Chapter 300 Young Madam, Please Be Careful
The next morning, Shang Ruyi got up as usual and discovered that there was a familiar figure among the palace maids who came to serve her—it was Wo Xue.
She didn't say anything immediately. Only after they had finished washing and dressing her, and she sat down to have breakfast, did she ask, "Are you... healed?"
Wo Xue was serving her a bowl of hot soup when she heard this and paused for a moment.
But she immediately regained her composure and said softly, "Thank you for your concern, young mistress. I'm fine now."
Despite saying that, Shang Ruyi could still see that her face was a little pale, and that she was moving more slowly than before when she was doing things. But she didn't say anything, just nodded, took the bowl and prepared to eat.
Looking down at the bowls and plates on the table, he couldn't help but frown again.
She hasn't had a good appetite lately and hasn't been eating much, but the meals delivered from the kitchen every day are enough for several people. This breakfast alone has a whole table full of food, including two kinds of porridge, four kinds of medicinal soup rice, seven or eight kinds of dishes, as well as refreshing fruits and pastries. She can't possibly finish it all by herself.
Shang Ruyi said, "Next time, tell the kitchen that I'm dining alone and don't need this much food."
Wo Xue said softly, "This was personally instructed by His Majesty."
The implication cannot be changed.
Having known each other for so long, Shang Ruyi knew that Chu Yang's stubbornness wasn't limited to matters of state; he was just as headstrong as he was in these trivial matters. He simply wouldn't listen to anyone's advice, so she could only sigh.
After thinking for a moment, he added, "Then you should eat some too."
A look of horror appeared on Wo Xue's face, and she hurriedly shook her head: "This servant dares not."
Shang Ruyi said, "No one knows that I made you eat it."
Wo Xue still shook his head.
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "I don't have an appetite when I eat alone. If you keep me company, I can eat a little more."
"..."
Wo Xue looked at her, remained silent for a while, and finally lowered her head and said softly, "Yes."
So she apologized and sat down opposite Shang Ruyi to eat with her.
Although she came from the palace and was under the emperor's command, she had never eaten such a sumptuous and exquisite meal before. In addition, these were specially prepared for Shang Ruyi and contained nourishing and medicinal ingredients, which would be of great benefit to her health.
Wo Xue swallowed a mouthful of warm soup, and felt the heat rising from her eyes again, instantly moistening her eyes.
She finished her meal in silence. Although she ate more than usual with Wo Xue by her side, there was still a lot left over. Shang Ruyi felt heartbroken that these things would just be thrown away, but there was nothing she could do. She could only watch helplessly as Wo Xue and the other two palace maids collected the dishes.
After everything was tidied up, Wo Xue asked, "What does the young mistress plan to do today?"
Shang Ruyi shook her head.
To be honest, since arriving at Jiangdu Palace, she has spent most of her time resting in bed, recovering her strength and practicing walking. She hasn't done anything else and has only recently found herself somewhat bored.
Wo Xue said, "His Majesty has ordered the preparation of various performers, as well as singers and dancers. If the young mistress is bored, they can be summoned at any time to entertain her."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi still shook her head.
She had never been particularly interested in singing, dancing, or acrobatics, and certainly not at this time. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I've been here for so long, and I haven't gone out for a stroll yet. Would you come with me for a walk?"
Wo Xue said, "Young Madam, we cannot leave the palace."
Shang Ruyi said, "Then, shall we just take a walk around the palace? I want to see what Jiangdu Palace looks like."
"yes."
So the two of them went out together.
Actually, Shang Ruyi had already visited the inner palace yesterday and seen some of the scenery, but she didn't want to go there again today. So she went out and walked in the opposite direction, leaving the palace. She walked along a passageway for a while, then went out a door and stepped onto a long corridor.
Walk along this long corridor, turn a corner, go down the steps, and you will enter the huge square in front of the main hall.
Then we arrived at the emperor's residence.
Therefore, there were far more guards here than in the previous places. Every few steps along the long corridor in front of her stood a tall and imposing guard, and those people all showed surprised expressions when they saw her.
Shang Ruyi's steps also became somewhat sluggish.
It seems that it's not advisable to go any further.
Just as she was hesitating, a very soft male voice suddenly sounded beside her: "Yuwen...Young Madam?"
Shang Ruyi turned her head and saw a patrol team walking past her. The young man leading the team was about twenty years old, of medium build, and his eyes were shining as he looked at her.
It was an unfamiliar face.
Shang Ruyi said, "Yes. You are—"
A look of surprise appeared on the man's face. He turned around and waved to the group of people behind him. They continued walking forward without looking at him. He walked a few steps to Shang Ruyi and bowed to her: "I am Cheng Qiao, Deputy Commander of the Left Palace Army."
The guards of Jiangdu Palace were divided into two teams: the Left Palace Army and the Right Palace Army. Each team was in charge of the east and west palace gates and guards. There were also two supreme commanders: the Left and Right Palace Army Generals, and the deputy commanders were the second-in-commands of the two teams.
This was the first time Shang Ruyi had met the commander of the guards stationed at Jiangdu Palace.
Strangely, when people introduce themselves, they usually put their job title first, but he said his name first and then his job title, as if his personal status was more important than his job title.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi glanced at him again.
This man had darker and rougher skin than the soldiers in the surrounding southern region. He had round, large eyes and slightly thick lips, and he looked very honest and kind. But no matter how you looked at him, he was an unfamiliar face.
Sensing the unfamiliarity in Shang Ruyi's eyes, Cheng Qiao said softly, "I once served in the Taiyuan army."
Taiyuan? In the army of the Duke of Sheng?
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately perked up: "You served under the Duke?"
Cheng Qiao nodded immediately, then glanced cautiously at Shang Ruyi: "Second Young Master, you didn't mention me?"
"...?!"
Shang Ruyi's breathing quickened slightly, a wave of doubt washing over her, followed by an inexplicable flutter of heart palpitations. But she managed to maintain a composed demeanor and said, "No."
A hint of melancholy appeared on Cheng Qiao's face, but then he chuckled softly, "The Second Young Master has always been like this."
Shang Ruyi couldn't help but wonder, could it be that the person had done something to wrong her?
After a moment of dejection, Cheng Qiao looked up and met Shang Ruyi's questioning gaze. He immediately smiled and said, "Young Madam, please don't misunderstand. Actually, I have received a great favor from the Second Young Master, and I have no way to repay it."
Shang Ruyi asked, "What's wrong?"
Cheng Qiao then told Shang Ruyi that he had served in the army in Taiyuan and had always followed Yuwen Ye. However, a few years ago, the imperial court mobilized troops to launch a second campaign against Liaodong, and his elder brother was forced to go on the expedition and later died in Liaodong.
Shang Ruyi frowned and said, "Both of you brothers are in the military? Isn't that against regulations?"
"..."
Cheng Qiao glanced at her and said with a wry smile, "Young Madam, since the second campaign against Liaodong, the rule that brothers cannot serve at the same time has become a mere formality."
Shang Ruyi sighed.
She then asked, "Then how did you come to Jiangdu Palace?"
Cheng Qiao said, "After my elder brother died in battle, my two elderly parents had no one to take care of them. When the second young master found out, he sent me back to my hometown. Moreover, he specially arranged for me to guard the Jiangdu Palace. In this way, I am still considered to be in the army and will not be conscripted again."
Shang Ruyi breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good. Now your elders have someone to rely on."
When this was mentioned, Cheng Qiao's eyes reddened.
Shang Ruyi immediately sensed something was wrong and asked, "What's wrong?"
Cheng Qiao said with a somber tone, "Actually, on my way back to my hometown, the imperial court had already begun to conscript troops for the third campaign against Liaodong... My father was conscripted."
"What?!"
Shang Ruyi could hardly believe her ears. Cheng Qiao's father, no matter how you looked at it, was definitely not old enough to be drafted! So she said, "Your father, then he—"
As soon as she saw Cheng Qiao's expression, she knew there was no need to ask any more questions.
That campaign against the Gouli Kingdom was the most devastating of the three campaigns. Four hundred thousand troops marched to Liaodong, but fewer than eighty thousand returned home. Shang Ruyi heard that during the final rout, Gouli soldiers pursued the Daye Dynasty's army as it crossed the river, drowning nearly one hundred thousand soldiers!
One hundred thousand—when I first heard about it, it seemed devastating, but even the most devastating number is still just a number.
But now, among those 100,000 people, there is a very clear figure, perhaps the father of the person in front of you.
Shang Ruyi suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest and could barely speak.
Seeing her suddenly pale face, Cheng Qiao regretted his words and hurriedly said, "Alas, I originally wanted to greet the young mistress, but I brought up these things and made her unhappy. Please forgive me, young mistress."
Shang Ruyi gently shook her head.
Looking at him again, his eyes were filled with a heavy look, while Cheng Qiao had recovered and said, "Although my elder brother and father are both gone—my mother and I have settled down now. I have always wanted to repay the Second Young Master. I heard that His Majesty led the officials and their families on a tour of Jiangdu Palace this time. I thought I would have a chance, but I also heard that the Second Young Master seems to have been sent to attack Wanggang Village."
Shang Ruyi felt a dull pain in her chest, wave after wave.
Although Cheng Qiao didn't mention Yuwen Ye's name, just mentioning him felt like a repeated wound. She could only pretend to be calm and softly say, "Mm."
Cheng Qiao sighed with some disappointment.
But he immediately looked up at Shang Ruyi and said, "If the young mistress needs anything, she can send someone to instruct me at any time."
"..."
Shang Ruyi looked at him, unsure of what to say for a moment.
Her relationship with Yuwen Ye—even if it wasn't completely broken, at least for now, she felt uncomfortable even hearing his name, so naturally she didn't want to get involved with anyone or anything related to him anymore.
Moreover, it's about taking his place to enjoy the gratitude owed to others.
So he shook his head slightly and said, "I, I didn't... Anyway, you don't need to worry about me so much... Take good care of yourself."
After saying that, he turned to leave.
But Cheng Qiao whispered behind her, "Young Madam... please be careful too."
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