Chapter 890 Decision

As Yu Mingyue entered the Liangyi Hall, she looked back once more.

Shang Ruyi left without looking back, and Yuwen Qian, after entering the Liangyi Hall, seemed to only focus on what was ahead and did not look back again.

Whether it was her imagination or not, before she married Yuwen Qian, she could sense—no, not sense, but truly notice Yuwen Qian's attention to Shang Ruyi. Although that attention wasn't exactly infatuation, it still made her very uneasy, and she felt even more hostile towards Shang Ruyi in addition to her dislike. But since their marriage, Yuwen Qian had shown no further attention to this woman she loathed. Even if he did pay attention, it was only because she was the Princess Consort of Qin, Yuwen Ye's wife, and he seemed to have no interest in her as a person.

This discovery brought Yu Mingyue considerable joy.

But before this feeling of pleasure could fully bloom into a smile, it was immediately erased by another figure passing by.

Liangdi, Lou Chanyue.

At this moment, she stood beside Yuwen Qian with a smile on her face. As a concubine, she was not qualified to accompany the Crown Prince and Crown Princess into the palace to pay their respects to the Emperor. However, during this trip to Tangquan Palace, she took the opportunity to curry favor with Yuwen Yuan and made a lot of appearances in front of him. She also made a contribution by "discovering" the assassin. Now, Yuwen Qian takes her with him in everything he does, and her treatment in the Crown Prince's residence is almost as good as that of the Crown Princess herself.

Upon seeing her, Yu Mingyue's eyes immediately darkened.

After the victory banquet at Baifu Palace, Yuwen Yuan's attitude towards her suddenly turned cold. She almost lost her chance to become the Crown Princess, which she thought was a sure thing. Yuwen Yuan even bestowed two concubines upon Yuwen Qian, which broke her heart.

During those days, she was tormented by regret and anger. But no matter how much she regretted or tormented herself, she had no room to resist. After all, it was Yuwen Yuan who gave the order. He was the emperor of the Great Sheng Dynasty, who held the power of life and death over everyone. No matter how cunning and resourceful she was, she could not disobey the imperial decree, nor could she even try to win Yuwen Qian a lifelong, monogamous relationship.

At that moment, she realized how ridiculous the things she had said to Shang Ruyi had been.

So after that, she was even unwilling to see or talk to Shang Ruyi much.

Because she fears that every word she utters in her moment of triumph will one day become a sharp sword piercing her, just like the phrase "one life, one love, one pair of lovers."

Now, looking at the smug concubine, Lou Liangdi, standing triumphantly in front of him, she was like a living, breathing sword hanging over his head, ready to stab him at any moment.

This feeling infuriated her.

Just as Yu Mingyue's mind was in turmoil, Yuwen Qian turned around and glanced at her: "Hmm?"

"ah!"

Yu Mingyue then came to her senses. They should have gone inside. She hurriedly followed him, and the three of them entered the inner hall together.

The air inside the hall was cool. Yuwen Yuan was strong and sensitive to heat. Because Shang Ruyi had just brought the child, two extra braziers had been set up, but they were removed as soon as they left. So the hall was not much warmer than outside. The cool air seemed to be filled with the unique milky fragrance of a baby, which made Yu Mingyue's gloomy mood even heavier.

Besides Lou Chanyue taking the opportunity to curry favor with Yuwen Yuan, the son Shang Ruyi gave birth to also allowed her to gain a lot of face in front of Yuwen Yuan. She even achieved her desired goals several times by using that innocent baby.

This made Yu Mingyue, who had always believed that women who wanted to have children were simply birthing machines, even angrier.

Why are her experiences, the books she read, and the inspiring words of those around her different from what she has heard in the past?

She even began to doubt herself. Was it that they were feudal, or that she herself was backward? Why was it that, despite knowing more and thinking more advancedly, she was—

"Bright moon?"

Another familiar, slightly puzzled call came through, and Yu Mingyue snapped out of her daze, only to find that they had already entered the inner hall and were standing in front of Yuwen Yuan. Yuwen Qian and Lou Chanyue had already bowed and paid their respects, but seeing that she was not moving, they gently reminded her.

Yu Mingyue was so frightened that she hurriedly knelt down and said, "Greetings, Father Emperor!"

Yuwen Yuan frowned slightly, but then, remembering what Shang Ruyi had just said, he didn't blame her too much and simply waved his hand: "Get up, all of you."

The three of them then stood up.

After being seated, Yuwen Yuan looked at Yu Mingyue, who was still somewhat dazed, and said, "The Crown Princess doesn't look too well."

Knowing that her recent lapse in composure would displease the emperor, Yu Mingyue was already secretly pinching her thigh to try and focus. Upon hearing his words, she broke out in a cold sweat and quickly stood up, saying, "Your subject—"

Yuwen Yuan said, "I heard that the Duke of Wushan's eye injury has relapsed?"

"ah?"

Yu Mingyue was taken aback, then remembered that someone had reported this a few days ago, but she hadn't asked too many questions because she was too busy these days. She could only nod hurriedly: "Yes, yes. Father's eye injury has worsened a lot since the weather got cold."

Yuwen Yuan frowned and said, "Why didn't you say so earlier? Tomorrow, have the Imperial Medical Bureau send two people to take a look."

Yu Mingyue quickly said, "Thank you, Father Emperor."

Yuwen Yuan waved his hand, gesturing for her to sit down, and then said, "I summoned you to the palace to discuss the New Year's Eve banquet. This matter is naturally entrusted to you."

Hearing this, a glimmer of light appeared in Yu Mingyue's gloomy mood.

Not only could he hear it, but even though Shang Ruyi had just come over with that baby to try and charm him, it still couldn't stop Yuwen Yuan from being suspicious and dissatisfied with the Prince of Qin and his people. More importantly, this matter should rightfully be left to her, the Crown Princess.

If I handle this matter well, I will have regained the limelight that should have been mine.

So she opened her eyes wide and listened attentively as Yuwen Yuan continued, "In the past two years, because there were wars in various places, I was not in the mood to celebrate the New Year properly; this year—although the third prince is still abroad, I heard from the news he just sent back that he has captured Cijian, which makes me very happy."

Yuwen Qian said, "Third brother's victory in this battle is largely due to Father's protection."

Yuwen Yuan smiled faintly and then said, "So this New Year's Eve banquet, I want to prepare it properly and make sure our whole family has a good time. We can't just have it hastily like before."

Yu Mingyue echoed Yuwen Qian, "That's right."

"so,"

Yuwen Yuan's gaze slowly shifted from the Crown Prince's handsome face to the Crown Princess's radiant and expectant face. After a moment of silence, he said, "I have decided to entrust the responsibility of organizing this banquet to—"