Chapter 661 He is a very gentle person.
Lei Yu said calmly, "He's gone."
"Gone? Where did they go?"
"I don't know either. It's like he had something to do, but I didn't ask him."
"..."
Seeing her indifferent attitude, as if she were talking about a complete stranger, Shang Ruyi felt another pang of sadness. She knew Lei Yu wasn't heartless; since she said Ashina Yiasu was good to her, very good, she couldn't be lying. But feelings are feelings; you can't simply be kind to someone and expect to receive their feelings in return.
However, at this moment, she did not want to discuss these things too much. After all, she was still in enemy territory. Even with Lei Yu around, Ashina Shali was unpredictable and no one could stop him if he wanted to kill her.
We should first understand the situation of the Western Turks.
So she talked to Lei Yu about what had happened since they parted, and learned more about the current situation of the Western Turks. Just as she had guessed, the capital of the Western Turks was Yingsuo. The reason why a large number of troops had set up temporary camps there was to wage war against the Central Plains.
Taiyuan was indeed a stronghold for their military operations.
Lei Yu said, "Originally, after Shali Khan captured Taiyuan, he wanted to relocate a large force to Taiyuan and then use it as a base to launch military campaigns southward. Especially—"
Seeing her furrowed brows, Shang Ruyi immediately understood: "He wants to take revenge on Yuwen Ye?"
Lei Yu nodded and said in a deep voice, "This Khan is inherently irritable and easily angered. After being injured in Yanmen County, he lost sight in one eye. Moreover, he has been suffering from the old injury for many years and has become increasingly resentful of Feng Chen. Therefore, this time, he colluded with Wang Shao and others to take Taiyuan, which was aimed at the Yuwen family."
"..."
"Although Taiyuan was recaptured this time, judging from his behavior yesterday, he certainly won't let it go easily. Either he'll send troops to take Taiyuan again, or—"
"Or what?"
"Perhaps he will directly launch a military campaign against Guanzhong!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but gasp.
Yuwen Yuan has only recently ascended the throne, and his position is unstable. In order to reclaim the land of his birth, he has already dispatched more than 200,000 troops. Coupled with Yuwen Cheng's losses, he doesn't have many generals and soldiers at his disposal. If Ashina Shali really wants to attack Chang'an and march south with his army, can Chang'an stop him?
At this moment, fear and anger actually lessened the bitterness in her heart, and she became even calmer.
Losing her brother was like the sky falling down for her.
But what sustains her life are her uncle and aunt who have treated her like their own daughter since childhood and have cared for her deeply. No matter what, she must protect them. This is why she decided to marry Yuwen Ye even before she understood everything.
Thinking of this, she felt another pang of pain in her heart.
But she immediately took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the ever-present pain, and raised her head, looking at Lei Yu with slightly reddened eyes: "Is there any way to resolve this?"
"Resolve?"
"Yes, to resolve the hatred that Shali Khan harbors towards the Yuwen family; or rather, to stop the Turks from waging war?"
Lei Yu smiled wryly: "It's difficult."
"..."
"As long as Shali Khan is still in power, his hatred for the Yuwen family will not be resolved; and the Turks' incursions into the Central Plains will never stop."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi's eyes flickered.
The two were so close, almost whispering in each other's ears, that Lei Yu could hear not only her gaze, but also her breathing and heartbeat clearly. So, he immediately sensed that something seemed to be on her mind.
She looked at Shang Ruyi quietly.
Shang Ruyi also looked up at her, her gaze and breathing becoming more cautious, and said, "Lei Yu..."
Lei Yu pressed his forehead against hers and whispered in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, "I know what you want to say."
"..."
“Back then, my father and I were desperate and sought refuge with Liang Shide because we wanted to survive; but when we sought refuge with him, he was colluding with the Turks, and we had no choice but to endure it. Even my marriage was something I could only endure.”
"..."
"But I still know in my heart who I am and what I should do."
"..."
"If the fighting on both sides could stop, I would feel a little better."
Shang Ruyi's eyes immediately lit up. She reached out and took Lei Yu's hand from under the covers, whispering, "Lei Yu... thank you for still thinking this way."
Lei Yu gave a wry smile and said, "I can only think about it."
"..."
"After all, Ashina Shali now holds great power; moreover, because he himself took over the power as the Left Guard King and became the Khan, he is now suspicious of the other Turkic princes and ministers, and has taken most of their troops into his own hands."
"..."
"Therefore, if he wants to invade the south, the Turkic troops will definitely move south; if he also wants to take back Taiyuan, then there will definitely be more steppe cavalry attacking Taiyuan Prefecture."
"..."
"So when I say I can only think about it, I really can only think about it."
Shang Ruyi said in a low voice, "Thinking about it isn't bad. Maybe we can come up with some solutions."
Lei Yu looked at her: "What method?"
At this moment, neither of them realized that although they were just two women, and neither of them was wearing armor, and they were lying in bed, one with a gloomy mood and the other with a weak body, they were both thinking about important national affairs.
Shang Ruyi frowned, clearly deep in thought. After a long pause, she looked up at Lei Yu again and asked softly, "What is the attitude of these two princes of the Western Turks towards the Central Plains?"
Lei Yu's eyes flickered.
She lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said, "I am not very familiar with Ashina Zhuxie. I just feel that he is very gloomy and usually doesn't talk much. He just stares at people, which makes people feel uneasy, but he doesn't say a word. So, I don't know his attitude towards the Central Plains."
"..."
"As for Iasu—"
Shang Ruyi stared at her with wide eyes.
Lei Yu remained silent for a while, then a bitter smile appeared on his face. He said, "I'm not familiar with him either."
"..."
Shang Ruyi was taken aback.
But then she realized that marriage and the other person being good to her did not necessarily mean that the two people understood each other. Moreover, she had long understood Lei Yu's feelings. Even if Prince Yiasu married her, he could not immediately win her heart.
But Lei Yu continued, "However, he is a very gentle person."
"oh?"
This was the first time Shang Ruyi had heard her use a single word, and such a beautiful one at that, to describe her husband. From "treating her very well" just now to "gentle" now, a vague yet bold plan slowly began to take shape in Shang Ruyi's mind.
After uttering the word "gentle," Lei Yu seemed somewhat dazed. She propped herself up slightly and looked at the inner room of the tent. The bed was in the style of the Central Plains, and the dressing table placed at the head of the bed and the several huge sandalwood chests leaning against the wall were all her favorites, transported to the grasslands from afar with great difficulty.
Even though Iasu had been gone for several days, she hadn't noticed it herself, and only now did she realize that something was missing from the tent.
It smells like flowers.
Because when Iasu was around, every day, his tent would be filled with flowers he had picked for himself on the grasslands.
Then she murmured, "Yes, he was very gentle with me."
"..."
“When he talks to me, he often asks me about the customs and culture of the Central Plains, as if he is very interested. When I listen to him talk, I don’t feel much hostility towards the Central Plains.”
As she spoke the last few words, she suddenly seemed to wake from a dream, looking down at Shang Ruyi: "You—"
Shang Ruyi nodded: "Mm."
Lei Yu's expression hardened, but she didn't say anything immediately. Instead, she lowered her head and thought for a while.
Shang Ruyi watched as Lei Yu's eyes flickered, as if countless thoughts were colliding in her mind. After a long while, she saw Lei Yu let out a deep breath and say, "Actually, even if we don't want to, there are people who have been thinking about this."
"oh?"
Shang Ruyi was taken aback, but immediately understood: "That one, Madam Jiayuan?"
Lei Yu nodded.
Shang Ruyi breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn't stupid or slow-witted. She had seen it yesterday in the royal tent: Ashina Shali did indeed favor Lady Jiayuan, and that lady did have a considerable influence on him. In fact, judging from yesterday's situation and the fact that Ashina Zhuxie left the royal tent with injuries on his face, that lady should also have some secret connections with several Turkic princes.
She was probably preparing for her son, the gentle Prince Iasu.
But--
Iasu has no hostility toward the Central Plains. From Lei Yu's words, it is clear that he is a gentle person. Such a person becoming the Turkic Khan might be beneficial to the Central Plains, but the premise is that he can truly grasp the power of the Turks.
Those ruthless nobles wouldn't support a gentle prince for no reason.
Just like Yuwen Yuan back then, assisting Chu Chengfei.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and said, "It seems we need to consider this matter more carefully."
Lei Yu nodded.
After a moment, she smiled again, looking at Shang Ruyi and said, "You, captured and brought to the Turks, can barely protect yourself, yet you still think about stopping the Turks from sending troops. Your heart—"
Shang Ruyi realized that she seemed to be referring to Yuwen Ye.
The thought of that person immediately brought up an uncontrollable surge of anger and an indescribable bitterness. She instinctively wanted to stop Lei Yu from continuing, but before she could speak, she heard someone knock on the tent door and shout, "Little Princess, are you awake?"
Both of them immediately perked up.
Lei Yu got up, dressed, and got out of bed. She turned back to tuck the blanket around Shang Ruyi to keep her from catching a cold, then went out and opened the bed curtains, asking, "What is it?"
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