Chapter 199 He still cares about you.
"Um?"
Shang Ruyi, who was sitting on the edge of the bed reading a book, suddenly looked up and looked out the window.
Above, dark clouds loomed overhead, like a giant black hand covering the entire city of Luoyang. The incessant wind and snow had cast a shadow of gloom over everyone's hearts.
She couldn't help but frown.
Tushe'er, who was sitting at her feet embroidering with a handkerchief, heard the noise, looked up at her, and asked, "Miss, what's wrong?"
Shang Ruyi looked at the sky outside and said, "Just now, why did I hear thunder?"
"thunder?"
Upon hearing this, Tushe'er couldn't help but laugh: "Miss, what nonsense are you talking about? It's the middle of winter, and it's snowing. How could there be thunder?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi herself found it strange, and after thinking about it, she smiled and said, "I suppose I misheard."
Tusheer put down her needlework and said, "I think it's because Miss hasn't slept well these past few days and is distracted. The young master has been gone for seven or eight days, and you probably haven't had a single good night's sleep in those seven or eight days combined."
As she spoke, she smiled and looked at Shang Ruyi: "Is Miss worried about the young master?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi was momentarily lost in thought.
She was indeed worried about him, not just as a wife worrying about her husband who was away on campaign, but more importantly, she kept recalling the words Lei Yu had said to her before he left, and also—the words Chu Yang had said to her on the day she entered the palace.
Yuwen Ye's battle was of great importance.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi said, "Of course I'm worried about him. This is the first battle he's fought since being appointed Grand General, and it concerns the entire Yuwen family, and even the imperial court—"
Before she could finish speaking, Tushe'er immediately said, "Oh, Miss, that's not what I was asking."
"Then what did you ask?"
I'm referring to the son-in-law.
"What's the meaning?"
"Isn't Miss worried about him as a person?"
At this point, Tushe'er pouted slightly and said, "Although I was a little angry with him before, when we were ambushed and besieged by the Turkic army in Yanmen County, especially when you, Miss, were so badly injured, he, as your husband, was not by your side. You had to face all the dangers and hardships alone. At that time, I thought that you really made a mistake in marrying him."
"..."
"It would be better to stay at home and never marry, as Madam said, than to suffer this injustice."
Shang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat, and she glanced at her.
Tushe'er continued, "But this time when she came back, the young master seemed to treat the young lady quite well. Last time the young lady went to the palace, when the young master came home and found out about it, I heard that he didn't even dismount his horse but turned around and went straight to the palace gate to wait for the young lady. In such heavy snow, he even carried the young lady home..."
"..."
"He still cares about you, Miss."
"..."
“Miss, you were the same—that day when your husband went to war, you rushed to see him off.”
At this point, a sweet smile appeared on Tushe'er's face, and she said softly, "Miss, actually, you're not angry with him anymore, are you?"
"..."
"Otherwise, you wouldn't have sent people to the city gate every day to inquire about any news of the battle—just now, you kept looking out the window; you must have been waiting for news from your son-in-law, right?"
"..."
"Actually, if you're worried about him, just say so. I won't laugh at you..."
Shang Ruyi sat there blankly.
She couldn't hear anything Tushe'er said after that. At that moment, only that one sentence echoed in her ears, as if Tushe'er had said it, yet it kept lingering in her mind, a question she kept asking herself—
Does Yuwen Ye truly care about me?
That night, braving the wind and snow, he carried me all the way home on horseback, even carrying me all the way back to the house. Was the warmth I felt when I was nestled in his arms real?
She subconsciously reached out and touched her chest, feeling the heart pounding uncontrollably beneath her chest, so real and intense, as if it were all real, just like the heartbeat that had been pounding in her chest these past few days.
But--
The rapid heartbeat, however, was also reminding her of something else.
Isn't all of this just how it appears to outsiders?
He clearly stated that in front of outsiders, he would act like a good husband and play the role of a couple that everyone would envy. Isn't this a deal between him and me?
Shang Ruyi felt a tightness in her chest, as if she were being entangled by invisible threads, almost suffocating her.
She couldn't afford to fall into that trap again, especially after being clearly rejected and even humiliated and ridiculed. Being unloved is tragic enough; to know you're unloved and still yearn for love is even more pathetic.
Moreover, Princess Crescent Moon—
Just as her thoughts were in turmoil, Wo Xue hurriedly walked in from outside and said, "Young Madam, someone from the palace has come. They say it's the Empress's decree to summon you to the palace."
"What?"
Shang Ruyi frowned upon hearing this.
Empress Jiang, is she being summoned to the palace again?
The last time she was summoned to the palace, they actually got along quite well. However, when she was leaving the palace, Chu Yang sent people to "abduct" her, and even the Empress had to personally go to the Warm Pavilion to pick her up. It was originally thought that after that incident, the Empress would be much more vigilant and wouldn't allow her to have such opportunities to be alone with the Emperor again, but unexpectedly—
Why did she still summon herself to the palace?
Although Tushe'er didn't know what Shang Ruyi had encountered last time she entered the palace, as the wife of the newly promoted Grand General of the State, being summoned to the palace by the Empress was obviously not an easy matter. She immediately stepped forward and asked worriedly, "Miss, are you going to the palace?"
Shang Ruyi glanced at her and said in a deep voice, "I cannot disobey the Empress's decree."
She hurriedly had Tushe'er help her change into a dignified but very simple outfit, and her hair was also styled in a simple and clean way. Then she went out, and the eunuch who came to deliver the imperial decree was the same one who had accompanied her to the palace last time. He was quite familiar with the place, and after exchanging a few pleasantries with Shang Ruyi, he led her out to the palace carriage.
Everything was the same as last time.
After entering Xuanren Gate, passing Zuozang Palace, and then Anning Gate, one arrives at the Empress's East Palace.
This time was different. As soon as she entered the East Palace, she saw Empress Jiang and Princess Xinyue sitting inside, obviously waiting for her. Shang Ruyi hurriedly stepped forward to kowtow and pay her respects. Empress Jiang smiled and personally helped her up, saying softly, "From now on, when you come to the palace, you don't need to worry about these formalities."
Shang Ruyi cautiously replied, "Your Majesty, etiquette must not be disregarded."
As she spoke, she glanced cautiously at Empress Jiang, then subconsciously looked around.
Seemingly noticing the worry in her eyes, Empress Jiang said softly, "You don't need to worry."
"Um?"
"His Majesty has left the palace today on business, so it won't happen again—it won't happen like last time."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
But then, she looked at Empress Jiang with some nervousness, only to see the Empress looking at her gently and saying, "Ruyi, you can rest assured. Since I have summoned you to the palace, I will definitely protect you. If I cannot protect you, I will not let you enter the palace. After all, I do not want you to suffer any harm."
"..."
Looking at her sincere appearance, Shang Ruyi felt a jumble of emotions.
For some reason, she always felt that when the Empress spoke to her, it wasn't just a matter of her being humbled; her attitude was even somewhat—somewhat—carefully trying to please her.
Is it just my imagination?
As an empress, even if she doesn't oppress the wives of her subjects or seek justice for her daughter, why would she bother to please someone as insignificant as herself?
Shang Ruyi could only say softly, "Your Majesty is too kind."
Seeing her cautious demeanor, Empress Jiang simply smiled, waved for her to sit down, and then said, "Today, tribute oranges have been delivered. I thought these would be best enjoyed with tea on a snowy day, so I invited you to come to the palace to try them as well."
Shang Ruyi walked to the table and sat down. Sure enough, she saw that there was not only tea being brewed on the table, but also a plate of bright red oranges, which looked like a cluster of red lanterns, bright and pleasing to the eye.
Chu Ruoyan smiled and said, "I love these red tangerines the most. They're sweet and sour. Sister, you should try some too."
After saying that, he peeled one himself and handed it to her.
Shang Ruyi accepted the gift with a flustered expression, saying, "Your Highness, you are too kind to me."
Empress Jiang smiled and said, "It was I who told her to call you that. You are about the same age, but you are older than her and more sensible and mature. Ruoyan has never had anyone to take care of and teach her since she was a child. With you here, I feel more at ease."
"..."
Shang Ruyi felt as if she were in an absurd dream.
The last time she entered the palace, Empress Jiang had entrusted her with something. This time, she even made the princess call her "sister" and said something about taking care of and teaching her. What is she thinking?
Princess Xinyue didn't care about her status as a princess at all, and actually felt like she was her sister!
She was somewhat dazed, but tried her best to calm herself down.
The three of them sipped tea, ate tangerines, watched the snow scene outside, and chatted idly, creating a harmonious and joyful scene—only Shang Ruyi knew that her back was covered in cold sweat.
As they were talking, Chu Ruoyan suddenly sighed and said, "It's a pity that my second brother isn't here. He loved eating tangerines the most."
Shang Ruyi glanced at her.
Empress Jiang gave a wry smile and said, "The roads have been blocked these past two years, so not many red tangerines have been sent as tribute. Otherwise, we could have given some to the Duke's mansion as a reward."
"..."
"Besides, with this war dragging on, he probably won't be able to enjoy these red oranges."
Upon hearing the news of the war, Shang Ruyi immediately looked up at her: "Your Majesty, has there been any news from Xingluo Granary?"
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