Chapter 261 An Impulse to Break Her
Yuwen Ye left, leaving Shang Ruyi alone on the bed, still somewhat dazed for a long time.
It's impossible to choose both sides, nor can you have everything—these were the words he left for himself. He knew clearly what he wanted, and he saw her hesitation and struggle so clearly.
But what about him? How much of it did he actually see clearly?
Just as Shang Ruyi was in a state of confusion, Tu She'er came in again. She sat down on the edge of the bed with concern and said softly, "You were fine when you went out yesterday, how come you've changed so much when you came back? Miss, how did you sleep last night? How did you end up with a fever?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi looked at her silently for a while, then said softly, "I'm hungry, get me something to eat."
Unexpectedly, she asked for food. Tu She'er was overjoyed and hurriedly brought some food from the kitchen. It was porridge and side dishes specially prepared for the patient. Shang Ruyi was indeed suffering from a low fever and had little appetite, but she still forced herself to eat some.
Sure enough, food is the best medicine. After eating a full meal, I felt much more energetic.
She looked outside and asked, "What time is it?"
Tushe'er said, "It's almost 9 AM."
Shang Ruyi said, "Go and get me some clothes to wear."
Tushe'er said in surprise, "Miss, you're still sick. Why aren't you lying down and resting? What are you doing up there? Just tell me what you need."
Shang Ruyi said, "Hurry up and put it on for me. I have my reasons. I don't want it to look indecent if someone comes over."
"..."
Tushe'er was somewhat surprised that anyone else would come today, but since Shang Ruyi had given the order, she could only comply. Together with Woxue, they spent a great deal of effort dressing the exhausted Shang Ruyi and helping her to wash up.
Just as the hour of Si (9-11 AM) arrived, someone outside came to report that the Duke had sent someone back.
Shang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat.
Yuwen Ye was actually right.
After thinking for a moment, she first instructed Tushe'er and Woxue to pack a few pieces of luggage in Yuwen Cheng's room. Then, she struggled to get to the reception room, where she indeed saw Xue Daotong, Yuwen Yuan's personal attendant. He was a middle-aged man in his thirties, weathered by life, dressed simply and thin. Upon seeing Shang Ruyi, he immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Young Madam."
Shang Ruyi asked, "Uncle Xue, is there anything Father has instructed you to do for returning to Dongdu this time?"
Xue Daotong said, "I have been ordered to come and escort the Third Young Master to Taiyuan."
"..."
Shang Ruyi couldn't help but take a deep breath.
She almost suspected that Yuwen Ye had some kind of supernatural ability, or that this was something the father and son had agreed upon before they parted ways; otherwise, how could he have guessed so accurately?
Shang Ruyi asked, "Father, is there something important that you suddenly want to take my third brother over?"
Xue Daotong hesitated for a moment, but still said softly, "The Duke had some accidents on the way and is really worried about things in Dongdu. So he thought it best to bring the Third Young Master over. He is the youngest and the Duke is worried that he might cause trouble."
That was said in a very subtle way.
But considering what Yuwen Ye said before he left, Shang Ruyi had already understood.
She said softly, "If that's the case, then we shouldn't delay. I've already sent someone to pack my third brother's luggage. Once he has everything, we can set off. Uncle Xue, come with me to find my third brother."
Xue Daotong said, "Thank you for your trouble, young mistress."
He followed Shang Ruyi inside, but when they reached the locked door of the woodshed, he was immediately startled: "This is—"
Shang Ruyi said softly, "Our third brother was disobedient, so we, as his elder brother and sister-in-law, disciplined him."
"I see..."
Xue Daotong didn't say much, and just then the key to the woodshed arrived. Shang Ruyi had someone open the woodshed and release Yuwen Cheng.
Although he had been locked up inside all night, the child's resentful and stubborn expression remained unchanged. When he came out, he gave Shang Ruyi a cold look and deliberately said coldly, "Second sister-in-law, didn't you say you were going to lock me up for three days? Why did you let me out today?"
Shang Ruyi said calmly, "Third brother, Father has sent someone to pick you up and take you to Taiyuan. Be careful on the road. Once you get to Taiyuan, you must behave yourself and not cause Father any more worry."
Yuwen Cheng was initially impatient, but upon hearing that Yuwen Yuan wanted him to go to Taiyuan, he immediately became happy again. Xue Daotong said, "Third Young Master, the carriage is waiting outside the door. Would you like to change your clothes before going, or—"
"I'm leaving now. I can't stay here for another day."
Yuwen Cheng snorted coldly and swaggered out.
Watching his retreating figure, Shang Ruyi sighed softly. Seeing that Xue Daotong was about to turn and leave, she called out to him, took out the letter left by Yuwen Ye from her person, and handed it to him, saying, "Uncle Xue, this is what my second brother asked me to give you. Please pass it on to Father."
Xue Daotong took it and put it away, saying, "Okay, I will definitely take it with me."
Shang Ruyi added, "Please be careful on your journey."
Xue Daotong nodded.
He didn't intend to linger and was about to leave after receiving Yuwen Cheng, but after thinking for a moment, he turned to Shang Ruyi and said, "Young Madam, the Duke has something else for me to convey. He said that if you are willing, you might as well come with us to Taiyuan this time."
"..."
Shang Ruyi's brow twitched slightly.
These were the words Yuwen Ye said before he left.
They are father and son... they really are father and son.
Shang Ruyi said, "If I leave, what will happen to my second brother?"
Xue Daotong smiled gently and said, "The Duke did not explain this. However, the Second Young Master is different from others."
The implication is that the person being taken away needs protection, but Yuwen Ye doesn't need protection.
Shang Ruyi's brows gradually furrowed.
Seeing her conflicted and struggling expression, Xue Daotong thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Young Madam, please allow me to say something. Every action the Duke takes has its reasons. Since he wants to take the Third Young Master and Young Madam away, it is naturally for your sake. Dongdu City is a place of many troubles, and soon it will probably become a place of fighting. It is probably not the best policy for Young Madam to stay here."
"..."
Shang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat.
The Eastern Capital... a place of many troubles, a place where swords clash.
This statement doesn't sound like a generalization, but rather like a prediction.
so--
Xue Daotong said sincerely, "Young Madam, the Duke is still thinking of you. You must not let down your elders' love and care."
Shang Ruyi lowered her head and thought for a while, then looked up at him and smiled, "I understand."
|
Today's court session lasted for more than three hours, and by the time it ended, it was almost noon.
The good weather of the past few days seemed to have used up all of God's good mood, and today thick dark clouds began to gather overhead again, with a biting wind raging through the streets. This blood-soaked weather made Yuwen Ye's expression even more stern. From the time he left court until he got into his carriage and returned to the Yuwen residence, his expression remained almost unchanged.
However, as he stepped off the carriage, a gust of cold wind unexpectedly blew away the last bit of warmth from his body.
Looking up at the gate again, his eyes were now completely cold.
He quickly entered the house, and the gatekeeper came to report that the Duke had sent someone back today, but the person was unable to wait for him to come home and meet him, and had already left. Yuwen Ye did not listen to his details, but just nodded hurriedly and continued to walk inside.
He always knew exactly what he should do, and whether the people around him stayed or left did not affect what he was supposed to do.
And what he needs to do now is—
As he strode back to his room and pushed open the door, an unexpected warm scent, carrying the fragrance of medicine and a familiar sweet aroma, suddenly hit him. He froze, as if struck by a blow to the head.
I was completely stunned.
But before me was a room filled with tranquility.
There were two braziers in the room, one in the center and one by the bed. The heat was much stronger than when he was at home. The medicinal aroma in the air came from an empty bowl on a small table by the bed. There was a little bit of dark medicine left in the bowl. It didn't look very good, so no one urged him to finish it.
But most importantly, there was that sweet fragrance mixed in with the strong smell of medicine, which still made his heart flutter.
That came from the person sitting at the head of the bed.
She was wearing a snow-white nightgown, as white as flawless snowflakes, but her cheeks were still flushed with a sickly redness from the torment of a low fever, and even the corners of her eyes were red. However, because of the fever, her eyes were exceptionally bright, and when she looked up at him, they were filled with tears.
Yuwen Ye choked on his breath.
The next moment, he strode in, bringing a gust of cold wind with him as he reached the bedside.
The chill emanating from him immediately struck her, causing her to flinch slightly before letting out a weak cough.
Yuwen Ye's brows furrowed instantly, and he grabbed her arm: "Why are you still here?"
"Cough, cough, cough, cough."
Shang Ruyi didn't have time to answer him. She coughed for a while, and even coughed so hard that she couldn't sit up and almost fell off the bed. Yuwen Ye quickly picked her up.
Whether it was because she was suddenly picked up or for some other reason, Shang Ruyi's cough stopped abruptly. She raised her head with a slight tremor, her eyes, which were glistening with tears from coughing, looking at him.
Yuwen Ye's arm suddenly stiffened.
It was only when I hugged her that I realized how incredibly fragile her body was.
It looks like it would break if you bent it even slightly.
At that moment, he suddenly felt a strange sense of relief, relieved that he hadn't hugged her last night.
Although he had struggled all night as if in the flames of resentment, almost exhausting his spirit and patience, it now seemed that with such a thin body, if he really did—perhaps he would break it.
At least for now, smelling the alluring fragrance emanating from her and seeing her cheeks flushed even more from coughing, he felt an even stronger urge to ruin her.
Yuwen Ye took another deep breath, suppressing his rage, and gently laid her down, moving her further into the bed.
His face, however, betrayed an unyielding gloom and obvious anger.
He asked, "Why didn't you leave?"
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