Chapter 273 Farewell
The next day was the day the Grand General of the State set off on his expedition.
Before dawn, the servants in the house were already busy, boiling water and making breakfast. Tushe'er and the others got up early to help Yuwen Ye and the others get up and wash. After breakfast, it was time to help the general put on his armor.
This time, Shang Ruyi took charge herself.
Previously, Yuwen Ye wore ordinary leather armor in the army. Only after being promoted to Assistant General did he receive a set of gleaming iron armor, weighing dozens of kilograms. An ordinary person would find it tiring just to hold it, let alone wear such heavy armor to move around and even fight on the battlefield. Shang Ruyi simply couldn't believe how strong he was.
But it also seems like I've gained some insights.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel her cheeks burning. She could only lower her head and try her best not to let anyone see it. However, after she struggled to put the heavy breastplate on him, she still couldn't help but break out in a sweat. The soreness in her body even made her unable to stand steadily.
Yuwen Ye, who had been standing still with his arms outstretched, reached out and supported her.
"What's wrong?"
Shang Ruyi quickly shook her head: "No, it's nothing."
She turned around and took the scepter to tie it on him. Although the armor was heavy, his waist was still very slender, and there was still room for her to hug him with both hands. As soon as she got close to his supple and strong waist, some memories that she shouldn't have recalled resurfaced in her mind.
This time, Shang Ruyi's face really turned red.
Just as she was about to retrieve the slippers, Yuwen Ye grabbed her, preventing her from moving. Shang Ruyi struggled slightly and whispered, "What are you doing?"
Yuwen Ye looked down at her slightly flushed face, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said, "Just say you're tired."
"..."
"Go and rest, let them dress me."
Shang Ruyi's face was burning hot. In fact, she was very tired at this time and only managed to fall asleep at dawn. But as soon as she closed her eyes, it was time to leave. Yuwen Ye, on the other hand, was full of energy and comforted her to sleep a little longer. But she didn't have the face to do that. She forced herself to get up and help him get dressed and wash up, so as not to be laughed at by the servants.
However, by this time, she had little strength left in her hands. Fortunately, Changwan was quick-witted and stepped forward, saying, "These shoes are hard to wear, let me help you."
After saying that, he took the slippers and put them on Yuwen Ye.
Shang Ruyi sat down to the side and, by the candlelight, examined the man who was dressed in heavy armor and looked extremely heroic.
She was no stranger to men's armor. As a child, she often stroked the heavy armor her father wore in his study. To her, it seemed like magical clothing that could protect her loved ones from all swords and spears. But now, as she grew older, she gradually understood that sometimes, the harm in this world did not come from swords and spears.
But no matter what, she still hoped that the armor could protect Yuwen Ye from all harm.
In no time, the entire suit of armor was on.
Yuwen Ye shrugged, his body still obedient, then turned to Shang Ruyi and smiled, saying, "So, can you still see me off?"
Shang Ruyi glared at him, then stood up and said, "Let's go."
So they left the room and went outside the gate, where Mu Xian was already waiting with a dozen or so personal guards. Before dawn, they had gone outside the city to count the troops before returning to the Yuwen residence, waiting for Yuwen Ye to be fully prepared before setting off. This time, however, they were accompanied by a carriage, specially prepared for Shang Ruyi.
She originally wanted to ride a horse, but as she walked, her back ached, her legs felt weak, and she almost fell off the carriage when her legs gave way.
Fortunately, Yuwen Ye rushed forward and caught her.
Shang Ruyi turned around and met his smiling eyes. She felt her face burning hot. Fortunately, it was still dark outside, and the lanterns at the door were not enough to illuminate her flushed face. She immediately turned around and went into the carriage.
Yuwen Ye smiled and closed the carriage door for her before mounting his horse.
The group rode away from the Yuwen residence and headed towards the city gate.
At this time, it was still dark, and there were hardly any people on the road. Only some restaurants that operated all night were still lit up, which looked like a few points of light in the city. But the more they were lit up, the darker the entire Eastern Capital City seemed.
They traveled smoothly all the way and arrived at the city gate in less than half an hour. Shang Ruyi lifted the curtain and looked ahead. The city gate was open, but outside the gate, it was still dark and gloomy. As they slowly walked over, it was as if they were walking into darkness.
She couldn't help but feel a little heavy-hearted.
At that moment, several soldiers blocked their way at the city gate.
Yuwen Ye immediately reined in the horses and looked down at them. He was clad in armor, and even without swords in his hands, he exuded the aura of a warrior from his very bones. If he showed the slightest displeasure, that aura would instantly transform into a terrifying killing intent that chilled people to the bone.
The soldiers didn't dare to utter a sound, but a man carrying a lantern stepped forward and greeted Yuwen Ye with a smile, saying, "General."
Upon closer inspection, it was indeed the same deputy general who had blocked them at the city gate earlier.
Yuwen Ye said calmly, "Why are you stopping me?"
The lieutenant smiled and said, "I heard that the general is leading his troops on an expedition today, so I came to see him off."
Yuwen Ye said, "No need, please step aside."
But the deputy general remained standing in the middle of the road, and Yuwen Ye's brows slowly furrowed.
The lieutenant seemed to sense something and hurriedly said with a smile, "We dare not stop the general, but the general should know the rules of the army. When going on a campaign, one cannot have family members, especially women, accompanying him."
After he finished speaking, his gaze fell on the carriage behind Yuwen Ye.
Yuwen Ye also turned around and glanced at her, then said, "This is my wife. She came to see me off, what's wrong with that?"
The lieutenant said with a forced smile, "It's fine if we take them to the city gate."
"..."
"General, we are only acting in accordance with the law, please do not blame us."
At this moment, Shang Ruyi's brows furrowed slightly. It was natural that soldiers could not bring their families or women with them, but where the families were sent to see them off was not something they could control. Thinking back to when they left the city before, this person had stopped them once, and it was him again this time. This deputy general seemed to be meddling a bit too much.
Moreover, it's solely her responsibility.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but ask, "What, can't I go out?"
The lieutenant bowed respectfully to her: "Please forgive me, young mistress. The area outside the city is not peaceful. I did this for your sake."
His actions left everyone speechless. Shang Ruyi looked up at Yuwen Ye, then at the pitch-black darkness outside the city gate, where it was almost impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face. The gloom in her heart grew even stronger.
Yuwen Ye didn't get angry. He just turned to Shang Ruyi and said, "You can leave here."
Shang Ruyi said, "Then you—"
Before she could finish speaking, Yuwen Ye had already turned his horse around and walked to the side of the carriage. He bent down and looked at her. The two of them stared at each other in the dim light. Although the world was dark, their eyes were exceptionally bright, as if they were being illuminated by each other's bright eyes.
Although she was reluctant to let him go, Shang Ruyi still said, "Go in peace."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ye smiled.
He looked at her for a while longer, then said, "Remember what I told you before."
Shang Ruyi nodded immediately.
Yuwen Ye shook the reins again, urging his horse to take a step closer to her, bringing the two of them even closer together.
However, they could only get close. Wearing heavy armor, they couldn't be as intimate as usual. In fact, he couldn't indulge in romantic feelings too much at this time. He just took a deep breath and said, "Take care."
Having said that, he turned his horse around, cracked the whip, and the steed he was riding immediately charged off.
The soldiers panicked and hurriedly retreated to both sides, some of them falling in a heap. The adjutant was also thrown into disarray by the wind raised by the horse, and the lantern in his hand went out.
A complete mess.
Mu Xian and the others suppressed their laughter, bowed to Shang Ruyi, and then spurred their horses to chase after her. The group disappeared outside the city gate like a gust of wind.
The soldiers slowly got up from the ground, muttering curses under their breath, but seeing the general's wife still in the carriage, they dared not say anything and could only swallow their anger and retreat. The adjutant, however, with a livid face, still stepped forward politely and said, "Young Madam, aren't you going back?"
Shang Ruyi gave him a cold look: "I don't leave the city, so why should I care?"
The lieutenant immediately replied with a forced smile, "I wouldn't dare."
Shang Ruyi snorted coldly and ignored him, only looking out of the city gate. In fact, Yuwen Ye's figure could no longer be seen at this moment. She stayed in the distance until even the gust of wind he had stirred up disappeared, then waved her hand: "Return to the manor."
The carriage immediately turned around and headed back the way it came.
As they left, Shang Ruyi clearly heard the deputy general guarding the city let out a long sigh of relief.
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As we walked back, the sky gradually brightened, and pedestrians began to appear on the road.
Shang Ruyi sat in the carriage, feeling somewhat drowsy.
Just as their carriage was passing through the most bustling street in the Eastern Capital, it suddenly stopped. Shang Ruyi snapped out of her daze and asked, "What's going on?"
The coachman in front said, "Young mistress, someone has stopped the carriage."
"...?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi frowned.
She reached out and lifted the curtain to look outside. She saw that the carriage was stopped in front of the restaurant she knew all too well—Tinghelou. In front of the carriage, several tall and strong men, dressed in ordinary clothes, were blocking their way.
Immediately, a familiar figure emerged from Tinghe Tower, walked to the carriage, and bowed to her.
"Young Madam."
Upon seeing him, Shang Ruyi's heart sank: "Eunuch Yu...?"
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