Along the way, Shang Ruyi did not say another word.
Yet even so, through the swaying curtains, she could catch glimpses of Tushere following beside the carriage, several tis with an urgent look of wanting to speak but holding back, ultimately saying nothing.
More than half an hour later, they returned to the Yuwen Mansion.
As soon as they stepped inside, Shang Ruyi felt as if everything that had sustained her along the journey was suddenly pulled away. She barely had ti to catch her breath when she looked up to see Aunt Hui walking slowly towards her.
Shang Ruyi imdiately pulled herself together and put on a smile to greet her.
"Aunt Hui."
"Young Madam,"
Aunt Hui’s eyes were so sharp they seed capable of seeing through flesh and bone. She scrutinized Shang Ruyi up and down carefully before smiling and asking, "Where did Young Madam and the young master go all day?"
Shang Ruyi replied with a faint smile, "Went to handle so matters, just returned."
"Young Madam has returned, what about the young master?"
"He has so matters to tend to."
"Oh..."
Aunt Hui looked at Shang Ruyi with a aningful smile and said, "Since returning to Luoyang, the young master indeed has more matters to attend to than before. Young Madam must be understanding of him."
Shang Ruyi smiled, "Of course."
Aunt Hui chuckled again before turning to leave.
Watching her back disappear, the smile on Shang Ruyi’s face gradually faded.
Up to this point, she understood the aning behind Aunt Hui’s earlier words to her at the villa — "Wonder if Miss Ruyi can see through so of the closest people and things."
Aunt Hui must have known about Princess Xinyue and Yu Wenye’s relationship long ago.
Hence, looking back at her own refusal to marry Yu Wenqian and instead choosing to wed Yu Wenye seems laughable.
But things have reached the point where she can no longer turn back.
As she walked heavily into the room and sat down wearily, she saw Tushere close the door behind him and looked at her urgently, whispering, "Miss, what is the relationship between the second young master and the princess?"
It was evident that she had been holding back her anxiety all the way.
Shang Ruyi lazily glanced up at her and smiled, "Why are you asking this?"
Seeing her so unconcerned, Tushere beca even more anxious, "I’m worried about you, Miss! Why was the Princess waiting for the young master at the city gate? When did she agree to go hunting with him? How co we didn’t know—did you know, Miss?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi hesitated before shaking her head.
Tushere’s expression turned more troubled, "Are they hiding sothing—"
Shang Ruyi imdiately said, "What are you thinking?"
"..."
"The Princess Xinyue is of royal descent, how could she engage in such matters."
But her nonchalant explanation failed to comfort Tushere, who grew even more concerned, "But why would she help us out of the blue? Moreover, the maid feels she seems quite—intimate with the second young master."
Shang Ruyi chuckled bitterly to herself.
Today, even without getting off the carriage, the Princess had made Tushere so anxious. If she found out that a couple of days ago she even ran into two people eting secretly in the Tinghe Building, wouldn’t the girl be even more distressed?
It seed right to keep it from her.
Shang Ruyi cleared her throat and slowly said, "You, always overthinking."
"..."
"Have you forgotten that the Duke’s mother, the Grand Dowager, is also the younger sister of the current Emperor’s mother, the deceased Empress Du?"
"Ah?"
Tushere blinked as if she had indeed heard people ntion it before.
Actually, if calculated closely, the current Emperor and Duke Sheng are cousins. Yet, due to their roles as ruler and minister, and the significant age difference between them, coupled with His Majesty the Emperor’s suspicion of such ritorious officials, he only interacts with Duke Sheng with the formalities of a ruler and minister. The kinship ties are almost negligible.
Shang Ruyi added, "Yu Wenye and the royal kin have so familial ties, naturally, there is so affection there."
"..."
"Besides, isn’t it good that she helped us?"
Hearing this, Tushere finally relaxed, though she still felt uneasy for so reason, "I just worry about you, Miss. Now with both the master and madam gone— we can’t let people wrong you."
Seeing her red eyes, determined to protect her, Shang Ruyi felt warmth and heartache.
Keeping it from her was indeed right.
As for the rest, she intended to swallow down quietly whatever couldn’t be changed.
So, she squeezed Tushere’s hands, "Alright, I know you care about , stop overthinking."
"Mm."
Finally appeasing the girl, Shang Ruyi breathed a sigh of relief.
Even though the sky was gradually dimming, she still took advantage of the daylight to handle a few tasks. When it ca past 9 PM, it was ti that she absolutely needed rest. She freshened up and then went to bed.
The room imdiately descended into silence.
Of course it was silent; she was the only person there.
Usually, though only she occupied the bed, she could clearly hear the breathing of another person in the room, even the faint rustling of clothes when slightly shifting the body, yet tonight, there was nothing.
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but lie on her side, looking towards the door.
Would Yu Wenye return tonight?
Or would they spend the night hunting?
A few days ago, Lei Yu ntioned how they often night hunt together in the past, wondering if the Princess was part of the hunting group.
If he doesn’t return tonight, what might the two of them be doing now?
...
Countless questions churned endlessly in her mind, displeasure suddenly welled within Shang Ruyi.
What am I doing?
Waiting by the door for him to return, am I turning myself into a forlorn wife?
Thinking this, she bit her lip, turned away towards the wall, forcing her eyes closed.
But just as she turned away, with her back facing the door, suddenly ca a creak, the door being opened.
"...!"
Shang Ruyi instinctively held her breath.
The person didn’t speak, nor did they imdiately enter, but stood in the doorway, seemingly surveying the room’s situation. Once discerned, they stepped inside.
Without turning back and without uttering a word, the presence of a familiar aura told Shang Ruyi that Yu Wenye had returned.
He hadn’t spent the night away.
Thinking this, Shang Ruyi found it amusing; his return shouldn’t have much impact on her.
Initially expecting that coming back so late, Yu Wenye would go straight to rest. Yet, as the footsteps gradually approached her bed, Shang Ruyi realized sothing was amiss.
Why is he heading towards ?
She instinctively held her breath again as the footsteps ca to a halt behind her.
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