Chapter 582 You don't mind?
Shang Ruyi nodded.
She glanced at the sky outside the window again. Actually, it wasn't too late yet; the sun was only just beginning to set, and there was still some time before dark. But—
She said, "It's still quite a distance to Dayan Temple from here. You should go and come back soon."
Yuwen Ye's eyes darkened further as he stared intently at her: "You know I'm going to Dayan Temple, but you—are you going to stay here too?"
At this moment, Shang Ruyi finally understood: "You... you want me to go with you?"
Yuwen Ye replied expressionlessly, "Hmm."
Shang Ruyi looked at him: "You, you don't mind?"
"..."
Yuwen Ye was silent for a while before saying, "That's the question I should be asking you."
"..."
Shang Ruyi was momentarily stunned.
In fact, she had never forgotten that before the plague appeared—no, before the comet appeared and brought forth the prophecy—Empress Dowager Jiang went to Dayan Temple to fast. When Yuwen Yuan sealed off Daxing City and closed off all the major markets, the Empress Dowager was naturally left in Dayan Temple and could not return to the palace.
It's been more than half a month.
During the past two weeks, Yuwen Ye had been busy with important matters, but Shang Ruyi knew that he must have some concerns for the Empress Dowager.
So today, the day the plague was finally eradicated, he finished dealing with other matters in the palace and returned home early, changing into this clean and elegant outfit, also to welcome Empress Dowager Jiang back to the palace. At this time, Shang Ruyi almost instinctively felt that she shouldn't interfere.
It's not that she doesn't mind.
Rather, it's because they can't bear to mind.
Even in her own heart, there was still a space she wanted to reserve for Chu Yang, unrelated to love, just a longing for that person, let alone the feelings that she had kept deep in her heart since her youth.
She thought for a moment, about to say something, but before she could speak, Yuwen Ye suddenly said again, "I told you, you don't need to be so generous—you are not only the daughter-in-law of the Duke of Sheng, but also my wife, Yuwen Ye!"
"..."
Almost immediately, Shang Ruyi sensed that he seemed a little angry.
It's strange, I'm being so "generous", why is he so unhappy about it?
At this point, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but think about it—because this wasn't wishful thinking. The jubilation inside and outside the city was not only due to the eradication of the plague, but also the arrival of a new era. For the people who had long suffered and endured hardship, a strong ruler could guide them through the dark times and lead them toward the light.
Yuwen Yuan will definitely ascend the throne as emperor.
Then his son will definitely become the next successor. Such a successor is completely different from a prince or heir.
Therefore, even though she felt displeasure or even jealousy towards Princess Xinyue from the very beginning, Shang Ruyi had long understood what she might face in the future.
Whether she minds or not, this is just the beginning.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi looked up at him and asked, "If I said I—mind it, what would you do?"
Almost instantly, although Yuwen Ye's face did not change in expression, Shang Ruyi clearly saw that his eyes were illuminated by the golden light of the setting sun. However, it was only for a moment, and the next moment, he returned to his usual cold and stern expression.
He suddenly said, "Then you can go down first."
"Um?"
Shang Ruyi was taken aback. Yuwen Ye had already lowered his head, dusted off the wrinkles in his clothes from sitting in the carriage, and said, "Didn't you have something to say to that Su Qinglan? Go ahead, I'll wait for you here."
"But--"
"Hurry up, didn't you say that Daiyan Temple is far away?"
"..."
"Hurry up and finish what you've said, then come back quickly."
"..."
Shang Ruyi was completely bewildered, not knowing why he had suddenly made this decision, even though she hadn't agreed yet, and he seemed to have suddenly become happy again.
After being "driven off" from the carriage by him with a few words, Shang Ruyi was still a little dazed, but she didn't know what to say. She could only watch the carriage go forward for a while and stop at the entrance of another alley. Naturally, this was to avoid being seen by the patients released from Chang Le Fang and causing unnecessary trouble. She had no choice but to walk towards Chang Le Fang with every step she took and every step she took.
Before long, the consultation for the more than two hundred patients was about to end.
Jiang Yu was the last person in line.
Compared to other elderly people who were listless and pale from being ill for some time, Jiang Yu was in high spirits, though his hair had grown quite long and his beard was somewhat disheveled. He leaned on a cane with one hand, while his tall and handsome son, standing beside him, supported his other hand.
It's Jiang Yan.
He was tall and handsome, standing out in the crowd. Shang Ruyi was immediately drawn to him. When Jiang Yan helped Jiang Yu and it was finally their turn to sit down for their consultation, he took a step back, lowered his head, and quietly watched the physicians taking his father's pulse.
Until the last person, he sat down in front of Su Qinglan.
Upon seeing Jiang Yu, Su Qinglan's smile deepened. After taking his pulse, she said with a smile, "Grandpa, your illness has been cured and you are in good health. However, you should eat less meat and alcohol, and avoid walking on mountain roads, as it is bad for your knees."
Jiang Yu chuckled, pulled down his sleeve, and said, "I know, but I just can't help it."
"..."
"We can skip the mountain path, but how can we skip the food and drink?"
It seemed that this kind of conversation had happened more than once in the past few days, so when she heard him say that, Su Qinglan could only shake her head with a helpless smile, and then looked up at what was behind him.
Jiang Xing stepped forward and said softly, "I will watch over Father."
Su Qinglan blushed and lowered her head.
She said softly, "Mmm."
Jiang Yu smiled and said, "Thank you for your care this time, Lord Su. I wonder when I can invite you to my home. I have nothing else to thank you for, but I can afford to treat you to a meal."
Su Qinglan lowered her head and said, "No need."
As they were talking, the other medical officers, seeing that the diagnoses had been completed, all stood up, and the people behind them began to tidy up their tables and chairs. Su Qinglan was about to get up as well, but at that moment, Jiang Yan suddenly stepped forward and said softly, "Come on."
"..."
Su Qinglan looked up at him. At that moment, even the golden light of the setting sun could not hide the flush on her face, adding a touch of beauty to her otherwise delicate features. After hesitating for a moment, she finally replied softly, "Mm."
Upon hearing her agree, Jiang Yu immediately smiled.
Just then, the other medical officers seemed to notice this as well, especially Lin Shi'an. He already felt apologetic for abandoning the seriously ill patient this time, and for Su Qinglan to take on this heavy responsibility. He was about to come over and say something to her when he found the handsome young man who had trespassed into Chang Le Fang standing in front of Su Qinglan, his head down, staring at her intently.
His gaze was gentle and focused, seemingly oblivious to the strange looks around him, and perhaps even unaware of the slight blush that crossed Su Qinglan's face. He asked earnestly, "When?"
People around started talking about it.
Su Qinglan felt extremely uncomfortable under those gazes and could only whisper, "In a few days."
"In a few days?"
"..."
Su Qinglan's face turned red to the tips of her ears. Even Shang Ruyi, who had stopped some distance away from them, noticed what she had done. She bit her lower lip and could only whisper, "Next month... on the fifth day of the first lunar month, I won't be on duty."
Jiang Yan immediately laughed.
He looked at Su Qinglan and said earnestly, "I'm going out on the seventh of next month to do business. You must come on the fifth. If you don't come, we don't know when we'll see each other again."
"...!"
Su Qinglan was startled and looked up at him.
Jiang Yan smiled and said, "I'll wait for you."
After saying that, he helped Jiang Yu, who was standing to the side and whose eyes were squinting into slits with laughter, to bow to the doctors next to him in thanks, and then turned and walked away.
Not far away, a deep, rumbling sound also came from nearby.
The Mingde Gate has been opened!
The last batch of patients finally recovered completely and left Chang Le Fang, some going home and others leaving the city. The roar of the city gates opening signified that Da Xing City had finally been freed from the threat of the plague.
Immediately, the onlookers erupted in cheers, their shouts even drowning out the sound of the city gates opening.
"Very good!"
"It's all over, it's all over!"
"The plague is finally over! Let's send away the plague god!"
Although she hadn't gotten close yet, just watching from afar the people recovering from their serious illnesses and the cheering crowds, Shang Ruyi seemed to feel their joy as well. She had been somewhat saddened by the fact that the relationship between Su Qinglan and Pei Xingyuan had ended before it even began, but immediately, she became happy as well.
Regardless, everything, the joy and the pain, is in the past.
Thinking of this, she smiled at these people.
Just as she was immersed in this sea of joy, not far behind her, Yuwen Ye, who was stopped at the entrance of an alley on the other side of the long street, was also smiling and watching her back. He was almost blending into the joyful crowd and was about to ask the servant accompanying the carriage to go and urge her to hurry up when he suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves.
Looking up, I saw a familiar carriage slowly approaching.
Zhengzheng stopped beside his carriage.
Although he hadn't seen this carriage many times, he always paid special attention to it. It was the same carriage he had seen before outside Dayan Temple, and the one that stopped behind Yu Mingyue when she was dragged out at Mingde Gate.
Yuwen Ye's eyes immediately turned cold.
The next moment, a slender, fair hand lifted the curtain, revealing Yu Mingyue's bright yet domineering face. She smiled at him and said, "Second Young Master..."
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