Chapter 902 Are you fighting against her?

This New Year's Eve banquet, which was closely watched and calculated by many, came to an end amidst a sudden snowstorm at dusk.

Although some things happened before the banquet, they did not affect everyone's mood. During the banquet, everyone ate and drank, chatted and laughed, and were very close. In addition, Xiao Yuanzi's unrestrained, childlike laughter added a touch of intimacy to this royal family banquet, which was more like that of an ordinary family.

Finally, everyone stayed up all night to welcome the New Year before dispersing, still smelling of alcohol.

By this time, the wind and snow were much heavier than in the evening, and the roads were covered with a layer of snow. When they arrived at the palace gate and saw the carriage waiting for them in the wind and snow, it was already pitch black all around. Only two lanterns under the eaves of the carriage emitted a faint red light as they swayed slightly in the wind. At first glance, it looked like a giant python with its blood-red eyes wide open, waiting for them to crawl into its mouth full of fangs.

Seeing this scene, Yu Mingyue felt a sudden chill.

Yuwen Qian stopped and said to Lou Liangdi, who was standing on the other side of him, "You go back by carriage first."

Lou Chanyue was taken aback and looked at him: "Your Highness, what about you—and the Crown Princess?"

“I’ve asked the people in the palace to prepare another carriage, which will be here soon. We’ll take that carriage back.”

"……yes."

Normally, deliberately leaving her behind and riding alone with the Crown Princess would be seen as obvious favoritism by the concubine, which would make Lou Chanyue very disappointed and frustrated. But after what happened today, and looking at Yuwen Qian's eyes, which were semi-transparent but noticeably deeper than usual, she said softly, "I understand. I will take my leave now."

After speaking, he bowed to the two of them and then, accompanied by his maid, got into the carriage.

A short while later, the carriage turned around and disappeared into the snowstorm.

In front of the palace gate, only two people remained standing there. Although several servants and maids followed behind them, Yuwen Qian had them all kept at a distance. In the wind and snow, their figures were almost invisible, as if only the two of them remained in this chaotic world.

The cold wind howled and the snow fell, almost sweeping away the last bit of warmth from people's bodies.

But Yu Mingyue was covered in cold sweat.

Su Qinglan was released, made amends for her crimes, and reinstated to her original position. Although this was the result she had wanted, she had a vague feeling that something was wrong ever since Shang Ruyi got involved. She could also clearly feel that even when the man beside her was drinking and chatting happily with Yuwen Ye, he was exuding a chilling aura.

She knew that Yuwen Qian had discovered and understood.

He told Lou Liangdi to go first, leaving the two of them alone in the wind and snow to wait for the carriage that might arrive at any time, as he had something to say to her.

Yu Mingyue's hands, tucked into her sleeves, clenched tightly, her short nails digging deep into her palms. The stinging pain finally made her unable to bear it any longer, and she spoke first. She turned to look at Yuwen Qian: "Your Highness, is there something you want to say to me?"

Yuwen Qian didn't look at her; his eyes, almost as cold as ice, were gazing indifferently at the falling snowflakes in front of him.

"Shouldn't you have told me some things first?"

"..."

Yu Mingyue's breath hitched.

She bit her lower lip and finally said, "He, my father, devoted himself to the court, even losing an eye. I can't just stand by and watch someone make a fuss about his past 'mistakes'."

Yuwen Qian's eyes flickered slightly.

Yu Mingyue's words were indeed without any problem. Even if they were said to Yuwen Yuan in a clear and straightforward manner, he would probably soften his heart. After all, for him now, his great cause has been accomplished, and what touches him more is the bond between father and son and the affection of family.

But when Yuwen Qian slowly turned his head to look at her, his eyes did not warm up at all. Instead, they became colder and more penetrating. His gaze could almost penetrate Yu Mingyue's body and see through her soul, making her feel a chill to the bone.

Yuwen Qian asked, "Is he really your father?"

"..."

"Would you have such a sense of responsibility towards this 'father'?"

Yu Mingyue's heart sank.

Yes, she shouldn't forget that even if what she just said could be accepted in front of the emperor, it wouldn't work in front of Yuwen Qian. From the beginning, she had told him everything about her background. He knew that she and Yu Dingxing had no feelings for each other other than their physical relationship, and he loathed Yu Dingxing for his scumbag behavior of abandoning his wife and children.

Therefore, what I just said was not only an excuse in his eyes, but more like a joke.

Yu Mingyue was sweating profusely, her clothes were almost soaked through, and a layer of cold sweat appeared on her forehead, slowly sliding down her temples.

Yuwen Qian said coldly, "So, what else do you have to explain?"

Yu Mingyue gritted her teeth and said with her neck stiff, "Even if what you just said seems unreasonable to His Highness, he and I are still closely connected."

"..."

"Does Your Highness truly not understand what I'm worried about?"

"..."

"I cannot allow anyone to climb over me, and I cannot allow anyone to step on me to get to the top, especially that woman next to you!"

Yuwen Qian frowned slightly, looking at Yu Mingyue with a strange gaze, which made her increasingly uneasy. Just as she was about to say something, Yuwen Qian suddenly asked, "Are you... fighting with her?"

Yu Mingyue was taken aback: "I—"

These words were like a torpedo buried deep in her heart, exploding inside her body and shattering her internal organs.

What am I doing...?

Seeing her obviously flustered appearance, Yuwen Qian suddenly felt a sense of desolation. In fact, he may have seen through this woman from the very beginning. She seemed very intelligent, but the more he spent with her, the more boring she became. However, at this point, there was no turning back.

So he said even more calmly, "You know what you're thinking."

"..."

"I'm keeping you here today only to tell you one thing—you can't hide anything from me from what you do in the future, and you can't make decisions on your own."

"..."

“You are inextricably linked to your ‘father,’ and so am I. Now that I have married you, everything between us is intertwined. One wrong step you take could lead to my utter ruin. I have reminded you of this more than once since our marriage was arranged. You had better remember this clearly!”

"..."

Hearing his calm voice, which contained an invisible pressure, Yu Mingyue's breathing became heavier and heavier.

She said in a hoarse voice, "Yes."

Yuwen Qian lazily turned his head, his gaze indifferent as he looked at the pitch-black night before him. At the same time, a carriage emerged from the snowstorm, and the two men boarded it, soon heading towards the Crown Prince's residence.