Chapter 691 I Admit It

Inside the Turkic camp, all the fighting, fear, and struggle were left behind after the horses galloped away. When Shang Ruyi looked back, all she could see was the gray grassland under the gloomy sky, like a fragment of a memory shrouded in mist after waking from a nightmare.

But the lingering feeling of the nightmare still remained in her body.

Just as she was somewhat dazed, unsure how to turn her gaze away or where to look next, a sudden roar of men and the neighing of horses came from ahead. She immediately turned her head and saw that Yuwen Ye's army was arrayed in formation, already close at hand.

A familiar, sturdy, and reckless figure immediately rode over.

"Sister Ruyi!"

He is a kind child!

Upon seeing him, despite her many inner turmoil, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but feel a surge of joy and was about to smile. However, before she could say anything, another group of riders suddenly appeared and blocked Shan Tong'er's path.

Shan Tong'er could only rein in the horse, and upon seeing who it was, he pouted and asked, "Seventh Brother, what are you doing?"

The person blocking his way was Shen Tu Tai.

The tall, imposing man glared at him. Although he looked fierce and menacing, his gaze was only reproachful, not intimidating. He said, "This is the Princess Consort of Qin. You cannot be so rude. And—"

As he spoke, he turned to Yuwen Ye and asked, "Your Highness, is everything alright?"

Shang Ruyi lowered her head and heard a deep "Hmm" from above her.

Shen Tu Tai then said, "Then we'll do it now—"

"The army should turn around and return to Taiyuan immediately. You do not need to move too fast, and you must not lose your formation, so as not to be unable to deal with the enemy's attack in time. Also, let Shantong lead a group of men to cover the rear of the column. If the Turkic troops are about to catch up, give them a warning immediately. Do not fail to do so."

Shen Tu Tai said, "Yes!"

As he spoke, he stretched out his arm and patted the still somewhat dull-witted Shan Tong'er. Shan Tong'er, whose bald head had been patted, immediately replied, "Yes!"

Yuwen Ye nodded, then shook the reins, and his steed galloped forward through the path cleared in the middle of the army.

Watching them walk away, Shentu Tai turned to Shan Tong'er and said, "You!"

Shan Tong stuck out his tongue.

As Shen Tu Tai gave the order, he also said to Shan Tong'er, "You take the last men and go last. Be smart in the future. If there's a next time, I'll let you attack the main camp alone and see what you do then!"

Everyone was on edge. The fierce battle they had been prepared for had not come to pass. Although some of the hot-blooded men were somewhat disappointed, being able to rescue the Princess of Qin without losing a single soldier and return safely to Taiyuan was still a good thing for them. Therefore, although the group remained in orderly formation, their expressions were inevitably cheerful, and some even began to chat and laugh quietly. They slowly turned around and headed south.

Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi's small entourage quickly passed through the army and reached the front.

Gradually, the army was left behind, and all that remained was a vast, uninhabited grassland. Although the cold wind whistling past her ears was blocked by the person holding her tightly, Shang Ruyi could hear the breathing above her head more and more clearly, one breath after another, warm breath brushing against her forehead.

She buried her face even deeper.

The two of them remained silent, and the horses gradually slowed down.

After an unknown amount of time, she finally heard a deep sigh. Although it came from him, it unexpectedly conveyed a sense of powerlessness and even helplessness.

Shang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat again.

Before she could react, she heard Yuwen Ye's deep voice from above: "Chen Wuzheng is not dead."

"...!"

Shang Ruyi was startled and instinctively tried to look up.

Before she could even look up, his somewhat cold and hard voice rang out again, as if an invisible pressure was pressing Shang Ruyi's head down hard: "Don't look at me!"

"...?"

Shang Ruyi was startled again.

But she obediently listened to him, trembling slightly as she looked up at him, trying to discern the truth or falsehood in his expression. Her heart was already pounding more violently than the galloping hooves of a horse.

Shen Wuzheng is not dead?!

Is he really not dead?

Before that—

"I was lying to you before."

"..."

"No, I didn't lie to you. I just didn't have time to explain."

"..."

Shang Ruyi's heart sank again.

Although her mind was in turmoil, she vaguely remembered that when the news of Shen Wuzheng's "death" came, Yuwen Ye did arrive very quickly, and upon careful recollection, it seemed that he had something to say to her at the time.

However, before he could speak, he spoke first.

And what I said myself—

A sudden gust of cold wind blew in, as if trying to sweep away the last bit of warmth from her already icy body. But for some reason, Shang Ruyi did not feel cold at all. It was not that she was numb from the cold, but rather that after a surge of emotion in her chest, an almost scalding heat flowed out and instantly spread throughout her limbs and bones.

Her eyes were red.

Her throat tightened, and finally, with great effort, she managed to squeeze out a few hoarse words: "Really?"

Yuwen Ye said, "I'm not lying to you."

"..."

"You should trust me, I won't lie to you about this again, at this time."

"..."

"so--"

Shang Ruyi's throat tightened again: "So, what?"

"..."

Yuwen Ye remained silent for a long time. Although he didn't speak, Shang Ruyi felt that the hand around her waist tightened slightly, as if trying to embed her slender body into his own. But just when the force made Shang Ruyi almost suffocate, it immediately loosened.

Then, he let out a long sigh.

This sigh, compared to before, seemed to carry a greater sense of helplessness, even resignation.

Shang Ruyi thought she was mistaken and subconsciously tried to look up again, but this time, Yuwen Ye's voice was faster than her movement, only it wasn't as stiff as before.

He said, "Don't look at me!"

"..."

Shang Ruyi's raised face froze there. Although the horse suddenly sped up, causing the two on its back to lurch, Shang Ruyi's face bumped into his chest.

Then, a deep, muffled sound came from his chest.

It wasn't his mouth that spoke, but rather his heart that uttered those words—

"I accept it."

"...?!"

Shang Ruyi's breath hitched.

Admitted it? What does that mean?

What did he admit to?

Despite her many doubts, Shang Ruyi still remembered his words. Not daring to look up, she heard his muffled voice come from his chest again: "If you want to use me, then use me."

After he finished speaking, he seemed to grit his teeth.

"Even if I'm being used, I, Yuwen Ye, am still the most useful one in the world."