RPAGF Chapter 1000 - 730: He Who Repeatedly Commits Evil Shall Bring About His Own Destruction
Chapter 1000 - 730: He Who Repeatedly Commits Evil Shall Bring About His Own Destruction
A chill slowly spread through Bai Fu Hall.Yu Wenye swept a cold glance over them, his gaze stern yet showing no further anger or disappointment. He merely turned his head toward Shang Ruyi and said, "It’s still a bit cold outside, let’s go in first."
Shang Ruyi nodded.
The fickleness of human affection, the warmth and coldness of the world—she had seen it all after her father’s death. Her heart was prepared, so she did not care that much. It was just that Yu Wenye was such a proud person; she had not expected that faced with all of this, he could remain so calm.
But when Yu Wenye reached out to take her hand and led her into the main hall, she realized—that was not quite so.
Yu Wenye’s hand was as cold as ice.
He might not lose his temper; even if he truly were angry, given the upbringing of a noble son, it would be impossible for him to show it on his face. But that chill in his heart—nothing could hide it.
Shang Ruyi stayed silent and instead tightened her grip around his hand.
The two of them walked side by side into Bai Fu Hall.
Before setting out for Taiyuan, Yu Wenquan had also held a banquet here to reward the few of them. But that time the banquet was smaller in scale, so it was held in a side hall of Bai Fu Hall. This time, however, they were celebrating the great victory of reclaiming the Dragon Raising Land, and on top of that there was the joyous occasion of the newly invested Crown Prince, so the banquet was grand and held in the main hall of Bai Fu Hall.
This great hall was tall and spacious, with three thick pillars on each side supporting the palace roof. Using the round pillars as a boundary, tall screens were set on either side of them. Behind the screens was where the musicians, dancing girls, eunuchs and others serving at the feast temporarily stayed. Within the hall, four rows of low tables were neatly arranged, and Palace Attendants had already set out cups, bowls and dishes, awaiting only the arrival of host and guests for the banquet to formally begin.
Shang Ruyi glanced at the two tables in the very front. Clearly, they were prepared for the victorious Crown Prince and King Qin.
Just then, a cold voice with a distinctly mocking tone came from the side: "Imperial Brother, Imperial Sister-in-law."
At the sound of this voice, Shang Ruyi’s brows knitted.
She and Yu Wenye turned their heads at the same time and saw King Qi, Yu Wencheng, standing inside the hall. Several eunuchs and officials clustered behind him. He had been laughing and chatting about something, but once he saw them enter, he pushed the others aside and came forward to greet them. With an affected politeness he bowed to the two and then said, "I didn’t expect you to arrive so early."
Yu Wenye said, "Since Father has granted a banquet, as his sons we should naturally come early to wait. Haven’t you come as well?"
"Yes, I’ve come too."
Yu Wencheng said with a broad grin, "But if I were you, Imperial Brother, I definitely wouldn’t come so early. Coming early means you have to watch people’s faces."
As he spoke, he looked around and said, "Usually, isn’t there always a crowd around Second Brother? How come there’s no one today?"
"..."
"They haven’t all gone to Chengqian Hall to flock around Han King—oh no, the Crown Prince—have they?"
Shang Ruyi’s brows had already twisted into a knot.
She was well aware that from the very beginning this Third Brother hadn’t gotten along with his Second Brother, not merely because of Aunt Hui’s deliberate pampering, nor only because Yu Wenye had been strict in his guidance of him. When she’d seen Yu Wencheng shamelessly beating that old beggar in the alley by Tinghe Building, Shang Ruyi had vaguely felt that some kinds of malice were innate.
As a child, that sort of malice might only be pranks, or a willfulness that made people dislike him.
But once grown, with power in hand... that malice would no longer be mere petty mischief; it could even stir up bloody storms.
For instance, this time—the great fire at Changchun Palace!
That fire had been man-made, and it had been aimed directly at Shen Wuzheng!
He and Yu Mingyue had likely been in contact long beforehand, which was why they came up with such a vicious scheme. They simply hadn’t expected that Shen Wuzheng would go to Tongguan to receive the troops coming from behind, and thus escape that calamity. Yu Wencheng, worried that they would come to settle accounts with him, fled back to Chang An in advance. Now that they were meeting again under so many watching eyes, it was naturally inconvenient to say much.
But Shang Ruyi still could not swallow her anger. She thought for a moment, then smiled through gritted teeth and said, "Third Brother, for you to return to Chang An safe and sound this time, your Second Brother and I are truly delighted."
Yu Wencheng raised his brows and looked at her. "Really, Second Sister-in-law? Are you truly delighted?"
"Of course."
Shang Ruyi said, "I often hear a common saying, that ’good people are blessed by the Heavenly Phase.’ Now it seems, those words are not false."
Yu Wencheng chuckled as well. Seeing that Shang Ruyi seemed about to continue, he cut in and said, "That saying is indeed rather interesting. If good people were not blessed by the Heavenly Phase, Second Sister-in-law, how could you have escaped from Jiangdu alive and unscathed?"