Yu Wenye slightly furrowed his brows.
This question could be answered, but no matter how he answered, it would be wrong.
And just as he was looking at Chu Ruoyan, his expression growing more and more grave, a calm, even slightly gentle voice sounded beside him: "Then, I wonder what important matter the Eldest Princess called Feng Chen into the palace for?"
This gentle voice startled Chu Ruoyan.
She turned her head and t Shang Ruyi’s serious gaze, who said, "If the Princess has any instructions, please speak."
"..."
Chu Ruoyan was montarily speechless.
She hadn’t expected Shang Ruyi to co, much less her taking the initiative to speak right now and returning the question to her. Unprepared for an answer, she hesitated, "I—"
"..."
Shang Ruyi smiled calmly at her.
For a mont, the atmosphere inside Yichun Palace was both calm and slightly strange.
Chu Ruoyan was silent for a while, then suddenly smiled lightly, looked up at Shang Ruyi and said, "Actually, I just miss my second brother and want to see him; it’s not to ask anything of him. Sister Ruyi can rest assured."
"..."
"After all, those I truly care for in this world are few and far between."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi’s breath slightly tightened.
Perhaps it was her illusion, but it seed the words were about Yu Wenye, yet Shang Ruyi read another na between the lines—
Chu Yang!
Entering the Daxing Palace had already brought back too many familiar yet unfamiliar landscapes that reminded her of her interactions with that person, aching her heart deeply; now, Chu Ruoyan’s words thrust her into the deepest, most suffocating mories.
All of them were those left in this world, especially her.
She survived, erging from the nightmare of Jiangdu Palace, but so people stayed there forever.
Although at Dayan Temple she managed to adapt to circumstances, revealing the truth about Chu Yang’s death while concealing his feelings for her—feelings that should never see the light of day—Shang Ruyi knew in her heart that while her words might fool most people, there were those who understood everything.
They just didn’t ask, didn’t have the heart to ask.
Like Yu Wenye, who fought bloodily to rescue her from Jiangdu.
Like the Empress Dowager, who wrote, "In this world, nothing but love and hate."
They were the smartest people under the heavens, understanding that so were gone and so emotions had faded; after experiencing love and hate, they still faced forward.
But was Chu Ruoyan one of them?
Were her words due to missing Yu Wenye, or hadn’t she yet moved past her emperor father’s death in her heart?
Shang Ruyi’s face turned slightly pale.
At this point, Yu Wenye’s deep voice sounded, "Ruoyan..."
With that one call, Chu Ruoyan’s eyes wavered, as if a not-too-large nor too-small stone had been thrown into a serene spring, causing ripples; she imdiately turned to Yu Wenye, a blossom-like smile appearing on her face, "Second Brother."
Yu Wenye looked at her, saying with a complex expression, "You wanted to see , and so I ca."
"..."
"So, what do you want to do?"
Chu Ruoyan looked at him for a while, then suddenly smiled, "What is Second Brother saying."
"..."
"How could I want Second Brother to do anything?"
"..."
"I never needed Second Brother to do anything for ; just seeing you makes happy."
As she said this, she tilted her head slightly, the Bright Moon Pearl hanging from her ears swaying and lightly tapping her pink cheeks, giving her a touch of charming allure. Hearing those unwavering words, perhaps no man in this world could resist such tenderness.
But Yu Wenye’s expression remained as tight as before.
He just quietly looked at Chu Ruoyan, his gaze even colder than before.
After a pause, he said, "Although the Princess needs nothing from , I have heard that Lord Ji impeached for staying in Fufeng too long; fortunately, the Princess spoke righteously on my behalf, sparing from punishnt. For this, I must indeed thank Her Highness."
Chu Ruoyan smiled at him and said, "Speaking of which, that’s also why I insisted on inviting Second Brother into the palace today."
"..."
"And since Sister Ruyi is here, even better."
With that, she stepped aside, inviting them into the hall. Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi exchanged a glance, neither saying much but obediently walking inside.
Yichun Palace was primarily a place for rest, lacking the grand and majestic aura of other palace halls, exuding a relaxed and leisurely atmosphere. Upon entering the main hall, two facing desks could be seen, with cups and fresh fruits on top—clearly not the setup for an Eldest Princess summoning ministers.
However, it was Chu Ruoyan who wanted to see Yu Wenye.
At this mont, Princess Xinyue walked over, slowly sat down at the table to the east, and then said, "But I didn’t expect Sister Ruyi to return, so I didn’t have anyone prepare a cup for her."
Shang Ruyi followed Yu Wenye and sat down at the table to the right.
Upon hearing this, she smiled and said, "Your Highness, you speak too kindly. After all, Ruyi ca uninvited."
Chu Ruoyan smiled and looked up at Yu Wenye, speaking seriously, "Second brother, you have stayed in Fufeng for too long this ti. There is more than one person trying to impeach you, not just Ji Hong, though he is leading them."
"...Oh."
"Even though the Emperor did not take his advice, we cannot completely disregard the opinions of these civil servants."
"..."
"So, even though the Emperor has appointed you Heavenly Strategy General this ti, and although the Heavenly Strategy General is allowed to establish his own office, it would be best not to do so for now. Otherwise, the attention would be too much and inevitably attract their notice."
Listening to her words, Yu Wenye’s brows furrowed again.
It wasn’t because of anything else, but due to surprise—the woman eloquently speaking before him was hardly the sa delicate Princess Xinyue who only knew of romance and not the hardships of the common folk.
She seed to have transford into soone else.
Not only was Yu Wenye stunned, but even Shang Ruyi sitting beside him was taken aback.
After a mont of silence, Yu Wenye looked at Chu Ruoyan with a complicated expression and asked, "Are these words what you wanted to tell ?"
"Yes,"
Chu Ruoyan smiled at him with concern all over her charming face: "Actually, I could have had soone else pass the ssage to you, but I worried the servants might not communicate clearly, so I brought you to the palace to tell you myself."
"..."
"Second brother, no matter what others think, I always think of you alone."
Upon hearing this, Yu Wenye’s face darkened even more.
If earlier he felt so estrangent and anger towards Chu Ruoyan for falsely conveying the Empress Dowager’s orders, upon hearing these words, he couldn’t keep a cold deanor anymore. Yet, when he looked up into those captivating eyes, his emotions only grew more complicated.
He said, "Ruoyan, actually you—"
At that mont, footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the hall.
At this point, all three inside the hall were sowhat surprised, especially Chu Ruoyan, who imdiately frowned, looking at the entrance with so thin anger.
Her expression made Shang Ruyi, who was already feeling tense, even more weighed down.
A little eunuch hurriedly walked to the outside of the hall, whispered a few words to Eunuch Cao, who was guarding outside with his hands held, making his face change sharply. He quickly looked up at Princess Xinyue, seeming as if he wanted to say sothing but glanced sideways and dared not speak.
Chu Ruoyan asked, "What happened?"
Eunuch Cao chuckled, "Your Highness..."
It appeared he dared not speak directly.
Chu Ruoyan thought for a mont, then slowly stood up and said to Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi, "Second brother, Sister Ruyi, please wait for ."
After speaking, she turned and left.
Watching her back as she left Yichun Palace, the lingering sweet fragrance from her body still stayed at their noses, which hadn’t captivated anyone but made Shang Ruyi feel suffocated. She knelt in place, only feeling a certain shadow born in her heart since eting again at Dayan Temple, expanding relentlessly.
It seed to engulf her whole.
At that mont, a large hand reached over and covered the back of her hand.
The palm’s warmth was still familiar.
Shang Ruyi trembled slightly, looking up to et Yu Wenye’s calm eyes. Although he had been montarily lost himself, he was now completely composed, his voice steady as always, saying, "Don’t worry."
"..."
"I am—"
Just as he was about to finish his short sentence, Chu Ruoyan suddenly turned and walked back in, and both instinctively pursed their lips, while the bright face of Chu Ruoyan showed so odd expressions. Her eyes were even brighter than before when looking at Shang Ruyi.
Shang Ruyi’s heart skipped a beat.
What happened?
She instinctively asked, "Your Highness, did sothing happen?"
Chu Ruoyan walked to the table she was at earlier, sat down, and sighed lightly, "Sister Ruyi, you know the Emperor summoned several ministers to the palace today to discuss yesterday’s matter brought up by the Historian, don’t you?"
Shang Ruyi gently nodded. Of course, she knew, not only Duke Sheng ca to the palace today, but also Ji Hong, who wanted to impeach Yu Wenye, Pei Xu who just returned to Daxing City, and—
Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat.
Yu Wenye seed to sense sothing too, looking up at Chu Ruoyan, who slowly said, "I just heard, Minister of Rites Mr. Shen... due to speaking disrespectfully, angered the Emperor, and has now been locked up in prison, awaiting execution."
"What?!"
Shang Ruyi was shocked and suddenly stood up—
How is that possible?!
User Comments
0 comments from readers