Chapter 203 Three military expeditions, all ending in defeat.
Upon hearing this, Chu Yang's expression gradually darkened.
He looked at the opened letter on the table. Although he didn't take it out again, he already knew its contents by heart. He slowly said, "Yuwen Ye launched three military campaigns, all of which ended in defeat."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi gasped.
She looked at the envelope on the table, then at Chu Yang, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she couldn't utter a single word. She could only bite her lower lip and forcefully suppress the turbulent emotions in her heart.
Seeing her panicked expression, Chu Yang's face grew even colder, and he said, "Aren't you going to defend him?"
"..."
"Do you know that such a victory is enough for me to punish him!"
"..."
"It would be easy to punish him. I only need to issue an imperial edict to recall him from Luokou Ferry and imprison him in the Dali Temple. Whether he should be punished or executed, as long as the charges are clear, the punishment can be carried out!"
Shang Ruyi looked at Chu Yang again: "Your Majesty—"
Chu Yang suddenly narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint appearing in his slender phoenix eyes.
Shang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly changed her words: "Young Master Yang..."
Chu Yang chuckled softly, seemingly pleased with her change of heart. Then, his expression slowly turned cold as he said, "He delayed the battle, caused heavy losses, and even affected my future plans. He deserves to die. Therefore, I do not intend to let him off easily."
As he said this, he turned to look at Shang Ruyi's gradually paling face, but his gaze softened again.
"You...don't need to worry."
Shang Ruyi lowered her eyelids and remained silent.
However, her hands, hanging by her sides, gradually gripped the hem of her clothes, squeezing them tightly. The cold sweat on her palms almost soaked through her clothes, and she continued to tremble, making it difficult for her to breathe.
Therefore, Chu Yang truly harbored murderous intent towards Yuwen Ye.
If last time it was just a verbal threat, this time he has already planned the steps to kill Yuwen Ye, and may even have begun to plan the arrangements after killing Yuwen Ye.
Sure enough, Chu Yang continued, "You have nothing to do with him."
"..."
"Even if I were to order the death of your husband, no storm would blow upon you."
"..."
"Ruyi, I will protect you."
His words sounded incredibly gentle, even considerate, yet they were like invisible, heavy punches, striking Shang Ruyi's chest again and again. She looked down at the wine glass in her hand; her fingertips trembled slightly, causing the wine to shimmer. Although her heart ached with a dull ache, she still raised her head and drank it all in one gulp, then slammed the empty glass back onto the table.
Shang Ruyi raised her head and looked at Chu Yang: "Why did you tell me all this? You wanted to kill my husband, so why did you tell me beforehand?"
Chu Yang looked at her gently: "Because I don't want you to be afraid."
"..."
"Ruyi, I'm telling you all this in advance so you can be mentally prepared. Of course, you should understand one thing: even if Yuwen Ye dies and the Yuwen family ceases to exist, you will not be harmed in any way. I can compensate you—you can have any reward you want."
"..."
Shang Ruyi's breath hitched.
It wasn't because of his words, but because of the line in his words—"The Yuwen family no longer exists."
Is it possible that the Yuwen family has ceased to exist?
That Yuwen Yuan—
Thinking of this, she felt a surge of power within her, but that power did not make her more composed. Instead, it seemed to be tearing at her heart and soul. She felt her heartbeat growing heavier and heavier, to the point that she could hardly bear it.
She suddenly realized that the smug and confident person in front of her was actually quite pitiful.
He searched the world for a "soulmate," someone who understood him. He didn't know what led him to find himself, but he stubbornly believed that he would definitely be his soulmate and understand his thoughts. Little did he know that perhaps the person in the world who was least able to understand him, or rather, who most wanted his heart to be disappointed, was her.
After all, she was already married to Yuwen Ye and was now a member of the Yuwen family.
More importantly, she is Yuwen Yuan's daughter-in-law!
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi believed she had made up her mind, but when she looked up and met those smiling, gentle, slender phoenix eyes, she felt a sharp pain in her heart, as if her soul was being torn apart.
This person... is so pitiful.
He possessed the world and was rich beyond measure, yet his heart resided on a deserted island. He could see everything under heaven, but he was all alone by his side.
His eagerness to find a confidant was less a matter of loneliness and more a matter of—
It was a cry for help.
Should I "save" him?
Amidst the excruciating pain that felt as if her soul were being torn apart, Shang Ruyi whispered in a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty—"
Chu Yang immediately frowned.
Shang Ruyi gave a bitter smile and said, "His Majesty wanted to befriend Ruyi under the identity of 'Yang Suiyi', but His Majesty's words were all about national affairs, even the life and death of my husband's family. Ruyi really cannot recognize such a person as the carefree and unrestrained Young Master Yang from back then."
"..."
Chu Yang's expression hardened, and when he looked at her again, there was a hint of brokenness and loss in his eyes.
He sighed: "Tell me, what do you want to say?"
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "I have no right to interfere with what Your Majesty decides to do, but I still want to say a few words for my husband."
Chu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly: "Are you going to defend him?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi thought for a long time before asking, "How many people died or were wounded during his three military campaigns?"
Chu Yang said, "Several thousand people."
"Were the three military deployments all-out wars or localized skirmishes?"
"this--"
"What is the enemy's current state? Are they also going all out against our army?"
"What's the difference?"
"certainly."
"What's the difference?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi did not answer immediately. Instead, she looked at Chu Yang with a conflicted and struggling expression on her face. Chu Yang was puzzled as to why she stopped and was about to ask her again when he saw her slowly raise one hand.
Then, he reached out to his own face.
"...!"
Chu Yang was stunned.
Since they met, Shang Ruyi has maintained the reserve and dignity expected of a wife, or rather, a lady from a noble family. On the grasslands, when he offended her with his words, he would be scolded by her. In the palace, when he touched her ankle—even through a layer of clothing—it brought tears to her eyes.
No matter how deep or private their relationship was, Shang Ruyi never seemed to have any intention of overstepping boundaries, nor would she allow him to have such thoughts.
But now, she—
Chu Yang was so shocked that she couldn't react. She could only watch as the fair and slender hand slowly reached out to her, but because the movement was so light, she could hardly feel anything.
But at that moment, his heart was pounding wildly.
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