Chapter 771 The past cannot be retrieved, and old friends cannot return.
Although she thought the face looked familiar, Tushe'er racked her brains the whole way back to the palace but still couldn't remember who it was.
Thinking it was probably no important person, Shang Ruyi didn't pay much attention to her, only laughing and saying that she was young but her brain was old. Tu She'er was furious and vowed that she would remember, but Shang Ruyi was too lazy to pay attention to her anymore.
And so, a day of wandering came to an end.
As evening fell, Yuwen Ye returned from the military camp. Seeing that Shang Ruyi had returned to Qianqiu Palace safely, he was relieved. At dinner, Shang Ruyi specially asked them to heat up the food and wine they had brought back from Shenjuan Pavilion during the day. Although Yuwen Ye wasn't picky about food and clothing, he was getting tired of eating the food from the Imperial Kitchen every day, so the fresh food and wine made them both very hungry.
While eating, Shang Ruyi told Yuwen Ye about what she had seen and heard at Shenjuan Pavilion during the day.
Yuwen Ye listened and couldn't help but shake his head and laugh. After laughing, he said to Shang Ruyi, "It's fine if you accidentally stumbled upon this, but you must not tell anyone."
Shang Ruyi immediately replied, "Of course! I left before I even finished my meal because I didn't want to hear any more. I was already embarrassed by what I heard, how could I possibly tell anyone else?"
After saying that, she couldn't help but smile again: "What do you think of Young Master Pei and that Liang Youying—are they a good match?"
Yuwen Ye said, "You're pregnant and you still can't stay idle, you even want to act as a matchmaker?"
"It's not like we're acting as matchmakers; we just want what's best for them."
"snort."
"Besides, if lovers can eventually become husband and wife, then acting as matchmaker is a good thing, and it can also accumulate some good karma for our children."
Yuwen Ye shook his head repeatedly, saying, "A lover... can that Liang Youying really become his lover?"
Mentioning this, Shang Ruyi's expression darkened.
She couldn't help but think of Lei Yu—of course, Lei Yu wasn't Pei Xingyuan's lover either, and nothing even happened between them. However, in terms of age, appearance, and personality, Liang Youying and Pei Xingyuan were indeed a good match.
So she said softly, "The past cannot be retrieved, and old friends cannot be brought back. I think Young Master Pei should move on as soon as possible. And the best way to move on from this kind of thing is to meet new people and start a new relationship."
As she finished speaking, she gave Yuwen Ye a special look.
In fact, Yuwen Ye should be well aware of this. His feelings for Empress Dowager Jiang were undeniably deep, but they ultimately affected his normal life. If he hadn't met Shang Ruyi, and their mutual affection had changed him, he might still be trapped in that relationship. And it's hard to imagine what kind of impact that relationship would have on him now that he is the King of Qin and his life.
Sure enough, upon hearing these words, Yuwen Ye's eyes flickered.
After a moment of silence, he said, "What you said is correct."
"That--"
"But his situation is not that simple."
"ah?"
"You and I were betrothed by our parents long ago, so we're considered a good match. But what about Liang Youying—do you know anything about her family background, her relatives, or her past?"
"……have no idea."
“Xingyuan is now the Vice Minister of Revenue, a high-ranking official in the court. Even if my father and I don't interfere, the Pei family won't allow him to marry a woman of unknown origin. That Liang Youying—”
Only then did Shang Ruyi realize what was going on.
Indeed, while feelings are important between men and women, social status should not be ignored at times.
Liang Youying is Jiang Yan's cousin, and she seems to be a commoner, which is of almost no benefit to Pei Xingyuan, an important official in the court. As for him, he is handsome and dashing, and is the ideal husband in the eyes of many noble ladies.
Some things are really hard to say.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but sigh softly. Yuwen Ye, seeing her somewhat listless appearance, couldn't help but smile, put some food in her bowl, and said with a smile, "Being a matchmaker isn't that easy. You should take good care of yourself during your pregnancy!"
"oh……"
Shang Ruyi responded listlessly, then ate the food with a bland taste.
Yuwen Ye looked at her and smiled. Just then, the two of them finished eating. Tushe'er and Changwan brought in hot water and towels to wait for them. Yuwen Ye suddenly remembered something and said to Tushe'er, "The princess just said that you saw someone who looked familiar at Shenjuan Pavilion today. Do you remember who it was?"
Upon hearing this, Tushe'er immediately stepped forward: "Your Highness, I remember now!"
Shang Ruyi also looked up: "You remember now? Who was it?"
Tushe'er said, "That man looks like Lord Lou, the father of Consort Lou in the Crown Prince's palace."
Liangdi Lou Chanyue?
Her father was none other than General Lou Yingxiong of Ningyuan, who had recently surrendered to the Dasheng Dynasty.
After Tushe'er finished speaking, she said softly, "When I passed by the Imperial Garden before, I happened to see His Majesty talking to Lord Lou. We met briefly, but we weren't very familiar with each other, which is why I couldn't remember."
Yuwen Ye asked, "Are you sure it's him?"
Tushe'er hurriedly said, "That person was hiding when he came downstairs, so I didn't see him very clearly, but I'm pretty sure it was him."
Hearing her say that, Shang Ruyi frowned slightly. She knew Tu She'er had a good eye; she could tell with a high degree of accuracy. It was definitely Lou Yingxiong. But it was a little strange—why would Lou Yingxiong go to Shenjuan Pavilion alone for drinks, and why was he leaving so discreetly?
Are they doing something there? Or are they hiding from someone?
Or perhaps—
Shang Ruyi turned to look at Yuwen Ye, who was also frowning and deep in thought, and said, "Could it be that he also saw Young Master Pei and Liang Youying, and felt it was no longer appropriate to stay, so he left early, and did so in a rather secretive way?"
Yuwen Ye glanced at her but didn't say anything.
This should be a fairly reasonable explanation, but for some reason, even Shang Ruyi herself felt it was a bit strange, yet she didn't know exactly what was strange about it.
After a long silence, Yuwen Ye finally said, "Alright, let's eat first, the food is getting cold."
More than half a month passed, and Shang Ruyi did not leave the palace again. She only instructed Jiang Kexing to handle the affairs of the academy. In early July, the academy, which was named "Yuzhang" by Shang Ruyi, opened for classes, which immediately caused a great sensation in Chang'an City. For a time, everyone was paying attention, and students flocked to it like clouds.
However, at that time, Shang Ruyi no longer had the extra time to concern herself with the affairs of the academy.
After all, once classes begin, it's all up to the teachers and students of the academy. She provides a stage, but what kind of story each person can create on that stage is up to their individual destiny.
Moreover, as July arrives, the weather gets hot.
Others were fine, but Shang Ruyi was pregnant. Her high, protruding belly made it increasingly difficult for her to move around. Moreover, the belly didn't look like a child; it looked more like a fireball. Every day, Shang Ruyi's cheeks would turn red from the heat, and she would be covered in sweat even when sitting still. Tu She'er and the others could only ask Eunuch Yu for an extra ice tray every day to place next to her, and they would also keep fanning her from a distance with a round fan, both to keep her from getting too hot and to keep her from getting too cold.
That day, just as Shang Ruyi was sitting beside the ice platter, fanning herself while absentmindedly reading a book, but hadn't turned a single page for most of the day, Eunuch Yu came to offer his congratulations.
Shen Tu Tai has captured Xuzhou!
Not entirely unexpected, but still good news. Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi was overjoyed and tried to stand up, but Eunuch Yu hurriedly stepped forward to support her, saying with a smile, "Your Highness, please be careful. No matter how good the news is, it won't alarm the Emperor's eldest grandson."
Shang Ruyi smiled and then asked, "When did you capture it?"
Eunuch Yu said, "Three days ago, General Dingyuan immediately sent someone to report the victory."
"Okay, that's good."
Shang Ruyi nodded with delight, but then realized that the way Eunuch Yu addressed her was wrong, and looked up at him: "General Dingyuan?"
Eunuch Yu laughed and said, "After the good news came back, the Emperor was overjoyed. He rewarded me and everyone around me. He also immediately issued an edict to appoint Shen Tu Tai as General Dingyuan and reward him with a thousand gold pieces."
After saying that, Eunuch Yu smiled and said, "It is thanks to His Highness Prince Qin's recommendation that this has been successful."
This surprised Shang Ruyi, who hesitated and whispered, "You've been promoted so quickly?"
While capturing Xuzhou is indeed a meritorious achievement, Shen Tu Tai led troops to attack both Song and Xuzhou this time. He should have been rewarded after the victory was achieved. Now that the matter is only halfway through, Yuwen Yuan hastily promoted him to General Dingyuan, which seems a bit too hasty.
Seemingly sensing Shang Ruyi's thoughts, Eunuch Yu laughed and said, "His Majesty's promotions are fast, but they can't keep up with General Shentu's speed in winning battles. The battle of Xuzhou was won in one fell swoop with almost no casualties, and the garrison commander of Xuzhou was forced to retreat. Not to mention, after occupying Xuzhou, General Shentu directly sent a letter to the prefect of Songzhou, and Fan Chengen treated the messenger with great courtesy. Judging from this, I'm afraid Songzhou will be able to retreat without a fight."
"oh?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi's eyes lit up.
It seems they had considered this beforehand. Fan Chengen was a loyal and benevolent official who had insisted on killing him because of rumors of his regicide, but had spared Yuwen Ye because of Yuwen Yuan's support for him. It's clear that he was aware of the current situation.
If we can successfully persuade him to surrender, without losing a single soldier—
Shang Ruyi's eyes crinkled with laughter, and she didn't even feel the heat anymore. She then asked, "By the way, does Your Highness know?"
Tushe'er and Changwan exchanged a glance and laughed. They said to Shang Ruyi, "Your Highness, really, since the news has reached us, how could His Highness Prince Qin not know?"
"I'm afraid Your Highness knew about it even earlier than we did."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi also found it laughable—indeed, it was a matter of military affairs, and Yuwen Ye might even be able to get the news faster than Yuwen Yuan, let alone herself.
She nodded happily.
But just as she was feeling joyful, a strange thought suddenly popped into Shang Ruyi's mind—
It seems like we haven't heard from Yu Mingyue in a long time.
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