Chapter 1178 - 856: Between Good and Evil, a Single Thought
Shen Wuzheng thought for a moment, and asked with a smile, "Ruyi, let me ask you, do you think human nature is inherently good or inherently evil?"
The topic suddenly shifted from Yu Wenqian to the goodness and evil of human nature. Shang Ruyi was taken aback, but still thought seriously, understanding that even sages might not be able to answer such a question.
So she shook her head and said, "I can’t say for sure."
Shen Wuzheng smiled and said, "That answer is correct."
"Oh?"
"Human nature is both good and evil, just like how people are born with differences in beauty and ugliness, it’s inherently uncertain."
"..."
"Moreover, good and evil can switch places, just like beauty and ugliness. If a person dares to cut their face or raise Gu, beauty and ugliness can be exchanged; if a person is determined to learn from bitterness, good and evil can also change in an instant."
Shang Ruyi murmured, "Good and evil in a moment’s thought?"
Seeing her thoughtful expression, Shen Wuzheng’s gaze softened slightly. After a moment of silence, when he saw Shang Ruyi’s emotions gradually calm down in her eyes, he continued: "Let me ask you again, do you think the matter of contention between King Qin and the Crown Prince, are we right or wrong to do what we did?"
"This—"
This time, unlike before, Shang Ruyi didn’t answer as quickly, instead, she looked at Shen Wuzheng awkwardly, and Shen Wuzheng confidently smiled at her, saying: "Regardless of life or death, regardless of grievance; not caring about fairness to King Qin or the Crown Prince’s character, just speaking on the matter itself, right or wrong."
Shang Ruyi was silent for a while, finally sighed lightly: "Wrong."
"..."
"Throughout history, the rightful heir to the throne has always been the eldest legitimate son, not only because it’s been the rule since ancient times, but also because this rule can prevent the thoughts of change, change brings chaos, and chaos leads to unrest in the household and the nation, making it difficult for the people to live in peace."
Shen Wuzheng said, "Correct."
"..."
"You, me, and many others, we all know that doing this will incite turmoil in the court, and may further lead to greater chaos in the world, yet we still did it, why?"
Shang Ruyi immediately responded: "Brother just said regardless of life and death, regardless of grievances, but when the time comes, who can disregard life, death, grievances?"
"..."
"When the Crown Prince left home for cultivation, half of the Yuwen Family’s achievements were won by Feng Chen with a knife and a gun, but as soon as the Crown Prince returned, he took away everything that should have belonged to him. This matter was inherently unfair, not to mention he couldn’t endure it, and neither could I; moreover, Yu Mingyue was involved, and I was involved too, this struggle eventually comes down to life or death."
"..."
"I am not a great villain, but neither am I a saint who can disregard my own life and death to ’fulfill’ others."
"..."
"As for my brother..."
Seeing Shang Ruyi’s solemn gaze, Shen Wuzheng smiled and nodded: "Both you and I know that this matter is wrong, yet we still went ahead and did it, you would always stand by King Qin’s side, and I would offer strategies to King Qin, as for Xing Yuan, Shen Tu Tai, Shantong’er, and others, they would do the same."
"..."
"Ultimately, we just succumbed to our own ’evil’."
"..."
"However, while we do ’evil’, we can also convince ourselves—you understand that this enfeoffment is unfair to King Qin who has always given, yet you need to protect yourself; whereas I, I cannot let my younger sister suffer any harm, so I must protect you from failing in this struggle, and I will always stand by King Qin; as for the others under King Qin, whether for friendship or benefit, in any case, everyone can convince themselves to ’do evil’."
"..."
"In fact, except for the saints, almost everyone in this world, every day, every moment will ’do evil’, and also convince themselves in this way, to do what they want to do. Just that things vary in magnitude, as big as stealing a kingdom, as small as stealing a hook, they cause different outcomes; afterwards, there are those who would make amends, not only rectifying the result, but also redeeming their own good hearts, while some people would be left with eternal infamy."
"..."
"Even,"
At this point, he smiled faintly and said, "That husband of yours, perhaps he doesn’t need to convince himself at all, because whatever he wants is what he wants; he doesn’t even need to make amends, not only that, he might even silence others, break their pens, not let anyone discuss his faults."
Hearing this, Shang Ruyi thought of Yu Wenye’s bad temper, and couldn’t help but smile.
Just as her smile began to curve at the corners of her lips, Shen Wuzheng continued: "However, the Crown Prince is not such a person."
Shang Ruyi widened her eyes and looked at him: "He—"
Shen Wuzheng said: "Most people, including us, we do evil, and after doing evil, we can convince ourselves, accept that version of ourselves, so you and I sit here discussing these things with peace of mind; but he, he neither can prevent himself from doing evil, nor can he accept the evil version of himself."
"..."
"One can imagine how much pain he is in."
Shang Ruyi’s heart sank heavily, saying: "So, that’s why he wanted to become a monk, even give up the identity of the Heir of the Duke to wander and practice?"
Shen Wuzheng said: "Just now you mentioned, good and evil in a moment’s thought, many people after this thought, have the results of good and evil, and their belonging."
"..."
"Yet he trapped himself in that moment."
"..."
"Trapped for all these years."
Shang Ruyi drew a sharp breath—so that’s how it is.
For these more than ten years, Yu Wenqian has traveled many places and done many things, yet he has always lived in a moment, a moment where good thoughts and evil thoughts are intertwined and constantly tearing him apart.
He cannot stop himself from doing evil but cannot accept the evil version of himself either.
So on the way back to Luoyang with Yu Wenye, the falling boulders encountered, the hidden niter, sulfur, and charcoal behind the mountain wall, whether it came from Yu Mingyue or from himself, it made no difference, yet he was pleased for Yu Wenye’s safe return; when Yu Wenye marched on Fufeng, knowing he would be in danger, he did not stop him, indeed wanting to put Yu Wenye to death, similar to when he watched Yu Wenye silently struggling and sinking in the lake, yet secretly gave himself those two sachets, and later, helped resist Xue Xian’s army.
All of these things actually have nothing to do with them, it was just him tearing himself apart.
Now, Shang Ruyi finally understood, at the gate of Dayan Temple, in the verse made by Master Xinzeng for him, Yu Wenqian’s best comment was—thinking for too long will become a demon.
He knew that Xin Zheng saw through him.
And Xin Zheng seemed to want to save him, hence took a further step to tell him, Buddhism may not be a demon, but there is only a thin line between Buddha and demons. If you figure it out, it’s a Buddha, if not, it’s a demon.
This is why, good and evil in a moment’s thought!
After hearing these words, the fake monk Jiang Yu who couldn’t give up meat and wine also left a remark, and that was—Buddhist heart too much, is also a heart demon!