Chapter 391 You're Still a Good Daughter-in-Law of the Yuwen Family
Shang Ruyi's eyes flickered, and she seemed flustered, wanting to explain something.
But at that moment, her throat tightened, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably. Before she could even utter a sound, she heard Yuwen Ye say coldly, "Do you think I don't care about you?"
"..."
"Just like at Jiangdu Palace, you think I would disregard your life and death, don't you?"
"I--"
At this moment, even if she could speak, Shang Ruyi wouldn't know what to say.
For a brief moment, she was indeed disappointed, even desperate.
Because she was surrounded and cornered, she devoted all her mind and energy to the struggle with those people, and had no time to hide the emotions in her eyes. Therefore, he saw through her clearly.
But when asked about it now, all that remains is embarrassment.
She lowered her head, looked away, and tried to avoid the question.
"Speak!"
Yuwen Ye raised his voice slightly, though it was still very soft, but between the two of them it was like a sharp sword.
Shang Ruyi had no way to avoid it—after all, her hand was still in his grasp, and at this moment, he was holding it even tighter, not giving her any chance to retreat or dodge.
She had just escaped from that almost impenetrable predicament, as if she had been given a second chance at life, but immediately, she was forced into another dead end, one where she could find no way out and had no chance of escaping. Shang Ruyi suddenly felt an indescribable sense of grievance. She bit her lower lip and looked up at him.
That glance was both burning hot and blurry.
Yuwen Ye's hand also froze for a moment.
She... looks like she's about to cry.
Although it wasn't the first time I'd seen her with tears in her eyes, nor the first time I'd forced her to cry, this was certainly not the best time.
His breathing became erratic, and he said in a deep voice, "You—"
"sorry,"
Feeling the burning tears welling up in her eyes, Shang Ruyi lowered her head, swallowing back the lingering grievances and embarrassment. Her voice, however, was already choked with sobs, and she could only repeatedly say, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
She kept repeating those three words over and over.
These three words seemed to have said everything that had embarrassed her and left her speechless.
For some reason, even though he wanted to make her feel bad, embarrass her, and make her realize that she had done wrong, when he actually heard those three words and heard the sobs in her voice, Yuwen Ye felt as if something had stabbed his heart.
He gritted his teeth, trying to calm the strange throbbing pain in his chest.
After a long silence, he finally managed to find his voice and said in a hoarse voice, "Shang Ruyi, there is no invincible person in this world, and no one can guarantee that they can cope with any situation or difficulty. I am very happy that you can look to me when you encounter difficulties."
"..."
"But I didn't speak up immediately because I agreed with what you said—that one should face one's own problems."
"..."
"Moreover, someone who can't even handle this kind of situation is not fit to be my wife, Yuwen Ye, let alone a daughter-in-law of the Yuwen family."
"..."
"However, you have done what you were supposed to do."
"..."
"Therefore, I will do everything that is my duty as a husband, and I will not be late in doing it."
As he said this, he looked at Shang Ruyi's reddened eyes, and his voice became low again, with a touch of tenderness that he was not used to: "You did very well."
"...!"
He was clearly trying to comfort himself, but for some reason, hearing his words made Shang Ruyi feel even more bitter.
She could only grit her teeth and desperately swallow the inexplicable throbbing in her heart.
Then he nodded gently.
When she finally calmed down and looked up again, she saw Yuwen Yuan standing not far in front of her, giving Xue Daotong and the others some instructions. It seemed to be about how to deal with this important matter. After they all left, he looked up and glanced at Eunuch Yu on the steps.
The other person, seemingly unintentionally, nodded slightly.
Then, he turned around and walked into the main hall.
Shang Ruyi stood there stunned for a moment. The doubt that had welled up in her heart when she saw Eunuch Yu walk out of the main hall seemed to have deepened at this moment.
Eunuch Yu and the Yuwen family...
But before she could think it through, a powerful sense of oppression gradually approached. When she looked up, she saw Yuwen Yuan walking towards her.
His expression was relatively relaxed. Clearly, the resolution of the late emperor's passing had relieved him of a heavy burden that had been weighing on his mind for days. However, his eyes were not entirely at ease, and when he looked at Shang Ruyi, there was still a hint of solemnity in them.
He said, "As you wish."
Shang Ruyi felt a chill run down her spine, but she still hurriedly stepped forward and whispered, "Father."
Yuwen Yuan looked at her for a while before sighing again and saying, "Since this is the truth, why didn't you say it sooner? If you had said it sooner, your father could have been prepared and things wouldn't have turned out like this today."
Shang Ruyi lowered her head and said softly, "This matter—is indeed something Ruyi intentionally chose not to mention."
Yuwen Yuan frowned: "Why?"
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and said softly, "If I keep telling people along the way that His Majesty was forced to commit suicide, then the rumors will spread and people will not believe it. Instead, it will reduce the credibility. When I speak in person, everyone will already have a preconceived notion and will only doubt my words more."
"..."
"It's not necessarily better to puncture an abscess as early as possible. Sometimes, it's actually better to puncture it when it's at its largest to achieve the best results."
"..."
"Therefore, this matter can only be discussed once, and only at the most crucial moment."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Yuan nodded slightly.
Having been a powerful figure for many years and experienced countless events, he naturally understood this principle better than Shang Ruyi.
Shang Ruyi looked up at him again and smiled, "Besides, Father, you don't know all this, so you don't need to say anything today."
"..."
“If—I mean if, if today, Ruyi really can’t get rid of the crime of regicide, at least, she won’t implicate you, Father, too much.”
"You silly child—"
Yuwen Yuan frowned, and although his expression was still somewhat gloomy, when he heard her words, his eyes revealed a trace of elder's love and tenderness for her, and he said, "You don't have to bear this kind of thing alone."
"..."
"Now that you've married into the Yuwen family, you're a member of the Yuwen family. You shouldn't be distant from them, and you certainly shouldn't exclude yourself from them."
"..."
Hearing these words, and reflecting on her own journey, she realized that she had always experienced countless hardships, yet there were always people who cared for and protected her—it was this kind of life that made her determined to keep going and reach where she is today.
Shang Ruyi's eyes were red, and she said in a hoarse voice, "Ruyi, I understand."
"Good that you understand."
Yuwen Yuan sighed, then glanced back at the main hall, which was now closed again, and said, "You should find a place to rest for a while. The Dharma assembly will be held this afternoon."
"yes."
The two responded, while Yuwen Yuan had already turned and walked away.
Watching his retreating figure, Shang Ruyi felt both moved and relieved. But then, she heard Yuwen Ye's somewhat cold voice: "What you think about most is still your father."
"...!"
She was startled and turned to look at him.
But then Yuwen Ye looked down at her again, and said with a half-smile, "You are still a good daughter-in-law of the Yuwen family."
Shang Ruyi could certainly hear the strong sarcasm in his words at this moment, even though he had been so gentle with her just now.
For a moment, she couldn't say anything in rebuttal and just lowered her head.
Seeing her almost tacitly agree, Yuwen Ye frowned even more deeply.
Just as the atmosphere between the two became somewhat tense, the doors of the main hall opened again, and Eunuch Yu walked out. This time, he descended the steps and went directly to Shang Ruyi: "Madam."
Shang Ruyi hurriedly said, "Eunuch Yu."
After a long separation, Shang Ruyi was deeply moved when she saw him again. After all, during those years in Jiangdu Palace, which she didn't know whether to call a dream or a nightmare, it was this eunuch who had been with her, giving her guidance word by word, and helping her get through those days.
He just saved himself from dire straits.
Shang Ruyi asked softly, "Father-in-law, are you alright?"
"well."
Eunuch Yu smiled as he looked at her, then glanced at Yuwen Ye, who had a strange expression beside him. As if sensing something, he simply smiled and said, "Madam, the Empress Dowager wishes to see you."
"...!"
Although she was mentally prepared for this, Shang Ruyi's heart still skipped a beat when she heard him say that.
Empress Dowager...
Empress Jiang...
She wants to see him!
As Yuwen Ye said, he never asked much about Chu Yang's death because he knew she would find it hard to face it. But he also told her that, looking at the world, she only needed to answer to one person.
That is Empress Jiang.
She is now the Empress Dowager of the Daye Dynasty!
Although I just dealt with everyone, that wasn't the hardest hurdle. The hardest hurdle is this one!
Shang Ruyi immediately became a little nervous and said, "Okay, I—"
As she spoke, she looked up at Yuwen Ye, only to see a complicated expression on his face. He turned his head to look at the backyard of Dayan Temple and said, "You go ahead. I'll go to the Lay Buddhist Association."
"...?"
Shang Ruyi was puzzled—wasn't he going?
However, it seems that Eunuch Yu only said that the Empress Dowager wanted to see him.
She nodded, and Yuwen Ye said nothing more, turned around and walked away. Shang Ruyi watched his figure disappear into the mountain gate in front of her before turning back and following Eunuch Yu up the steps and into the Great Buddha Hall.
The hall was somewhat dimly lit.
No matter how scorching the sun or how noisy the crowds were outside, once you entered this hall, it was as if all the worldly affairs were shut out. Shang Ruyi felt a chill in her heart for a moment, and then she saw a low table on one side of the hall, and a familiar figure was sitting behind the table.
At that moment, she looked up at herself.
The moment Shang Ruyi saw her, her eyes widened in disbelief—
"Your Majesty!?"
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