Chapter 116 I think you're unhappy
Yuwen Ye looked at her quietly. Although the light was dim, for some reason, his eyes seemed to be brighter than usual.
"So what do you mean?"
"I--"
Shang Ruyi's face was burning hot, and she didn't know how to respond when there was a very soft knock on the door. Then, she heard Shen Wuzheng say softly, "Ruyi, are you asleep?"
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ye immediately frowned.
Shang Ruyi breathed a huge sigh of relief—she was saved!
She rushed over and opened the door, only to see Shen Wuzheng standing there, looking at her gently: "Still not asleep?"
"No, brother, is there something you need?"
"It's been so long since we last met, I have something I want to tell you. Are you getting some rest?"
After everything that happened tonight, Shang Ruyi was wide awake. Besides, given the situation in the room, she felt it was inappropriate to stay in the same room as Yuwen Ye. She quickly said, "I can't sleep either. I want to talk to you, brother."
"That's good,"
Shen Wuzheng said, "Then, come to my room."
As he turned to leave, he seemed to sense a sharp gaze fixed on his back. He turned around, looked at Yuwen Ye standing in the room, and calmly said, "Young Master Yuwen, my little sister and I have some things to discuss, so we won't disturb your rest any longer."
Shang Ruyi glanced back, wanting to say something more, but ultimately felt too embarrassed, so she just nodded quickly and left.
Shen Wuzheng's room was right next door, and when I went in, it was pretty much the same as hers.
However, on the low table in the center of the room, besides a candlestick, there were two earthenware cups filled with water.
Shang Ruyi walked over and sat down facing him.
Only then did Shang Ruyi manage to calm her slightly embarrassed emotions and her racing heart. She took a sip of water from her cup, and when she looked up, she saw Shen Wuzheng smiling and carefully examining her through the candlelight.
Shang Ruyi smiled and asked, "What are you looking at, brother?"
Shen Wuzheng said, "Let's see how my little sister is different after she gets married."
Shang Ruyi smiled, pursed her lips, and tilted her face up to let him see clearly, saying, "What's different?"
Shen Wuzheng said, "You look haggard."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat.
She subconsciously lowered her head and said with a complicated expression, "I'm a little tired after running such a long way all night."
Shen Wuzheng said, "When I say haggard, I don't mean tired."
"..."
I think you're not happy.
"..."
"Ruyi, tell me honestly, is Yuwen Ye good to you?"
Upon hearing these words, Shang Ruyi felt a surge of sorrow welling up inside her, and a burning sensation welled up in her eyes, almost spilling over. She quickly lowered her head to hide her vulnerability and said with a smile, "Brother, how can you ask such a question!"
Shen Wuzheng said, "I only care about this matter, why can't I ask it like that?"
Shang Ruyi was silent for a while before saying, "He is very good to me."
Shen Wuzheng stared intently at her: "Really?"
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath, then looked up at him with a smile and said, "Everyone knows that coming to rescue my uncle and aunt this time is going against the grain, but he was still willing to bring his people with him. If he didn't treat me well, would he have done this?"
"..."
Hearing this, Shen Wuzheng's expression softened slightly.
But he didn't show any relief or even pleasure.
He held a water glass on the table with one hand, but didn't pick it up to drink for a long time. He remained silent for a long time before letting out a long sigh. Then he looked up at Shang Ruyi and said softly, "My Ruyi, you've finally grown up."
"..."
"I just didn't expect that you would reach marriageable age so soon."
Shang Ruyi laughed and said, "I can't stay a child forever."
Shen Wuzheng's eyes flickered slightly, and he suddenly reached out and rubbed her hair: "I wish you could stay a child forever."
Even though she felt that she had grown up enough since becoming a wife, her childlike nature still surged up again when her brother ruffled her hair. Shang Ruyi even felt a pang of sadness, wishing she could stay with her uncle and aunt and her brother forever.
In this way, could she continue to be as happy as she was when she was a child, without having to experience the bitterness of love?
But now I am—
Afraid of revealing her thoughts, she forced a smile and immediately changed the subject: "Brother, what are your plans next?"
Shen Wuzheng asked, "What are your plans?"
"We should be heading back to Luoyang tomorrow."
"Then be careful on your journey. I will accompany my parents to Lingnan."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately asked, "Brother, are you still going?"
Shen Wuzheng nodded and said, "Although the guards escorting them won't make things difficult for them, the journey is long and arduous, and the situation gets worse the further south we go. With me by their side, at least they can suffer less."
"..."
"Moreover, I need to see the situation in Lingnan with my own eyes before I can feel at ease."
"..."
"After I go and settle them in, I'll find time to come back and meet you again."
"..."
Shang Ruyi looked at him with some sadness. She thought that he would be able to reunite with his family this time, but she did not expect that such a thing would happen suddenly. Shen Wuzheng did not even have time to go home. He had to accompany his uncle and aunt to Lingnan.
Shang Ruyi said softly, "I want to too..."
Shen Wuzheng immediately said, "You're not allowed to think about it!"
"elder brother……"
"Although I am against your marriage—for now, staying in Luoyang is your best option. Lingnan is a land of miasma and plague; even if you wanted to go, I wouldn't let you!"
"elder brother……"
Shang Ruyi knew that although her brother usually doted on her, no amount of coquetry would work when it came to her safety. Besides, given her circumstances, it was impossible for her to accompany her uncle and aunt to Lingnan as the young mistress of the Duke's mansion. So she could only nod and agree reluctantly.
After thinking for a moment, he asked again, "By the way, brother, did you come back this time for a break, or have you finished your studies and come home?"
Shen Wuzheng said, "I have completed my apprenticeship."
"So, this time you're back, you won't be going back to Mr. Li's place? What are your plans for the future?"
What do you mean by "plans"?
"For example, if I want to enter officialdom, or—"
Shen Wuzheng's eyes flickered as he looked at her: "You want me to enter officialdom?"
Shang Ruyi immediately shook her head like a rattle-drum: "No!"
Seeing her like this, Shen Wuzheng immediately laughed. He placed one hand on the table, his fingertips lightly tapping the surface, and said, "I received a letter from my mother before. She also mentioned that you once advised my father to resign from his official post and return to his hometown. Ruyi, you seem to have little confidence in the court."
Shang Ruyi looked at him: "Brother, do you have one?"
The moment he heard those words, Shen Wuzheng's gentle eyes immediately turned deep and dark.
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