Chapter 712 Deep Affection

Shang Ruyi's eyes flickered, and she subconsciously lowered her head. But Yuwen Ye was squatting in front of her. With just a glance, he could clearly see her uneasy eyes. Shang Ruyi glanced at him, and her eyes became even more flustered.

She could only look to the other side and stammered, "What is it?"

"..."

Yuwen Ye looked at her quietly, without any reproach or anger. Even in the flickering lamplight, his gaze was much calmer than when the two of them faced each other. After thinking for a long time, he said in a deep voice, "I won't ask about your relationship with him, and you won't ask what your feelings for him are."

Shang Ruyi's breath hitched.

Yuwen Ye said, "I only ask one thing of you."

"……What's up?"

"From now on, you are not allowed to take any more risks for him."

"..."

“He’s gone. He won’t know what you do, and he won’t come back. Wang Shao’s death can be considered revenge for him.”

"..."

"You've done everything you could. That's enough."

"..."

“If you really want Wang Shaoqiu dead, I can do it for you. I can even guarantee you that I will take his head no matter where he is. But I will not allow you to risk your own safety to exchange for Wang Shaoqiu’s life to avenge that person.”

"..."

"He doesn't deserve it, and nobody does, do you understand?"

"..."

While he was saying these words, Shang Ruyi remained silent, as if she were not even there.

But her heart was beating faster and faster.

Her eyes widened, her breathing quickened, her heart pounded, and she stared in disbelief at Yuwen Ye, who was so calm he was almost unrecognizable. Listening to his calm and solemn words, she couldn't utter a single word in response for a long time.

Yuwen Ye actually said those things to her?!

He never asked what had happened between him and Chu Yang. Shang Ruyi knew that it wasn't that he didn't care or not at all; it was just that they both left each other some space in their hearts, a place that even as husband and wife, they wouldn't encroach upon or easily touch.

This time, his solo risky actions clearly exceeded the limits of that limited space.

But all he cared about was his own safety.

If he were angry, scolded her, or ordered her not to do those things again, Shang Ruyi might argue with him; but when he said that, Shang Ruyi had nothing to say, and couldn't help but wonder what would happen if she really encountered danger today, if Wang Shao and his men ran into her, injured her, or killed her.

Does this mean I'll never see my uncle and aunt again, or Shen Wuzheng? Not only that, but I'll also make them grieve for me.

And then, I'll never see him again...

Just thinking about it made Shang Ruyi tremble almost instinctively. An indescribable chill and fear rose from the bottom of her heart, making her shudder.

Was it all really worth it?

When he sensed her eyes suddenly redden, Yuwen Ye immediately frowned—it would be a lie to say he wasn't angry. When he saw her figure in the reeds at the foot of Shuishen Mountain, he was furious and wished he could drag her off his horse and give her a good beating. But on the way back, he was surprisingly calm, especially when he thought about how he had been anxiously rushing to rescue her while she was trapped in the Western Turks a few days ago, and the determination he had secretly made in his heart.

They should talk things out properly; he didn't want to go through the agony of losing her again.

So this time, I suppressed my anger and spoke to her kindly, but how come I still almost made her cry?

Is it really time to cry?

Thinking of this, he reached out and gently touched Shang Ruyi's slightly cool cheek: "Ruyi?"

The next moment, he felt Shang Ruyi grasp his hand and press it firmly against her somewhat cold cheek. She gently rubbed it with her rough palm, and the softness and the warmth that slowly spread through his hand softened Yuwen Ye's heart instantly.

He said, "As you wish..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shang Ruyi leaned down and pressed her red, pouting lips against his.

"...!"

Yuwen Ye's body stiffened.

The pair of slightly red, tearful eyes so close to him were also looking at him, their gaze more sparkling and gentler than ever before. Her soft lips pressed against his, and it took a long time before they parted slightly, but they didn't drift too far apart. Their breaths even mingled together.

Shang Ruyi trembled and whispered, "I'm sorry."

"..."

"I...I won't do it again."

"..."

"I don't want to encounter any more danger. I—can't bear to part with you."

Yuwen Ye's pupils trembled slightly.

After saying these words, Shang Ruyi seemed to feel a little guilty and embarrassed. The redness in her eyes faded, but a blush immediately spread across her cheeks, making her eyes appear even brighter in the dim light. She blinked, seemingly embarrassed by his intense gaze so close to hers, and quickly tried to shrink back.

Just then, Wo Xue's voice came from outside the door: "Your Highness, Your Highness, the dining hall will be ready soon."

Shang Ruyi dared not look at him anymore, and hurriedly replied, "Oh."

After saying that, he got up to leave.

Just as she walked past Yuwen Ye and was about to open the door, she suddenly felt a gust of wind behind her. Before she could react, her wrist was grabbed forcefully by a hot hand and pulled back.

"ah--!"

She instinctively gasped, but before the sound could even form, a pair of strong arms pulled her forcefully into that familiar chest. Then, Yuwen Ye could no longer hold back, and all the anger he had suppressed before turned into a ferocious venting between his lips and teeth as he kissed her forcefully.

Shang Ruyi's back tensed up instantly: "Ugh..."

She wanted to say something, but all her voice was swallowed up by the hot, passionate kiss. And that wasn't enough; Yuwen Ye held her tightly. The two of them had just finished bathing, and their bodies, which were still warm from the water, quickly became hot and their limbs weak from the close contact. Shang Ruyi, like a cat whose fur had been stroked, gradually softened in his arms. Her arms stretched out from the loose sleeves, emitting a pearly white light in the dim light, but like soft vines, they slowly climbed up his shoulders and wrapped around his neck.

The two of them, with no more grudges between them, intertwined tightly and kissed passionately.

It was unclear how much time had passed, so long that Wo Xue outside the door remained sensibly silent, so long that Shang Ruyi was almost suffocating from the kiss, before Yuwen Ye slowly released her.

Her face turned bright red, and there was a hint of dazed mist in her eyes.

As Yuwen Ye looked at her petal-like lips, which were now slightly swollen and marked with teeth marks from his earlier assault, a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

He said softly, "That's right."

"..."

Shang Ruyi was speechless. She didn't know whether his "that's right" referred to what she had just said to him, or to her subjugation and even compliance in her moment of infatuation. But upon hearing this, her face turned even redder, as if it were about to bleed. Her arms, which had been wrapped around his neck, immediately withdrew, and she gave him a soft push.

Yuwen Ye staggered back two steps, smiling as he looked at her.

Shang Ruyi stopped talking, biting her still swollen lower lip, lowered her head to straighten her somewhat disheveled clothes, then touched her cheek with the back of her hand, which was still a little cool, to make herself look more serious before walking over to open the door.

Wo Xue was still standing outside the door.

After waiting for so long, she didn't utter another word. But when she saw the door open and Shang Ruyi standing in front of her, still breathing unevenly, she immediately lowered her head, revealing her slightly reddened ear tips.

Shang Ruyi coughed twice to make herself appear more serious, and said, "You just now—"

Wo Xue hurriedly said, "This servant saw that someone had already sent food to the dining hall, so I came here specifically to deliver a message to His Highness Prince Qin and Princess Consort."

"Oh, I see."

Shang Ruyi nodded, took another step back, and said, "Come in and comb my hair. I'll come over when you're done."

Wo Xue accepted the order and entered.

A faint, enchanting atmosphere seemed to linger in the room.

This made Wo Xue even more afraid to look up, and she didn't even dare to glance at Yuwen Ye, who was standing in the center of the room. Yuwen Ye, on the other hand, watched as Shang Ruyi sat back down in front of the dressing table, letting Wo Xue pick up the wooden comb and slowly comb her long hair. During this time, she kept her head down and didn't even dare to look at Yuwen Ye, who was staring at her in the bronze mirror.

But his eyes were bright and sparkling.

Yuwen Ye smiled and said, "I'll go down and say a few words to Shen Tu Tai and the others. You can go to the dining hall first."

Shang Ruyi still didn't look up: "Hmm."

Yuwen Ye then turned and left.

As soon as he left, the room seemed much emptier. Shang Ruyi then raised her head and glanced at the empty room reflected in the bronze mirror. She couldn't help but sigh softly. But when she looked at Wo Xue behind her, who was pursing her lips and looking like she was about to smile, she immediately blushed.

At least my hair is combed now.

Wo Xue found her another, more elegant dress to change into, and then accompanied her out of the room and towards the dining hall.

Along the way, all I saw was devastation.

Although it was the old residence of the Yuwen family in Taiyuan, after the Western Turks and Wang Shaoqiu joined forces to conquer Taiyuan, they found this place and killed all the people guarding the house. After Yuwen Qian recaptured Taiyuan, he gave all the people here a proper burial and ordered people to clean it up again, but it could never be restored to its former grandeur.

The devastation caused by the chaos of the times is evident.

As Shang Ruyi walked, she looked at the mottled marks on the walls and eaves under the moonlight and sighed inwardly. After turning a corner, she arrived at the entrance of the garden.

The dining hall is on the other side.

But she stopped as soon as she reached the park entrance.

Because there were two figures standing in the garden, one was the alluring and charming Lüxiao, and the other was the tall and handsome Yuwen Qian. The two of them said something to each other, and Yuwen Qian took a step back and bowed deeply to Lüxiao.

Thank you.