Chapter 799 Who exactly died?
"Huh?!"
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck, jolting Shang Ruyi awake from her drowsiness. She opened her eyes wide, looking around in confusion. Hearing the noise, Tu She'er immediately came in and asked cautiously, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi didn't speak immediately; in fact, she was still somewhat dazed.
She looked at Tushe'er again, then at the half-open window beside her, and at the clear blue sky outside. After a long while, she whispered, "I... I just heard thunder."
Tushe'er walked over and said, "It's a dry thunder; it often happens in the summer."
"Um."
Shang Ruyi responded somewhat absentmindedly. Indeed, it wasn't the first time she had heard thunder in the summer, but for some reason, the loud bang just now was exceptionally deafening, echoing throughout the heavens and earth. It even seemed, as if, that it came not from the sky, but from her heart.
That ominous premonition made her very uneasy.
She thought for a moment, then asked, "What time is it now?"
It's almost Shen Shi (3-5 PM).
"I've been asleep for so long? Why didn't you wake me up?"
"But Your Highness hasn't been sleeping well these past few nights. I was thinking of letting you get some more sleep."
"..."
Hearing her say that, Shang Ruyi was speechless.
Indeed, ever since Yuwen Ye left, she hadn't been able to sleep well at night. It wasn't just because she was still shaken by the fire at Dayan Temple that day; sometimes, when she closed her eyes in the quiet of the night, her consciousness would return to the time when she walked through that pitch-black underground palace. The suffocating and oppressive feeling, with the fire and thick smoke chasing after her, felt like she was being pursued and her soul was being lured away by ox-headed and horse-faced demons. No matter how calm she was, she found it difficult to fall asleep.
Furthermore, she still doesn't know what's going on with Yuwen Ye!
Is Jiang Chongen really planning to set a trap to lure and kill Yuwen Yuan?
Did Yuwen Ye manage to catch up with the emperor's procession?
How will he handle this?
Before parting with them, Empress Dowager Jiang specifically instructed her that Yuwen Ye was clearly angered. Although she had tried to persuade him a few times, this matter had been more deeply etched in her heart than the matter of Jiang Chongen since he left, making her unable to eat or sleep.
Yuwen Ye...won't do anything too outrageous, will he?
Thinking about this, she broke out in a sweat again. Seeing her like this, Tushe'er hurriedly took a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead, muttering, "The princess has been very anxious these past few days. She can't sleep well at night and doesn't get enough sleep during the day. If you ask me, we should have the imperial physician come and take a look again."
Shang Ruyi shook her head: "I'm fine."
As she spoke, she reached out and stroked her enormous belly. Now, not only was walking difficult, but even sitting and lying down were incredibly challenging, as if a huge rock was tied to her chest, impossible to move. Moreover, the little one inside her constantly stretched and kicked, and Shang Ruyi could often see the slight bulge moving around on her belly. Sometimes this brought her immense joy, while other times it kept her awake most of the night. However, Su Qinglan had told her long ago that these were things all pregnant women went through, and that even if it was agonizing, it had to be endured, so she didn't take it to heart.
She just couldn't wait for the day to come so she could give birth to this troublesome little thing.
However, it's best when Yuwen Ye is around.
Thinking of this, she looked up and asked, "How many days has His Highness been gone?"
As Tushe'er wiped her sweat, she couldn't help but smile upon hearing this, saying, "We really can't be apart for even a moment. His Highness has only been gone for three days, and you've been asking about him more than three times a day, Your Highness."
Shang Ruyi glared at her: "You talk too much!"
At this moment, Wo Xue outside also heard the sounds from the inner palace. She hurriedly brought in a basin of water and a towel to help Shang Ruyi wash up, and then smiled and said, "This servant heard that His Majesty is going to Longmen Ferry to meet the people there. It's not far from Tongguan. If he really meets them, he will be back in two or three days at most. Your Highness doesn't need to worry too much."
Shang Ruyi said, "That's not what I'm worried about."
"ah?"
Tushe'er and Woxue both subconsciously looked up at her, while Shang Ruyi remained silent for a long time before shaking her head with a faint smile: "It's nothing."
Although some days felt like years, time still flowed by slowly but relentlessly, like the Yellow River. Three days later, it was finally a cloudy day, without the scorching sun overhead. However, the clouds were low and thick, pressing not only on people's heads but also on their hearts, giving them an indescribable feeling of suffocation.
And on that very day, news finally arrived—
The emperor has returned to court!
Upon hearing the news, Shang Ruyi was so overjoyed that she immediately tried to stand up. Fortunately, Tushe'er, who was beside her, quickly caught her and whispered, "Your Highness, please don't move around. Your belly is so big now. What if you bump into something?"
Shang Ruyi then sat back down, composed herself, and asked the young eunuch who had come to deliver the message, "When will the Emperor enter the city?"
The young eunuch said, "I heard that it will arrive in another hour. Everything in the palace is ready. Although we dare not disturb the Princess, we still want to inform her so that she can make preparations."
Shang Ruyi said, "Of course, thank you for your hard work."
"It is my duty, and I dare not complain."
The young eunuch bowed to Shang Ruyi again and prepared to leave, but Shang Ruyi stopped him and gave Tushe'er a wink. Tushe'er hurriedly went to the side, opened the box, took out a large wad of money and stuffed it into the young eunuch's hand, saying with a smile, "It's been hot lately, and you've worked hard on duty. The princess is giving this to you to drink and cool off tonight."
The young eunuch had heard that the princess was humble and generous, so he made a special trip today when he had nothing else to do. He never expected to receive such a large sum of money, almost half a month's salary. He was overjoyed and hurriedly thanked Shang Ruyi. Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "I've been feeling unwell these days, so I haven't seen many outsiders and don't know what's going on outside. I'm counting on you to run errands for me and see what's going on."
The little eunuch's eyes lit up, and he immediately understood what Shang Ruyi meant.
He hurriedly replied, "This servant understands, this servant will certainly pay close attention to the Princess."
Shang Ruyi smiled and nodded, then straightened her clothes and said slowly, "So, how did the Emperor's return go? Is there any news?"
Upon hearing this, the young eunuch immediately stepped forward and whispered, "I've heard that things didn't go smoothly this time, but no one dared to ask what happened. However—"
"But what?"
"The person who came back to deliver the message this time went directly to the Lady Shanggong. We servants have vaguely heard that someone has died."
"Dead?"
Upon hearing those two words, Shang Ruyi's brows immediately furrowed.
But she didn't say much. After thinking for a moment, she smiled at the little eunuch and said, "Okay, I understand. You may leave."
The young eunuch immediately thanked him and left happily.
As soon as she left, Tushe'er immediately looked down at Shang Ruyi and asked in surprise, "Your Highness, who died?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi didn't speak, but her brows were furrowed in worry. Judging from the situation in the palace and the attitude of the little eunuch who came to deliver the message, the Emperor's return to the capital went smoothly. At least she was sure that Yuwen Ye was not injured or anything, and Yuwen Yuan should not have encountered any accidents either.
However, news of another person's death arrived.
If it were Jiang Chongen who died, the word "deceased" would not be used, because he was a criminal official, and even if he was killed, it would be a just punishment.
The word "deceased" seems more like the death of someone of high rank and power who met with an unexpected event.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but feel a little panicked, especially as the words Empress Dowager Jiang had said to her before she left echoed in her ears—"When people are provoked, they often lose their reason or resort to any means necessary." Furthermore, they had always suspected that the people who attacked her and Empress Dowager Jiang at Dayan Temple were sent by the Yu family father and daughter. If Yuwen Ye was truly provoked and, in a moment of desperation, lost his reason and retaliated, could it be—
Shang Ruyi suddenly shivered.
The shivering in the sweltering heat startled Tu She'er, especially when she noticed that Shang Ruyi's complexion was also off. She panicked a little, but then she saw Shang Ruyi look up at her with a pale face and say in a deep voice, "Take Chang Wan and pretend to deliver some pastries to Jin Yu Yuan. Go out and take a look."
Her words seemed nonsensical, but Tushe'er blinked and immediately realized that Shang Ruyi wanted them to go see someone.
She said softly, "This servant will go right away."
After saying that, he refilled the half-empty teacup in his hand and handed it to Shang Ruyi before going out to call Chang Wan. The two of them hurriedly left Qianqiu Palace.
While they were away, Shang Ruyi had Wo Xue change her clothes and re-comb her hair in preparation for welcoming the emperor. Just as she sat down, she saw Tu She'er hurriedly return with Chang Wan.
Shang Ruyi immediately asked, "How is it?"
Tushe'er said, "This servant saw many people in the palace sending things out of the palace, and they all looked like they were for sacrificial purposes."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi frowned.
Sure enough, someone had died, and it wasn't Jiang Chongen. If it were him, he certainly wouldn't have allowed the palace to provide money and supplies for his funeral. It must have been the death of someone important for the news to reach the palace and prompt them to make preparations.
However, for the palace to organize such an event, the deceased must not have been an ordinary person.
Who exactly died?
As Shang Ruyi was pondering this, Chang Wan stepped forward and whispered, "Your Highness, when we passed by the Liangyi Palace just now, we happened to run into Han Shanggong. She saw us too. At that time, I saw that her eyes were red and swollen, and after meeting us, her expression was very unpleasant, as if—"
Tushe'er blurted out, "It's like they want to kill us!"
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