In the blink of an eye, the sky turned dark.
When Yu Wenye returned to the brightly lit Qianqiu Palace, there was still a trace of doubt in his eyes. Upon seeing Shang Ruyi sitting on the couch reading, with no one serving her, he heard faint voices coming from the rooms at the back of the hall. He walked over and asked, "Did sothing happen today?"
As he spoke, he began to remove his heavy outer garnt by himself. Shang Ruyi stood up to help him but was pushed away. He threw the garnt onto the rack himself, then pulled Shang Ruyi’s still-warm hand and sat back down on the couch. Looking around, he noticed that Tushere, who usually stayed by her side, was not there, and he sensed sothing amiss. He said, "When I just returned, I heard a lot of noise coming from Jinyu Garden. It’s the sa here too."
"..."
"What exactly happened?"
Shang Ruyi knew she couldn’t hide it from him, and besides, she needed to discuss the matter with him. She said softly, "I told you, just don’t tell the Emperor."
Yu Wenye frowned imdiately upon hearing this.
But he still nodded, and Shang Ruyi told him everything that had happened today. The more Yu Wenye listened, the tighter his brow beca. When he heard that both sides needed to investigate their own people, his brow was furrowed into a knot.
He imdiately said, "You—"
Before he could finish, Shang Ruyi already said, "Don’t worry, I didn’t eat any of it."
"..."
"Not only did I not eat it, but I also discovered it early and did not touch that stuff at all."
Upon hearing this assurance, Yu Wenye finally breathed a sigh of relief, but his face imdiately filled with anger—he was born a soldier, inherently exuding an aura of dominance. Once angry, his entire being seed to emanate a palpable murderous aura, making Shang Ruyi’s breath a bit stifled.
Yu Wenye seed to notice this too. He furrowed his brow, tried to relax his breath, and then said to Shang Ruyi, "Have they found anything?"
Shang Ruyi sighed and said, "It’s not that I’m being protective, but the item was only passed through Chang Wan’s hands under my watch before it reached . What can we find out?"
"..."
Yu Wenye remained silent for a while, then suddenly said, "It couldn’t be her fault."
Shang Ruyi blinked.
Although she also believed in Chu Ruoyan in her heart, so things just couldn’t be properly explained by re description of Ruoyan and Panqing’s mindset and emotions. Outsiders still needed ti to think about it, but Yu Wenye’s quick conclusion seed a bit too assertive.
She then asked, "Do you trust her that much?"
Yu Wenye turned to look at her, just about to say sothing, when Tushere and Chang Wan entered the hall. Seeing that Yu Wenye had returned, they imdiately stepped forward to greet him.
Yu Wenye asked, "How is it?"
Chang Wan replied, "Your Highness, we checked all the people and rooms in the rear courtyard but didn’t find even a trace of Five Elents Grass Ash."
This result was not surprising. Shang Ruyi calmly said, "I understand."
After saying this, the hall beca quiet.
Everyone knew that if it wasn’t an issue on their side, it must be a problem from where the item ca from. But Yu Wenye had just said it couldn’t have been Chu Ruoyan, then—
At this mont, Yu Wenye, though still slightly frowning, seed much calr. After thinking for a mont, he said, "Let’s have dinner first. If there’s no news from that side after dinner, I will personally go over to take a look."
Upon hearing this, Tushere and Chang Wan imdiately went down to prepare the al.
Hesitantly, Shang Ruyi said, "You plan to go over? Perhaps you should refrain from getting involved in this matter."
Yu Wenye looked at her, "Hmm?"
Shang Ruyi said, "This matter is just—a back courtyard issue."
The implication was that it was not sothing n should handle.
Yu Wenye, however, frowned and said, "If it were just a conflict between you two, I wouldn’t interfere, but this matter clearly involves soone trying to harm you. I can’t ignore it."
As he spoke, his hand clenched tightly, his knuckles making popping sounds.
Shang Ruyi understood that soone daring to pose such a threat to her made Yu Wenye undoubtedly angry, but since the truth hadn’t been uncovered yet, he rely restrained himself for now. Nevertheless, she hesitated for a mont and said softly, "But, I told Lady Chu I would give her the evening to investigate. She will give the results tomorrow."
Yu Wenye shook his head, "You are too generous. Should sothing like this wait until tomorrow?"
"..."
"Although her Jinyu Garden has many people, the place isn’t big. Good or bad, they should be able to give an explanation before midnight."
Shang Ruyi blinked.
Just a mont ago, Yu Wenye had emphatically said there couldn’t be a problem with Chu Ruoyan, sounding like he was defending her. But now, his words seed to imply certainty that there was an issue on that side, and he wasn’t even willing to give them the night. Was he protecting Chu Ruoyan or suspecting her?
Though puzzled, at this mont, resolving confusion wasn’t the most pressing matter, so Shang Ruyi didn’t ask further questions. Shortly after, people from the Food Bureau delivered dinner, and the two sat down to eat.
Although it had been a busy day and she was a bit hungry, Shang Ruyi was preoccupied and didn’t eat much.
Just after finishing her al, Tushere walked in from outside, carrying a tray with a stew pot on it, the lid tightly closed. As it was placed beside her, the steamy warmth and a sweet fragrance emanated from the pot even before the lid was opened.
Shang Ruyi said, "This is—"
Tushere glanced at Yu Wenye and said, "It’s what His Highness instructed the Food Bureau to make: sweet soup."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi imdiately understood. He must have been worried that she would eat too little during dinner and be hungry again at night, so he specially asked the Food Bureau to prepare this sweet soup. She pursed her lips and smiled at him, but Yu Wenye kept a stern face and said blandly, "I’m afraid you’ll get hungry at night and bother others, besides, haven’t you been fond of sweet and sour things lately."
Shang Ruyi smiled so sweetly that her eyes narrowed: "Mm."
Yu Wenye shook his head, and as Shang Ruyi lifted the lid, the sweet fragrance hit her, and she couldn’t help but think of the hawthorn cakes Chu Ruoyan had sent over earlier in the day, sighing lightly.
Yu Wenye asked, "What’s wrong?"
Shang Ruyi took the spoon Tushere offered, had a sip, and found the sweet soup smooth and not overly sweet, very pleasant to taste. Thinking again of those bright red hawthorn cakes, which should be even more delicious with their sweet and sour taste, she said softly, "Actually, the hawthorn cakes Lady Chu sent today looked very nice, but unfortunately..."
Yu Wenye was silent for a mont and said, "It was the first ti she cooked for soone."
Hearing this, Shang Ruyi also fell silent. Actually, from what Panqing said today, she sowhat understood Chu Ruoyan’s thoughts. Just like the words she said to herself when they first entered the palace, she had accepted her fate and planned to get along well with her, so she wanted to take this opportunity to build a relationship.
For a once noble princess to do so, it’s rare.
It’s just a pity—
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but sigh, "It’s just a pity for her kind intention."
Yu Wenye was silent for a mont but said no more, only saying, "Drink up while it’s hot. I’m going to check on the Jinyu Garden."
After saying this, he got up to wash his hands, and Chang Wan promptly brought over hot water and a towel.
Indeed, Shang Ruyi didn’t have much appetite while eating her al, but the sweet soup was sweet and smooth, making it very tasty. She drank several mouthfuls, feeling rejuvenated and much more comfortable, then rembered sothing and turned to Tushere, "By the way, why did you go get it this ti?"
Usually, the dishes prepared by the Food Bureau were delivered by special Palace Attendants, while Tushere and others were responsible for arrangents in the Qianqiu Palace. Yet just now, she went herself.
Tushere imdiately said, "I don’t trust others, so I went myself."
Clearly, after today’s incident, she beca more vigilant.
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but laugh, "No need to be so cautious."
However, Tushere disagreed, lowering her voice, "We have to be careful. If Mr. Su hadn’t been there today, what would have happened if the Princess had eaten it?"
As she spoke, she leaned closer to Shang Ruyi and whispered, "I saw several people running around as if they were looking for sothing when passing by Jinyu Garden earlier."
"Oh?"
"I wonder if they find anything and how they will explain it to the Princess tomorrow."
Shang Ruyi frowned slightly, deep in thought.
Tushere continued, sighing, "Anyway, I don’t trust outsiders now. The palace is full of strange happenings."
"..."
"And that grass ash today, no one knows where it ca from."
As she spoke, her doubts grew, and she began to worry aloud, "I even discussed with Chang Wan and Wo Xue earlier. How could ash fall out of nowhere? Besides, even if ash fell from the sky, wouldn’t it have a lid? How did it end up on those hawthorn cakes?"
Hearing this, Shang Ruyi’s hand holding the spoon sank, causing the spoon to hit the bowl with a "ding".
anwhile, Yu Wenye, who had washed his hands and was about to leave, heard this and stopped in his tracks, turning to look at Tushere, then at Shang Ruyi.
Their eyes t, as if sparks flew between them.
The next mont, Shang Ruyi suddenly said, "She’er, go fetch that box again."
"Ah?"
Tushere was montarily stunned but quickly reacted, turning to fetch the box. As she took a step out, Yu Wenye added, "Be careful with it when bringing it over, don’t bump it."
Tushere grew more confused, not knowing what they realized, but hurried away regardless.
Instead of leaving, Yu Wenye returned to the table, sitting down. As the two exchanged glances, their eyes grew sharp and intense.
Before long, the box was brought back.
Following Yu Wenye’s instructions, Tushere was extrely cautious with it, setting it down without making a sound. When the item was before them, the two fell silent again until Shang Ruyi said, "Are you going to open it, or should I?"
Yu Wenye took a deep breath, "I’ll do it."
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