Recalling that night in the military camp at Luokou Ferry, even though he was injured, even though he was bleeding, his breath was still hot, his arms were still powerful. When he kissed her, his strong and domineering aura even rendered her breathless.
Does he still need to drink deer blood?
Just as Shang Ruyi’s cheeks were flushed recalling all of this, Yu Wenye spoke again: "If you want to eat, then I——"
After saying this, he picked up the chopsticks.
"No!"
Shang Ruyi almost instinctively spoke to stop him.
But as soon as she finished speaking, she imdiately realized her actions seed like a kind of—complint, especially when she looked up and saw the unconcealable smile at the corner of Yu Wenye’s eyes. She blushed even more, hurriedly using chopsticks to move the dishes from his plate back in front of her, even moving the plate of little sweets further away from him.
She said softly, "You are not allowed to eat."
Yu Wenye smiled as he looked at her, complying willingly, not "competing" with her. After a while, he smiled and said softly, "You have a lot of confidence in , don’t you?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi bit her lower lip, her face red all the way to her neck.
She wasn’t foolish.
Tonight, it could be said, was her... first ti. Before getting married, her aunt had ntioned that the first ti would be painful, uncomfortable; if she couldn’t bear it, she must persuade her husband to cherish her well-being and health, and not to be reckless.
Yu also specifically reminded her that Yu Wenye appeared strong and vigorous, full of youthful fire, so she should be extra cautious.
And Yu Wenye...that night at Luokou Ferry, even severely injured, he made her head spin and heart flutter. Now that his injuries have healed and with many days of good rest restoring his vitality, if he were to consu more deer blood, wouldn’t that——be her undoing?
Thus, bearing her overwhelming shyness, she nonetheless had to stop Yu Wenye from "adding fuel to the fire."
What she didn’t expect was that this usually stern Yu Wenye could say such teasing, slightly rogue-like words to her.
Fortunately, just at that mont, the waiter ca in with a dish of stewed phoenix tongue.
Seizing this distraction, Shang Ruyi quickly picked up one piece of soft sparrow tongue and placed it into his plate, whispering, "You, eat this."
Watching her sheepish deanor, the corner of Yu Wenye’s eyes and brows were already overflowing with laughter. He knew better than to tease her further, fearing that this little girl’s face might burst with redness. So, obediently, he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.
The delightful taste of the food and their sweet, intertwined thoughts seed to complent each other at that mont, and even though no words were spoken, the occasional eting of their eyes wove together their feelings, making the air feel tender.
Yu Wenye watched as his gaze slowly moved from her face to her hands.
Actually, since that night after realizing the injury on Shang Ruyi’s fingers, he would occasionally notice that when she held chopsticks, her little finger appeared unusually twisted, likely trying to hide her oddly shaped finger bone by placing her little finger in her palm.
Yu Wenye asked, "Your finger, when did you get hurt?"
"...!"
Shang Ruyi’s heart trembled slightly.
Although they had agreed she would reveal this secret, perhaps including all of her secrets, to him on the last day of the one-month period, actually hearing him ask still made her heartbeat slightly irregular.
This feeling was different from her affectionate thoughts.
And Yu Wenye seed to understand her sensitivity, the first thing he asked about was her little finger.
Out of all her secrets, this was the most obvious one. Was he trying to use this as an entry point to delve into her heart?
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi looked up and glanced at him, then lowered her head to gaze at her twisted fingertip, after a long silence, she finally said softly, "When I was eight years old."
"Eight years old?"
Yu Wenye said, "Ten years ago? At that ti——"
Shang Ruyi’s expression beca increasingly bleak, and after a mont of silence, she spoke softly, "My father passed away that winter."
Yu Wenye slowly furrowed his brows.
Before marrying Shang Ruyi, they naturally had to understand her family background. In fact, they didn’t need to investigate much; before passing away, Shang Ruohong was a close friend of Yu Wenquan, who was aware of most of the family’s affairs.
Ten years ago, Shang Ruohong passed away from illness, having spent his last years at ho due to health reasons, particularly the year before his death, when Chu Yang ascended the throne, resulting in a change in the court ministers, where Shang Ruohong was even less valued.
It was during this period that this once legendary General of Cavalry, who orchestrated the split between Eastern and Western Turks and solved the Dynasty’s crisis, despondently perished.
This event, naturally, was considered a major affair.
However, the larger the affair, the easier it often is to overshadow the joys and sorrows of the minor characters, even if this minor character is his biological daughter.
Yu Wenye asked, "Then you——"
Shang Ruyi replied, "On the day of Father’s death, my elder brother and several elders of the clan chased out of the family."
Yu Wenye imdiately furrowed his brows: "They, dare?"
Shang Ruyi gave a bitter smile, saying, "I’ve heard they originally hoped Father would marry a lady from a distinguished family, but Father went against their wishes and married Mother. Thus, the clan mbers were always displeased with Father."
For so reason, when he heard these words, a cold light flashed in Yu Wenye’s eyes.
Shang Ruyi, trapped in a low mood, didn’t notice this and continued, "Also, they resented my mother for only giving birth to , a daughter, and they treated her with disdain. Even when she passed away early, those people didn’t co to pay their respects. Once my father left, the elders of the Shang Family turned their backs on us, and at that ti, I had no ability to resist."
Yu Wenye suddenly asked, "Did you end up on the streets?"
Shang Ruyi nodded.
His expression grew even colder, revealing obvious anger.
After a while, he asked, "What about your uncle?"
Shang Ruyi replied, "At that ti, he worked in the Construction Departnt, and the whole family was in the Eastern Capital. By the ti the news of my father’s death reached them, I had already been kicked out of the house before he could set off."
Yu Wenye asked, "So, how did you get through those days?"
Shang Ruyi said, "At night, I would sleep next to an abandoned temple on the outskirts of the city. During the day, I would return to the Shang Family despite them always splashing cold water on or setting dogs on . But those dogs recognized and never really bit ."
Yu Wenye frowned, "Why would you go back?"
Shang Ruyi replied, "Because I knew my uncle would co to pay respects to my father. Only by staying at the Shang Family could I et him and have a chance to ask him to take in. If I wandered off, this vast world would make it difficult for my uncle to find even if he wanted to adopt . I didn’t want to beco a holess child."
Yu Wenye looked at her with a slight sense of amazent.
He hadn’t expected that at the age of only eight, young Shang Ruyi would have such astuteness. Even though before marriage, Yu Wenquan had praised this daughter of an old acquaintance for her exceptional intelligence. After marriage, he truly experienced her extraordinary qualities, but not until hearing about this past did he truly understand her exceptional nature.
Yet, such precocity was partly innate and partly due to her experiences.
A trace of tenderness appeared in his eyes, and when he spoke again, his voice was softer, "Later, your uncle ca and t you and adopted you, right?"
Shang Ruyi nodded.
"Then, what happened to your hand?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi glanced down at her little finger and said softly, "Those days were tough, but a few servants treated well and secretly brought food. However, the food I got was coveted by street beggars, and they would co to snatch it. But I am not soone who concedes easily, and I often fought with them."
"..."
"But two fists can’t overpower four hands. Later on—"
Saying this, she paused, and Yu Wenye already frowned and said solemnly, "Your finger was injured then?"
Shang Ruyi nodded.
The room fell into silence again, but this silence was different from before. Shang Ruyi could clearly feel the anger and chill emanating from Yu Wenye.
After a while, he suddenly asked, "Do you rember those people?"
"...?"
Shang Ruyi was taken aback and instinctively asked, "What do you want to do?"
Hearing her question, Yu Wenye was also montarily stunned.
Yes, what did he want to do?
In that instant, he had even imagined finding those people and skinning them alive. But upon reflection, it was sothing that happened over ten years ago, and they were just beggars who might not even be alive now. Seeking revenge for a childhood fight wasn’t sothing a current Assistant General should do.
He shouldn’t even entertain the thought.
Yet, he couldn’t quell the anger within.
Looking again at Shang Ruyi’s numb little finger, his brows were tightly knitted, still filled with rage. In contrast, Shang Ruyi looked at his cold gaze and smiled, saying, "It’s all in the past."
"..."
"Sotis it’s just like that. As long as the outco is good, no matter how hard the process was, thinking back it won’t feel too painful."
"..."
"At least now, I feel okay."
Yu Wenye looked at her for a while and said nothing, only reaching out to gently hold her hand on the table.
Then, he pinched her numb fingertip.
Even though she knew there would be no sensation there, for so reason, Shang Ruyi felt a tingling sensation that traveled from her hand to her heart, causing her heartbeat to skip a beat.
Yu Wenye said, "It’s all right now."
Shang Ruyi gently nodded.
Then, she said, "So, is it my turn now?"
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