Chapter 513 Why can't I calm down?
Although she had only been in the dungeon for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, when she stepped out and saw the dim sky above her, Shang Ruyi had a vague feeling that she had lived half a lifetime down there, and that the world had changed beyond recognition.
She only regained some consciousness once she was seated in the carriage and it began to sway and move forward.
Immediately, a chill ran down my spine.
She didn't stay in the dungeon for long, but the cold and dampness there felt like invisible needles pricking her entire body in that short time, and she immediately felt a sharp pain in her muscles and bones.
She dared not think about how uncomfortable Shen Shiyan, who was already physically weak, must be left down there.
Thinking of this, a pang of pain shot through her chest, causing her to furrow her brow.
At that moment, that familiar, strong hand once again embraced her, pulling her into a warm hug. The warmth enveloped her completely, even dispelling the chill that had almost seeped into her bones. Shang Ruyi immediately looked up, only to see that the person sitting beside her wasn't looking at her, but rather staring ahead with a cold, half-closed gaze.
Yuwen Ye... still looked cold.
Fortunately, his hands were still warm.
"Why?"
Just as Shang Ruyi was silently cherishing this warmth in her heart, his calm voice came from above her. Shang Ruyi was startled and looked up at him again. Yuwen Ye finally looked down at her somewhat bewildered face and said with a flicker in his eyes, "Why did you talk to your uncle like that just now?"
"..."
"You didn't have to say those things."
He was referring to the words he had spoken before he left.
Shang Ruyi sighed, then smiled faintly and said, "Because I don't want my uncle to think that he has done everything he could and can die now."
"..."
"The country and its people are important, of course, but his aunt is also his lifeline."
"..."
"Only by making him worry and fear will he be reluctant to die."
"..."
"And I, I absolutely, absolutely cannot let him die!"
At this point, the thought in her mind even turned into a belief, giving rise to an almost fierce emotion—no matter how much she might gain in the future, she couldn't lose anything she shouldn't lose, including her uncle and aunt, and that warm home!
Hearing her almost obsessive murmur, Yuwen Ye looked down at her again.
The complex emotions in his heart made him unconsciously furrow his brows. He raised his head again and said indifferently, "Yes, he is the most important person to you. Of course you can't let him die."
"..."
After saying that, I felt the person in my arms calm down.
Although it was quiet now, Yuwen Ye's breathing became even heavier, and an inexplicable restlessness was churning in his chest, almost disrupting his heartbeat.
Just then, a small hand gently touched his chest.
That small, delicate hand, with its gentle caressing motion, carried a tender and alluring quality. In just one touch, it made his heart skip a beat, and Yuwen Ye's breath caught in his throat. He immediately looked down and saw that the little woman in his arms was not only being held by him, but she herself had also pressed herself against his chest, her hands gently climbing up his chest to his other shoulder.
Her whole body, like a soft vine, wrapped around him.
Yuwen Ye's breathing became even heavier. He didn't know what Shang Ruyi's action meant at this moment, but rationally he felt that he shouldn't accept such a gentle caress at this time.
But his body was unable to move.
Just as he was gritting his teeth, trying to make a decision, the little woman in his arms spoke softly: "My uncle just said a lot to me."
"What did you say?"
"There are some things that you can probably guess even if I don't tell you, but there are some things that you can't guess."
"Oh? What is it?"
"It's the same principle—judging people by their actions, not their intentions, because no one in the world is perfect when it comes to intentions."
"...!"
Yuwen Ye was taken aback. He lowered his head and looked at Shang Ruyi in his arms with a solemn expression. Her clear eyes were also looking at him seriously. He said, "Fengchen, you can't be angry with me just because I chose an answer you don't like, nor can you punish me for something that hasn't happened yet."
"..."
"Do you think every choice you make satisfies me?"
"..."
"You can calm down, so why can't I?"
"..."
"If you can't stay calm and rational, how can you blame me for being calm and rational?"
Yuwen Ye was completely speechless.
He was rarely truly rendered speechless by anyone, even his father, the powerful Yuwen Yuan, was often displeased with him for his sharp retorts.
But now, he really couldn't speak. When he met those intelligent and insightful eyes, he felt powerless and frustrated for the first time, as if he were being manipulated. This feeling, which was completely unfamiliar to him for the first twenty years of his life, made him somewhat annoyed.
After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and said, "Shut up!"
"...!"
Shang Ruyi was taken aback.
She had already thought it through; perhaps her words would make sense, or perhaps they would anger him and argue again. Either way, she needed to explain her thoughts to him clearly. But she hadn't expected Yuwen Ye to be so unreasonable.
They actually told her to shut up!?
Shang Ruyi was in a hurry and was about to say something when she felt another strong and powerful arm come up to her, pulling her tightly into his embrace as if he were holding her captive. The tight embrace made it almost impossible for her to breathe.
She could only struggle instinctively, her voice hoarse as she said, "Yuwen Ye, you, you won't—"
"Yes, I'm just unreasonable!"
As he said this, his eyes reddened, and his face contorted with an almost distorted expression from clenching his teeth. He said in a deep voice, "I just don't like the way you chose!"
"..."
"You have never been my wife, Yuwen Ye, but the daughter-in-law of the Duke of Sheng; your uncle is the most important person to you; between the country and love, you choose the country."
"..."
"Then what am I?"
"..."
"What am I to you, anyway!?"
When those suppressed yet furious words were growled in her ear, Shang Ruyi was completely stunned—she had always known that Yuwen Ye was a very proud person, and she thought he would never say something like that, asking others to prove his worth.
He shouldn't need to ask.
But now, his eyes were red, and he stared at me with resentment, asking this question.
How could this be...?
Just as Shang Ruyi was somewhat at a loss facing Yuwen Ye's sudden outburst of anger, the carriage, which had been moving, suddenly stopped. The carriage lurched violently, and the two people who were locked in a stalemate fell forward.
"ah!"
Caught off guard, Shang Ruyi let out a soft gasp.
At this moment, Yuwen Ye held her tightly with one hand and used the other to brace himself against the carriage floor, barely managing to keep their balance. When he looked down, he saw that the person in his arms was somewhat dazed from the sudden turn of events. He immediately asked, "Are you alright?"
"No, it's nothing."
Shang Ruyi could only gasp for breath in a panic.
For a moment, the two of them forgot about their angry yet solemn confrontation. Yuwen Ye immediately straightened up and instinctively held her tightly in his arms, asking the people outside in a deep voice, "What happened?"
The driver's somewhat panicked voice came through—
"Second Young Master, yes, they are people from the palace."
"...?!"
The two exchanged a glance, both somewhat astonished. But they couldn't care less about anything else at that moment. They hurriedly got up and got off the carriage, only to find that their carriage had just left the wide passageway leading to the Ministry of Justice prison, while another carriage seemed to have been waiting there for a long time, stopping right in front of them and blocking their way.
A familiar figure stood beside the carriage, smiling and bowing to the two of them.
"Greetings, General; greetings, Madam."
It was the same eunuch, Eunuch Cao, who had previously lied about being summoned by the Empress Dowager and brought the two of them into the Yichun Palace—the very same person who served the Princess.
Upon seeing him, Shang Ruyi's heart sank immediately.
Yuwen Ye remained calm and asked, "Eunuch Cao, is there something you need?"
The eunuch Cao stepped forward with a smile and said, "General, His Majesty wishes to see the General's wife. This servant is here to welcome her. Please come with me to the palace."
Yuwen Ye frowned.
He said in a deep voice, "Last time, you said the Empress Dowager summoned us, but you made us go to see the princess instead; this time, you say it was His Majesty who summoned us. Who do you want my wife to see?"
The eunuch Cao's expression changed instantly, and he immediately said with a forced smile, "Please forgive me, General."
"..."
"Last time, it was indeed my fault, but it was the Princess's order. Please forgive me."
"And what about this time?"
“This time, it was indeed His Majesty who summoned me. Even if I had the greatest courage in the world, I would not dare to falsely convey His Majesty’s decree.”
Upon hearing these words, Yuwen Ye said nothing more, only turning around to glance at Shang Ruyi, who seemed lost in thought.
Indeed, it was the eldest princess who falsely conveyed the Empress Dowager's decree. The Empress Dowager loved this daughter so much that this matter could naturally be downplayed. However, the Emperor's decree was not such a simple matter. If the officials of the previous dynasty found out, they would impeach him, and all the servants involved would be beheaded.
So, it really was that young emperor who wanted to see her?
But thinking about it again, it shouldn't be just that young emperor who wanted to see her, after all, it was Eunuch Cao who came to deliver the imperial decree to invite her.
Yuwen Ye's brows furrowed more and more, and several vertical lines appeared between his brows. He was never afraid of people around him entering the palace. After all, when Chu Yang was still around, Shang Ruyi could handle things with ease. But now, things were different.
Especially just now, in the carriage, she even confidently told herself that her reasoning was not wrong.
She does not regret her choice.
Under these circumstances, would he still allow her to enter the palace to see those two people?
Just as Yuwen Ye's expression darkened and his thoughts became a jumbled mess, a cool and calm voice sounded beside him—
"Okay, I'll go."
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