Chapter 409 You, Shang Ruyi, have abandoned me, Yuwen Qian!
"..."
Upon hearing his words, Shang Ruyi froze.
But she didn't turn around immediately. Instead, she remained silent for a moment before slowly turning back. In the moonlight, her handsome face appeared even more profound than it had been during the day, and even her eyes seemed to have deepened.
What he said wasn't wrong.
He has now officially returned to the Yuwen family as the heir of the Duke, and they will have many opportunities to meet in the future. If every meeting is like today, it may be acceptable for him, but for Shang Ruyi, as the daughter-in-law of the Duke's mansion, she will probably feel like every day is a year.
But she knew in her heart that even if the reasoning was correct, many things were not necessarily as simple as reasoning suggested.
She thought for a moment, then turned around and calmly asked, "So, brother, what do you want to say?"
Yuwen Qian smiled slightly and walked towards her.
As he drew closer, Shang Ruyi's breathing grew heavier. Even between an ordinary uncle and his sister-in-law, it was not appropriate to get too close in such an environment, let alone between them.
not to mention--
Meeting the leisurely smile in his eyes, Shang Ruyi realized more acutely that their encounter was not as simple as her "getting lost".
Since the meal has been prepared in the dining hall, Yuwen Qian should go there instead of staying here to look at the moon.
It seemed as if he had come here specifically to wait for him.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi's eyes suddenly darkened, and she immediately took a step back.
Yuwen Qian also stopped immediately.
The two were exactly two steps apart.
Not too close, not too far, just enough to see the expressions on each other's faces and the look in their eyes. But to see more clearly and understand more fully, both of them would have to take another step—but everyone knew that neither of them would take another step.
At this not-too-close, not-too-near distance, Yuwen Qian looked down at Shang Ruyi's cautious expression and smiled, saying, "It seems you understand your situation and your place very well."
Shang Ruyi, however, did not respond to his words.
She said softly, "I wonder what you want to say to me, brother, so that our future interactions won't be as awkward and uncomfortable as they are now—"
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Qian's smile deepened.
He said calmly, "Actually, with your intelligence, my sister-in-law should understand that no matter what we say or do tonight, it will not change the relationship between us."
"..."
"In the eyes of the world, you, Shang Ruyi, have abandoned me, Yuwen Qian!"
When he said those words, perhaps because Shang Ruyi's heart suddenly raced, they seemed to carry a weight several times heavier.
Shang Ruyi subconsciously looked up, but still met those calm eyes, which appeared even more clear and cold in the moonlight. However, the corners of his mouth remained unchanged, as if the heavy and somewhat deafening voice just now was just his imagination.
Yuwen Qian continued with a smile: "Therefore, it is impossible for us to be as close as ordinary relatives. In the future, no matter who I, Yuwen Qian, marry, as long as she surpasses you in any way, it will be a disaster for you, Shang Ruyi; and if Feng Chen encounters even the slightest setback, it will become an excuse for the world to criticize you."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi's aura deepened, and her pupils instantly darkened.
She hadn't expected Yuwen Qian to be so perceptive, and to be able to see through people's hearts.
When she abandoned one and chose another, the good and bad, the superior and inferior of these two men were no longer their own business, but rather became a matter of wisdom and foolishness, success and failure for Shang Ruyi.
Previously, Yuwen Qian had been traveling around, so this situation wasn't so obvious. But now, Yuwen Yuan has gained immense power and is only one step away from the highest position. These two men have almost reached the pinnacle of the world. Everyone will be watching them, and they will also see themselves.
She, Shang Ruyi, is destined to become the standard by which everyone judges these two men.
Thinking of this, the warmth left in her body from the entanglement just now was completely swept away by the cold night. Shang Ruyi felt a chill rise from her heart and suddenly shivered.
She remained silent for a long while, then said softly, "Since that's the case, then what else is there to say if you want me to stay?"
Yuwen Qian smiled and said, "But all opinions are matters for outsiders."
"..."
"I have no hostility towards you."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi's eyes flashed, and she subconsciously looked up at him.
Yuwen Qian smiled faintly again, turned around and walked back to the pond. The night breeze blew gently, so gently that it could hardly lift his flowing clothes, but it made the water surface ripple continuously, and stirred the moonlight to sway. The moonlight reflected in his gray eyes, which seemed to hold a thousand emotions, flickering uncertainly.
Shang Ruyi said, "You mean—"
Yuwen Qian said, "I said, I have no hostility towards you."
"..."
"Not only do I not have any hostility, but I also don't want any rift to develop between us because we are not together."
"..."
Shang Ruyi stared at him without saying a word, her eyes filled with inquiry and a hint of disbelief.
Is this person a Buddha?
To be fair, even if we were in each other's shoes, if I were rejected by him before I got married, even if we had never met and had no feelings for each other, I would definitely be dissatisfied and resentful. Even if men and women are different and will not be ridiculed by the world for being rejected, and it may even affect their future marriage, how can people's hearts be without a trace of malice?
Isn't this state of mind Buddha?
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi suddenly remembered the verse that Master Xinzheng had given him when he left Dayan Temple during the day: "Few become Buddhas, many recite the Buddha's name, but after reciting it for a long time, they become demons."
Who exactly is he?
Yuwen Qian slowly turned around, met Shang Ruyi's probing and questioning gaze, smiled slightly, and said, "You don't believe me?"
Shang Ruyi was silent for a moment, then said, "Is this what my elder brother wanted to say to me tonight?"
"..."
"From now on, no matter how outsiders see it, we don't need to have any more grudges, let alone harbor any resentment or hostility because of what happened in the past, right?"
Yuwen Qian smiled and said, "These are indeed the things I wanted to say to you."
"..."
"But these are just the beginning."
"oh?"
Shang Ruyi raised an eyebrow slightly, her eyes flashing.
Sure enough, she understood that Yuwen Qian couldn't have just said something as straightforward as "I have no hostility towards you" when he suddenly came to wait for her here tonight.
But this is just the beginning. What will he say next?
Shang Ruyi said, "Then, what else does elder brother have to say next? Ruyi is all ears."
Yuwen Qian walked slowly towards her again, his hands behind his back. He stopped two steps away from her. By this time, the sky was even darker, but his pale gray eyes, under the cold moonlight, showed an unusual solemnity, as if tinged with the deep darkness of the night. He said, "Sister-in-law, you must have heard that Xue Xian has led an army of 300,000 eastward, heading towards Daxing City. Now, he is about to take Fufeng."
"...?"
Shang Ruyi was stunned for a moment.
She thought Yuwen Qian would continue to tell her about himself and Yuwen Ye, but unexpectedly, he changed the subject and suddenly brought up Xue Xian.
Why bring up Xue Xian's matter at this time?
Just as Shang Ruyi was somewhat surprised, Yuwen Qian continued, "Fufeng is only a hundred miles away from Daxing City. If he really takes Fufeng, then Daxing City will have no more barriers in front of him. Therefore, we must send troops to fight against Xue Xian."
Shang Ruyi said, "Then so what?"
Yuwen Qian looked at her, smiled, and said, word by word, "I hope you can persuade Feng Chen to give up this expedition to Fufeng."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi's pupils suddenly trembled.
Did he ask himself to persuade Yuwen Ye?
this--
Normally, if Shang Ruyi heard him have such a thought, she would probably laugh; but now, facing him and hearing such a whimsical idea, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but chuckle to herself.
He actually wants me to persuade Yuwen Ye not to go to war?!
Everyone knows that Xue Xianbing's attack on Daxing City is the biggest crisis for this newly transformed dynasty, and also his greatest military achievement after taking Daxing City without bloodshed. Whoever takes it will stand out from the crowd.
Even as a woman, Shang Ruyi understood that such military merit should not be handed over to others.
So, Yuwen Ye just told her frankly in the room that he wanted to go.
And Yuwen Qian, surprisingly—
Shang Ruyi tried to suppress it again and again, but in the end she couldn't, and sighed softly.
Yuwen Qian raised his eyes, his clear gaze fixed on her, as if trying to discern how much amusement was in that soft sigh. But Shang Ruyi immediately straightened her expression and said calmly, "Since my elder brother has spoken, I naturally cannot disobey. However, this matter is of great importance, and it is a truly important matter concerning the military and the nation. I'm afraid it's not something I can comment on."
"..."
"not to mention,"
At this point, she looked at Yuwen Qian with a flicker in her eyes: "How could you possibly know that Feng Chen definitely wants to lead the troops into battle?"
Yuwen Qian smiled and said, "I just knew."
"..."
Shang Ruyi's heart sank again.
Yuwen Qian smiled and said, "Actually, sister-in-law, you don't need to belittle yourself. I heard before that when my second brother made great contributions in attacking Xingluocang, you participated in the whole war and did a lot for him. Your unity as husband and wife makes me, as the eldest brother, both gratified and envious."
"..."
That's why I came to find you.
"..."
"This battle against Xue Xian will not only be a tough one, but also an unprecedentedly fierce one. I do not want my brothers to be in danger."
"..."
Shang Ruyi didn't speak, but just looked at him quietly. Her clear and bright eyes suddenly narrowed at that moment, as if she had been shocked by something.
Yuwen Qian also watched her quietly.
After a long pause, Shang Ruyi suddenly said, "How did you know, brother, that this would be an unprecedentedly fierce battle?"
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