CHAPTER 372: CHAPTER 333: PHOENIX CRY ON XIAO MOUNTAIN SIDE

She hurriedly put down the teacup, but when she looked up, she found that Yu Wenye seemed to be a little distracted too. Although not as much as she was, his fingers holding the teacup to his lips were slightly stiff.

The two exchanged a glance, with a flicker of light in their eyes.

Evidently, the two were shaken to the core by those two words—

Zuo Family!

This surname, this family, was not unfamiliar to them at all. Especially to Yu Wenye, it could even be called familiar because the Zuo Family also hailed from Dingchuan Military Town. Like the Yuwen Family and other noble families, they had supported the late Emperor Chu Yin in establishing the Da Ye Dynasty, rendering great achievements.

At that time, the steward of the Zuo Family was none other than Marquis Xiao Shan, Zuo Chen An, who served as the prime minister for two dynasties.

However, this highly positioned and powerful Duke Xiao Shan did not live to the present, passing away shortly after Chu Yang’s ascension due to illness.

Yet, there were many speculations about his death afterward.

After all, a prominent minister in the prime of life, skilled and brave, with high power and position, was unlikely to lose his life over a trivial cold; rumors even suggested he met his end after being given medicine personally dispatched by the Emperor from the palace.

Of course, such things are without foundation and initially were merely speculation, but what happened afterward seemed to corroborate these suspicions. After Zuo Chen An’s death, his family fell out of favor with the court. Particularly his son, who inherited the title, faced suppression from the court and was directly stripped of his title, causing a once illustrious family to gradually disintegrate and wither.

Thus, his eldest son, Zuo Heng, raised an army to rebel against the court.

That was the grand Left Family Rebellion of the time.

Feeling the sudden silence of the two distinguished guests, the vendor feared he had said something wrong and quickly smiled apologetically, "Oh, what am I saying—talking about old trivial matters. The water is boiling, let me make tea for you again."

With that, he turned and walked back to the stove.

But the two left behind showed different expressions, Shang Ruyi subconsciously raised her head and saw Yu Wenye also looking at her.

She couldn’t help but feel flustered, "Why are you looking at me?"

Yu Wenye replied, "What are you flustered about?"

"I, I’m not flustered."

"..."

Faced with her obviously disordered gaze, Yu Wenye said nothing more but silently took a handkerchief out from his pocket, pulled her hand over, and gently wiped her fingers that had just been wettened.

His hand was steady and strong, which made Shang Ruyi’s fingertips tremble slightly uncontrollably.

He said, "You still say you’re not flustered?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi bit her lower lip and quickly withdrew her hand. Although the tea had been wiped clean, her heart was still pounding madly. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the "Zuo Family" or the lingering touch on her fingertips.

Seeing her unwilling to speak, Yu Wenye did not press her, only said calmly, "I actually have a deep memory of that matter. After all, Zuo Heng was the oldest and most capable among our group. Speaking of leading troops—he would be under no one even by today’s standards."

Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but glance at him.

Yu Wenye was a man with no arrogant demeanor but had the proudest heart. To have him praise someone, that person must truly command his respect.

And in terms of leading troops, she also knew he had absolute strength and pride.

Yet, even he said Zuo Heng’s ability to lead troops was matched by no one, clearly including himself among "anyone."

Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and softly said, "Of course."

Even if her family had fallen early, making her unfamiliar with these noble offspring, she had long heard of Zuo Heng’s grand uprising in Ying and Song, attracting tens of thousands who followed. Moreover, because the leader came from a noble family, was brave and good at fighting, it caused the court’s forces to suppress the rebellion and suffer several setbacks, almost causing Luoyang to fall even with the Emperor present.

Afterward, it took loyal armies from dozens of places to suppress Zuo Heng’s rebellion.

Reportedly, in the last battle, he fought thousands of enemies alone until the end, refusing to surrender, and the blood spilled from his body stained vast lands, lasting for months!

He died a tragic death, and on the rule of the Da Ye Dynasty, it left the deepest scar of blood.

Because after that, rebel armies from all over surged up, and following that rebellion, the court suffered a significant loss of vitality, gradually losing control over various regions.

Shang Ruyi softly said, " I also heard my uncle mention him. My uncle often lamented that if he could have been used by the court—"

Before she finished speaking, Yu Wenye let out a faint laugh.

Shang Ruyi asked, "Why are you laughing?"

Yu Wenye’s eyes showed a hint of coldness, and he said lightly, "He was forced to a dead end by the court, how could he have been used by it; if the court were willing to use him, how would he have been forced to a dead end?"

Shang Ruyi’s hand slowly clenched on the table.

After a moment of silence, she softly said, "Do you know why he was forced to a dead end by the court?"

Yu Wenye turned to her, "Do you know?"

Shang Ruyi said, "Actually, I didn’t know before, but just now, I think I’ve understood."

Yu Wenye felt odd and asked, "Why?"

Shang Ruyi looked at him, stayed silent for a while, and softly said, "After three generations of the Imperial Map, Wanggang seizes the populace. Phoenix cries beside Xiao Mountain, let us await Mizhou..."

Yu Wenye’s brows instantly furrowed.

Once again, this prophecy song.

She had mentioned it before when returning from Yanmen County to the Eastern Capital, but Yu Wenye immediately stopped her, dismissing it as nonsense and not taking it seriously. Yet he did not expect Shang Ruyi to bring it up again at this moment.

He said, "Why bother believing these things?"

Shang Ruyi said, "I may not necessarily believe it either. But just now, I figured that Duke Xiao Shan’s death, and Zuo Heng being suppressed by the court, might be related to this prophecy.

"..."

Yu Wenye was taken aback. After pondering deeply, he realized it instantly.

Phoenix Cry Beside Xiao Mountain...

He looked up at Shang Ruyi and said, "You’re saying the court suspected the title and name of Duke Xiao Shan fulfilled this prophecy, hence they no longer trusted the Zuo Family and even stripped that title."

Shang Ruyi nodded and said, "Actually, suppressing the Zuo Family was already the court’s second wave of clearing those associated with this prophecy. Before that, wasn’t there another person related to ’Xiao’ who was also suppressed by the court?"

Yu Wenye’s eyes suddenly flashed, "Xiao Yuansui..."

Shang Ruyi said, "I remember, Xiao Yuansui became a major felon of the court because he participated in the Zuo Family’s rebellion. Afterward, with Zuo Heng’s death in battle, he survived and ended up fleeing everywhere."

"..."

This time, Yu Wenye did not speak again.

He only furrowed his brows, pondering for a long time, with a gleam of light flickering in those deep eyes.

After a long while, he murmured, "Phoenix Cry Beside Xiao Mountain..."