Chapter 145 Will He Come for You?
At this point, there's no other way but to bite the bullet and go for it.
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and slowly repeated what she had said to Empress Jiang during the day. This time, however, she spoke more cautiously and kept a close eye on Chu Yang's expression.
She had to shut up immediately if he showed even the slightest displeasure!
However, Chu Yang's expression remained unchanged until she finished speaking. Even when she uttered the last word, a faint smile appeared in her long, phoenix-shaped eyes.
"This is what you told the Empress?"
"If one's understanding is clouded and obscures Your Majesty's sacred hearing."
Chu Yang frowned slightly, as if he didn't like hearing the last sentence, but when he looked at Shang Ruyi's careful expression, a faint smile still appeared on his lips.
He said, "What you say makes sense."
Shang Ruyi suddenly looked up at him and said cautiously, "Does Your Majesty also agree with Ruyi's opinion?"
Chu Yang turned around, put his hands behind his back, and slowly paced back and forth, saying, "Actually, during the day, not only Wang Shaoji advised me, but several other generals also had their own plans. I found them all reasonable, and it was difficult for me to make a decision."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
She couldn't help but recall the time when she met "Yang Suiyi" outside the Wan Family Fruit and Snack Shop in Taiyuan City. He also said that it was a difficult choice, but in the end, he chose for himself.
And now it's happening again—
Just as her thoughts were drifting away, Chu Yang's whisper brought her back: "However, choosing to hold on also carries its own risks."
"Your Majesty means—"
"The food supplies in the city are now insufficient for the entire army for two days."
"If Your Majesty truly chooses to hold the city, then a large number of soldiers will no longer need to leave the city. The wounded and weak soldiers can be killed and eaten."
Chu Yang turned around and looked at her with some surprise.
Shang Ruyi knew that no woman would say such vulgar things as "kill and eat meat" in front of the emperor, but at this moment, she decided to go all out. Her eyes were serious and showed a fierce determination: "If you want to hold on, you must be prepared to hold on."
Seeing her like this, Chu Yang's eyes lit up.
These were words that the garrison commanders dared not easily say in front of him, but Shang Ruyi's words did indeed enlighten him. He then asked, "But if the troops are eaten, there will be no possibility of breaking through. Who can guarantee that we can hold out indefinitely?"
Shang Ruyi said, "Your Majesty, we have been besieged for three days."
"So what?"
"This matter must have already spread. If the garrison commanders of the towns near Yanmen County receive the news, they will surely come to the aid of the emperor."
"..."
"We must preserve our strength and wait until they arrive before launching a coordinated attack from within and without. The Turkic army will surely be defeated!"
Chu Yang frowned slightly: "Is it that easy?"
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "This time, Shali Khan led more than 100,000 troops in a surprise attack. If I'm not mistaken, they probably didn't have time to make sufficient preparations."
"How do you know they just received the news?"
“Firstly, our two sides have been out of touch for a long time, so it’s impossible for them to know in advance that His Majesty is going on a northern tour and make preparations accordingly; secondly, a few days ago when I accompanied His Majesty to the camp, I saw several figures on the road. At the time, I thought I was seeing things, but now I think they were spies sent by the Turks. They must have only just learned that His Majesty was going to tour the northern frontier that day.”
"..."
“From the time they discovered us to the time they raided our camp, it was less than three days. It was already the limit to mobilize 100,000 troops. And now that winter has arrived, food and fodder are scarce on the grasslands. It is impossible to gather enough food and fodder for 100,000 troops in such a short time.”
"..."
"Therefore, food supplies are not only our problem, but also their problem."
Upon hearing this, Chu Yang's eyes brightened even more.
Shang Ruyi continued, "Ruyi heard from the people below that they attacked Yanmen City last night, and today they continued the siege for four hours. Obviously, they are also very anxious."
"..."
"Therefore, the more this is the case, the more we should stay put and not go out."
"..."
"When they run out of supplies and have no choice but to retreat, our reinforcements will arrive. Wouldn't that give us the perfect combination of timing, location, and popular support?"
Chu Yang didn't speak, but stood in front of her with his hands behind his back. Shang Ruyi looked at his back, wondering how much of what she had just said had been heard by him. She waited nervously for his response.
After a long pause, Chu Yang said, "You've mentioned all of them, but it seems you've overlooked one."
Shang Ruyi asked, "Which side?"
Chu Yang slowly turned around and looked down at her: "You should still remember that when I went on this tour, my entourage was divided into two groups. Behind us, there was another group of people—your husband was in that group."
"..."
"It seems like you have absolutely no hope that he will come."
Shang Ruyi felt a sudden pang in her heart, but she took a deep breath and tried to say calmly, "It's good that he's coming."
Chu Yang looked into her eyes: "Will he come?"
"...His Majesty is besieged here. As His Majesty's subject, it is his duty to come to the aid of the king and protect him."
"I'm asking, will he come for you?"
"With His Majesty here, it is not our place to prioritize Ruyi."
Chu Yang looked down at her for a long time, his smile deepening, and said, "Shang Ruyi, it seems you've always been unwilling to mention him, and even less willing to acknowledge your place in his heart."
Shang Ruyi's heart sank heavily.
She bit her lower lip and said as calmly as possible, "Ruyi is his wife. Her position in his heart is neither something that needs to be acknowledged nor confirmed."
Chu Yang said, "Then do you know what the last thing I said to you in Taiyuan meant?"
"...!"
Shang Ruyi's heart, which was already on the verge of falling into an ice cave, suddenly jumped again, making her chest ache slightly.
She subconsciously looked up at Chu Yang, meeting his phoenix eyes that were smiling but contained many emotions she couldn't discern. After hesitating for a long time, she slowly said, "I remember, His Majesty said that he would make an enemy of him for the sake of a woman."
Do you know who this woman is?
"Yes, Your Highness."
Chu Yang raised an eyebrow slightly.
Judging from his expression, he seemed unsurprised, yet also as if—
Shang Ruyi still couldn't understand his expression, so she honestly said, "If Ruyi is not mistaken, His Majesty should have discussed the marriage between Princess and Fengchen before, right?"
"..."
"But because of the appearance of Ruyi—"
"..."
"All of this is Ruyi's fault."
Chu Yang looked at her quietly, his expression unreadable. Even the faint smile in his phoenix eyes slowly faded away, leaving one wondering what emotions were hidden in his deeper pupils.
After a long silence, he said, "Of course it's your fault."
"..."
"Otherwise, who would want to be his enemy?"
"...!?"
Shang Ruyi was stunned. Before she could react, she felt a gentle breeze sweep across her face. Chu Yang had already turned and left with a flick of his sleeve, carrying with him a chilling fragrance.
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