Chapter 1218 Better to tear down ten temples than to break up one marriage

Shang Ruyi was so angry she couldn't speak, only glaring at her. Tu She'er then shrank back, took a step back, and whispered, "This servant knows she was wrong..."

Shang Ruyi said, "Where are you wrong? You are absolutely right."

"princess……"

"The reason he hesitated is because he was sincere. He knew that even if Changwan didn't marry him, she could live well by my side, which is why he hesitated. If he had spoken casually, he would have only gotten someone he could treat casually. Do you understand?"

"..."

"You think you're being kind, but by speaking up so quickly, you've ruined their good intentions."

Upon hearing this, Tushe'er realized what had happened and lowered her head in deep regret: "This servant knows she was wrong."

Shang Ruyi shook her head, turned and walked forward. Seeing that she did not continue to blame herself, Tu She'er understood that she was not really angry, or rather, her "small" mistake had not extinguished the joy in her heart. So she took small steps closer and said softly, "But, this servant is also really happy for Chang Wan."

Shang Ruyi turned around and glanced at her. Although her face was reproachful, a smile had already appeared in her eyes.

Tushe'er had been by her side since childhood, so how could she not understand her feelings? Seeing her like this, she understood even more that she wasn't really angry with her, so she became bolder and said with a smile, "The princess is happy too, isn't she?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi finally couldn't help but smile.

Tushe'er clapped her hands: "I knew it. The princess is satisfied with Sun Xianyue. This young master Sun is good in every way, both in character and appearance. Although he is not a prince, not all princes are as good as our prince back then."

Shang Ruyi laughed and said, "Your mouth is getting better and better at talking; you've even flattered the King of Qin."

He then reached out and poked her forehead: "But the King of Qin isn't here, so your flattery didn't quite hit the mark."

Tushe'er said with a grin, "This servant is the Princess's person. I don't flatter others; I only speak the truth."

"snort."

Shang Ruyi gave her another reproachful look before turning and walking on, saying softly as she went, "You're right. It doesn't necessarily have to be marrying into a wealthy family or a prince. What's important is that the other person is a good person and sincere. Of course, even more important is Changwan's feelings; this matter ultimately depends on her willingness..."

Tushe'er thought for a moment and then smiled and said, "Why would she be unwilling? I think she gets along quite well with Young Master Sun."

"Yeah?"

"Yes, although I've never come with her, every time she comes back, she tells me what Sun Xianyue told her. She remembers everything so carefully, I'm tired of hearing it."

Shang Ruyi laughed, glanced back at her, and said, "Okay, if she really gets married smoothly this time, you won't have to worry about anyone 'nagging' you anymore."

Tushe'er was all smiles at first, but soon her face fell, and she said, "Alas, to be honest, I'm quite reluctant to part with her."

"oh?"

"Changwan is the best to me. Whenever there is something delicious or fun, she always thinks of me first. Even when we are sleeping in the same bed, she gave me the window seat. Every time the bedding gets wet in the rain, she helps me take it to dry."

"..."

"Looking back, I realize I was harsh to her before, which was really wrong of me."

Shang Ruyi also remembered that Chang Wan was originally chosen by the official's wife to be placed by Yuwen Ye's side. However, after she married Yuwen Ye, and since Chang Wan had no such intention, the matter faded away. Even so, Tu She'er still guarded against her like a thief for a long time. It was only later that she realized Chang Wan had no ulterior motives that she let it go. As they spent more time together, the two became close friends and even best confidantes.

It's no wonder she was so eager to speak up for Sun Xianyue just now; she was clearly worried that Changwan would miss out on a good marriage. But when it came to Changwan getting married, she couldn't bear to let her go.

Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "If you can't bear to part with her, then I'll go back and not mention this to Chang Wan, but only tell Sun Xianyue that she doesn't want to, okay?"

"That won't do!"

Tushe'er immediately became anxious upon hearing this: "Although I am reluctant to part with her, I cannot ruin someone else's marriage. As the old saying goes, it's better to tear down ten temples than to break up one marriage!"

Shang Ruyi covered her mouth and laughed, "Look how anxious you are, I was just teasing you."

"ah?"

"Besides, what did that monk do to offend anyone? The temple is going to be torn down. See how anxious Shan Tong'er is about you."

Tushe'er was relieved and laughed, "Your Highness, how could you joke about something like this with me..."

The two chatted and laughed as they slowly walked back to the main hall, their conversation seemingly coming to an end. Then Shen Wuzheng said, “…So, the Left and Right Garrison Guards are responsible for the safety of Chang'an City and its surrounding areas; the Left and Right Imperial Guards guard the outer city; the Left and Right Mighty Guards guard the inner city; the Left and Right Valiant Guards are currently still under Yu Dingxing's control, but are actually commanded by the Crown Prince. We have no people in the Crown Prince's residence area; the Feathered Forest Guards and the Golden Guards jointly guard the palace—this time when I returned, I discovered that the Emperor has strengthened the guard and patrols along the section from Xuanwu Gate to Taiji Palace.”

"...!"

Shang Ruyi's originally light steps suddenly became heavy when she heard the words "Xuanwu Gate".

A gust of cold wind blew by, and she stood frozen at the front door.

Shen Wuzheng also saw her, and especially noticed her somewhat pale face. He immediately asked, "Ruyi? What's wrong?"

Yuwen Ye immediately turned around, and Tu She'er also sensed something was wrong. She hurriedly reached out to support Shang Ruyi and whispered, "Your Highness?"

"Um?"

Shang Ruyi was slightly startled before she came to her senses. Looking up at their concerned expressions, she immediately smiled and said, "No, it's nothing."

She walked in as she spoke, and sat down next to Yuwen Ye. He frowned slightly, carefully examining her complexion and expression, and asked softly, "Are you alright?"

Shang Ruyi shook her head: "It's okay, it's just a bit cold outside."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yuwen Ye's warm hand immediately touched hers, holding her slightly cold hand tightly in his palm, and then said, "Hmm, it is a little cold. Let's go back to the palace then."

"Didn't you have something else to say?"

"It's not too late to discuss it later."

As he spoke, Yuwen Ye looked up at Shen Wuzheng. The Shen couple naturally did not object, especially Madam Yu, who looked at Shang Ruyi with concern in her eyes. Shen Wuzheng remained silent for a moment before saying softly, "Well, we can discuss these matters later. Your Highness should return to the palace first, lest you catch a cold."

Hearing them say this, Shang Ruyi stopped refusing. After saying goodbye to her uncle, aunt, and brother, she left the Shen family with Yuwen Ye.

Sitting in the carriage, Yuwen Ye wrapped a cloak around her and then pulled her, along with the cloak, into his arms. The carriage was already warm and cozy, and with his thick, warm embrace, Shang Ruyi immediately felt no chill at all. So she smiled and said, "I'm fine. I just caught a gust of cold wind. You don't need to be so careful."

Yuwen Ye held her tightly, looking down at her and asking, "Are you really alright?"

"..."

This time, Shang Ruyi didn't stubbornly insist on her story.

Sensing her hesitation, Yuwen Ye's expression became even more serious. He held her tightly in his arms, then looked down into her eyes. Beneath her long, trembling eyelashes, her clear eyes sparkled.

Yuwen Ye said, "What's wrong? Is there something you can't tell me?"

He had always hated it when she kept things from him, and many of their past misunderstandings stemmed from this. But this time, when he asked her, he showed no resentment, only concern. It seemed that he had completely trusted her and was only worried that she might have done something wrong.

Feeling this trust, Shang Ruyi felt warmer, and that warmth completely dispelled the bone-chilling cold that those three words had brought to her heart. She finally raised her head and met Yuwen Ye's calm and gentle eyes, and said softly, "Feng Chen, there are some things that I haven't had a chance to tell you yet."

"oh?"

"It's not that I intentionally hid it from you, but these things were just my feelings, and I didn't even understand them myself."

Yuwen Ye lowered his eyes and looked deeply into hers: "It's alright, tell me, I will believe you."

Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and finally said softly, "I have some unease about the Xuanwu Sect."

"Xuanwu Gate?"

Yuwen Ye then remembered that just now in the Shen family's main hall, when Shen Wuzheng mentioned the Xuanwu Gate, Shang Ruyi happened to appear outside the hall, and she immediately showed a very frightened expression; even now, when he held her in his arms, he could feel the little woman in his arms shrinking slightly when he mentioned the words "Xuanwu Gate".

She was genuinely uneasy.

Yuwen Ye thought for a moment and said, "That unease is—"

Shang Ruyi said, "Just like back then, I knew that Father Emperor's crown prince would meet with misfortune in the future."

Yuwen Ye's brows furrowed immediately.

He thought for a moment and said, "Those things you got from Yu Mingyue?"

Shang Ruyi pondered for a long time before saying, "Perhaps, but there are some differences. I was very clear about the information I had obtained from Yu Mingyue before, such as my father's ascension to the throne and his crown prince's misfortune. But Xuanwu Gate is different. I don't know what will happen there, nor do I know what it has to do with me. But from the first time—when I passed by Xuanwu Gate in Ziwei Palace in Luoyang—I felt that there was danger there, which made me uneasy."

"..."

"Now that we've arrived in Chang'an, this feeling is even stronger."

As she spoke, she extended a pale hand from within her cloak. Her palm had been warmed by Yuwen Ye's embrace, but her fingertips were pale, and her slight trembling suggested she was enveloped in a bone-chilling cold. She placed her hand on the back of Yuwen Ye's hand and whispered, "I don't know, but perhaps—"

Yuwen Ye slowly raised his head, his eyes flickering slightly in the dim light.

He said, "Perhaps..."