Chapter 1269 The Final Winner—
Before Su Qinglan even entered her home, the news had already reached the Prince of Qin's residence.
After a final review of their plans, deployments, and arrangements, everyone finally went to rest. Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi also returned to their chambers. It was nearly midnight, and the wind and rain had intensified. Even with the doors and windows tightly closed, the sounds of what seemed like a cataclysmic upheaval could be heard outside.
Shang Ruyi, who was brewing tea, looked up and glanced at the swaying tree shadows reflected in the window.
She suddenly remembered being startled when she was a child because she thought the shadow looked like a menacing monster. Later, as she grew older, she was no longer frightened, since upon closer inspection, the shadow didn't really look like a monster. But sometimes, when she saw it for the first time, she would still be terrified.
Upon reflection, her fear stemmed from not knowing what was outside the window.
What is truly frightening is the unknown.
unknown……
When those two words came to mind, she suddenly had a strange feeling. Upon further reflection, she realized where this sense of relief came from—in fact, she had already avoided several unknowns in her life that could bring the greatest fear and unease.
This almost cheating ability, however, came from her enemy, Yu Mingyue.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi chuckled to herself.
"What's wrong?"
She chuckled softly to herself, but at that moment, Yuwen Ye, who was hunched over his desk looking at the map of Chang'an that he had examined countless times over the past few days and was practically worn out from looking at it, suddenly looked up at her, his deep black eyes flickering slightly in the candlelight: "What are you laughing at?"
Shang Ruyi was taken aback for a moment, then immediately said, "No, I didn't laugh."
Hearing her say that, Yuwen Ye looked at her curved eyebrows carefully again, but didn't say anything more. He lowered his head and continued to look at the map spread on the table.
Shang Ruyi then walked over and placed the teacup beside him.
Yuwen Ye picked it up, took a sip, and then said, "If you're tired, go to sleep first. You've been running around these past few days and haven't slept well."
"I'm not tired."
"You said you weren't tired, but your eyes are all red. Go to sleep."
"You've barely slept these past few days either,"
As Shang Ruyi spoke, she gently leaned against his shoulder: "If you want to sleep, you can sleep with me."
The two already had a child who was almost a teenager, and could be considered an old married couple. But for some reason, when she said these words, Shang Ruyi's cheeks couldn't help but turn red, and then she heard Yuwen Ye's breathing become a little heavier.
Shang Ruyi immediately said, "I mean, let's rest together."
Yuwen Ye looked down at her, his eyes flickered slightly, and his lips curled up.
In the dim candlelight, Shang Ruyi's face turned even redder.
However, they were an old married couple, and she was also the mother of a grown child, so there was no need for her to act like a child anymore. So she simply rested her head on his shoulder, but lowered her eyes to avoid his gaze, and said softly, "I'm just worried that you're too tired. You haven't rested well these past few days, and you have to lead everyone out of the city early tomorrow morning. I can take this opportunity to stay in Chang'an and wait for the right moment to act."
Yuwen Ye said, "You think you can rest by staying here?"
"Of course I know I can't."
When Shen Wuzheng suggested that someone stay in Chang'an, it meant that someone needed to control the situation there. In other words, if anyone tried to do something in the city while Yuwen Ye was away, she had to react immediately, and even take action.
This was no easier than Yuwen Ye feigning leaving the city and then returning to fight his way back.
Moreover, they must cooperate seamlessly.
Yuwen Ye said, "You have a heavy burden on your shoulders."
Shang Ruyi paused for a moment before saying, "I'm not afraid. I've overcome the most difficult times before, and I believe I can get through this one too."
After thinking for a moment, he added, "It definitely can."
Yuwen Ye laughed and said, "How can you be so sure?"
A strange look appeared on Shang Ruyi's face. She remained silent for a while before saying, "You seem to have forgotten why I was so determined to break off the engagement, even if it displeased Father Emperor, even if... it humiliated your elder brother for no reason, I didn't care?"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ye's expression darkened slightly.
Yes, none of them should forget.
It was because Yu Mingyue's possession of another's body that she learned about some things that were about to happen. She knew that Yuwen Yuan would ascend the throne and become the founding emperor of the Great Sheng Dynasty. She also knew that his crown prince would cause trouble, possibly leading to the destruction of his family and even implicating everyone around him. In order to protect herself and her family, Shang Ruyi was willing to hurt an innocent Yuwen Qian in order to break off the engagement and marry someone else.
So later, when Yuwen Qian hated her and took revenge, she knew she deserved it, but she didn't regret it.
After all, his end was just around the corner.
Moreover, at least half of this dead end was paved for him by her.
She understands that she is not a good person in this respect, but how many people in the world can exchange their own and their loved ones' lives for their conscience?
He's just an ordinary person.
Yuwen Ye said in a deep voice, "I remember you said that Father's crown prince would stage a coup and be killed."
"so--"
"But who killed him?"
"Is the prince who was killed actually the same one we have now?"
"...!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly came to her senses.
Yes, she had only thought about the crown prince, the coup, and his assassination, but she forgot one thing: if this crown prince was established, another could be established; and the one who killed this crown prince could be Yuwen Ye, or...
Or rather, Yu Mingyue's memories did not truly tell her who would ultimately win this mutiny!
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi suddenly shivered.
She immediately looked at Yuwen Ye: "Could it be that the Prince of Qi—"
Yuwen Ye looked steadily into her eyes and said, "Actually, this is the last thing I want to remind you. This time, while staying in Chang'an, the one you really need to be wary of may not be the Crown Prince, but him!"
"...!"
Shang Ruyi gasped, feeling a cold, damp sensation on her back; she was covered in a cold sweat.
She murmured, "So, the one who wins in the end—"
Just then, she felt a warmth on her hand again. It was Yuwen Ye holding her hand. The thick, dry palm of his hand brought a reassuring warmth that instantly calmed her heartbeat. Yuwen Ye looked at her calmly and said seriously, "I can tell you, it must be me!"
Meeting his firm and composed gaze, and feeling the warmth flowing from her palms into her heart, Shang Ruyi finally calmed her heartbeat and gently nodded: "Mm!"
Yuwen Ye then smiled at her.
Having resolved her inner conflict, Yuwen Ye felt relieved and continued to look down at the map he knew by heart. Shang Ruyi, whose emotions had just gone through ups and downs, was no longer sleepy, so she simply intertwined her fingers with his and continued to lean on his shoulder, looking at the map that she had looked at countless times in the past few days.
Yuwen Ye's finger traced a path from Chang'an, heading southeast, and stopped only at Lantian.
This road is the Wuguan Road, which starts from Chang'an, passes through Lantian and Shangluo, and then arrives at Tongguan. Although it takes a long detour to the southeast, ordinary people rarely take this road when leaving Tongguan. However, if they want to avoid the traps set by the Crown Prince and his men along the way, this road is relatively safer.
Shang Ruyi's gaze swept across the road, then turned to another road.
Yuwen Ye's finger returned to Chang'an from Lantian and headed east again. However, instead of making a big detour to the south as before, it went east all the way, passing through Jicheng and Huazhou. If it continued eastward, it would reach Tongguan.
This road is the Tongguan Road, the shortest and most convenient route from Chang'an to Tongguan, and it was almost always the only way they traveled eastward in the past.
The best way to stop them is to set up an ambush along this road.
Seeing his fingers sliding back and forth along the road, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but ask, "What are you worried about?"
Yuwen Ye said, "I'm wondering where they'll set up an ambush."
Shang Ruyi laughed and said, "Aren't you going to Lantian? Since you're going to avoid them, why bother about where they might ambush you?"
Yuwen Ye was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm just thinking about it."
After saying that, he turned to look at Shang Ruyi, who had her chin resting on his shoulder, and listened to her even breathing. He said, "Come and take a look. Where do you think they will set up an ambush?"
Shang Ruyi glanced at him, knowing that he was deliberately testing her. In fact, by today's standards, she would no longer say that she was ignorant of military affairs. After all, she was already the Majestic Lady personally appointed by the emperor, and her heavy cavalry had achieved great military exploits. She was not only influential in the court, but also renowned among the people. Because of her, the Majestic Lady, a trend of women learning martial arts had even started.
So he laughed and said, "You can't test me."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ye simply moved aside a bit, letting her sit directly in front of the table, and said, "Then come and see where the Crown Prince and Prince Qi would ambush me if they were to set up an ambush along the way."
Shang Ruyi's fingers slowly moved along the Tongguan Road he had just traced, from Chang'an to Jicheng, Huazhou, and then... her gaze fell on Taolin Pass.
Just now, Yuwen Ye's finger seemed to have lingered in this spot for an exceptionally long time.
She turned to him and said, "Peach Grove Pass."
Upon hearing these three words, Yuwen Ye's eyes flickered for a moment, then a satisfied smile appeared on his face as he nodded and said, "Yes, now I can truly rest assured that I can leave you in Chang'an."
Shang Ruyi glared at him, but was too lazy to argue with him. She looked at the high and easily concealed place again and said, "This place is indeed a good ambush spot. If you really take this route, and if they really send a skilled general, it might really cause you some trouble."
Yuwen Ye's eyes flashed slightly: "A skilled general..."
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