Chapter 501 The Emperor's Wrath
Yuwen Ye frowned slightly.
This question isn't unanswerable; it's just that no matter how you answer it, it will be wrong.
Just as he was looking at Chu Ruoyan, his expression growing increasingly solemn, a calm, even gentle voice rang out from the side: "Then, may I ask what important matter Your Highness has summoned Fengchen to the palace?"
The gentle voice startled Chu Ruoyan.
She turned her head and met Shang Ruyi's serious gaze, saying, "If Your Highness has any instructions, please speak."
"..."
Chu Ruoyan was speechless for a moment.
She hadn't expected Shang Ruyi to come, and even less did she expect Shang Ruyi to speak up at this moment, throwing the question back at her. She hadn't prepared an answer either, and for a moment she couldn't speak, only stammering, "I—"
"..."
Shang Ruyi smiled and looked at her calmly.
For a moment, the atmosphere inside Yichun Palace was both calm and somewhat strange.
Chu Ruoyan was silent for a while, then smiled calmly and looked up at Shang Ruyi, saying, "Actually, I just miss my second brother, so I want to see him. I don't want him to do anything. Sister Ruyi, you can rest assured."
"..."
"After all, there aren't many people left in this world that I can care about."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi's breathing tightened slightly.
Whether it was her imagination or not, the sentence seemed to be referring to Yuwen Ye, but Shang Ruyi sensed another person's name between the lines—
Chu Yang!
Upon entering the Daxing Imperial Palace, the familiar yet unfamiliar scenery reminded her of her time with that person, causing her great heartache. Now, Chu Ruoyan's words plunged her into the deepest, most suffocating, and most painful abyss of memories.
All of them are still alive, especially her.
She survived, emerging from that nightmarish Jiangdu Palace, but some people remained there forever.
Although she cleverly revealed the truth about Chu Yang's death at Dayan Temple while concealing Chu Yang's feelings for her that could never be revealed, Shang Ruyi knew in her heart that while her words might deceive most people, there were definitely some who understood everything.
They simply didn't ask, they just couldn't bear to ask.
For example, Yuwen Ye, who fought a bloody battle to rescue himself from Jiangdu.
For example, he wrote the eight characters "Humans live in this mortal world, nothing but love and hate" to his empress dowager.
They are the smartest people in the world, and they all understand that some people are no longer here, and some feelings are over. After experiencing love and hate, they still have to look forward.
Could Chu Ruoyan be one of them?
Did she say this because she was worried about Yuwen Ye, or because she hadn't let go of the death of her father?
Shang Ruyi's face turned somewhat pale.
At this moment, Yuwen Ye's deep voice rang out, and he said, "Ruoyan..."
His words caused Chu Ruoyan's eyes to flicker, as if a small stone had been thrown into a calm spring pond, creating ripples. She immediately turned to look at Yuwen Ye, a radiant smile blooming on her face: "Second Brother."
Yuwen Ye looked at her with a complicated expression and said, "You wanted to see me, and so I have come."
"..."
"So, what do you want me to do?"
Chu Ruoyan looked at him for a long while, then suddenly smiled and said, "What are you saying, Second Brother?"
"..."
"Why would I want my second brother to do anything?"
"..."
"I never need my second brother to do anything for me. I'm happy just to see you."
As she spoke, she tilted her head slightly, the bright moon beads hanging from her ears swaying and patting her pink cheeks, revealing a charming and lovely side. Hearing her words of no regrets, it's likely that no man in the world could resist such tenderness.
However, Yuwen Ye's expression remained completely unperturbed.
He simply stared at Chu Ruoyan, his gaze even colder than before.
After a long silence, he said, "Although the princess doesn't need me to do anything, I did hear that Lord Ji impeached me because I stayed in Fufeng for too long. Fortunately, the princess spoke up for me and saved me from punishment. I should indeed thank Your Highness for this."
Chu Ruoyan smiled at him and said, "Speaking of which, this is also the reason why I insisted on inviting my second brother to the palace today."
"..."
"It's great that Sister Ruyi is here too."
After saying that, she turned to the side, gesturing for the two to enter the hall. Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi exchanged a glance, but didn't say anything more, and obediently went inside.
Yichun Palace was originally a place for people to rest. It was not as solemn and magnificent as other palaces in the palace, but it was relaxed and comfortable everywhere. When you entered the main hall, you could see two tables facing each other. On the table were cups and fresh fruit. This was obviously not the arrangement for the princess to summon her subjects.
It was Chu Ruoyan who wanted to see Yuwen Ye.
At this moment, Princess Xinyue walked over and slowly sat down behind the table on the east side, and then said, "I just didn't expect Sister Ruyi to come back, so I didn't have anyone prepare cups and saucers for her."
Shang Ruyi followed Yuwen Ye and sat down at the table on the right.
Upon hearing this, she smiled and said, "Your Highness is too kind. I came here uninvited."
Chu Ruoyan smiled, then looked up at Yuwen Ye and said seriously, "Second brother, you have stayed in Fufeng for too long this time. In fact, Ji Hong is not the only one who wants to impeach you, but he is the one leading the charge."
"……oh."
"Although the Emperor did not heed his advice, we cannot completely ignore the opinions of these civil officials."
"..."
"Therefore, this time the Emperor has appointed you as the General of Heavenly Strategy. Although the General of Heavenly Strategy is allowed to establish his own residence, in order to appease those censors, Second Brother, you should not establish your own residence for the time being. Otherwise, if you become too prominent, you will inevitably attract their attention."
Hearing her words, Yuwen Ye frowned again.
It wasn't for any other reason than an accident—the woman in front of me, so eloquent and talkative, was no longer the delicate Princess Crescent Moon who only knew about romance and was oblivious to the hardships of ordinary people.
She seems like a completely different person.
Not only Yuwen Ye, but even Shang Ruyi, who was sitting next to him, was stunned.
After a long silence, Yuwen Ye looked at Chu Ruoyan with a complicated expression and said, "These are the words you wanted to say to me?"
"Yes,"
Chu Ruoyan smiled at him, her pretty face full of concern: "Actually, it would have been fine to have someone else deliver the message to Second Brother, but I was worried that the servants below wouldn't be able to speak clearly, so I'd rather have Second Brother come to the palace and tell you myself."
"..."
"Second brother, no matter what others think, I will always only think of you."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ye's expression darkened further.
If he had felt some distance and anger towards Chu Ruoyan, who had falsely conveyed the Empress Dowager's decree, he could no longer remain cold-faced upon hearing these words. However, when he looked up into those charming eyes, his feelings became even more complicated.
He said, "Ruoyan, actually you—"
Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the main hall.
At this moment, the three people in the hall were somewhat surprised, especially Chu Ruoyan, who immediately frowned and looked towards the gate with a hint of anger.
Her expression made Shang Ruyi, who was already somewhat tense, feel even more somber.
A young eunuch hurriedly walked to the outside of the main hall and whispered a few words to Eunuch Cao, who was standing guard outside with his hands clasped in his pockets. Eunuch Cao's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly looked up at Princess Xinyue, as if he wanted to say something, but then glanced to the other side and dared not speak.
Chu Ruoyan asked, "What happened?"
The eunuch Cao said with a fawning smile, "Your Highness..."
It seems they dare not say that directly.
Chu Ruoyan thought for a moment, then slowly stood up and said to Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi, "Second Brother, Sister Ruyi, please wait for me."
After saying that, he turned and walked out.
Watching her retreating figure, even though she had already left the Yichun Palace, the lingering sweet fragrance emanating from her still lingered in her nostrils. This fragrance, instead of captivating her, made Shang Ruyi feel somewhat suffocated. She knelt on the spot, feeling the shadow that had been growing in her heart since their reunion at Dayan Temple.
It was as if it wanted to envelop her entirely.
Just then, a large hand reached out and covered the back of her hand.
The palm still held that familiar warmth.
Shang Ruyi shuddered slightly, raised her head, and met Yuwen Ye's calm eyes. Although he had been momentarily distracted just now, he was now completely calm, and his voice was as steady as ever: "Don't worry."
"..."
"I am--"
Before he could even utter a single sentence, Chu Ruoyan suddenly turned and walked in again. Both of them subconsciously pursed their lips, and a strange expression appeared on Chu Ruoyan's bright face. When she looked at Shang Ruyi, her eyes were even brighter than before.
Shang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat.
What's wrong?
She asked instinctively, "Your Highness, what happened?"
Chu Ruoyan walked to the table she had just sat down, then sighed softly and said, "Sister Ruyi, do you know that the Emperor summoned several ministers to the palace today to discuss the matter reported by the Grand Historian yesterday?"
Shang Ruyi nodded slightly. She knew, of course, that those entering the palace today included not only the Duke of Sheng, but also Ji Hong, who wanted to impeach Yuwen Ye, Pei Xu, who had just returned to Daxing City, and—
Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat.
Yuwen Ye seemed to sense something as well, and looked up at Chu Ruoyan, who slowly said, "I just heard that Lord Shen, the Master of Ceremonies... has angered the Emperor with his insolence and has now been imprisoned and is to be executed."
"What?!"
Shang Ruyi was startled and suddenly stood up—
How is that possible?!
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