Chapter 896 Apologize

Before we knew it, it was New Year's Eve.

The snowstorm had stopped for the first time that day, but the weather did not clear up. Thick, dark clouds still hung over Chang'an like a giant hand covering everyone's hearts. The biting north wind was cold as a knife, giving people a sense of impending doom.

Early in the morning, Yuwen Ye rose early, dressed neatly, and went to the imperial court to accompany the emperor on the city tower to receive the congratulations of officials and commoners. Afterwards, he returned to the main hall to watch the lively Nuo dance, a ritual of exorcising evil spirits and praying for blessings, before finally returning to Qianqiu Palace at noon. At this time, Shang Ruyi was playing with Xiao Yuanzi in the courtyard, fiddling with the pine and cypress branches in the corner. The accumulated snowflakes immediately fell, landing on their faces. Xiao Yuanzi shivered from the cold, then giggled.

Shang Ruyi laughed too, bouncing the baby in the swaddling clothes and teasing him, "Aren't you cold? Little Yuanzi, aren't the snowflakes cold?"

"Giggle giggle."

Yuwen Ye walked over and said softly, "Be careful not to catch a cold."

Shang Ruyi turned around and saw him return, her eyes crinkling with laughter, and said, "It's not too cold today, and this kid isn't afraid of the cold either. Who does he take after?"

Yuwen Ye glanced at her: "Who do you think she looks like!"

Shang Ruyi didn't say anything, but suddenly reached out and hit the tree branch hanging above Yuwen Ye's head. With a "snap," a flurry of snowflakes fell, soaking Yuwen Ye's head as well. Shang Ruyi, carrying Xiao Yuanzi, darted away from under the tree, leaving Yuwen Ye completely drenched.

"you--"

Yuwen Ye gritted his teeth in anger and turned to grab Shang Ruyi. The two of them laughed and chased each other around the courtyard for a while.

When she could no longer run, Shang Ruyi stopped, panting heavily, and said, "Stop messing around, stop messing around."

Yuwen Ye glared at her, but still reached out to support her, took the swaddled baby and handed it to Tushe'er, who was already standing to the side. Then he took Shang Ruyi back to the main hall, where there were several stoves, and the heat was intense. After running around for a while, she was immediately covered in sweat.

Shang Ruyi took off her outer garment, but Yuwen Ye was still worried and had someone bring her a thinner garment to put on her.

Shang Ruyi smiled and asked, "You're back so soon?"

Yuwen Ye washed his hands and, upon hearing her question, replied, "The affairs of the previous dynasty have been finished. We will have a meal at Baifu Hall later tonight."

"What is Father doing now?"

"They called a few senior officials over to chat in the Liangyi Hall and invited us to join them."

"Oh? Who are they?"

"Several ministers, and Lord Ji."

"oh……"

Normally, Yuwen Yuan would definitely invite Shen Shiyan and Pei Xu to chat and laugh together. These old brothers have been together for many years and naturally have a lot to talk about. However, after the Tangquan Palace incident, the Pei family was placed under house arrest, and Shen Shiyan has not shown his face for a long time.

Shang Ruyi wasn't too surprised, but asked again, "Where is the Duke of Wushan?"

Yuwen Ye dried his hands, walked back, sat down next to her, took a sip of tea, and then said, "Father also summoned him, but he asked for half a day off today."

"oh."

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi smiled faintly and said, "It's rare that the Duke didn't come to join in the fun."

Just as the two of them had finished tidying their clothes and were preparing to head to the Liangyi Hall, inside the Liangyi Hall, Yuwen Yuan looked at the several officials sitting in front of him, trembling and barely daring to breathe loudly. He then looked at Ji Hong, the most outspoken old minister, who was sitting to the side with his eyes half-closed. His thick, gray eyebrows made it impossible to tell whether he was listening or dozing off.

Yuwen Yuan suddenly felt a sense of emptiness.

This sense of powerlessness had been lingering in his mind ever since the Battle of Longmendu, and it had become even more profound after the incident at Tangquan Palace.

He sighed and said, "Alright, you should all go home. It's New Year's Day today, and your wives and children are probably waiting for you to reunite with them."

Upon hearing this, the eyes of several veteran officials lit up, and even Ji Hong opened his eyes. They all rose in succession, cupped their hands in greeting to Yuwen Yuan, and said, "Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, report..."

Before the word "retreat" could be finished, suddenly, Eunuch Yu walked in from outside the door.

He bowed to the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Wushan requests an audience."

"Um?"

Upon hearing that the Duke of Wushan had arrived, Yuwen Yuan's eyes lit up, and he smiled, "He's here? Let him in quickly."

Several veteran officials were about to leave when they suddenly heard that Duke Wushan, who had been resting for several months, had actually entered the palace at this time. They looked at each other and stopped, staring at the gate of the Liangyi Hall.

A moment later, a familiar, tall figure walked in from outside.

Duke Yu Dingxing of Wushan strode into the Liangyi Hall, still carrying a trace of icy cold. The bandages on his face were still on. The wound should have healed long ago, but he had not removed them. One reason was that the wound was too gruesome, and the other was that he was worried that the cold weather would freeze the wound. But this only made his face, which only had one eye, look more ferocious and mean.

Ji Hong glanced at him only once before immediately lowering her head.

The other ministers were very attentive, bowing and greeting the Duke of Wushan, but Yu Dingxing ignored them and stepped forward to kowtow to Yuwen Yuan, saying, "Your humble servant has come to beg for forgiveness!"

"Um?"

Yuwen Yuan, who was all smiles and about to greet his in-law, was stunned when he saw him enter and immediately "apologize": "What are you saying? When have I ever punished you? Get up!"

Yu Dingxing knelt on the ground, bowing his head and saying, "Your humble servant is guilty, your humble servant deserves to die!"

Yuwen Yuan frowned: "What exactly is going on?"

Yu Dingxing slowly raised his head, looking at Yuwen Yuan with his only remaining, somewhat red eyes filled with pleading, and said, "Your Majesty, when I went out of the city to find the sick, I never expected that there were remnants of Wanggang Village hiding among them. My old eyes are failing, and I let this person slip away right under my nose. I know my crime, I deserve to die!"

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Then he laughed and said, "So that's what you mean."

"..."

"Yes, the remnants of Wanggang Village should not be let go, but at that time you were sent to find the sick, not to capture the people of Wanggang Village. Even if he escaped, it is understandable. I did not blame you. Get up."

Yu Dingxing, however, refused to rise, saying, "Although Your Majesty does not blame me, I know my sins are grave. These past few days I have reflected on my mistakes and tried to atone for them. That is why I—"

Yuwen Yuan recognized the tone in the voice: "What did you do?"