Shang Ruyi took a deep breath.
After a mont of silence, she slowly said, "Are you sure?"
Yu Wenye said, "The Ministry of War has already sent a vanguard of two thousand soldiers over to fight a preliminary battle. They had a skirmish and suffered significant losses. Soone recognized that the opposing leader is indeed Xiao Yuansui."
"..."
"It seems that he has indeed taken your words to heart—"
"What words?"
"No land under the heavens is not the king’s land. He indeed found a place beyond the king’s domain to make a coback."
"..."
Shang Ruyi looked at him with a bitter expression, unable to speak for a mont.
Back then, she indeed had the intention to give so advice, but it was mostly to comfort soone at the end of his rope. Yet, she never thought that Xiao Yuansui was rely a dragon stranded in the shallows and would make a coback so quickly, and moreover, would soon clash with Yu Wenye.
Looking back now, her words seed ironically like shooting herself in the foot.
The more she thought about it, the more regretful she beca and couldn’t help but murmur, "I just wanted to form so good karma..."
Yu Wenye said, "Your intention to form good karma wasn’t wrong; it’s just that in these chaotic tis, many things lack order, and doing good doesn’t necessarily yield good returns."
"..."
"In the future, be careful about—"
He paused here, letting out a deep breath.
Shang Ruyi understood his aning: "I know."
But she was still worried about the military matter and asked, "But the court only allocated you twenty thousand soldiers, how can this battle be fought?"
Yu Wenye glanced at her, his gaze seed a bit gentle, but soon turned stern again. He even let out a cold laugh as he began to speak, "The court’s calculations this ti are very precise."
"Calculations?"
Shang Ruyi furrowed her brow: "What do you an?"
Yu Wenye said, "Twenty thousand soldiers indeed hold no chance of victory, but this is my first battle since being promoted to Great General. If I can’t win it, it would be a great dishonor, and I might not be able to keep this position as Assistant General."
"So what is the court scheming? Doesn’t the court want you to win?"
"It’s not that, the court certainly wants to win, I have to win."
"But the soldiers—"
"Therefore, I must allocate more troops."
Hearing this, Shang Ruyi was stunned for a mont, then upon reflection, quickly understood.
She said hoarsely, "The court wants to, wants to force you to ask your father for troops?"
"Yes."
"..."
This ti, Shang Ruyi’s breath was also sowhat unstable.
It’s known that the founding heroes who hail from Dingchuan Military Town, like Duke Sheng, with the late Emperor Chu Yin, all established this territory through bloody battles. Each of them has their own household soldiers, who are valiant and far braver and fearless than the court’s troops.
However, they belong only to Duke Sheng.
This is precisely why the current Emperor is suspicious of so founding heroes, especially those Dukes holding significant military power. It’s not only because their rits overshadow the sovereign, but also because of their extraordinary strength, which constantly poses a threat to the court.
This ti, the court only allowed Yu Wenye to take twenty thousand soldiers to seize the Xingluo Granary, allowing victory but not defeat, essentially forcing him to deploy his household soldiers. In this way, if the battle is won, the court regains Xingluo Granary, and if lost, Duke Sheng’s forces are weakened.
Shang Ruyi had been holding that half-bowl of soup for a long ti, without taking a sip, and it was long cold by now. At this mont, she slowly set down the bowl, realizing her fingers were already cold.
For so reason, a strikingly handso face appeared before her eyes.
Yang Suyi—
No, it should be Chu Yang.
From the first ti she saw him, he was like an immortal fallen to earth. Although he was aloof and unruly, sotis even irritable and strange, Shang Ruyi always felt he was not a difficult person to understand.
However, recalling that handso face now, those phoenix eyes that always smiled tenderly, she felt a chill.
The Emperor is indeed the Emperor.
The Emperor’s Heart is truly inscrutable.
The Emperor can rely on him in the most dangerous tis, promoting him to Great General upon his mother’s death, bringing great honor to the Duke Mansion, yet also strategize against him in the least detectable places...
Even, through him, scheming against the entire Duke Mansion.
The hand Shang Ruyi had placed on the table trembled slightly, slowly contracting into a fist.
Seeing her grave expression, recalling the image of the sovereign sitting high on the Dragon Chair in the court today, thinking of the words that had been ringing in his ears for days, Yu Wenye couldn’t help but feel stifled in his chest and also lost his appetite, laying down his bowl and chopsticks.
He nonchalantly picked up a handkerchief to wipe his lips, saying, "I don’t wish to know how you t him or what kind of relationship you have."
"I—"
"I just want to tell you, sotis, don’t use too simple a mindset to deal with a complex person."
"..."
"The Emperor, the Son of Heaven, is not soone you should—provoke."
"..."
Shang Ruyi remained silent for a long ti, seemingly unable to refute his words. Although his words sounded quite piercing, she still lowered her eyes and said softly, "I know."
Yu Wenye watched her not refute at all, hesitated to speak, struggled for a while, and then said, "As long as you know."
After speaking, he stood up.
Shang Ruyi looked up at him and asked, "Where are you going?"
Yu Wenye replied, "Father instructed to rest for a while after coming back, then go to the study to find him."
Shang Ruyi quickly said, "Oh, then you should go quickly."
He unexpectedly stayed to dine with her, thinking that the Duke might also be impatiently waiting in the study. So Shang Ruyi imdiately got up to see him to the door. Yu Wenye felt she was being overly formal, looked back at her with displeasure, looked at the room, and then said, "Have soone clean up. Also—you, prepare my travel gear these days."
Shang Ruyi was stunned, "?"
Although she had been married here for quite a few months and had packed gear before, it seed like this was Yu Wenye’s first expedition, and it was the first ti he asked her to prepare his gear.
Seeing her hesitant expression, Yu Wenye’s face darkened, "If you’re unwilling, forget it."
After speaking, he walked away without looking back.
He left in a rush, a breeze stirred by his clothes swept over Shang Ruyi’s face, leaving her a bit bewildered. After a while, she spoke softly to the distant figure, "I didn’t say I was unwilling..."
She returned to her room, and soon, the kitchen staff ca to clean up the dishes. Once they left, she began to busy herself alone in the room, sorting out so of Yu Wenye’s clothes—Xingluo Granary was not far from Luoyang, and the weather wouldn’t be too different, but in tis of war, bumps and scrapes were unavoidable. Naturally, thick and durable coats were required, along with two more pairs of leather boots.
After finishing this, it was already evening.
Just as Shang Ruyi placed the last bundle aside, soone from the study ca to summon her, Yu Wenquan wanted her to co over, saying there was sothing to discuss.
Shang Ruyi was puzzled—weren’t they father and son discussing the dispatch to Xingluo Granary, what was there to discuss with her?
But she still got up and went over imdiately.
However, just as she reached the study door, she heard Yu Wenquan’s loud scolding inside, "You just refuse to listen to , don’t you!"
This frightened Shang Ruyi, causing her to halt abruptly, unsure whether to proceed or retreat. But after steadying her nerves, she decided to move forward, only to be stopped at the door by Mu Xian with a complex expression, "Young Madam."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"..."
Mu Xian hesitated for a mont, then pulled her aside and whispered, "Today, when the Duke and the Young Master were leaving the court, I seed to see General Wang pull the Duke aside for a few words."
Shang Ruyi widened her eyes, "What did he say?"
Mu Xian said, "I was standing far away, so I couldn’t hear clearly, but the Duke’s expression didn’t look good."
"..."
"Young Madam, you—be careful."
Shang Ruyi frowned and nodded resolutely.
That Wang Shaoji, truly hasn’t changed, even after suffering several setbacks with , he still wants to cause trouble. What he said in front of Yu Wenquan was probably not good!
Could it be that he talked about the matter that happened in Yann City?
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi’s mind grew a bit confused, and at this ti, the study already echoed Yu Wenquan’s voice, "Has Ru Yi arrived?"
Shang Ruyi cleared her throat and quickly said, "Yes, Father."
"Co in then."
"Yes."
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and pushed the door open, stepping into the study.
Upon entering, as usual, Yu Wenquan sat behind the desk. Clearly having just been angry, his expression wasn’t good. One elbow was propped on the table supporting his forehead, with several deep furrows of suspended needle lines etched between his brows. Yu Wenye, on the other hand, knelt at his subordinate position, likewise with a grim expression. When Shang Ruyi entered, he did not raise his head.
Shang Ruyi spoke softly, "Father, is there sothing you wanted to tell Ru Yi?"
"..."
Yu Wenquan didn’t answer her. His hand remained supporting his forehead, preventing Shang Ruyi from seeing his expression.
She only faintly sensed that the atmosphere around Duke Sheng was different today.
Born in Dingchuan Military Town, experienced in a hundred battles, he usually exuded a strong sense of intimidation. Yet in front of Shang Ruyi, he showed the loving side of a father-in-law who pampered his daughter-in-law, always smiling, even siding with her when speaking to Yu Wenye. This made Shang Ruyi unconsciously overlook his latent intimidating aura.
But at this mont, the kind of imposing aura coming from him, beca so overwhelming that breathing felt difficult.
Shang Ruyi held her breath, almost not daring to move.
After a while, Yu Wenquan said, "Ru Yi, I heard that Your Majesty has already ordered a pardon for Mr. Shen, and they will soon return to the Eastern Capital, correct?"
Shang Ruyi’s heart skipped a beat.
She hurriedly straightened up and replied, "Yes."
Yu Wenquan slowly lowered his hand, raised his head to look at her, and at this mont, his dark face seed to have a faint shadow, his gaze heavy enough to make one’s heart tremble.
He said, "Why is he the only one being pardoned?"
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