Chapter 322 No one can leave.
Our relationship is not a transaction!
He practically spat out those words through gritted teeth, each word like a nail driven into the two bodies pressed tightly together.
But Shang Ruyi didn't even flinch.
She just looked at him quietly, and after a long while, she slowly said, "It doesn't matter."
After saying that, he closed his eyes again.
Even with her eyes closed, she could still feel Yuwen Ye's burning gaze fixed on her, almost scorching her skin; moreover, his heavy, hot breath made her shiver as it brushed against her cheeks.
However, she kept her eyes closed and did not look at him again.
So they didn't see the struggle and pain in his eyes at that moment.
She didn't know how much time had passed before she felt the hand that was holding her chin slowly loosen. Although he hadn't used much force or hurt her, when he let go, Shang Ruyi felt a surge of heat well up in her eyes again, as if she was in great pain somewhere, which caused her tears to flow uncontrollably.
She could only grit her teeth and refuse to shed another tear in front of him.
"Shang Ruyi,"
After an unknown amount of time, Yuwen Ye's low, husky voice rang in her ear. He seemed to be leaning down and whispering in her ear, "The things between us are never something you can decide on your own."
"..."
“Trading is not something one person can do alone.”
"..."
"There are still things we haven't finished saying between us. Until then, neither you nor I can just walk away like this."
After speaking, he slowly straightened up, looked down at the woman lying on the bed, her face pale, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep and was not moving, but her long eyelashes were adorned with a few glistening drops of water, trembling slightly. He sighed softly, turned and left.
Shang Ruyi, lying on the bed, kept her eyes tightly closed and never looked at him again.
And so, she was rescued in a daze, and also ended up on a ship whose full extent she still doesn't know. Her unusual physical weakness left her too weak to even get out of bed for several days, let alone figure out her surroundings and the current situation.
She was like a tattered sack that had been emptied out, lying in bed every day, waiting for Tusheer to take care of her.
Yuwen Ye never came back.
Actually, it was better that he didn't come. The two of them had reached this point. Although they hadn't fallen out or become enemies, there was really no need for them to face each other anymore. However, Tu She'er would bring a bowl of medicine every day. Shang Ruyi felt that she was neither injured nor sick and didn't need to take the medicine, but Tu She'er insisted more than ever, saying only, "This is what the young master ordered."
Shang Ruyi couldn't help but look at her in confusion—when did this girl become so obedient to Yuwen Ye?
Although she didn't know the relationship between Yuwen Ye and herself, this girl had always been the most protective of her master. Even if Yuwen Ye was a little cold to her before, she would grumble for a long time and guard against Chang Wan like a thief. Now, however, she was helping Yuwen Ye instead.
Shang Ruyi could only laugh bitterly.
When Tushe'er once again brought her the bowl of bitter-smelling medicine, she finally couldn't help but frown and say, "I can't drink it."
Tushe'er advised, "Miss, this medicine will be good for you."
Shang Ruyi glanced at her and said, "I have no injuries or illnesses, so why do you keep giving me medicine?"
"..."
"I've been taking this medicine for the past few days, but I'm still very weak. What exactly does this medicine treat?"
"..."
"She'er, what are you hiding from me?"
Upon hearing this, Tushe'er's eyes flickered, as if he didn't know how to respond. Just then, a soft cough sounded from outside the half-open door, followed by a person walking by. It was unclear whether it was a servant or maidservant busy with something; the figure flashed by.
But Tushe'er immediately seemed to realize something and said, "What could I possibly be hiding from Miss?"
"Then this medicine—?"
"This medicine is for calming the mind and spirit. These days, the ship has been moving very fast, and everyone on board is seasick and unable to work. Some people can't even sleep well. This medicine is for treating that."
"real?"
Tushe'er replied matter-of-factly, "Of course!"
Shang Ruyi looked at her for a while.
Indeed, she couldn't think of any reason why Tusheer would deceive her. Besides, she had heard them say that the ship was going very fast, the kitchen staff were seasick, and even the food delivered to them was spilled.
Shang Ruyi then silently took the small bowl and slowly drank the bitter medicine.
Tushe'er watched as Shang Ruyi drank the medicine expressionlessly, her heart aching as if being cut by a knife, her eyes even turning red. But as soon as she saw that Shang Ruyi had finished the medicine, she immediately lowered her head to hide her discomfort, took the empty bowl, brought her tea to rinse her mouth, and then brought the candied fruit to her lips to cleanse her mouth.
Even though the bitter taste in my mouth was suppressed, the smell of medicine that filled the small room was still somewhat suffocating.
Shang Ruyi couldn't help but say, "She'er, open the window and let some fresh air in."
Tushe'er immediately said, "No."
"Why?"
Shang Ruyi was puzzled. These days she had been so weak that she couldn't get out of bed and was completely unaware of what was happening outside. Tu She'er even forbade her to open the window, saying that she was afraid she would catch a cold if she were exposed to the wind. But even if she was weak, she shouldn't be unable to see a breeze for so many days.
Seeing that Shang Ruyi looked puzzled again, Tu She'er thought for a moment and quickly said, "Didn't I just say that the boat has been sailing very fast these past few days and the wind on the river is strong?"
"..."
“Miss, you are still very weak. If you catch a cold, it will be really difficult to handle.”
Shang Ruyi couldn't help but frown.
The reason we need to take medicine is because the boat is going fast, and the reason we can't open the window is also because the boat is going fast—that's just how fast the boat is going.
She asked, "Is the boat going so fast because Wang Shao and his men are chasing after it?"
Tushe'er hurriedly shook her head: "No, that's not true. I heard that they didn't chase after them out of Jiangdu Palace. The young master and young lady left the city without any problems."
"Then why is that kind of ship moving so fast?"
"..."
This time, Tushe'er glanced at her again, her eyes clearly showing something she was reluctant to say.
Shang Ruyi asked, "Why exactly?"
Tushe'er remained silent for a long while, then finally, as if unable to hold back any longer, whispered, "Because we heard that Wang Shao and his gang have already announced to the world that—"
"say what?"
“Speak, Miss, you have murdered the emperor and disloyal the ruler. I beg the whole world to condemn and punish you.”
"...!"
It was as if a thunderbolt from a clear sky had struck her head, and Shang Ruyi froze instantly.
King murder...
These two words were like a sharp sword, piercing her heart.
After a long while, she finally recovered from the excruciating pain and looked at Tusheer: "So, the ship was going so fast because—"
Tushe'er said, "The young master is worried that those who hear this news along the way will soon come to cause trouble for us. We must return to the Duke's side as soon as possible so that we can protect the young lady."
"..."
"So, we've been working day and night lately to get ahead of this news."
At this point, Tushe'er looked at her cautiously, hesitated for a long time, and then whispered, "Miss, you—you really killed the emperor?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi did not answer her.
It wasn't that she couldn't answer, but in that instant, all her strength seemed to be drained away, as if she had been hollowed out. She leaned weakly against the headboard, her face as pale as paper, cold sweat pouring down her face, so weak that she was almost about to faint.
Tushe'er was terrified and hurriedly said, "Miss, I, I won't ask anymore."
"..."
Shang Ruyi looked up at her, trying to force a calm expression to comfort her, but at this moment, she didn't even have that strength.
She lowered her eyelids, and after a long while, said softly, "I want to rest."
Tushe'er dared not say anything more. He hurriedly helped her lie down, carefully covered her with a blanket, and then left her room.
Even lying down, Shang Ruyi's mind remained unsettled. Instead, weakness overwhelmed her with a wave of weariness, and as it engulfed her, the bloody memories that had haunted her for days surged back. In an instant, she felt as if she had returned to that empty, cold, bright hall, and upon opening her eyes, she saw the sword gleaming with a cold light in her hand.
At that moment, she suddenly trembled.
Then, she watched as the hand that was holding the sword with hers slowly exerted force, raising the longsword to his own throat. In the instant the cold light of the blade flashed, he smiled at her.
Immediately, the smile was obscured by a sudden burst of blood mist.
The blood mist grew thicker and thicker, eventually transforming into a raging sea of blood that swept towards Shang Ruyi, overwhelming her. Shang Ruyi felt her heart and soul shatter, and she cried out in anguish, "No—!"
It's too late.
That person slowly collapsed in the sea of blood.
The deeper his smile, the thicker the bloodshed, and her life seemed to be swallowed up by this sea of blood.
She struggled in the sea of blood, the suffocating pain bringing her to the brink of death. She waved her hands frantically, as if trying to grab that person, or as if trying to grab something that could save her, but she couldn't grasp anything. It looked like she was about to be swallowed up by this sea of blood.
Just then, a warm, large hand suddenly grabbed her.
"As one wishes!"
A familiar, deep voice rang in her ears. Shang Ruyi, like a drowning person finally finding a lifeline, desperately grabbed that hand and clung to it. She was immediately pulled into the person's arms, and the warm embrace exuded a reassuring aura, enveloping her completely.
"It's alright, it's alright..."
He was still whispering in her ear, holding her tightly while gently stroking her back, as if to help her brush away the despair brought from the depths of her nightmare.
Shang Ruyi trembled, but finally calmed down slowly in his arms.
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