CHAPTER 415: CHAPTER 364: SOLO CONGZHEN

Shang Ruyi was momentarily stunned.

At this moment, a cautious voice sounded in her ear: "Madam?"

"Hmm?"

Shang Ruyi snapped back to reality and looked down, seeing a middle-aged man standing at the front of the long line, still waiting to receive rice. Apparently, he had been waiting for a while because she was distracted. He carefully asked, "Can I take it now?"

"Yes, of course you can."

Shang Ruyi steadied herself and hurriedly filled a bag of rice for him. The man thanked her profusely and left with the bag.

As he turned to leave, Shang Ruyi looked across the street again, only to find that the spot where the monk in white stood was now empty.

Had that person disappeared?

Shang Ruyi, for some inexplicable reason, instinctively looked down both sides of the long street, but there was no sign of the monk. He seemed to have floated away like a light cloud, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Shang Ruyi was momentarily lost in thought again.

Could it be that she had seen wrong?

At that moment, a warm, large hand gently rested on her shoulder, and Shang Ruyi quickly turned her head, only to see Yu Wenye standing behind her, having arrived at some unknown time. He looked at her and asked, "What are you daydreaming about?"

"Uh?"

Shang Ruyi was startled for a moment and immediately shook her head: "No, nothing."

The people lining up outside saw the Second Young Master Yu Wen emerge and all began to loudly express their gratitude. Some monks even bowed and saluted him directly, praising him highly.

Yu Wenye’s expression remained calm, neither overly humble nor arrogantly aloof. He simply said, "You all do not need to thank me. Take the grain back and live your lives well."

After speaking, he looked down at Shang Ruyi again: "You’ve been busy here for a long time; you should take a break. Dinner is ready, and if we wait any longer, it will get cold."

"Oh, alright."

Shang Ruyi obediently nodded, put down the rice measure, and followed him into the temple gate.

The people in line to receive rice watched the backs of the departing couple and couldn’t help but remark, "Truly a perfect match."

Returning to their room, Shang Ruyi freshened up, feeling much more refreshed. She turned around to see that the food was already set up on the low table in the room and couldn’t help but ask, "Aren’t we going to the dining hall to eat?"

Yu Wenye said, "It’s hot there."

"Oh."

Shang Ruyi didn’t ask further and nodded before sitting down.

Though it was only a meal for two and consisted of simple vegetarian dishes, it was much more sumptuous than before. There was still a bowl of tenderly stewed egg custard in front of her, with a few drops of sesame oil. The aroma rising with the steam whetted her appetite.

Shang Ruyi suddenly felt hungry. Just as she picked up the bowl and chopsticks to eat, there was a clattering of footsteps from outside. She turned to see Shantong’er charge in like a little calf.

Seeing the two of them eating, Shantong’er immediately approached with a smile: "Second Brother Yu Wen, Sister Ruyi."

Yu Wenye seemed a bit helpless, shaking his head without saying anything.

Shang Ruyi smiled and asked, "You’re back. Where’s that nun?"

Shantong’er replied, "I escorted her to the city gate."

As he spoke, his round eyes were fixated on the dishes on the table.

Seeing his expression, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but laugh, especially noticing his eyes glued to the bowl of egg custard. Understanding his intent, she pushed the bowl towards him and said, "You’ve worked hard. This bowl is for you."

"Thanks, Sister Ruyi."

Shantong’er grinned widely and quickly took the bowl.

Yu Wenye, seeing this, was about to say something, but Shantong’er had already tipped his head back and poured the entire bowl of egg custard down his throat like water.

Yu Wenye immediately held his tongue, sighing deeply.

Shang Ruyi didn’t expect the child to consume a whole bowl of egg custard in one gulp, and laughed, saying, "Why so greedy? Haven’t you had any in the past few days?"

Shantong’er set down the bowl, glanced at Yu Wenye, and chuckled sheepishly.

Yu Wenye remarked dryly, "He eats seven or eight eggs in one meal; do you think he hasn’t had any?"

"...!?"

Shang Ruyi, surprised, widened her eyes at Shantong’er: "You eat that much?"

Shantong’er continued to chuckle.

Shang Ruyi patted his round head, saying, "Eggs may be good, but you can’t have too many, can’t be digested."

Shantong’er immediately retorted, "No way. People always say I have a good stomach, can even digest stones."

Hearing this, Shang Ruyi burst into laughter, and even Yu Wenye, normally reserved, couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile, though he restrained himself from laughing out loud.

After a while, he said, "Alright, stop lingering here. Go eat your own portion. After eating, go move the grain. Tomorrow, there are four cartloads of grain bags, all left to you!"

"Understood!"

Shantong’er sprang up and happily left.

Watching him until his back disappeared, Shang Ruyi turned around and couldn’t help but sigh, "Fortunately, he was raised in the Royal Family’s temple, or who knows where he’d be now."

Yu Wenye didn’t respond to this.

After a moment, he said, "In the future, don’t give your things to others."

"Hmm?"

Shang Ruyi, puzzled, glanced up at him, but Yu Wenye, in a calm tone, said, "He has his portion. Yours is yours."

"Oh, alright."

It was just a bowl of egg custard; Shang Ruyi didn’t think it was a big deal, but since he said so, she obediently listened.

After all, the rations here were all provided by him.

With no further interruptions, they began to eat. After a few bites, Shang Ruyi suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, you once mentioned he wasn’t originally named Shantong’er, just took on that surname. What’s his original name?"

"..."

For some reason, upon hearing this, Yu Wenye’s gaze flickered slightly.

After a moment of silence, he slowly replied, "Shan Congzhen."

"Shan Congzhen?"

Shang Ruyi repeated the name gently and couldn’t help but smile, "What a lovely name."

Yu Wenye solemnly replied, "Hmm."

Shang Ruyi couldn’t resist repeating it again, then said, "To think that although his parents— they gave him such a good name—and that’s rare."

"..."

As she spoke, she noticed something strange in Yu Wenye’s expression.

So she asked, "What’s wrong?"

"..."

Yu Wenye glanced at her and said, "That name wasn’t given by his parents. When they sold him, they didn’t even give him a formal name."

"Who gave him that name?"

"..."

Yu Wenye paused for a while before saying, "The Empress."