"Oh—what does it an?"
"...?"
Shang Ruyi was slightly taken aback but imdiately rembered, it was that question again.
From the tense exchange in the morning until now, he still wanted an answer to that question?
And her body instinctively recalled the mont she uttered that "oh," with a chest-cleaving pain, as if that pain attacked her body once more at that instant.
She instinctively clenched the hand hidden in her sleeve in response to the pain.
Yu Wenye’s gaze suddenly tightened, forming into a sharp needle, as if wanting to pierce her body, shattering the facade she was maintaining, tearing it apart, and casting it all aside, to hear the words in her heart clearly.
Thinking of this, he took another step forward, his gaze blazing almost enough to ignite: "Oh, what does it an!"
"..."
"Speak!"
Shang Ruyi’s breath tensed, and the searing pain gradually invaded her heart, even causing her heartbeat to ache rhythmically.
But, could pain be spoken aloud?
Even if at first, she was just confused, choosing him as her husband by instinct for survival, to find sanctuary in this chaotic world for herself and also for the loved ones she cherished—just like Empress Dowager Jiang did, but now, reaching this step, she could no longer be naive.
She understood too clearly the paths they must tread next.
Neither the Han King nor the King Qin is the Crown Prince.
Yet, there’s not a single king who doesn’t aspire to be Crown Prince, because after the Crown Prince stands the golden, supre throne symbolizing ultimate power!
What an extraordinary person must it be to sit on that throne?
And what kind of extraordinary woman would stand beside him, smiling at the vast world?
Myself?
If it were , then what kind of self would that be?
Throughout history, there seem to be a thousand ways to be a bad Empress, but to be a good one, there’s only one way—
Thinking this, Shang Ruyi finally took a deep breath, raised her head, and said clearly and consciously, "I understand why you’re doing this, and I can accept what you’re doing. Whether it’s for today’s outco or the Empress Dowager’s trust, I will treat her kindly, just like you."
"..."
Seeing her calm and composed deanor, Yu Wenye’s gaze suddenly chilled.
Though still standing in the sa place, only a fraction apart, he seed as if he was suddenly far away from her, even his gaze beca distant and unfamiliar.
He said, "This is your answer."
"..."
"You do not mind, you truly do not mind, is that it?"
After speaking, as if he no longer sought her answer, his cold gaze swept over Shang Ruyi’s slightly furrowed brow and turned to leave.
Just as he turned around, Shang Ruyi suddenly said, "I have more to say!"
"..."
Yu Wenye’s tall figure slightly trembled, almost ready to leave instinctively, but he also instinctively stopped, not turning back, only taking a deep breath, asking solemnly, "What more do you want to say?"
Shang Ruyi gazed at him, earnestly stating, "You should have told this earlier, at least let —"
Not feel so much pain.
Though the words had not yet been uttered, Yu Wenye sohow sensed sothing and abruptly turned back, his once icy eyes now showed a touch of warmth, almost instantly becoming so fervent it almost lted away all the coldness in his hearts, all the bitter emotions in his heart.
He gazed fixedly at Shang Ruyi, his voice tight to a raspy extent: "You, what did you say?"
Shang Ruyi said, "At least let , and Father, be sowhat prepared."
"..."
"Especially Father—oh no, Father Emperor."
"..."
"He had ntioned this matter to you before, you didn’t agree, yet today you suddenly did this, catching him off guard, doesn’t it make him feel coerced by you?"
"..."
"In the future, I’m afraid—"
Speaking to the end, Shang Ruyi’s own voice lowered as well.
Not because she was mindful of the palace attendants passing by and worried they would hear; nor because she saw Yu Wenqian’s tall and handso figure erge from Taiji Palace, originally intending to leave, but suddenly stopping, with a bit of coldness in his gaze as he looked toward the side hall, also looking at them both, a kind of gaze she had never seen before, a heart-pounding deep black void.
It was because she suddenly felt a colder aura envelop her.
Yu Wenye, his entire being exuded an ice-cold chill.
In his eyes, just like the person behind him, there was not only no light, but also no emotion, only looking at her indifferently as if he were looking at soone with whom he had no relation.
After a while, he suddenly smiled, saying, "Shang Ruyi."
"..."
"You truly are Duke Sheng’s—no, now he’s already Father Emperor, you truly are his good daughter-in-law."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi was stunned.
This sentence, she was not unfamiliar with, nor was it the first ti Yu Wenye had said it, it seed every ti he uttered those words, the mocking yet sowhat desolate look in his eyes was extraordinarily frightening.
And seeing he was about to turn and leave, Shang Ruyi instinctively wanted to explain sothing, imdiately calling to him.
"Yu Wenye!"
The mont she spoke, she herself was dumbfounded.
Yu Wenye’s figure also shook, turning back to look at her, the coldness in his eyes gradually dispersing, replaced by a void of emptiness, devoid of warmth or emotion.
He murmured, "Yu Wenye..."
Shang Ruyi also froze.
She called him—Yu Wenye!
During the ti just after they wed, there was no sentint between them, but to appear as a couple in front of everyone, she called him "Second Brother," a na that sounded intimate but both knew was just a disguise; later, when they shared a bed, in the most intimate monts of their closeness, he allowed her to call him Feng Chen, it was a sign he let her into his heart, making her closer than anyone else; but later, upon learning of his feelings for Empress Dowager Jiang, the resentnt in her heart led her to withdraw her feelings, the na was just a na, devoid of any affection.
Until at Dayan Temple, after their minds connected, she had always called him Feng Chen.
But now—
At this mont, Shang Ruyi herself shivered slightly, suddenly realizing, that since she heard him ntion taking Chu Ruoyan as concubine in the morning, even if she remained calm, composed, and despite the lingering pain in her heart she chose not to speak of it, she unconsciously raised a shield in her heart against him.
Thus, instinctively, she retracted that na.
Facing his icy gaze again, the words she wished to explain in her heart, not a single one could co out.
The two stood silently facing each other.
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