Chapter 161 Your status as the daughter-in-law of the Duke's mansion is preserved.
The atmosphere inside the cramped carriage was both somber and awkward.
Shang Ruyi knew, of course, that Yuwen Ye’s behavior in front of Wang Shaoji just now showed that he would still act like a proper husband in front of everyone, which meant that their deal would continue.
But that was in front of outsiders.
When it's just the two of you, it's bound to be awkward.
After struggling for a long time, Shang Ruyi realized that the journey back would take at least a month, and they couldn't stay in this stalemate forever. So she spoke first to break the deadlock: "Does your injury still hurt?"
"..."
Inside the carriage, there was another oppressive atmosphere.
After a while, Yuwen Ye said, "If it doesn't hurt, I'll ride a horse."
"..."
Shang Ruyi sighed softly.
Indeed, he usually doesn't ride in the same car as me, and if it weren't for the injury to his chest, he definitely wouldn't have sat with me this time.
The carriage was quiet for a while.
Suddenly, Yuwen Ye said, "Have you thought about how you're going to explain this to my father?"
"ah?"
Shang Ruyi was taken aback and turned to look at him in surprise.
Upon seeing Shang Ruyi's astonished gaze, Yuwen Ye understood and coldly laughed, "It seems you haven't thought about it yet."
"..."
"So what have you been busy with these past few days?"
Shang Ruyi pursed her lips and said softly, "I pleaded with His Majesty the Emperor to forgive my uncle's crimes. His Majesty has promised me that once he returns to Luoyang, he will order my uncle to be released from Lingnan."
A look of surprise appeared on Yuwen Ye's face: "You—"
Shang Ruyi said, "I said I would definitely rescue my uncle and the others, and I haven't forgotten that."
"..."
"Actually, I also wanted to plead for Lord Pei and the others, but the Emperor did not agree."
"..."
He said that sparing his uncle was the limit.
At this point, she looked at Yuwen Ye with regret in her eyes, only to see that the latter's expression was solemn, and there was an indescribable strange light in his eyes when he looked at her. After a long while, he said softly, "You have a kind heart. Xingyuan will be grateful to you if he knows."
Shang Ruyi gently shook her head.
She thought about the question Yuwen Ye had just asked her, pondered for a moment, and said softly, "As for how to explain it to Father, I... I will think about it again."
Yuwen Ye looked at her for a while, then suddenly turned his face away and said indifferently, "No need."
"Huh? Why?"
Yuwen Ye frowned slightly, then turned back as if to glare at her, and said, "Although my father is the Duke of Sheng, he is not that powerful and influential. His daughter-in-law is not someone known to everyone in the world."
"..."
“The people of Yanmen County do not know who you are.”
"..."
"As for the people in the palace and those officials who have seen you—last night, someone made an example of them to warn others, and apart from people like Wang Shaoji, no one will mention it again."
"..."
"Since no one is bringing it up anymore, you don't need to explain anything to your father."
At this point, he looked at Shang Ruyi and said with a half-smile, "Your status as the daughter-in-law of the Duke's mansion is preserved."
Although there was a hint of sarcasm in those words, Shang Ruyi didn't care at all at this moment. For her, the most important thing was the safety of her uncles, and secondly, it was indeed her status as the daughter-in-law of the Duke's mansion.
Since this matter has been temporarily put on hold and she doesn't have to face Yuwen Yuan's accusations, it is indeed great news for her.
She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "This is wonderful."
Yuwen Ye snorted coldly.
Just then, a command came from ahead, and the carriage shook slightly and began to move forward slowly. Shang Ruyi lifted a corner of the curtain and looked out, and sure enough, the whole procession had begun to move forward.
Yanmen County was not large to begin with, and since the government offices were located in the south of the city, they soon walked out of the south gate along the main road.
The wind suddenly became noisy.
The curtains were constantly being lifted by the cold wind. With just a side turn of her head, Shang Ruyi could see the small county town that was gradually being left behind by them. Recalling the thrilling experiences of the past few days, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but shiver.
She reached out and pressed the curtain down.
Everything is in the past.
If this was a hurdle in her life, then at least she overcame it without serious injury. Not only that, she also rescued her uncle. So all the injuries she suffered and even the nightmarish experience were worth it.
It's just unknown what she will face next.
Feeling the cold wind being blocked, Yuwen Ye glanced down at her, especially noticing her slender, white hand pressed against the curtain, with some small wounds still visible on it, clearly from the recent war. But she seemed completely unconcerned, only her clear eyes shimmering slightly.
Yuwen Ye took a deep breath and slowly shifted his gaze away...
|
This departure lasted for more than a month.
It was as if the cold wind from the north had been brought back to the Central Plains. As it traveled south, the cold air gradually swept across the land, getting colder day by day. Even though Shang Ruyi was wearing thick clothes and sitting in the carriage with a hand warmer in her arms, she still couldn't help but shiver.
Those traveling alongside the vehicle were even more miserable.
This northern tour can be described as a complete failure.
Thinking of that night, Chu Yang's shining eyes and his lost, desolate expression, Shang Ruyi's heart couldn't help but feel heavy again. With Luoyang City so close at hand, she couldn't help but wonder what this proud emperor would do next.
Just as she was filled with worry, Yuwen Ye suddenly said, "I have a question for you."
"...?"
Shang Ruyi turned to look at him.
Throughout the journey, the two of them spoke very little. Sometimes, they would just sit in the carriage like two clay Buddha statues, and apart from necessary conversations, Yuwen Ye would almost never utter a word to her.
At this moment, however, I suddenly have a question to ask her?
Shang Ruyi hurriedly said, "What?"
Yuwen Ye also lifted a corner of the curtain to look at the team struggling through the mud and snow outside, and then said, "What you said to me before seemed to be about the court—" Seeing Shang Ruyi's tense expression, he smiled faintly, swallowed the rest of his words, and said, "Why is it that this time, you are both protecting the emperor and resisting the Turkic army? It makes you seem so eager for quick success and instant benefits."
"I don't……"
"Um?"
"I don't."
Shang Ruyi murmured, as if she had returned to yesterday, when Chu Yang had said the same things to her.
But she didn't.
Seeing her somewhat bewildered yet seemingly stubborn expression, Yuwen Ye frowned slightly: "Then what are you doing?"
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and said, "If I hadn't actively resisted the Turkic army's surprise attack on the camp this time, I would have died on the way to escape long ago; if I hadn't been loyal to the king and protected Yanmen County when the army of 100,000 was at the gates of the city, I would have died when the city fell long ago."
"..."
"When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. I just want to survive, not what you said—being impatient for quick success."
So, you're just—
He paused for a moment, seemingly unsure of what words to use to describe her, or perhaps he had thought of something but was simply unable to say it aloud.
Shang Ruyi saw through his thoughts and said softly, "You're afraid of death."
Yuwen Ye raised an eyebrow: "You seem quite nonchalant."
Shang Ruyi said, "I don't think it's shameful to be afraid of death."
"oh?"
"On the contrary, I think that the best quality a person can have is to be afraid of death. For my own sake, for the sake of the people I love, and to protect them, I must live on. Only by living can I see better scenery and meet better people."
"A better person..."
After repeating these four words, Yuwen Ye's brows slowly furrowed.
After a long pause, he said calmly, "You do think things through long-term."
Shang Ruyi sensed a strange sense of desolation in his words and couldn't help but turn to look at him, saying earnestly, "Don't you have someone in your heart—someone you would persevere for, no matter how difficult the circumstances, and strive to be even better for her?"
"..."
Yuwen Ye's expression became even stranger.
Shang Ruyi couldn't help but smile faintly.
How could there not be?
Such a beautiful and charming woman. Putting aside the slight jealousy I once felt, simply speaking from the perspective of human love of beauty, even I would want to protect someone so beautiful.
Thinking about this, although I was unwilling, I couldn't help but feel a bitter taste welling up in my heart.
Yuwen Ye suddenly seemed to wake up, looking at the faint smile on Shang Ruyi's face, and said with a hint of annoyance, "You talk too much."
"..."
Shang Ruyi was taken aback.
Before he could say anything, the carriage suddenly stopped.
Both of them swayed slightly, and Shang Ruyi almost fell forward, but fortunately Yuwen Ye reacted quickly and grabbed her waist, pulling her back.
Shang Ruyi felt a little flustered and quickly sat up straight and moved away a bit.
"Thank you very much."
Yuwen Ye glared at her but didn't say anything.
A commotion arose outside, as if everyone was complaining. Yuwen Ye lifted the curtain and asked Mu Xian, who was standing beside the carriage, "What's going on?"
Mu Xian said, "Second Young Master, it seems someone is coming from ahead."
"Go and find out."
"yes."
Mu Xian immediately dismounted and ran forward, while Shang Ruyi felt a growing unease as she watched Yuwen Ye's solemn expression.
They were almost at Luoyang. Even the most important matters should be dealt with after the emperor returned. Why would news arrive on the way at this time?
What exactly happened?
Those outside seemed to share the same thought, and a sense of panic appeared on everyone's face, with unease gradually spreading throughout the group.
A short while later, Mu Xian came running back, panting, his face showing considerable alarm: "Second Young Master, something terrible has happened!"
Yuwen Ye frowned: "What happened?"
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