Chapter 121 The tone of "getting the job done"
Everyone turned around as a large carriage slowly drove out of the city.
The carriage was extremely luxurious, with colorful tassels adorning the canopy and even the curtains hanging by the windows were made of pale yellow gauze. As it moved, the gauze fluttered, making the entire carriage look like a celestial being descending from the clouds.
Finally, the carriage stopped in front of Yuwen Ye's carriage.
Upon seeing the carriage, Yuwen Ye's face immediately displayed a strange expression, neither joy nor anger. Shang Ruyi, however, involuntarily took a deep breath.
Upon seeing the magnificent design and imposing presence of the carriage, the city's guards seemed to sense something. Their hands, which had been about to draw their swords, immediately recoiled, and they stood frozen in place, holding their breath. The captain cautiously stepped forward: "Who is this—"
A slender, fair hand emerged from the carriage, holding a gold medal.
It flashed and then shrank back.
But the captain saw it clearly at a glance, his expression immediately changed, and he hurriedly stepped forward and bowed: "Your Highness, this humble general pays his respects to Your Highness."
Upon hearing this, the surrounding soldiers were also startled.
You must know that His Majesty the Emperor has only one princess, the beloved Princess Xinyue! No one expected her to appear here, and everyone hurriedly bowed and kowtowed.
The captain bowed his head and said, "I didn't know Your Highness had arrived. What are your orders?"
The sweet, charming voice inside the carriage carried a hint of displeasure: "This princess had originally planned to go hunting outside the city with Young Master Yuwen and his wife, but something came up at the palace and we were a little late, so they left the city first; I didn't expect you to actually stop Young Master Yuwen's carriage from entering the city. Does this mean that I, the princess, will be homeless after leaving the city?"
The captain broke out in a cold sweat: "This humble general was unaware that Young Master Yuwen was with Her Highness the Princess—"
At this point, he hurriedly waved his hand: "I'll let them through right away."
The person inside the carriage said again, "Is all this princess wants—just to be allowed to pass?"
"I understand, I understand."
The captain looked up at Yuwen Ye, whose cold face was only partially visible through the carriage window, and said with a forced smile, "I was confused just now. From now on, I will not dare to stop Young Master Yuwen's carriage again."
Yuwen Ye's face remained expressionless; he simply raised his head and glanced at the carriage opposite him.
At this moment, the voice coming from the carriage was gentle and smiling, even with a hint of flattery: "Second Brother, can we leave the city now?"
"..."
Yuwen Ye did not answer immediately, but instead looked down at Shang Ruyi beside him.
But what I met was a smiling face.
Shang Ruyi was smiling at him—although at this moment, her hands were almost twisting the hem of her clothes to shreds.
It was truly unexpected. Just the day before, she had used that condition to exchange with Yuwen Ye for the opportunity to have him accompany her to find her uncle and aunt. The very next day, the opportunity for her to fulfill her promise had arrived.
There really isn't a single shred of room for maneuver.
Thinking this, Shang Ruyi's smile deepened. She leaned out of the window and whispered to the carriage in front, "Your Highness, please forgive me, but I, Ruyi, am suddenly feeling unwell and am afraid I cannot accompany Your Highness on the hunt. Perhaps my husband will go with Your Highness instead."
"..."
The people in the carriage opposite seemed to be taken aback for a moment as well.
The entire crowd below the city gate fell silent, with only a gust of wind whistling through the archway, adding to the oppressive atmosphere that made people inexplicably uneasy.
After a long pause, the person in the carriage said, "Very well."
Shang Ruyi smiled, then looked up at Yuwen Ye and said, "Then, I'll go home first."
His tone was full of "just getting it over with."
"..."
Yuwen Ye remained silent, only staring at her.
Whether it was Shang Ruyi's imagination or not, there seemed to be a hint of anger in his cold face and deep, unfathomable eyes.
But the next moment, she knew it must have been her imagination.
Her performance, at least in her own eyes, was impeccable. She had given the two of them a chance to be together, and her claim of illness to return to the manor first was merely to avoid the awkward situation of the three of them traveling together. This was both her promise and, at the very least, a way to save face for herself as the young mistress of the Duke's manor in front of everyone.
Surely they wouldn't deny her even this much dignity?
Thinking of this, she smiled and said softly, "Will I take the carriage back?"
"..."
"After I get back, should I send a carriage to pick you up again?"
Yuwen Ye didn't say a word, only glanced at her, and then got up and got off the carriage.
Inside the carriage, as he leaped off, a gust of wind from his long robes brushed against Shang Ruyi's face, like a light tap, leaving her cheeks feeling slightly burning.
But in any case, she should have passed the test.
As soon as Yuwen Ye alighted from the carriage, a fair hand reached out from the other carriage, lifting a corner of the curtain, seemingly waiting for him to get in. However, Yuwen Ye did not go over. Instead, he had Mu Xian lead over a horse, mounted it himself, and slowly strolled to the side of the carriage.
Then he said, "Your Highness."
The person inside the car was clearly disappointed, but also very happy: "Second Brother, let's go then."
As soon as he finished speaking, the coachman immediately said, "Please make way."
Only then did everyone realize that the two carriages were traveling head-to-head in the middle of the road, and they would not be able to pass without giving way.
So Shang Ruyi immediately ordered, "Make way for them."
The coachman on this side dared not delay and hurriedly turned the carriage around and moved to the side. Only then did the carriage on the other side slowly move forward. Because the carriage was too wide and too big, it swayed left and right when it was moving, and even the tassels on the carriage canopy swayed, giving people a swaggering feeling.
Shang Ruyi sat quietly inside the carriage.
But when she heard the sound of wheels slowly rolling past her, she couldn't help herself and reached out to lift the curtain and look outside.
The carriage passed by hers.
In the instant they brushed past each other, the curtain opposite them was lifted by a pair of slender, jade-like hands, and the two people, with their bright and clear eyes, met each other's gaze.
Shang Ruyi saw a bright, almost radiant face.
Princess Crescent Moon, Chu Ruoyan.
The last time I saw this face, although it was beautiful, it was still a bit awkward to see her dressed as a eunuch. Now, this beauty is dressed in a peach-colored dress, with two bright pearls dangling from her ears, making her look both noble and playful. She has a smile on her lips and spring in her eyes. It is a face that perfectly combines innocence and charm.
This kind of beauty is not only captivating, but also piercing.
As she felt a sharp pain in her chest, Shang Ruyi gave the other person a gentle smile and then slowly lowered the curtain.
The carriage drove away.
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