Chapter 565 Yu Mingyue

Shang Ruyi's expression grew increasingly grim.

Although the other person had been sitting in the car the whole time, he seemed to have noticed her suddenly pale and even stiff face. He then said in rapid succession, "You knew what was going to happen, so you tried to avoid harm and even hurt someone you had never met. You broke off your engagement and remarried, and even remarried his brother, making him a laughing stock of the world!"

"..."

"Don't try to act so innocent now about the 'bargain' you got from me."

"..."

Shang Ruyi's face grew paler and paler, yet a strange blush appeared on her cheeks, as if she had been slapped hard. Even though she clenched her hands and tried her best to control herself, the feeling of having her secret exposed and feeling utterly ashamed still made her tremble...

She couldn't deny it.

She had a thousand excuses and countless reasons to explain her choice, or perhaps, only one reason was enough—she wanted to protect her family, the people she cared about and loved most in the world. Even if her soul fell into hell and was weighed for good and evil in the Hall of the Dead, she would not regret her choice.

However, she couldn't deny what this person said—

In protecting her loved ones, she ended up hurting a stranger.

Even now, she still feels awkward and uncomfortable when facing Yuwen Qian. Even though he spoke frankly in Fufeng, she still cannot calm her guilt. She is too guilty to face him and even feels a hostility that she cannot explain. It is as if she wishes to erase him from the world so that she can erase the most unbearable mark on her soul.

but--

Amidst this conflicted emotion, Shang Ruyi also figured out one thing.

She took a deep breath, clearing her jumbled thoughts, then looked up at the quiet carriage and said, "So, you really did do it for him."

"..."

"All along the way—that valley, the medicine in Daxing City, the poems at the poetry competition… were you doing all of this for him?"

"Yes, so what?"

The woman spoke those words somewhat stiffly, yet within that stiffness tinged with a barely perceptible softness, and then, even her voice softened: "He saved me..."

Shang Ruyi's eyes flashed: "Save?"

The man said calmly, "What you just said, I suppose you should have guessed by now, that—I didn't accidentally fall into the water."

"...?"

Shang Ruyi frowned slightly, as if she sensed something.

But before she could think it through, the man continued, "Instead, he committed suicide."

"..."

"He saved me. He saved me and gave me money to live, and then he left. But, I never expected that when I told the villagers who came to take care of me about my origins, they... they actually said I was a demon and wanted to burn me alive!"

"..."

"These people, who looked so gentle and kind, changed their expressions immediately upon hearing my background. They became like beasts, wanting to tie me to a wooden frame and burn me alive!"

"...!"

Shang Ruyi's pupils suddenly contracted.

Her experience seems to be similar to the story Jiang Yu told on the mountainside of Banyan Temple...

The other person continued, "It was him. He was worried about me and came back to check on me, which is how he saved me. If it weren't for him, I would be dead by now!"

"..."

"But he's such a gentle, kind person—so tell me, how can I not protect him, not help him?"

"..."

"How could I not eliminate everyone and everything that was detrimental to him—including those who betrayed him!"

Upon hearing her last sentence, Shang Ruyi's brows immediately furrowed.

She stared coldly ahead, her gaze dark and menacing, and said, "So, you're determined to be our enemy?"

The man let out another cold laugh, this time completely restoring his confident, all-knowing demeanor and arrogant haughtiness towards ants. He even made the curtains on the car window sway slightly, as if the people in the car were laughing so hard they were almost breathless.

After a long while, she finally said, slightly out of breath, "You've come this far, and you're still not sober?"

"..."

"Even if those two brothers still have a bond of brotherhood, after we've known so much, do we still need that little bit of pretense of decency?"

"..."

"We've long since reached a point where it's a life-or-death struggle!"

"...!"

Shang Ruyi clenched her fists immediately.

This person is right.

In fact, when she learned that Yuwen Yuan had captured Daxing City, and that he had done so through Yuwen Qian without bloodshed, she should have understood that Emperor Gaozu was destined to ascend the throne. Therefore, his two sons, one with outstanding military achievements and the other who had just made a great contribution, were destined to fight to the death for that important position!

but--

Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi's eyes darkened even more. She lowered her voice and said in a whisper that could be heard and understood by only the two of them, "If that's the case, then why do you insist on helping him?"

"..."

"Everything I know is because of you, so you should understand this better than I do. Isn't the way you're helping him now—"

At that moment, Shang Ruyi clearly felt the other person take a deep breath.

Whether she was smug or just bluffing, she remained silent for a long time before letting out a cold laugh and saying, "Man can conquer nature."

"..."

"To me, you are nothing but uncivilized savages."

"..."

"I don't believe I can't beat you!"

Shang Ruyi's face darkened, not only because she was shocked by the other party's almost arrogant confidence, but also because she felt a little stung. Although they were indeed being pressed forward step by step and were almost on the verge of defeat, she still said coldly, "A kind word warms the heart for three winter months, while a harsh word chills the heart for six summer months. Your Excellency may indeed be an extraordinary person, but you'd better save some face for yourself."

"..."

"Even if it's not for myself, at least leave Miss Yu some dignity."

"..."

"At least, her mother named her 'Jiqing Mingyue' (meaning 'to entrust one's feelings to the bright moon').

The other person paused again, startled: "So, you even found out my name?"

Shang Ruyi smiled faintly and said, "We've already found out your background, so your name isn't too difficult to guess. Besides, your subordinates have shown that money pouch more than once—it's embroidered with a moon, isn't it? And with your elegant nickname 'Guest of the Moon,' I can't help but guess."

As she spoke, Shang Ruyi looked ahead and said, "Miss Yu Mingyue."

As soon as she finished speaking, a moon-white skirt fluttered gently, as if blown by a breeze into the world by clouds. A pair of delicate feet in embroidered shoes leaped lightly from the carriage.