Chapter 1179 - 857: Figured It Out
Shang Ruyi murmured, "So, all these years of cultivation, he was just trapping himself."
"..."
"Then this time he returns—"
Shen Wuzheng said, "I remember that at the Dharma Assembly at Dayan Temple, the Crown Prince composed a verse."
Shang Ruyi nodded. The impact of that assembly was profound; not only did she clear her name from the crime of regicide, but the verses composed by the high monks and virtuous ones at the Inner Altar Dharma Assembly were widely spread, with the one composed by Yu Wenqian being the most popular among common folk.
Learning the Way is like learning to paint a dragon; originally, one can never follow the brush traces.
Only when realizing the true dragon does one feel the past efforts were in vain.
"Only when realizing the true dragon..."
After softly reciting this line, Shen Wuzheng whispered, "I never quite understood the term ’true dragon.’ If others spoke of it, there would be countless interpretations, but as the Heir of the Duke, and with the Duke Sheng at the height of his power, replacing Daye was nearly certain, then what the ’true dragon’ referred to from his mouth seemed quite limited."
"..."
"But the more it is like this, the more I dare not think simply about it."
"..."
"But now it seems, this instead is a matter of seeing mountains as mountains and water as water. He returns to inherit everything from the Duke Sheng, who is also the current Emperor. Yu Mingyue might have told him some things, and he may have learned some futures that we cannot yet be sure of, so he must save himself and step out of his destiny."
"..."
"That is his, he figured it out."
Shang Ruyi’s heart sank for a moment.
Figured it out.
These three words are so simple.
But Dharma Ancestor meditated facing the wall at Shaoshi Mountain for nine years and eventually achieved enlightenment, which ultimately was just these three words—figured it out.
Some people always think there is a path of good, and a path of evil, and it seems there is no third path to take. So even Shang Ruyi herself just now thought Yu Wenqian was being erratic, but in reality, as long as someone walks it, it’s a path.
The entanglement between good and evil, isn’t that also a path?
Shen Wuzheng said the return of Yu Wenqian was his figuring it out, meaning he found his path. Perhaps this path for Yu Wenye, for Shang Ruyi, may not be a good thing, but that is his path, he figured it out.
But now, because of the death of Duke Shenwu, this path has entirely turned to the side they least wanted to see.
Shen Wuzheng sighed softly again, "He figured it out, which makes it troublesome for us, especially King Qin. Seeing how he drank last night, I’m afraid he too—"
At this point, Shang Ruyi frowned deeply, and after a long silence, let out a heavy sigh, saying, "Although Feng Chen didn’t say much, I can feel it. He seems to never have been this angry, or this sad."
Shen Wuzheng said, "In this respect, the two brothers are somewhat alike."
Shang Ruyi was taken aback and looked at him, "What do you mean?"
Shen Wuzheng said, "You said the Crown Prince’s actions towards you these days were to destroy King Qin through you, and you didn’t do as he wished, hence his loss of composure last night; whereas King Qin, he probably hoped since the Crown Prince returned, that the Crown Prince would choose a path towards goodness, or perhaps he simply wished to return to the past with the Crown Prince."
"..."
"Sadly, it is only today that he finally understood that his hopes were dashed."
"..."
"He would be sad, angry, even embarrassed and furious, and it’s no surprise."
Saying this, he turned to Shang Ruyi with a gentle voice, "Just comfort him more."
Shang Ruyi nodded hurriedly, but then thought about how Yu Wenye had gone to the military camp at dawn today; clearly, no matter how emotionally frustrated he was, it would not affect his duties. Thus, she smiled and said, "Actually, he doesn’t need my comfort; what’s important in his heart is the big picture."
"..."
"Moreover, now the Crown Prince is married, and this account of Duke Shenwu, he must settle with us."
Saying this, she remembered Shen Wuzheng had mentioned before that Yu Wenqian’s revenge would be nothing more than two things—harming people, seizing power, and it would definitely be doubled, because only doubled is revenge.
But who would he harm?
Speaking of his wedding yesterday, apart from a little emotional breakdown toward himself, there seemed to be nothing unusual.
Thinking of this, an inspiration suddenly flashed in Shang Ruyi’s mind. She looked at Shen Wuzheng, "Brother, did you see something at the Crown Prince Mansion yesterday? What did you say to Feng Chen when we left?"
Mentioning this, Shen Wuzheng’s expression darkened slightly.
He always doted on Shang Ruyi, answering almost whatever she asked or wanted, but when it came to this matter, he showed a bit of hesitation instead, making Shang Ruyi feel something and immediately say, "Does it have anything to do with me?"
Shen Wuzheng looked at her again, pondering for a moment, "Not entirely."
Not entirely? That means some connection?
Shang Ruyi asked seriously, "What is it then?"
Shen Wuzheng was silent for a moment, seemingly aware that such a matter couldn’t be hidden from her forever, nor should it be hidden, so he sighed lightly and then said, "I inquired a bit, when the Crown Prince moved into the Crown Prince Mansion, the Emperor did not appoint a Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor or a Minor Tutor. The guards of the mansion were handed to the Crown Prince’s Guard, and serving as the Central Lang General is Meng Wei."
"Meng Wei?"
Upon hearing this name, Shang Ruyi’s brow furrowed immediately.
Although she hadn’t interacted much with this person, she had a deep impression, because previously at the Dayan Temple Dharma Assembly, the one who attacked her and tried to pin the crime of regicide on her was this person, who at the time held the position of a Captain.
And now, serving as the Central Lang General of the Crown Prince’s Guard, it was clear he had fully aligned with the Crown Prince.
But this shouldn’t be what Shen Wuzheng truly wanted to say, because Meng Wei’s previous attack against her at Dayan Temple made his stance very clear; he wasn’t a person of the Crown Prince either, but of Yu Dingxing. Now that the Crown Prince formally married Yu Mingyue, the two sides had fully merged.
The truly important thing is—
Shang Ruyi suddenly looked up at Shen Wuzheng, "What about the previous Crown Prince’s Right Gatekeeper?!"
She didn’t directly say a name, but both she and Shen Wuzheng knew the Crown Prince’s Right Gatekeeper, who had been guarding the Eastern Palace at the palace’s right gate, was Shang Shoufei!
Logically, where the Crown Prince is, there is the Eastern Palace. When in the palace, he guarded Chengqian Hall where the Crown Prince resided, so when the Crown Prince moved out to the Crown Prince Mansion, the mansion’s guards should have been entrusted to him, right?
But now, Meng Wei took charge of the Eastern Palace Guards?
Then what about Shang Shoufei?!