Chapter 351: Chapter 316: I, a lifetime without fault!
The doors of the Bright Hall slowly closed before their eyes.
And with that, all the outside crises, all the splendor, were shut out. The hall returned to silence after the doors closed with a heavy thud.
Shang Ruyi lifted her head, watching Chu Yang as he ascended the Danbi step by step, lost in thought, facing the resplendent Dragon Chair.
His back was as lonely as ever.
Just moments ago, surrounded by swords, nearly driven to the brink of despair, Chu Yang had told Wang Shaoji and Wang Shaoqiu and the others just one thing—The Emperor has his own way to die and place to die. These men seemed reluctant to push him too hard, thus allowing access to the Bright Hall and letting him begin his final journey there.
Then, they all retreated outside the hall.
At this moment, only the two of them were left in the Bright Hall, and in the center of the hall was the sword that Wang Shaoji had left behind.
This, then, was their end...
As Shang Ruyi stared, lost in thought, at the sword gleaming coldly, a pair of Feathered Immortal Shoes slowly stepped into her vision, followed by an ethereal white robe like snow. Chu Yang approached the sword, bent down, and picked it up.
"Your Majesty..."
Shang Ruyi took a step forward.
At this point, there was really nothing left to say. The whole Bright Hall was surrounded, and even several palace gates had fallen into the control of the Imperial Guard. Tonight, until now, they had no escape; the only end lay upon that blade.
And Chu Yang held this sword, carefully examining its sharp blade.
After a while, he smiled at his own reflection on the blade, a smile as sharp and cold as the sword: "Who would have thought, just a group of brutes, yet they could criticize my faults."
Shang Ruyi felt a pang in her heart.
In fact, what Wang Shaoqiu had just said, she dismissed as nonsense, but—no matter how foul or unbearable—it was true, and she could not deny it.
Otherwise, those words could not have aroused such a furious response among the Imperial Guard soldiers.
This realm, indeed, had been ravaged by war, fractured and broken, and Chu Yang had made no effort to amend it. Instead, in his avoidance, he had caused even greater crisis and misery.
While she remained silent, Chu Yang’s gaze slowly rose from the bright blade to her.
"Do you truly believe what they say, that after killing me, a wise and benevolent ruler will bring prosperity to the people and a long-lasting peace?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi’s mind suddenly wavered.
A wiser one...
Bringing prosperity to the people, ushering in a century of peace...
Could it be—
As she was lost in thought, Chu Yang seemed to see something in her eyes. He narrowed his long phoenix eyes slightly and said, "What? Do you really believe it?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi looked up at him, speechless.
At this moment, she shouldn’t say she believes.
But in her heart, she understood better than anyone; this matter perhaps required no doubt.
There is, there must be.
Only that person and his son had already abandoned her. Their achievements, supposed to bring prosperity to the people and a long-lasting peace, had nothing to do with her anymore.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty need not ask Ru Yi."
"..."
"This matter, Ru Yi actually—does not care."
"..."
Chu Yang looked at her silently for a while, then suddenly smiled and said, "Yes, at this point, I really shouldn’t consider those things anymore."
As he spoke, he slowly raised the sword in his hand, and the flash of the blade’s edge passed over his eyes, as if piercing him at that moment.
Shang Ruyi said, "Your Majesty!"
But Chu Yang did not look at her; he just kept staring at his own reflection on the blade, smiling faintly, and said, "You’re right, indeed, I’ve given up."
"...?"
Shang Ruyi was stunned, unable to react for a moment, but then she quickly understood. His words were in response to her previous accusation of him as the Emperor, for easily giving up everything.
Shang Ruyi’s voice instantly became somewhat hoarse.
"Your Majesty..."
"But, I also regret it."
"Why?"
How could someone like Chu Yang say the word regret? Shouldn’t he be someone who, no matter how battered and bloodied, would never retreat or repent?
Why did he regret?
Turning to meet Shang Ruyi’s startled gaze, Chu Yang smiled lightly and said, "I regret bringing you to my side."