CHAPTER 466: CHAPTER 403: THOUGHTS OVER THE YEARS TURN INTO DEMONS

Shang Ruyi slowly furrowed her brows.

In fact, the words she just said, just from her identity and temperament, were not only unnecessary, but also unbearable, because saying them would seem as if she were inciting discord between brothers; but she not only said them, she didn’t even wait until they were alone at home, she said them at this moment, precisely because she knew the importance of the matter, she couldn’t let Yu Wenye face some dangers unknowingly.

However, Yu Wenye immediately denied her.

Under normal circumstances, she would have known when to advance or retreat, keeping silent, but at this moment, she couldn’t help but say, "But I’m sure what I saw in Yanyue City was really him!"

"..."

"I definitely did not see wrong!"

Yu Wenye glanced down at her calmly and said, "I do not doubt you in this."

"..."

"But I know, those we encountered on the road — were not him."

"Why?"

"Because,"

Yu Wenye took a deep breath and said, "he would not do such things."

The words "such things" he said with particular heaviness, and a strange light flickered in his eyes.

By this point, Shang Ruyi could say no more; after all, all her understanding of Yu Wenqian came from their first meeting, where he had the delightful elegance akin to white clouds, Jiang Yu’s words of "once attains the true dragon form," and just moments ago, him personally telling her "a mayfly between heaven and earth."

She could not be certain of his "goodness," nor could she assert his "badness."

Thinking of this, she let out a sigh of relief.

And then Yu Wenye glanced at her again, and said, "Let us not mention this matter again. What you saw in Yanyue City was just a stranger, a monk in white, not Yu Wenqian."

Shang Ruyi nodded, but looked at him with words left unsaid.

Before she could speak, Yu Wenye already said calmly, "I will look into what happened in the valley."

"...Alright."

Once this word was spoken, this matter seemed to be left at that, and between them, an odd silence emerged, until in the front, came Yu Wenquan’s deep and resonant voice —

"Feng Chen, aren’t you coming over yet?"

The two of them raised their eyes simultaneously, only to see Yu Wenquan looking at them, while beside him, amidst the crowd, still standing out was Yu Wenqian, and upon hearing their father’s voice, he slowly turned his head, casting a calm and insightful glance over the two of them, then lightly smiled.

The lighter his smile, the more it elevated Yu Wenquan’s joy.

Yu Wenye immediately took Shang Ruyi and walked over, to see Yu Wenquan smiling, "How long has it been since you brothers have seen each other, aren’t you coming over yet —"

"Father,"

Yu Wenye interrupted him, calmly saying, "Just now, Ru Yi and I have already paid respect to elder brother."

Yu Wenquan’s thick brows furrowed.

He seemed never quite pleased with this son’s interruptions regardless of the occasion, yet hearing this, he couldn’t afford to be angry, his gaze turning to the downcast Shang Ruyi, seeming to realize something.

He let out a deep breath, then smiled and said, "As long as you’ve seen each other."

The surrounding people, who were initially chattering and flattering, also quieted down. Although most of these were officials from Daxing City, not everyone was aware of the Yu family’s two sons’ martial matches, yet these people had eyes honed by experience, and immediately caught on to the inexplicably strange atmosphere between the two sons and the Young Madam.

And as they quieted down, the already strange atmosphere became even more awkward.

Fortunately, at this time, Yu Wenqian smiled and said, "Although we have met, I have been separated from my second brother for too long, and there are many things I want to say, just not here, it’s inconvenient."

Upon hearing this, Yu Wenquan’s eyes lit up again.

He smiled and said, "That is natural, this is a temple, and it’s inappropriate to speak words of close familiarity here. In that case, let’s head back."

Saying this, he was about to turn around and leave with Yu Wenquan.

Yu Wenye said, "Father, aren’t you staying for the afternoon’s Dharma assembly?"

At these words, Yu Wenquan’s thick black brows twitched slightly, as if warily glancing at Yu Wenqian beside him, then he said, "The important matters of this assembly have been done, the rest of the scriptures can be left to the monks to recite."

"..."

Yu Wenye’s eyes flickered slightly.

After a moment of silence, he softly said, "Yes."

Only then did Yu Wenquan wave his hand: "Let’s go."

With that, he turned and walked away with Yu Wenqian, followed by Xue Daotong and others.

Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi were half a step behind.

Though it was only half a step, the crowd in front was bustling, while behind there were only the two of them, appearing like a burden trailing at the end, even if their steps closely followed, they still couldn’t blend into the crowd ahead.

And Shang Ruyi’s mood, like her steps, grew heavier and heavier.

In fact, just now, speaking of Yu Wenqian in front of Yu Wenye already seemed like inciting discord between brothers, but at this moment, what felt more choking in her heart was Yu Wenquan’s attitude.

This Dharma Assembly, as Yu Wenqian described, was meant to cleanse the grave crime of "regicide." In other words, it was for Yu Wenye and himself. But in Yu Wenquan’s words, "Leave the scriptures for the monks to recite," it was clearly indicating his difficulty in using this Dharma Assembly to let Yu Wenqian set aside the Buddhist scriptures and return to the Yuwen Family.

For him, this was the most important aspect of the Dharma Assembly!

Even if she wasn’t willing to admit it, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but become aware of this fact—

Yu Wenquan, he was too partial to Yu Wenqian!

Even though this son had always been away from the Yuwen Family, had not served at his feet, had not accomplished great feats, and had not done any of the things a son ought to do, yet his favoritism towards this eldest son emerged from within his bones.

And what about Yu Wenye?

Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but turn her head to look at the person beside her.

Just like before, Yu Wenye’s face remained unchanged, as if everything before him was already familiar, and even his gaze didn’t waver.

Until his fingertip was gently pinched.

Yu Wenye’s breath deepened. He lowered his head to see a white, delicate hand gently holding his hand.

Though it was only his fingertip being pinched, the fragrance and warmth emanating from her spread instantly through his fingertips straight to his heart, and Yu Wenye’s heart beat with imbalance.

He looked at Shang Ruyi and lightly smiled.

After a while, everyone had arrived outside the mountain gate of Dayan Temple. There were still some officials lingering outside. As soon as the Grand Chancellor appeared with the eldest son, everyone eagerly welcomed them, causing another round of hustle and bustle.

Just then, Shang Ruyi raised her head and saw a carriage parked by the roadside. It seemed someone was boarding the carriage behind it.

With a flutter of fabric, the person disappeared inside the carriage.

Her heart somehow stirred slightly, and instinctively she took a step forward. But her hand was holding Yu Wenye’s hand, so when she moved, she pulled Yu Wenye along.

He immediately asked in a low voice, "What’s wrong?"

At this moment, a voice came from behind with a smile, saying, "Second brother, sister-in-law."

Upon hearing these words, Shang Ruyi felt a chill on her back, and Yu Wenye immediately turned around. He saw Yu Wenqian slowly approaching with a smile, saying, "I heard Father mention that you two were in Jiangdu these days—it must have been a perilous journey back."

"..."

Yu Wenye glanced at him with flickering eyes and then smiled, "More fright than harm."

Yu Wenqian nodded and took out two incense bags, offering them in front of them, saying, "These are the peace charms I requested for you, though they’re a bit late, they might be somewhat useful since you’re carrying them."

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi also slowly turned around to look at him.

Monks also request peace charms?

Moreover, placing peace charms inside incense bags is quite rare.

Her heart was involuntarily filled with a sense of caution, but upon meeting those clear eyes, they had no trace of shadow or malice, like a bright moon hanging in the sky, a clear world stretching for miles, open to the point that rendered her speechless.

Yu Wenye reached out to take them and also smiled, "Thank you, elder brother."

Yu Wenqian smiled and then turned and walked away.

As soon as he walked away, Shang Ruyi exchanged a glance with Yu Wenye, but neither spoke. Until she turned her head again, the carriage from earlier had already slowly driven off. Shang Ruyi instinctively let out a soft call, and Yu Wenye asked, "What is it?"

Shang Ruyi gently replied, "Whose carriage is that?"

Yu Wenye glanced at it, "Seems like it’s the Left Brave Guard’s—"

Shang Ruyi’s heart stirred, "The Yu Family’s?"

"Yes. What’s wrong?"

"...Nothing."

Although she said this, her gaze seemed deeper than before.

At this moment, those officials had tangled for half a day, finally finishing their prepared flattery, and Yu Wenquan was about to turn around and leave. But upon hearing a Buddhist chant behind him, he turned to see the Abbot Master Xinzeng emerging. Smiling earnestly at him, he said, "Farewell, Duke."

Upon seeing him, Yu Wenquan paused his steps.

He thought for a moment and said with a slightly playful smile, "Your Dharma Assembly was very well organized, but in the future, I fear that neither I nor my sons will return. Xin Zheng, recite your scriptures, save your people, and don’t think too much about other matters."

His words carried a certain authoritarian tone.

However, Master Xinzeng was extremely astute, naturally understanding the meaning within his words, so he smiled apologetically and nodded repeatedly, his small eyes twinkling with astuteness curling into two lines, "I will remember the Duke’s words."

"Mm."

Only then did Yu Wenquan nod, turning away to leave.

But just as Yu Wenqian was nodding to Master Xinzeng and was about to turn and leave, Master Xinzeng suddenly said, "Young Master, just now when listening to your verses in the Scripture Pavilion, I was deeply moved. Unfortunately, I couldn’t converse with you at the Inner Altar Dharma Assembly. However, I do have a saying I wish to present to you."

At these words, Yu Wenqian stopped his steps and turned to look at Xin Zheng.

He smiled and said, "Master, please say it."

Master Xinzeng cleared his throat and uttered in a low voice, "Few become Buddhas and many chant Buddha’s name, chanting for long may turn one into a demon. If you desire to self-attain Buddhahood now, few are who chant none at all."