Chapter 379 Who is waiting for her?
Early the next morning, they set off from Tongguan towards Daxing City.
As instructed, Chu Zhengfei prepared carriages and new horses for them. After passing Tongguan, they no longer needed to worry about Liang Shide or anyone else harming them. Therefore, they traveled on a wide and flat official road, and their journey was smooth and unimpeded, making their pace much faster than before.
Even so, Shang Ruyi, sitting in the carriage, did not feel entirely at ease.
Even when she turned her head, she would see Yuwen Ye sitting next to her with a solemn expression, his brows furrowed in deep thought.
She asked softly, "Is something on your mind?"
"..."
Upon hearing her voice, Yuwen Ye was momentarily dazed before looking up at her. Because the two were standing so close, his dark eyes seemed to reflect Shang Ruyi's worried expression.
He said, "Aren't you the same?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi was taken aback upon hearing this, and after thinking about it again, she gave a wry smile.
Yes, after what happened a couple of days ago, and after hearing about the situation in Daxing City from Chu Zhengfei, who in this group didn't have some worries? Even Shan Tong'er—Shang Ruyi turned her head again, lifted a corner of the curtain to look outside, and saw the child riding on horseback, his back somewhat sullen—hearing that a Dharma assembly was to be held in Dayan Temple, they quickened their pace to rush back to participate, and he also showed a strange expression, no longer chatting and laughing with others while riding on horseback, but instead looking sullen.
After all, he was ordained at Dayan Temple.
After that, he served as a stand-in for the King of Zhao in the Daxing Palace and became a monk. Now, after traveling among the common people for several months, he is going back to that place.
It's like going in circles.
If even this child is like this, then what about the adults?
With her gaze withdrawing from Shan Tong'er's retreating figure, Shang Ruyi slowly lowered her hand that had been lifting the curtain, then turned back to look at Yuwen Ye—in fact, she understood even better that Yuwen Ye's silence and worries stemmed not only from his experiences these past few days and the events to come, but more importantly, from the fact that they were about to return to Daxing City.
Within Daxing City, there are not only his father and elder brothers, nor only the new emperor within the Daxing Imperial Palace.
And that person...
Shang Ruyi felt a little short of breath, but she didn't say anything. She just turned her face to the window to make herself feel better.
Sitting next to her, Yuwen Ye could only silently watch her with her back to him.
The silence in the carriage remained unchanged.
In this somewhat somber atmosphere, the group quickened their pace, speeding along the official road, raising clouds of dust along the way, and finally entered Daxing City at dusk that day!
Although they had been cooped up all day, everyone perked up as they passed through the city gate.
Looking at the unfamiliar pavilions and towers around him, and the carriages and pedestrians constantly passing by on the street, Shan Tong'er felt as if he had just woken up from a dream and found that the dream and reality were completely overlapping. Still somewhat dazed, he murmured, "I'm back again."
These words drifted into Shang Ruyi's ears.
She couldn't help but sigh softly.
Yes, they're back.
Compared to all the places she had visited over the years—Taiyuan, Luoyang, Jiangdu… Daxing City seemed to be just a vague shadow in her childhood memories. But this time, all those memories seemed to come alive again.
She's back.
Some of the surrounding pavilions and towers have changed, while others remain the same. But the smell of dust in the air, the noise of pedestrians, and even the excessively hot temperature of the wind blowing across one's cheeks all seem familiar and unchanged.
But is she still the same Shang Ruyi?
Just as she was feeling somewhat dazed, Yuwen Ye's voice rang in her ears again: "What are you thinking about?"
Shang Ruyi turned around and met a pair of deep eyes.
Yuwen Ye looked at her, seemingly smiling, while the setting sun shone obliquely on his face, the orange light adding a touch of tenderness to his originally indifferent eyes.
Shang Ruyi paused for a moment, then turned to look at the scenery outside again, and said, "I'm wondering how I ended up back here again."
"..."
"I always thought I might never come back."
Yuwen Ye looked at her for a while and said, "Life is unpredictable."
"..."
"Many people and things you think about may be different from what you think."
"..."
This statement wasn't particularly unusual, but for some reason, Shang Ruyi sensed that his tone was deeper than usual, as if he was referring not only to worldly affairs, but also to specific people and events.
She subconsciously turned around and glanced at him.
Yuwen Ye simply smiled faintly at her.
The carriage traveled for about half an hour under the setting sun, finally arriving at the Duke's mansion just as the sun was setting.
This is now the Prime Minister's Residence!
Before the carriage had even stopped, they heard a flurry of footsteps and excited voices outside. Yuwen Ye got out of the carriage first, then turned around and helped Shang Ruyi down from the carriage by the hand.
As soon as Shang Ruyi stood still, she was suddenly pulled into a hug by someone who rushed up to her.
"As one wishes!"
"...!"
Shang Ruyi trembled.
Hearing the familiar voice and sobs beside her, feeling those familiar arms and embrace, she stiffened and felt weak, stunned as she was held in that person's arms. Only when she felt the wetness of tears against her cheek did she slowly squeeze out two trembling words from her throat—
"aunt……"
The person holding her was none other than her maternal aunt, Madam Shen, née Yu!
As an elder, she shouldn't have come to the door to greet the younger generation, but she disregarded etiquette and the gazes of those around her. As soon as she saw her niece's thin figure, she couldn't help but rush up and hug her. At this moment, upon hearing Shang Ruyi's voice, she burst into tears.
"My beloved Ruyi..."
"aunt!"
Shang Ruyi suddenly felt as if she had just come back to life, and hugged her tightly.
The two of them wept together at the entrance of the Duke's mansion. Yuwen Ye stood by, unsure of what to say. In the end, Shen Wuzheng stepped forward and gently pulled them apart. Madam Yu was still in tears, looking at her niece and then at her son, and said excitedly, "You two are back safe and sound. That's good, that's good."
"aunt,"
Shang Ruyi choked back tears, and after a long while, she managed to utter a sentence: "These days, you—"
Before she could utter the word "suffering," Ms. Yu immediately smiled and said, "I'm fine, I'm perfectly well."
"..."
"But after I came back, I heard that you were suffering outside, and I couldn't sleep at all. Now that I see you back, I feel better, everything is better."
She was the one who followed her husband into exile and endured hardship along the way, yet now it's said that Shang Ruyi suffered while she was away.
This is the feeling that only someone who truly cherishes others would have.
She cried and laughed at the same time, completely disregarding her status, and held onto Shang Ruyi's hand tightly. Only then did Yuwen Ye step forward and bow to her, saying, "Auntie."
Upon seeing him, Madam Yu's face lit up with a look of relief, and she smiled, saying, "Young Master."
Yuwen Ye said, "I'm relieved to see that my aunt is alright."
"I am well, I am well,"
As she spoke, Madam Yu looked at the three of them, including Tu She'er, who was standing to the side with red eyes, gazing at her. She was overjoyed, as if she were a mother seeing her children, who had been far away from home, return to her side. She even said, somewhat incoherently, "Seeing that you are all safe and sound, I am at peace."
Although her words were somewhat inverted, everyone could still sense her genuine emotions and joy.
What in this world is more moving than genuine emotions?
Therefore, even Yuwen Ye showed a hint of emotion in his eyes.
Just then, a voice, equally joyful yet tinged with a cool tinge, rang out—
"Madam Shen was overjoyed to see the Second Young Master, the Young Madam, and Young Master Shen return. But it's hot outside, and the summer heat hasn't dissipated yet. Let's go inside first. The Duke and Master Shen are waiting inside."
Upon hearing this voice, Shang Ruyi's initial joy and excitement, which had been like a boiling pot of soup, gradually cooled down.
She looked up, over Yu's shoulder, and saw a familiar figure.
And that familiar, flawless, and steady smile.
Aunt Hui.
She stood at the door with a group of servants, clearly there to greet them. She then slowly walked down the steps, bowed to them, and said, "Second Young Master, Young Madam, you're finally back."
Upon seeing her, Yuwen Ye's eyes flickered, and the smile on his face seemed to change as well.
But he still smiled and said, "Aunt Hui."
Aunt Hui said with a smile, "These days, the servants have been eagerly awaiting the return of the Second Young Master and the Young Mistress. Today, they have finally returned, and I am very happy."
At this moment, Shang Ruyi's violent heartbeat slowly subsided.
She still held Yu's warm hand, but when facing Aunt Hui, she regained her usual gentleness and composure, saying, "I'm sorry to have worried you."
"where."
Aunt Hui raised her hand and said, "Let's go inside the mansion."
Yuwen Ye nodded, glanced down at Shang Ruyi, and Shang Ruyi understood without saying anything more. The group then went inside.
The Duke's Mansion in Daxing City is the largest of the Yuwen family's properties across the country. After all, it was a mansion bestowed by Emperor Wen when he was alive. Its grandeur and scale are incomparable to the mansions in Taiyuan, the Eastern Capital, that followed. Especially after Yuwen Yuan supported the new emperor and became the Grand Chancellor, this already extraordinary mansion exuded an invisible sense of oppression.
As soon as I stepped inside, I sensed an unusual atmosphere.
At this time, it also got dark.
Lanterns had begun to be lit throughout the mansion and hung under the eaves of various buildings. The light, near and far, brought moments of brightness and darkness to Shang Ruyi's heart.
My heart started racing.
In the bright depths of that mansion, who is waiting for her?
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