xue Family in Longyou, even aiming their troops at Daxing."
Shang Ruyi felt her scalp numb in waves.
It seems Yu Wenye had been more restrained in what he told her.
If it truly was like Chu Yang said, Daxing City—the true capital of the Da Ye Dynasty—would be difficult to protect, and if a country can’t even secure its capital, how much longer can its reign continue?
Of course, perhaps he had foresight in constructing Eastern Capital Luoyang, but now Hebei has fallen, Bohai County is rebelling, and even though Luoyang remains under the court’s control, it is more like a solitary island, which could be swallowed up if things continue as they are!
No wonder the number of people leaving Luoyang City has been increasing recently.
Thinking back to her first visit to Tinghe Building with Yu Wenye last August, the city was already largely desolate outside, yet inside it was still bustling, filled with high-profile guests; but since then, every visit, guests have been fewer and fewer, until the most recent time, Yu Wenye brought her here for dinner, and their table was the only one occupied on the second floor.
Doesn’t this prove something?
And, is this still the situation where "there are too many people in the world"?!
As Shang Ruyi was internally anguished, unsure of what to say, Chu Yang turned around again and coldly said, "I am utterly disappointed with this place and these people."
"...!?"
Shang Ruyi was stunned and looked up at him, "Your Majesty?"
Chu Yang suddenly walked over to her, leaning in to look at her, his cold arrogant face showing a gentle smile reminiscent of warm spring sunshine, saying, "Do you know, the good scenery is actually in the South."
"... what?"
"When I was still Crown Prince, I once led troops to conquer the Chen. Although the Chen Dynasty was weak, Jiangdu indeed had beautiful scenery, and it’s no wonder that each time I went south, I almost became intoxicated by the scenery there."
Shang Ruyi looked at his gentle yet slightly manic gaze, her heart gradually sinking.
She, of course, knew.
That was more than ten years ago, though she was young at the time, the destruction of the Chen was an earth-shattering event. Back then, the Central Plains were split North and South, with the late Emperor Chu Yin being a man of grand talent, unifying the North, while the Southern Chen’s last Emperor indulged in pleasures, gradually decaying in the South’s apricot blossom spring rains.
It was then that Chu Yin made his strategic move, pointing his sword toward Jiangnan.
And Chu Yang, then still Crown Prince, led an army of thirty thousand across the Yangtze River, in one battle annihilating Chen’s entire navy, directly crushing it under Jiangdu City’s walls, capturing the last Emperor of Chen, and subsequently accepting the surrender of Three Wu and Lingnan, thus unifying the world!
Even though she hadn’t seen the fierce battles firsthand, Shang Ruyi could almost imagine Chu Yang standing proudly in Jiangdu City, looking at the scenery he had conquered, how full of vigor he must have been.
But now—
At that moment, Chu Yang suddenly leaned closer to her, their faces nearly touching, prompting Shang Ruyi to instinctively pull back a bit. Even if she moved away, she could clearly see his eyes slightly reddened, filled with excitement and happiness.
He asked, "Ruyi, have you ever seen the scenery in the South?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi’s brow furrowed slightly.
She thought for a moment, then softly said, "Never."
"Then, do you want to see the scenery in the South?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi remained silent for a long time before finally saying softly, "I don’t want to."
Chu Yang’s brow furrowed suddenly, "Why?"
Shang Ruyi said, "The scenery in the South can be viewed at any time. But I must stay in Eastern Capital City, waiting for my husband to return."
Chu Yang’s gaze suddenly turned cold.
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