Chapter 249 If he wants to blame me, I'll take care of it.
Early the next morning, Yuwen Yuan set off back to Taiyuan.
Before dawn, his family was already at the gate to see him off, but instead of his horse, a carriage was parked outside.
To show his loyalty, and given the urgency of the situation, he returned to Luoyang alone from Taiyuan. However, he could no longer travel alone on his return journey, as the Duke of Sheng was of noble status. Therefore, his family prepared this carriage, but he refused the suggestion to send more people to accompany him.
Before boarding the carriage, Yuwen Ye asked again, "Father, are you really not taking just a few people with you?"
Yuwen Yuan said, "No need for that trouble."
As he spoke, he glanced back at the people who had come to see him off, and finally his gaze fell on Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi. He was still very satisfied with this fine couple, and a kind smile of an elder appeared on his face. He said, "Have you remembered what I told you?"
Yuwen Ye said, "Father, rest assured."
Shang Ruyi hurriedly said, "Father, please be careful on your journey."
Yuwen Yuan smiled and nodded.
After saying that, he looked down at his youngest son standing to the side, and a hint of worry appeared between his brows. He said, "I came back in a hurry this time and couldn't check your homework, but you're not allowed to slack off."
Yuwen Cheng said in a low voice, "Father, please rest assured."
Although he said that, Yuwen Yuan didn't seem relieved. However, he couldn't say anything more at this time. He gave Yuwen Ye a few more instructions and then turned to get into the car.
Just then, Yuwen Ye suddenly stepped forward and whispered, "Father, have you received a letter from my elder brother?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat.
Yuwen Yuan turned to look at him, then glanced at his daughter-in-law beside him. Seeing her lower her head and take two steps back, he said in a deep voice, "You received it?"
Yuwen Ye said, "My elder brother said he was going to come back, but the rebel army has been rampant along the way, and the roads are dangerous. He has to change his route. I don't know when he will be able to return to Dongdu. I don't think he will receive the letters I sent."
Yuwen Yuan pondered for a moment, then said, "I'm not worried about him."
"..."
"No matter how chaotic the world becomes, it won't affect him. If he wants to come back, he will definitely come back safely."
Although these words were meant to reassure him, for some reason, Yuwen Ye's gaze deepened even further than before.
He said, "Yes."
Yuwen Yuan glanced at Shang Ruyi, who was standing silently with her head down.
Then he said, "If he returns, and if nothing happens in Dongdu, let him come to Taiyuan to see me first."
Yuwen Ye replied, "Yes."
After Yuwen Yuan finished speaking, he got into the carriage. The driver cracked the whip, and the carriage immediately left the Yuwen residence, driving forward on the ice and snow, and soon disappeared from everyone's sight.
However, no one noticed that in a corner at the end of the street, a pair of cold eyes were also watching Yuwen Yuan's carriage.
Only when the carriage was completely out of sight did those eyes slowly disappear into the shadows.
The crowd at the gate gradually dispersed, leaving only Yuwen Ye standing there for a long time. Shang Ruyi, standing beside him, looked into his eyes, which seemed to be gazing in the direction where the carriage had disappeared, but his gaze seemed to be looking into a more distant place.
What is he looking at?
At this moment, Yuwen Ye turned around and met her gaze.
He asked, "What's wrong?"
Shang Ruyi shook her head to hide her unease: "It's nothing."
After saying that, she turned to walk inside. Yuwen Ye walked beside her, and seeing her hesitate several times, he finally said, "Just ask whatever you want to ask. There's no need to be so hesitant."
"..."
Shang Ruyi hesitated for a while before whispering, "Big brother, are you coming back?"
As soon as the question was asked, a silence fell between the two of them.
Shang Ruyi herself regretted asking the embarrassing question, but if she hadn't asked, she didn't know how embarrassing it would have been in the future. Yuwen Ye remained silent for a long time before saying, "It seems that he won't be back for a while."
"Is it because of the rampant rebels that the route has to be changed?"
"Um."
Is it that serious?
Yuwen Ye glanced at her, paused for a moment, and then said, "Every year after the Lantern Festival, local counties are required to send officials back to the capital to report on their duties. Do you know how many returned this time?"
Shang Ruyi shook her head. Although she knew about this rule, it was a matter of the court. Yuwen Ye was away on a campaign, and she had gone to Xingluo Granary with him, so she had no time to find out about it.
Yuwen Ye said, "Envoys from more than forty prefectures failed to arrive on time."
"...!?"
Shang Ruyi opened her eyes wide in horror.
Yuwen Ye took a deep breath. Clearly, this number also weighed heavily on his mind. He slowly said, "More than half of the officials and envoys who were able to reach the Eastern Capital on time had been harassed and ambushed by rebel forces along the way."
"..."
Do you know what this means?
Shang Ruyi subconsciously reached out to touch her chest, but she couldn't breathe properly, and she couldn't help but clutch her clothes tightly.
As Yuwen Ye walked forward, he said, "These are still officials of the imperial court. What must it be like for other travelers who are not protected by guards?"
Shang Ruyi remained silent.
Although she was referring to Yuwen Qian's return to Luoyang, she understood that the imperial court was slowly losing its control over the entire country.
Yuwen Ye concluded, "However, Father has confidence in my elder brother, and so do I."
"..."
"However, it will probably take him a little longer than usual to get back."
Shang Ruyi couldn't help but frown again.
From Yuwen Yuan's seemingly ambiguous words, she could sense that this Duke of Sheng, a man of outstanding military achievements and strict discipline towards his children, had an extraordinary confidence and approval in his eldest son. It was as if no matter what the world was like, as long as Yuwen Qian wanted to, he could do it.
This seems somewhat reckless to the average person.
Besides, even Yuwen Ye, who has repeatedly made military achievements in recent years and has been appointed as a general, might not be able to gain such recognition from him. After all, before sending troops to Xingluocang, he was angry because Yuwen Ye refused to take the troops from his home, fearing that he would suffer losses in this battle.
Shang Ruyi couldn't help but ask—Is Yuwen Qian really that powerful?
But she held back.
After all, it was about Yuwen Qian, and the awkward relationship between them meant she shouldn't ask him too many questions.
However, seemingly sensing her inner turmoil, Yuwen Ye looked at her for a while and calmly said, "Don't be afraid."
"Um?"
"If you're worried that you'll be blamed when your older brother comes back, you can relax."
"..."
"I'm the one who married you. If he blames me, I'll take care of him."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com