Meanwhile at Shang Mountain, Shang Yuan stood before the door looking at the rain and snow outdoors in the open sky, his heart all of a sudden becoming immensely cold.
At this moment, an aged woman with snow-white hair, clad in a simple grey-colored garment, stepped out; the person draped an additional coat over for him, saying: "Yuan'er is suffering a severe illness in such a manner, ought not to stand at this place excessively long; rapidly enter into the interior to rest."
Shang Yuan obeying the words of the person thereupon turned back to the bed to lie down.
The aged woman also followed to sit beside looking upon him, letting out a sigh, asking: "Is it true that Ah Yuan truly wishes to take refuge in the monastic order?"
Across an interval of silent contemplation and reflection, in the final analysis Shang Yuan also nodded his head. Solely awaiting a letter of repudiation from RongCheng to cut off the debt of karmic affinity, cutting off lingering attachments at the realm of red dust, and then willingly consenting to take refuge and renounce worldly life to become a monastic.
The aged woman gently shook her head, extending her hand to stroke his hair, asking: "Is it true that Cheng'er has performed something wrong causing my grandchild to be sorrowful or not? For what cause only just then yet wishing to go to take refuge in the monastic order? Speak to Grandma, Grandma definitely will scold and rebuke him."
"Grandma, ah…" Shang Yuan let out a sigh, striving to sit up, taking hold of her hand, saying: "He has performed nothing wrong at all, solely that…"
It was also the time he thought he ought to step back so that RongCheng could freely stride upon his own road of emperor.
"For so long now, I knew my very self was always a heavy burden obstructing his person." The person's very self originally was young in age yet high in talent, not solely possessing the talent of directing troops and commanding generals, but furthermore proficient in the realm of governing the state; the person possessed full and complete qualifications to become a wise and enlightened monarch, yet unfortunately because of loving a male, had no choice but to step back.
Having to become a heavy burden to him was originally already contrary to Shang Yuan's wishes, yet because of loving the person, he accepted casting away entirely all status and rights of a male, possessing no power to participate in imperial court consultations, solely to be permitted to remain beside to attend to and serve, keeping company along with the person in the capacity of a wife assisting a husband to raise the towel and organize the pouch; nonetheless, now it was no longer required.
"At present, wishing to return freedom to him, then there remains no other path; cutting off the earthly debt, toward afterward there remains no further reason to entangle or linger in attachment."
Listening to this, the heart of the old woman was somewhat heavy, saying: "That year Beiping King declined and decayed, the foundation of how many years because of an unworthy error collapsed to pieces; at present, there solely remains exclusively Yuan'er alone to continue the line of incense and fires. My marrying you to Cheng'er was already a great disadvantage and loss; now you furthermore go to renounce worldly life, Grandma truly cannot bear to look upon it."
Beiping King that year fell into a state of decline and decay, in the final analysis also because of contending for power and seizing the throne unsuccessfully; in the end, there solely remained each Shang Yuan alone. At that time, the officers and soldiers of the three armies were indignant, with one heart demanding to follow and support the young new king, wishing to rebuild the foundation.
In the final analysis, the Empress Dowager, because of wishing not to look upon her descendants continuing to battle and clash with one another, thereupon decided to stand out to arrange, settle, and reassure the soldiers and generals; she brought Shang Yuan back to her side, with entire heart supporting and teaching to avoid the person again walking into the rut of the overthrown cart of his imperial father.
From small, Shang Yuan had been taught to be utterly loyal to repay the kingdom, with one heart supporting the new king, being forbidden to generate a mind of betrayal; also because of that reason, he only then was permitted to study together with imperial relatives to increase the bonding and solidarity, solely that unfortunately he fell into the attention of RongCheng.
Speaking that he paid no mind to the person was also not correct; being harassed throughout how many years, how could he see nothing at all?
The more he paid mind, the more he conversely envied; after that, knew not from what moment, it had transformed into silently harboring affection; that preeminent talent of the person was not something anyone possessed, thinking that his own self in days to come supporting a wise and enlightened monarch like that was truly how fine and good.
The affair seemed as though fine and good until the fleeting moment the Empress Dowager decided to leave the palace.
No one expected that RongCheng had from a long time ago harbored a dream toward Shang Yuan, yet that was in no way an ordinary relationship of monarch and minister, but precisely a species of affection that was excessively wrong.
Knowing that inside the hand of Shang Yuan he held exceptionally massive military power that could cause harm to the imperial court, nonetheless RongCheng still intentionally set a trap to persecute, and in the final analysis kidnapped him, imprisoning him at the suburban villa, day and night coercing, violating, and humiliating him.
The past unfolded before his eyes with how much bitterness, hardship, and humiliation, yet at present it was already a far-away matter; now thinking back, if devoid of those days like that, then one would never understand what one's feelings reserved for the other party were. So that from then on, it was no longer mere affection, but transformed into another species of affection that was deeper, more bonded, and more frantic.
Nonetheless, even if loving the person how deep soever, still one could not be together for an entire lifetime; royal power was in no way a plaything where speaking of needing meant taking, and if not, then leaving it.
In former days, thinking the person still entangled along with himself, the deep affection and care thereupon could not bear to part away; yet now, what remained further? In the final analysis, it was also the ending of karmic affinity, the ending of fate, and the ending of time, and also granting his very self an excuse to permanently step back toward behind.
Thinking toward it, Shang Yuan let out a sigh, sorrowfully saying: "Since former times, this servant originally harbored no intention to contend and seize royal power along with his person, solely wishing with one heart to support and assist together with him to build the foundation to be more solid and firm. Unfortunately, the grand enterprise was not fulfilled, my very self conversely transformed into his male favorite, causing the family gate to be immensely dishonored, my own self ashamed beyond measure; nonetheless, I have never yet felt regret. That year, I also already handed over the military power to assist the person in consolidating power; now every single affair has been arranged and settled smoothly, considering it as possessing nothing further to linger upon."
The words having been clearly expounded, how could the old woman fail to understand the heart of the person? She solely stroked and rubbed upon his hair, saying: "That year, how difficult must it have been to obtain this marriage affair; willingly consenting to cast it away in such a manner, does Ah Yuan not feel it regrettable?"
"Regrettable…" How could he fail to feel it regrettable? Yet now, what could be transformed further? Then from here on, time would heal every single wound; one day looking back, it would also merely be like a dream passing across, a beautiful memory throughout life that would never be forgotten.