Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 445 - 388: Drinking Beheading Wine, Finding Joy in Suffering
The moment these words were spoken, it was as if a giant stone had crashed down upon Dayan Temple.
Everyone’s spirits were shaken and swayed endlessly, some even widened their eyes in surprise and exclaimed, only to be immediately silenced by the Zhou people.
Some knew this news, others did not.
But whether one knew or not, once said, and in front of so many people, it was destined to be an irreversible situation.
Shang Ruyi’s face turned pale once more.
But this time, she did not meet the eyes of those questioning her, nor the astonished, disdainful gazes around her, nor did she look at Yu Wenquan, who was equally shocked but maintained his composure; she only slowly turned her head to look towards the Great Hero Hall.
There, the doors and windows remained tightly closed.
Not even the wind could blow in.
She wondered if the people inside could hear these words; she couldn’t know what their feelings would be upon hearing them.
Shang Ruyi quietly watched for a while, but the door never opened.
Not even the fierce wind made any impact, as if the people inside had lost their reactions, and Shang Ruyi slowly turned her head back, facing the people around her again, she took a deep breath.
Inside, no matter the feelings, no one dared to intrude, but she was different, she still needed to face the people before her, and even the world.
At this moment, Zhou Ying had already sneered, "So, Young Madam cannot answer?"
Shang Ruyi calmly raised her eyes to look at him, and said, "As long as you speak the truth, there is no question that cannot be answered."
Zhou Ying said, "Then, please speak the truth, Young Madam."
Shang Ruyi said, "After that, I did indeed go south to Jiangdu Palace."
Zhou Ying immediately sneered, the sound so sharp that it almost hurt everyone’s ears, he said, "Why? You clearly thought that going south to Jiangdu was detrimental to the nation and the court, so why go against your own will?"
"..."
"Since you went to Jiangdu Palace, can it be assumed that your previous words were actually a cover-up?"
Beside them, Ji Hong also furrowed his brows.
Shang Ruyi glanced at him, but was not flustered, only calmly said, "I went south to Jiangdu Palace because the situation had changed at that time."
Zhou Ying squinted his eyes, "What had changed?"
Shang Ruyi said, "At that time, the Eastern Capital fell."
"...!"
Upon hearing these four words, everyone was shaken once again.
Without giving them time to calm down and think, Shang Ruyi continued, "Your Majesty going south to Jiangdu, and going south to Jiangdu after the fall of the Eastern Capital, are different."
"..."
"When the Eastern Capital had not yet fallen, going south to Jiangdu was merely a tour; but after the fall of the Eastern Capital, still going south to Jiangdu was not a tour, but abandoning Eastern Capital Luoyang, and even abandoning the court, nation, and people of the North!"
"..."
"Therefore, I went to Jiangdu to offer my humble advice to Your Majesty, requesting him to return to the Eastern Capital and sweep away the rebels."
Someone immediately sneered beside her, "What does this have to do with you?"
Shang Ruyi looked at that person with disdain and contempt, both in her gaze and in her action.
She said, "The rise and fall of a country is the responsibility of every man."
"..."
"Although I was not yet ennobled at the time, nor like those who eat the Emperor’s salary, should naturally take on the Emperor’s worries, yet, one can exert their humble strength and speak loyal words."
Those around immediately fell silent.
Everyone understood that it was wrong for the Emperor to go south to Jiangdu Palace, and going south to Jiangdu in the situation of the fall of the Eastern Capital was a grave mistake, and this grave mistake should indeed be stopped and corrected by the ministers of the court, just like when Ji Hong knelt outside Daxing Palace crying with blood, which was what Shang Ruyi meant by — eating the Emperor’s salary, bearing the Emperor’s worries.
However, the officials in the Eastern Capital at that time clearly did not do so.
And Shang Ruyi’s words were almost a slap in the face for all those who ate the Emperor’s salary!
That person was made to blush with embarrassment by her words, unable to retort, and could only bow his head, wishing he could find a crack to slip into.
Shang Ruyi did not "pursue victory" to say anything further to him, but turned her head to look at Ji Hong, whose expression was complicated, and said softly, "Lord Xiao Ji also died over this matter, I believe Lord Ji might have heard."
Ji Hong’s eyes gradually reddened.
Although he was wholeheartedly for the country and wholeheartedly for the public, it did not mean he was indifferent to the death of his son; instead, behind the comfort that his son died for the right cause was the most helpless sorrow of this old man.
Yet he said nothing, only raised his head to look at Shang Ruyi, seeing her calm yet with a hint of sadness, and said softly, "When at Jiangdu, Lord Xiao Ji, as Minister, did not let a day go by without submitting memorials to the late Emperor, urging him to regroup, lead the troops northward, and return to Luoyang to retake the Eastern Capital. This is Lord Xiao Ji’s devotion to the nation, disregarding life and death, which I admire greatly."
"..."
"Lord Ji, your son is just like you, truly a national hero!"
At this moment, upon hearing these words, even someone as strong-willed as Ji Hong felt a slight tremor.
In his cloudy eyes, a hint of tears welled up and finally began to fall slowly, as he choked and said, "Yes, yes..."
Seeing Ji Hong in tears, although the surrounding people were indignant before, at this time, some couldn’t help but feel a touch of compassion.
They glanced at each other, all lowering their heads, and some even began to step back.
But at this moment, someone in the crowd spoke coldly, "The fate of the nation lies in the hands of every commoner. What Young Madam Yu Wen said is indeed not wrong. It seems to answer Lord Zhou’s question just now."
Shang Ruyi raised her head and saw a tall man walking over.
It was none other than Captain Meng Wei.
This man was a military general, different from Ji Hong and Zhou Ying. His tall figure was like a mountain. When he stood before Shang Ruyi, the shadow he cast immediately enveloped her.
He sneered, "However, Young Madam, it seems you only answered half of Lord Zhou’s question just now."
"... "
"You said you went to Jiangdu Palace to persuade the late Emperor to march north and reclaim the Eastern Capital. Then why did the late Emperor not only refrain from marching north but instead spent his days and nights with you at Jiangdu Palace, drinking and making merry?"
"... "
"Are your words and actions truly aligned?"
As soon as he said this, a strange expression appeared on the faces of people around.
In this world, the most despised yet most attention-grabbing topic is the scandalous affair between men and women. Once entangled in such rumors, one would be trapped in the whirlpool of public opinion, unable to extricate themselves.
Especially when it involves the late Emperor Chu Yang!
His romantic reputation was known throughout the land. Even during the siege of Yanmen County, there were unpleasant rumors about him and Young Madam Yu Wen, although these were suppressed later. But now that it is brought up again, the fact that they spent undisclosed time together at Jiangdu Palace seems to further solidify the past rumors.
If this is the case—
The gaze of the crowd gradually turned frivolous and disdainful, and these looks were not just directed at Shang Ruyi. Some started looking past her toward the two tall figures behind her.
Yu Wenquan and Yu Wenye!
Shang Ruyi’s heart suddenly sank.
Although she knew that she would eventually face this issue and was prepared when she initially spoke, she still felt an inexplicable dull ache when truly confronting it. Turning back at this moment—sure enough, Yu Wenquan’s face had already hardened into a layer of frost.
He is a broad-minded elder, especially fond and protective of his old friend’s daughter.
But who can accept their daughter-in-law doing such a thing?
What’s more, back at Yanmen County, Chu Yang had once lifted her in front of everyone, which caused quite a commotion. Although Yu Wenye skillfully concealed it later, it certainly left a trace in Yu Wenquan’s heart.
Now mentioning it again, he would probably—
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but feel a wave of panic in her heart and instinctively looked at Yu Wenye.
But he just stood there, completely motionless, without a word, without even a glance.
As if he were entirely detached from the situation.
At this moment, even though she had long told herself that these matters should be faced alone, she couldn’t help but wonder—is this what he meant by "I will stand by you"?
Shang Ruyi’s eyes suddenly felt uncontrollably hot, as if something were stubbornly welling up inside, nearly brimming over her eyelids, almost about to fall. She quickly turned her head, forced down the surge of bitterness in her heart, and firmly suppressed the boiling heat.
No matter what, whatever needs to be faced, must be faced alone.
What he promised is his own affair, but what she said, she must fulfill!
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and looked toward Meng Wei, her voice slightly hoarse with suppression, "Captain, you only know that His Majesty was drinking and making merry at Jiangdu Palace. But do you know what wine was being drunk, what merriment was being made?"
"...!?"
Meng Wei paused, not understanding the significance of her counter-question.
The people around also showed expressions of surprise, but saw Shang Ruyi calmly say, "I can tell everyone."
"... "
"Indeed, the late Emperor was drinking and making merry at Jiangdu Palace."
"... "
"But, the wine he drank was ’last drink,’ and the joy made from pain."
Originally, the crowd’s mood was still indulged in the frivolous lewdness of exploring illicit relationships. Suddenly hearing such a statement, that almost base-minded thought felt as if it were forcibly stripped bare and exposed to daylight, immediately causing an indescribable sense of shame among them.
And the words "last drink" weighed heavily on Ji Hong’s heart.
He suddenly widened his eyes, urgently saying, "Last drink, what does it mean?!"
