Chapter 347: Chapter 314: My Heart is Like a Lamp, Yet You Haven’t Ignited it_2
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi could only smile bitterly.
If she had known earlier that the person he truly loved was Empress Jiang, would she have ended up like this?
She chose such a life, there were indeed benefits, but also costs. Even at this moment she did not regret - as long as she could protect the family she loved, any cost was worth it - yet pain is pain, just like the joy in her heart when facing such a beautiful spectacle cannot deceive anyone, her pain cannot deceive herself.
Seeing the pain in her eyes, Chu Yang said bitterly, "Am I too late?"
"..."
Although her feelings had already been clearly seen through, hearing this question, Shang Ruyi was still in a daze.
Was he really too late?
Yet, she remembered that day, he appeared in the rain holding an umbrella, elegant and gentle like an Immortal, accompanying her on a walk to enjoy the scenery, not saying a word, but soothing the sorrow in her heart with the tranquil atmosphere.
Was it really too late?
Actually, it wasn’t.
At that time, she hadn’t yet harbored deep feelings for Yu Wenye, nor had she misunderstood that perhaps she moved his heart after experiencing the Battle of Xingluo Granary together, so once again she gave her heart, even her body, away.
But why was it still too late?
Perhaps it was because the Feathered Immortal Shoes stained with a bit of mud were casually thrown aside, and he himself did not cherish the effort and resources spent on that meeting in the rain. His arrogance of believing that all things in heaven should serve him made her both respect and distance herself from him.
But these things she no longer intended to say.
Because she knew Chu Yang would not listen, his arrogance was born from inherent superiority, and to him, the people were nothing more than ants crawling at his feet. Along the way, how many ants and mosquitoes did Shang Ruyi tread upon, feeling no pity whatsoever, and neither did Chu Yang.
"Now what? He makes you sad, causes you pain, and still you are unwilling to turn back? Unwilling to accept me?" his tone more bitter as he looked at the pale little woman before him.
"..."
Shang Ruyi gently shook her head.
Chu Yang’s eyes turned colder: "You would rather be the wife of an Assistant General than the woman of the Emperor?"
Shang Ruyi did not immediately answer him, merely turned her head, not to look at the splendid fireworks in the sky, but at the Jiangdu Palace illuminated by fireworks and glazed lanterns. Yet, she couldn’t see what lay in those dark places that fireworks and lights couldn’t brighten.
She softly said, "Because Your Majesty... is not a good Emperor."
".....!"
In an instant upon hearing this, Chu Yang’s eyes turned red: "What did you say?!"
At this moment, Shang Ruyi no longer spoke indirectly, nor concealed anything. She calmly looked at Chu Yang’s nearly ferocious expression and repeated once more slowly, "Your Majesty is not a good Emperor."
"..."
"Perhaps—no, Your Majesty is indeed a wise person, a prodigy unmatched by the people of this world. Your Majesty considers far and wide; every action you take, from a long-term perspective, benefits the Da Ye Dynasty and the country. But—"
Chu Yang sneered: "Are you about to say I disregard the people’s strength, levy taxes arbitrarily? Is it those old clichés again?"
Shang Ruyi said blandly, "Perhaps His Majesty can no longer listen to these words. Actually, Ruyi, simple-minded as I am, doesn’t know what makes a good Emperor. But I do know one thing—as an Emperor, one should never speak of giving up lightly."
Chu Yang’s gaze flickered violently, as if fragile glass struck heavily, almost shattering.
"You say, I’ve given up?"
"Isn’t it so?"
"..."
"If you haven’t given up, then why would you easily abandon the Eastern Capital Luoyang, which you have managed for over ten years? Even knowing that the fall of Luoyang could endanger the Empress and Princess Han Wang, why would you not turn back, not rescue them?"
"..."
"These days, how many reports have arrived of rebel forces arising everywhere, not only has the Eastern Capital fallen, but even Daxing City is in jeopardy. Yet His Majesty not only refrains from rescuing, but rather ignores these pressing reports entirely. Isn’t this act of His Majesty abandoning your own country?"
"..."
"What did Your Majesty do after arriving at Jiangdu Palace? As the Emperor, your Emperor’s Sword can cut through wind and rain, vanquish sinister evil, eliminate treacherous villains, but should not be wielded in trivial matters like Sunflower Meat Cutting..."
"..."
"Did you really come south just for a tour?"
"..."
"Or is it to indulge in the last bit of pleasure as the Emperor in your life here?"
Every word she uttered felt like an invisible blade, stabbing deeply into Chu Yang’s heart. Though strong and stubborn, at this moment he could not withstand the searing pain from within, not knowing if it was her words that pierced like knives or his own undeniable heartache.
Yet, he still refused to concede.
Throughout Chu Yang’s life, the concept of yielding was not allowed to exist.
He took a deep breath and sneered, "If what you say is true, then what is your purpose in accompanying me today?"
Shang Ruyi looked at him and slowly said, "Your Majesty regards Ruyi as a confidante. Though Ruyi admits she cannot truly be Your Majesty’s confidante, I am willing to repay a confidant with my life."
"..."
"I will accompany Your Majesty on the last stretch of the journey... no matter where this journey leads."
"No matter where this journey leads?"
Chu Yang repeated this phrase, a glint seemingly flashed in his eyes, but then he sneered again and said, "Where do you think the Emperor and you will end up?"
"I—"
This time, Shang Ruyi’s words couldn’t continue.
Just as she was about to speak, a rumbling sound suddenly interrupted her voice, initially thought to be another burst of fireworks, but immediately, they realized it wasn’t.
The sound came from beneath the red steps.
Moreover, it wasn’t just the roar of the sound; even the ground began to tremble slightly.
Both were greatly shocked, hastily turning their heads to look down, only to find countless armored Imperial Guards swarming in from both the Wenhua Gate and Wugong Gate. Very soon, they filled the square below the Bright Hall. After entering, they quickly shut the gates on both sides, and even in the distance from the back of the Bright Hall, the sound of side doors closing could be heard.
Evidently, this place had been sealed shut.
Instantly, the atmosphere stiffened, and tension filled the air. Each figure on the square looked solemn, their eyes emanating a heavy murderous aura. When they looked up at the two figures standing in the hall, their fierce eyes shot forth a cruel and vicious light.
Chu Yang suddenly frowned deeply.
He immediately took a step forward, shielding Shang Ruyi behind him, and shouted to the people below, "Imperial Guard? What do you intend to do?!"