Chapter 847 "Invasion"
Shang Ruyi instinctively felt that she had misread it.
Because of this feeling, she even took another step forward, wanting to see more clearly, and subconsciously trying to correct this "illusion"—how could the groom who had just entered the bridal chamber with the bride be here at this time?
I must have misread it.
So she took that step.
But she stopped as soon as she took that step, because the figure turned to look at her and walked towards her. Liu Yin could no longer hide her translucent eyes that were trembling in the shimmering water, and that trembling stopped completely when he got closer and saw her clearly.
Shang Ruyi was instantly breathless. Standing in front of her was indeed the groom in a red dress!
Crown Prince, Yuwen Qian!
How could he...?
At this moment, no matter how many doubts and questions welled up, they could not take away her mind. Shang Ruyi subconsciously took a deep breath to calm herself down—she had already made a mistake with this step, and she could not make any more mistakes when Yuwen Qian had already approached her step by step until he stood in front of her, looked down at her, and his eyes, which seemed to be frozen with frost when he turned back, now melted away and revealed a gentle smile.
Shang Ruyi also put on a big smile, feigning surprise, but trying her best to calm herself down as she spoke: "Royal brother."
"..."
Yuwen Qian's steps seemed to falter slightly, but the smile on his face did not fade.
He walked right up to Shang Ruyi, so close that even in the darkness of the night, even though the moonlight reflected on the lake couldn't illuminate Yuwen Qian's face, Shang Ruyi could still clearly see his eyes brimming with laughter as he looked down at her.
This scene seems somewhat familiar.
The Crown Prince remained as warm and gentle as ever.
This warm and gentle atmosphere made it seem as if there was no life-or-death struggle between the two sides, and that the discord was merely caused by "outsiders" like Dong Bizheng, Yu Dingxing, and Yu Mingyue.
However, he said, "As you wish."
Shang Ruyi frowned slightly.
Just now, she suddenly understood where that familiar feeling in her heart came from. Her first formal, private meeting with Yuwen Qian was in Yuwen Mansion in Luoyang, under the same night sky, by the water, and facing his gentle and kind smile.
But back then, he clearly called her "sister-in-law".
Shang Ruyi instinctively felt that he might be drunk, but she immediately came to her senses. He hadn't touched a drop of alcohol today. Even if the newlyweds had just entered the bridal chamber and perhaps drunk the nuptial wine, it was impossible for him to be this drunk. Moreover, the two of them were so close now that Shang Ruyi could almost smell a faint fragrance emanating from him, but it was completely different from the sandalwood scent that used to surround him. It seemed to be a strange, powdery fragrance—but she couldn't smell any alcohol at all.
He was conscious.
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and then smiled, "I'm sorry to bother you, Your Majesty. I've come to find Yuanzi. Your Majesty is enjoying the cool air here. Did you see my maid carrying your nephew over?"
In fact, under normal circumstances, Shang Ruyi would never have uttered such a long and complicated statement in one breath, and it was full of loopholes.
In this kind of weather, on this kind of night, who would be here "cooling off"?
But by saying this, she was certain that the groom was cooling off here, because she didn't want to know why the groom, who should be enjoying intimacy and tenderness with his lover on their wedding night, was here.
"Yuanzi,"
Shang Ruyi said a lot, but Yuwen Qian seemed to only hear those two words. His smile deepened, and he said, "It seems that Father has really changed a lot over the years."
These words surprised Shang Ruyi somewhat, and she subconsciously asked, "Father... what has changed?"
Yuwen Qian asked, "Do you know what the nicknames of the three of us brothers are?"
Almost every word he said was beyond Shang Ruyi's expectations, but at this point, she couldn't just turn around and leave. She could only take a deep breath, forcing herself to appear calm and composed, and then say, "Fengchen's nickname is Phoenix. As for my brother... I only know my brother's courtesy name. As for my third brother's, I don't know."
"Hexin is the name I adopted after leaving home. As for my nickname,"
As Yuwen Qian spoke, he suddenly chuckled and slowly walked past Shang Ruyi. Because they were already close, his shoulder even lightly brushed against Shang Ruyi's shoulder, which made Shang Ruyi frown again.
She rarely got this close to anyone, except for her uncle and aunt, and Yuwen Ye.
Yuwen Qian was a polite gentleman, and the special relationship between the two made it impossible for them to be like ordinary, harmonious relatives. But that little distance just now had already broken through the distance that Shang Ruyi should have maintained at any time before. In fact, it was no longer even closeness.
Rather, it is an "invasion".
Her heart skipped a beat, but Yuwen Qian seemed oblivious to the impropriety, simply saying, "Before I was born, my mother gave me a nickname, Kunyu."
Kunyu refers to jade from Kunshan.
Shang Ruyi silently recited it in her heart, and said in a deep voice, "It is a good name."
Yuwen Qian had already walked behind her, but then turned to the side and said, "However, after I was born, my father gave me a nickname, Kunyu."
Kunyu...
Whether viewed individually or together, this name is outstanding and in no way inferior to that of a phoenix. Shang Ruyi said softly, "Even better."
"yes,"
Yuwen Qian slowly turned around, looked at her, and continued, "And the nickname of my third brother is Xiao Peng."
"oh……"
Shang Ruyi raised an eyebrow slightly. This was the first time she had fully learned the nicknames of the three brothers. She couldn't believe that Yuwen Yuan, despite his military background and imposing appearance, like a fierce tiger, possessed such delicate and thoughtful nature. But upon reflection, she realized that his mind was indeed delicate; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to maintain his position amidst Chu Yang's suspicions, stabilize the situation in a chaotic world filled with rising heroes, and gradually reach where he is today.
The nicknames he gave his three sons, whether Kun, Feng, or Peng, clearly reflected his high hopes for them.
Yuwen Qian also said, "He hopes that we can spread our wings and fly high."
"..."
"And Yuanzi,"
At this point, he looked up at the sky again. Although the entire sky seemed to be shrouded by a giant black hand, making it almost impossible to see anything, he still looked for a long time before saying, "He only hopes that Yuanzi is safe and happy."
"..."
"After all, there's no need to fly anymore."
Shang Ruyi frowned slightly, but she understood the meaning behind his words.
When Yuwen Yuan's three sons, especially his first two, were born, the world was still in turmoil, his position was unstable, and the entire Yuwen family was on the verge of collapse. The nicknames he gave these two sons carried the expectation of striving for progress. Even when his third son, Yuwen Cheng, was born, his position was already stable, and he had become one of the most trusted ministers in Emperor Wen's court. Yet, he still gave his son such a nickname. Perhaps at that time, he already had a faint expectation for "great undertakings" in his heart.
Today, the great undertaking has been accomplished.
The nickname "Yuanzi" has nothing to do with the expectations of the older generation, with soaring high, with the country and the nation, or with great undertakings.
It was because of the doting affection of grandparents, and also because Yuwen Yuan was already above all others at this time. His grandson didn't even need to spread his wings and soar like a Kun, a Feng, or a Peng; he was already born high above the heavens.
In that sense, it does seem to have a bit of a "riding the wave" effect.
After all, it was Yuwen Yuan who fought valiantly on the battlefield in his early years, his clothes stained with blood; it was Yuwen Ye who later conquered the south and north, achieving great military exploits; it was Yuwen Qian who captured Chang'an without bloodshed and reclaimed the land where the dragon rose; even Yuwen Cheng, whom Shang Ruyi considered almost useless, had fought a bloody battle at Bai Bi. And Yuanzi, from the moment she was born, had already obtained what they had worked so hard for over decades.
Thinking about it this way, it's not just about taking advantage of the wind, but more like taking advantage of my grandfather and uncles.
Shang Ruyi forced a smile and said, "This child is lucky."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Qian's eyes seemed to widen slightly, his gaze flashing as if a stone had shattered the tranquil surface of his eyes, now gleaming with a sharp light: "You believe in fate?"
I believe it, and I don't believe it.
"How so?"
"For example, if God gives you a path, no matter how much you struggle and resist, you have to walk it; but how you walk it is up to you."
"oh……"
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Qian suddenly raised an eyebrow. This expression is common among ordinary people, indicating disdain, sarcasm, or even provocation. Although Shang Ruyi hadn't known him for very long, they had seen each other frequently and she understood Yuwen Qian's past as a cultivator. His face was always gentle and warm, or calm and indifferent; she rarely saw him show such an expression.
And this expression, just like the one I saw at the mourning hall of the Duke of Shenwu, was so unfamiliar that it left me at a loss.
He said, "Ultimately, you trust yourself more, don't you?"
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "I guess so."
At this point, her breathing became erratic, not only because she instinctively sensed "danger," but also because she was rationally aware that she shouldn't be talking about "fate" with a groom who should be in the bridal chamber at this time and in this place.
So he wanted to find an excuse to leave.
Just as she was about to speak, Yuwen Qian suddenly smiled and looked at her, saying, "So, Heaven arranged for you to marry into the Yuwen family, and you did; but who you married was your own choice, wasn't it?"
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