Chapter 213 This frankness was something he couldn't understand.
Shang Ruyi looked up at him and calmly said, "Am I a fool in Young Master Xiao's eyes?"
"No, you're a smart person,"
A smile appeared on Xiao Yuansui's lips, but this time, there were no laugh lines on his face. In addition, the cold light shining in his slightly curved eyes made his smile not only unfriendly, but also exuding a cold and stern feeling: "I just didn't expect you to be so smart."
"..."
"You saw right through them at a glance."
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment, then said calmly without beating around the bush, “It’s not that I saw through them at a glance, but that you, Young Master Xiao, simply couldn’t control them.”
Xiao Yuansui narrowed his eyes slightly: "You've noticed that they don't get along with me, so what are you planning to do?"
"..."
"To sow discord among us, causing Xingluocang City to collapse without a fight?"
Shang Ruyi smiled faintly and said, "This is too kind of you, Young Master Xiao."
"..."
"While that's one way, your so-called Brother Lu is hardly a hero, in fact, he's a complete scoundrel. If I were to continue associating with him, I'd be courting death. Besides—"
She looked up at Xiao Yuansui and said, "Since Young Master Xiao has also seen through this, and I have seen through this as well, how could I not be on guard?"
"..."
"My strength is limited, so I won't do such a futile effort."
Xiao Yuansui asked, "So what do you plan to do?"
Shang Ruyi said, "I think I should be asking you that."
"..."
“I came here to find my husband, I never intended to have anything to do with you. You're the ones who dragged me in. I'd like to ask you, what do you intend to do to me?”
Xiao Yuansui was taken aback, but after thinking about it again, he immediately burst into laughter.
After laughing, he looked at Shang Ruyi and said, "Young Madam, I must say, you are even smarter than I just realized."
"..."
"If even you are so smart, then Yuwen Ye will definitely not escape so easily."
The mere mention of Yuwen Ye caused Shang Ruyi's heart to sink.
Even now, she still can't explain why Yuwen Ye suffered three defeats in three battles and why he led his troops to flee after the defeats. Even his opponent, Xiao Yuansui, couldn't figure it out. In fact, he sent his men to search around Huangtu Ridge all night, but they couldn't find any trace of him.
Where did this person go?!
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "I don't know what he's thinking or where he went, and besides, I can't worry about him right now. Now, I want to ask you, what do you intend to do to me after you brought me into Xingluo Cang City?"
Xiao Yuansui smiled faintly and said, "Young Madam, there is no need to be so wary. As I said, the troops we sent out last night were only to find Yuwen Ye. Encountering you was an accident. Even if we bring you into Xingluo Cang City, we will not do anything to you."
Shang Ruyi said, "If you're not going to do anything to me, then why won't you let me go?"
"..."
Xiao Yuansui squinted at her for a moment, then smiled and said, "But I don't want to let you go either."
Although this was an outcome she had anticipated, Shang Ruyi's heart still sank upon hearing it. However, she remained outwardly calm, only sneering, "You won't do anything to me, yet you won't let me leave. Do you think you just want me to help you deplete the city's grain reserves?"
"That's not entirely wrong,"
Xiao Yuansui laughed and said, "The packet of dry rations that the young mistress gave me back then saved my life and relieved my distress. People often say that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude. What is a little food in return for that packet of dry rations?"
Shang Ruyi said, "If that's the case, then I won't hold back."
"..."
“I’ve been traveling here from Dongdu for two days, and I was up all night last night. I’m exhausted and hungry. If you really want to repay my kindness, Young Master Xiao, why not give me a bed and a meal so I can eat my fill and sleep well? That would be a way to repay your great kindness.”
Even though they had met once before and he was deeply impressed by her, Xiao Yuansui never imagined that a seemingly weak woman could be so open and honest in the enemy camp.
This frankness was so unfathomable that even he found it hard to understand.
But this feeling of not being able to see through him did not make him uneasy. On the contrary, he looked the noble lady, who was dressed in coarse clothes but was still radiant, up and down with a smile in his eyes. His eyes were full of appreciation. He said, "This has been prepared for a long time. Please."
With a raised hand pointing to the back hall, Shang Ruyi calmly stepped forward and walked towards the back.
Behind the council hall was a large open garden. On the north side of the garden was a high platform with curtains on both sides, decorated with exquisite patterns of celestial maidens scattering flowers, clearly intended for enjoying song and dance performances.
It seems that the officers stationed here are used to enjoying themselves. No wonder Wang Gang's army of a few thousand men was able to take over this warehouse city.
Passing through the garden, you'll find a long corridor.
Xiao Yuansui led her for nearly a hundred steps, but they only reached halfway down the corridor when a door appeared on the right, which he turned into.
However, Shang Ruyi did not go in immediately when she reached the door. Instead, she looked forward along the corridor. A few dozen steps ahead, there was a small door. Beyond the small door, there seemed to be another path, long and flat, but she did not know where it led.
Just as she was lost in thought, Xiao Yuansui noticed that she hadn't followed, so he took two steps back, followed her gaze to look ahead, and then looked at Shang Ruyi.
After a moment, he smiled and said, "Young Madam."
"Um?"
"Young Madam, do you now desire a comfortable bed and a meal, or would you like to visit that door?"
"..."
Looking at the inscrutable smile on his face, Shang Ruyi forced a smile and said, "Eating is the most important thing."
So she immediately followed him.
A short while later, Xiao Yuansui led her to the east backyard. It was a deep and quiet place. Pushing open the door, she found the room was very clean, with a brazier burning. However, there were few furnishings, only a low table in the center of the room, behind which was a half-height pink wall, and behind the pink wall was an inner room for rest.
On the table, a set of exquisite dishes and wine had already been laid out.
Xiao Yuansui stood beside her and smiled, "Young Madam, are you satisfied with what you've seen?"
Shang Ruyi looked around the room, then at the food and wine on the table, and turned to Xiao Yuansui, saying, "Congratulations, Young Master Xiao, your great kindness has been repaid."
This statement is concise, to the point, and resounding.
For the first time, Xiao Yuansui felt that despite his vast knowledge, there was a time when he couldn't speak to anyone.
After a moment of silence, he nodded and smiled, "Then, young mistress, please get some rest."
After saying that, he left and closed the door.
Only when the cold wind and light outside were blocked by the door did Shang Ruyi finally breathe a sigh of relief. She immediately felt weak and hurriedly sat down at the low table, her forehead covered in a fine layer of sweat.
Just now, she said she was tired and hungry because she wanted to avoid talking to Xiao Yuansui too much—after all, he was too shrewd, and she didn't want him to take something from her before she could get any clues out of him—but now it seems she really needs to eat something and get a good night's sleep.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to seriously consider her next step and what she should do.
The current situation is that Yuwen Ye has "fled" with his troops and his whereabouts are unknown; Kou Yunliang has decided to pin the blame for the defeat and escape on him; and the emperor in the Eastern Capital has long harbored the intention to kill Yuwen Ye. Once this matter is confirmed, the Yuwen family will likely face a great calamity.
so--
What can she do?
Especially after Xiao Yuansui had already captured him and taken him to Xingluo Warehouse, this man was still so shrewd that he probably thought of everything that Xiao Yuansui could think of before him.
Although he spoke in a grand and respectable manner about repaying a debt of gratitude, they both knew very well that he was only after her status as Yuwen Ye's wife. He thought that as long as he had her in his grasp, she would be of some use, so he would not let her go easily.
But perhaps, he will be disappointed.
Shang Ruyi gave a bitter smile.
Although she felt a little bitter, she didn't force herself. She picked up her chopsticks and started eating. It was clear that Xiao Yuansui was indeed very polite to her, and the food and wine were prepared very well. At least in this place, it could be considered a good treat. Although she was preoccupied, she forced herself to eat quite a bit. After she was full, she went to the inner room, where soft mattresses and blankets had already been laid out on the bed. She lay down to sleep fully clothed.
He slept for a whole day.
When she woke up again, it was the morning of the next day.
Several middle-aged women brought her hot water and food, but their attitude towards her remained lukewarm. Shang Ruyi didn't mind; she simply washed up, ate, and drank. Once she was full, she pushed open the door and walked out of the room.
Outside the door is a bright and spacious courtyard.
The heavy snow that had lasted for several days had probably cleared away most of the heavy gloom overhead, and today the sun came out. The bright sunlight shone on the thick layer of snow around them, reflecting an even more dazzling light, making the small courtyard, and even the entire Xingluocang City, even brighter.
To Shang Ruyi's surprise, there were no guards inside or outside the courtyard.
However, thinking about it, it's not surprising. After all, Xiao Yuansui occupied an entire city. Even if she could escape this courtyard, could she escape the city? And even if she escaped the city, could she escape Huangtuling?
Even after descending Huangtuling and reaching Luokou Ferry, there was still Kou Yunliang waiting to take her life.
Even if they escape back to the Eastern Capital, there is still an imperial sword there.
Thinking of this, a chill rose from her heart, and even the warm sunshine on her body could not dispel it. Shang Ruyi subconsciously shivered.
Once the gloom settled in her heart, she couldn't stay any longer and simply walked out of the courtyard.
She walked back along the path Xiao Yuansui had led her to yesterday, and then went up a long corridor. To the left was the same council hall she had seen before, and to the right, after walking a few dozen steps, was the small door she had seen yesterday. After going out of the small door and walking forward, the path turned a corner and disappeared into a high wall. She didn't know what was on the other side.
She thought for a moment, then slowly walked forward.
But just as she reached the small doorway, she heard a loud bang, and two gleaming broadswords suddenly appeared in front of her, blocking her way.
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