Chapter 499 Inviting the General to the Palace for a Discussion
Before long, the palace gates opened, and the officials who had come to court filed in one after another. Soon, the once bustling Hanguang Gate was left with only empty carriages and leisurely servants waiting in front of them for their masters to return home after court.
And Shang Ruyi, who could only hide in the carriage, gritting her teeth.
Yuwen Ye's parting words made her blush and her face burn with embarrassment. It took her a long time to calm down. After a while, seeing her young mistress still huddled in the carriage, Tu She'er became worried and leaned against the window to ask softly, "Miss, are you alright?"
"No, it's nothing."
"Should we go back?"
"...No."
Although she was still somewhat resentful, Shang Ruyi obediently stayed.
Putting aside their playful bickering just now, after calming down and thinking about it, this was the first time Yuwen Ye had asked her to accompany him to court, and moreover, he wouldn't allow her to leave, insisting that she stay outside Daxing Palace to wait for him. It was indeed a bit strange, considering he knew she hadn't slept well last night and needed to catch up on sleep today, and Yuwen Ye wasn't usually an inconsiderate person.
Could it be that there's some deeper meaning behind making me wait for him here?
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but lift a corner of the curtain to look outside. Most of the people around were like them, seeing off officials of various ranks to court. Those who lived far away had their carriages still parked outside the palace gates, waiting to pick up their masters after court before returning home. The people guarding the carriages were all coachmen, servants, and maids. Some were dozing off against the carriages because they were bored, while others were chatting with acquaintances. There were no strange people or things.
So, there's no special meaning behind Yuwen Ye making him wait here?
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but grit her teeth again.
Just then, Tushe'er leaned in and said with a grin, "Miss, the young master really can't be separated from you for a moment. He can't even bear to let you go back during this time in court."
Shang Ruyi's face flushed, and she glared at her: "You talk too much!"
After saying that, he shrank back.
Tushe'er, who was outside, covered her mouth and laughed for a long time. When she saw that Shang Ruyi refused to pay attention to her, she went to the front to talk to the coachman to relieve her boredom. Although Shang Ruyi was a little bored in the carriage, she was too embarrassed to get out. Firstly, she did not want to be ridiculed by Tushe'er again, and secondly, there were servants waiting outside. If people knew that she, a general's wife and a second-rank noblewoman, was waiting here for her husband to finish court, they would probably laugh at her too.
So I stayed in the carriage. Since I hadn't slept well the night before, I decided to lean against the window and doze off.
Time flew by, and soon footsteps and noisy voices began to echo around us.
Shang Ruyi was half asleep, wanting to open her eyes but reluctant to wake up. She could only struggle in the hazy state between sleep and wakefulness. After a while, she felt the carriage shake slightly, as if someone had boarded the carriage.
Then, a familiar scent approached.
Someone was watching her tenderly.
Shang Ruyi vaguely knew who it was. She wanted to wake up, but being enveloped by such an aura and gazed at by such eyes felt so comfortable. It was as if all the hardships and dangers she had foreseen had vanished in an instant and been forgotten. In the world, it seemed that only this small space remained, a peaceful and tranquil moment for the two of them.
She couldn't help but smile slightly even in her sleep.
Immediately afterward, a soft chuckle rang in my ears.
Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded outside again.
Although the surrounding area was already filled with chaotic footsteps and noisy voices, this particular sound of footsteps seemed abrupt, as if it had suddenly pierced through this tranquil space, causing a strange tremor in Shang Ruyi's heart.
She woke up suddenly.
Upon opening his eyes, he saw Yuwen Ye standing right in front of him, his handsome face now displaying a complex and solemn expression.
The moment the two locked eyes, a fawning voice came from outside—
"General, please slow down."
Shang Ruyi was taken aback, while the slight joy on Yuwen Ye's face faded away like the receding tide. He turned his head slightly and asked, "What is it?"
The person outside said, "Empress Dowager, please invite the General into the palace for a talk."
"...!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi's breathing immediately became heavy.
Empress Dowager... Empress Dowager Jiang...?
She invited Yuwen Ye to the palace for a talk.
By the way, I heard from Yuwen Yuan yesterday that when Yuwen Ye stayed in Fufeng and refused to return to the capital because of the tens of thousands of surrendered soldiers, Ji Hong and other senior officials were preparing to impeach him. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager intervened and suppressed the matter. Yuwen Yuan also specifically instructed him to go to the palace to express his gratitude today.
So now it is—
Shang Ruyi subconsciously looked up at Yuwen Ye, and sure enough, a bright light flashed in his eyes.
The admiration of youth is the purest and cleanest. Even though she had felt bitterness and unbearable jealousy, after the two opened their hearts to each other at Dayan Temple, she was willing to leave that pure place in Yuwen Ye's heart untouched.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi let out a soft sigh, raised her head, and said to Yuwen Ye, "Go—"
Before the word "ba" could be uttered, Yuwen Ye said in a low voice, "Come down with me."
"Um?"
Shang Ruyi was taken aback.
Before she could react, Yuwen Ye grabbed her wrist and pulled her off the carriage. As soon as they stood still, they saw a smiling eunuch standing in front of them. Although he looked surprised to see Shang Ruyi, he immediately bowed respectfully to the two of them and said, "General, Madam."
When Shang Ruyi saw this person, her heart suddenly stirred—
This eunuch is unfamiliar.
Previously in Luoyang, Empress Jiang summoned her to the palace several times, always sending the same eunuch, Eunuch Lu, whom Shang Ruyi was already acquainted with; and after the Jiangdu mutiny, Eunuch Yu was taken back to Daxing City by Yuwen Ye and stayed to serve Empress Dowager Jiang, who was also someone Shang Ruyi knew.
But the person in front of me was clearly someone I hadn't seen before.
Just as Shang Ruyi was wondering about this, she heard Yuwen Ye say, "Unfortunately, I brought my wife with me today."
The eunuch said, "The general means—"
Yuwen Ye said, "When we were in Luoyang, the Empress Dowager also liked my wife to accompany her. Now that the Empress Dowager has summoned me today, I would like to bring my wife with me to the palace. Is that alright?"
"..."
The eunuch immediately frowned.
After all, when a subject is summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager, he is only obliged to obey orders. Who would have heard of adding another person? But everyone knows that the General is no ordinary subject. It's not just because he was raised by Empress Dowager Jiang since childhood, but more importantly, his father is the powerful Grand Chancellor, Duke Sheng. His words carry more weight than some imperial relatives.
Yuwen Ye politely asked, "Eunuch Cao, is that alright?"
With a bitter expression, Eunuch Cao looked at him, then at Shang Ruyi, who had a complicated expression, and finally said, "If that's the case, then please have the General's wife accompany us."
After saying that, he raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead: "Please, gentlemen."
Yuwen Ye then lowered his head and said, "Let's go."
Shang Ruyi also looked up at him and nodded silently.
The two then followed the eunuch into the Hanguang Gate.
The Eastern Capital Luoyang was largely built according to the Daxing City, and the Ziwei Palace was just a smaller version of the Daxing Palace. Shang Ruyi had entered and exited the Ziwei Palace several times before, and although she had not seen the whole thing, she had a general idea of the directions and the location of the palaces. Therefore, when she entered the Daxing Palace this time, she was not unfamiliar with everything around her.
However, the palace walls here are higher, and the palaces are larger and more magnificent.
Although Chu Yang moved the capital to Luoyang and left Daxing Palace unattended for more than ten years, the court officials who remained in Daxing Palace did not neglect it. They still entered the palace every day to perform their duties, just as the emperor had done when he was still living there. The palace maids and eunuchs also kept the place in good order. The trees were towering and well-trimmed, and the palace was luxurious, clean, and tidy. Walking along the way, it was as if the scene of the Eastern Capital had reappeared before one's eyes, but with an added touch of exquisite fantasy from a dream.
Shang Ruyi even couldn't help but let a completely inappropriate thought pop into her mind—
If nothing changes...
If Chu Yang were still in that exquisite and warm harbor, standing on that vast map of territory, confidently and spiritedly telling himself about his dreams...
if……
"what's on your mind?"
A deep yet calm voice suddenly rang in her ears, and Shang Ruyi snapped back to reality, looking up to meet Yuwen Ye's cold and clear eyes.
She suddenly woke up too—
What am I thinking?
If Chu Yang were still alive, perhaps in the Ziwei Palace, within that warm valley, there would be the most beautiful scenery in the world.
But what will become of the whole world?
Perhaps she lingered on that tender moment, but reality and reason told her that no matter what, that "if" should never happen again!
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi gently shook her head: "No, I wasn't thinking about anything."
"..."
Yuwen Ye looked down at her, remained silent for a moment, and then continued walking forward without saying anything.
Shang Ruyi stopped her random thoughts and focused her mind, walking along the familiar yet unfamiliar avenue wide enough for four carriages to travel side by side. Before long, she saw a tall palace gate appear on her right not far ahead.
Above the palace gate are three large characters, dripping with ink—Xuande Gate.
In her memory, the gate in the Ziwei Palace in Luoyang was called Anning Gate.
Passing through that gate, one enters the Empress's Eastern Palace.
Just as they were about to follow Eunuch Cao into Xuande Gate, Shang Ruyi suddenly stopped in her tracks and looked ahead at the main road.
In the distance, almost out of sight, there seemed to be a tall and majestic palace gate.
In front of the palace gate was a wide square, with countless pine trees planted on both sides, forming a lush forest. From a distance, it looked as if countless tall and majestic guards were standing there, quietly waiting for something.
Shang Ruyi's heart suddenly raced, and she instinctively said, "That's—"
Eunuch Cao also looked up and glanced at it.
He said, "That's Xuanwu Gate."
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