Chapter 285: Chapter 266: Afraid of water? Or uncomfortable?
Since he had returned, Shang Ruyi immediately got up, first helped him tidy up his clothes, and then instructed the servants to quickly bring dinner over. Only then did the two sit down at the low table to eat. Ever since Yu Wenquan had someone take Yu Wencheng away, it was just the two of them at home, and they no longer ate in the dining hall, only in the room. Though it wasn’t very proper, it was indeed much more comfortable.
While eating, Shang Ruyi asked, "Did the people from the Ministry of War summon you today?"
"Yes."
"What was it about?"
"It’s still about the previous battle at Xingluo Granary, and there are some matters to hand over. However, the people defending Warehouse City, those few thousand who were previously taken there, will not be moved again."
At this, Yu Wenye’s gaze flickered slightly.
But Shang Ruyi asked worriedly, "Didn’t you explain everything clearly at the Ministry of Justice before? Why are they still asking this time?"
Yu Wenye looked up at her and said, "Why do you think?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi fell silent.
Her thoughts drifted away but didn’t go far, instead returning to last night, to the last topic they discussed before she fell into a deep sleep.
She suddenly said, "How does the court plan to use troops against Hebei?"
Yu Wenye said, "I thought you’d forgotten about this matter."
Shang Ruyi hurriedly shook her head; how could she forget this matter? Ever since Yu Wenye told her that the Lei family father and daughter had rebelled, she had vaguely felt that even if this matter didn’t fall on the Yu Wen family at the moment, ultimately, it would likely still require their involvement.
Sure enough, Yu Wenye said, "Hebei is now like an iron wall; a direct attack almost has no chance of winning. Therefore, the court plans to divide into two routes."
"Which two routes?"
"One route is against the Turkic,"
Yu Wenye tapped the table with his hand and said, "Although we suffered from the Turkic at Yanmen Pass before, the internal chaos is not yet clear, and the court still can’t deploy forces massively against the Turkic. It’s just that father has never stopped engaging with them in Shanxi, so as long as he puts some effort there, the pressure on Hebei can be greatly reduced."
Shang Ruyi slightly furrowed her brows.
So, it still depends on Duke Sheng.
But last time, the court already reduced the troops assigned to him, and now, is it asking him to use his own troops to confront the Turkic?
However, since Yu Wenquan has made such a sacrifice, he must have already prepared for the consequences of this matter, or rather, has a plan to deal with it. What they are truly worried about now is——
Shang Ruyi softly said, "Is the other route to attack Wanggang Village?"
Yu Wenye glanced at her, a slight smile appearing at the corners of his eyes, seeming very pleased, and nodded.
Shang Ruyi continued, "Did the Ministry of War summon you to clarify that, after the last great battle at Xingluo Granary, you and Wanggang Army couldn’t possibly have any opportunity to collude again, so——"
Yu Wenye slightly raised an eyebrow.
Shang Ruyi instinctively held her breath, staring into his eyes: "Will it be you?"
Yu Wenye looked at her: "Do you hope it will be me?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi hesitated for a moment, then murmured, "I, I don’t know."
As the Assistant General, leading troops to quell the rebellion is his duty; however, the last time he attacked Xingluo Granary, with Xiao Yuansui outside and Wang Shaoji inside, and even a giant shadow hovering above, such multi-faceted threats didn’t bring him down, and he returned victorious. The favorable timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony, or even luck, alone cannot explain all of this, only that Yu Wenye possesses power beyond anyone she knows.
But if it happens again, who can guarantee that he will return unharmed?
Moreover, if he leads the troops out, then she would have to—be left alone in an empty room? Shang Ruyi was reluctant to admit these four words, but in her heart, there was indeed this slight "delicateness."
Seeing her conflicted expression, Yu Wenye smiled faintly and said, "The court is also thinking the same."
"Hmm?"
Shang Ruyi was taken aback: "What do you mean?"
Yu Wenye said, "The court is also uncertain whether they should send me."
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "Do you want to go?"
Yu Wenye glanced at her and, surprisingly, nodded: "I want to go."
"You want to go?"
Shang Ruyi looked at him in surprise, but at the next moment, Yu Wenye slowly said, "However, I want to go, but not to fight the people of Wanggang Village—not now, anyway, is not the time for me to fight them."
Shang Ruyi looked at him with wide eyes in surprise.
He wants to go, but not to fight the people of Wanggang Village. So what does he intend to do?
She didn’t ask, and Yu Wenye evidently did not plan to say more. The two of them fell quiet again, silently finishing their dinner. When the servants came to clean up the dishes, Yu Wenye turned to see the box placed on one side of the room and asked, "What’s that?"
Shang Ruyi said, "Didn’t you say you wanted to pay respects to mother? I went out today to buy the things we need."
Yu Wenye slightly frowned, "Why did you happen to go out and run around like that?"
"..."
Mentioning this, Shang Ruyi felt a bit guilty and said softly, "I thought, since it’s something for mother, it would only be considered filial if I prepare it personally; not to mention, so many people have left home, there’s no spare manpower."
Yu Wenye glanced at her and sighed softly.
Nowadays, the Yuwen Family is so desolate that without their conversation, the entire residence is silent.
He said, "In a few days, things will be better."
Shang Ruyi looked up at him but didn’t ask why things would be better in a few days, or how long it would take. Instead, Yu Wenye asked, "And how is your health?"
Shang Ruyi smiled, "I’m fine."
Yu Wenye said, "Then, let’s go to Ban Yan Temple tomorrow."
Shang Ruyi nodded.
So the next day, the two of them packed a few things. Shang Ruyi only took Tushere, while Yu Wenye brought Mu Xian and two attendants. They left the Yuwen Family early in the morning by carriage.
However, they were stopped at the city gate.
The soldier guarding the gate hurriedly reported upon seeing the Yuwen Family, and soon, the Deputy General himself came over, respectfully saluting Yu Wenye in the carriage, "Great General."
Though stopped in the middle of the road, passersby glanced curiously, but Yu Wenye wasn’t angry at all. He lifted a corner of the curtain, looked at them, and said calmly, "Why are you stopping me?"
The Deputy General smiled apologetically, "Great General, forgive us. May I ask why you are leaving the city with the whole family today?"
Yu Wenye slightly frowned, "Do I need to explain my business when leaving the city?"
The Deputy General still smiled, "Of course not, it’s just that—since you are a court official, we naturally need to be aware of your whereabouts."
Yu Wenye laughed.
Seated beside him, Shang Ruyi frowned, leaned out, and said, "We are leaving the city to pay respects to family at Ban Yan Temple. Must we report this as well? Since when does the court manage a minister’s family matters?"
The Deputy General was taken aback and, after looking at the companions, realized they indeed did not look like they were moving house. He then saluted and apologized, "Sorry, it was my mistake."
After speaking, he immediately stepped aside to let them pass.
The carriage slowly passed through the city gate and went quite a distance. Shang Ruyi turned back to look and could still see the soldiers at the gate looking at their carriage, seemingly still talking about something.
She sat back inside, pondered for a moment, turned to Yu Wenye, "We—"
Yu Wenye calmly said, "It’s nothing."
Those two words seemed to admit all the doubts in her heart but also smoothed all her worries. She thought for a moment, nodded, and didn’t ask further. Instead, Yu Wenye beside her, with half-closed eyes, showed a hint of sharpness.
The carriage swayed along for another hour and finally, around noon, they arrived at the foot of the mountain, separated by a river from Ban Yan Temple.
Since it wasn’t the first or fifteenth of the lunar month, not many people were visiting the temple today. Mu Xian had even arranged for a boat in advance; when they arrived, the boatman was already waiting at the ferry. Yu Wenye helped her onto the boat. As soon as they were seated, the boatman pushed off from the dock, the boat swaying gently as it headed to the other shore.
The bamboo pole plunged into the water, creating small splashes, stirring countless ripples in each thrust and pull.
After a while, the boat reached the middle of the river.
Yu Wenye was looking at the scenery outside but suddenly felt an unusual quietness beside him. He looked down to see Shang Ruyi leaning tightly against him, with her hands on her knees, fingers noticeably clutched together.
Her forehead was covered in cold sweat.
Yu Wenye couldn’t help but slightly frown.
He seemed to remember that the last time they crossed a river for a funeral, she was also uncharacteristically quiet. At that time, because it was a funeral, everyone was very quiet and somber, so her silence wasn’t conspicuous.
But this time, he clearly felt that Shang Ruyi wasn’t just silent.
She was silently anxious.
He looked down at her and gently asked, "What’s wrong?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi did not speak. After a while, she slowly looked up at him, her lips twitching slightly, and said softly, "Nothing, nothing."
Yu Wenye frowned.
In this state, how could it be nothing?
He couldn’t help but reach out to gently wipe the sweat from her forehead, saying, "Afraid of water? Or feeling unwell?"
He had heard that some people get dizzy on boats, and in severe cases, they even vomit and faint. Not knowing if this was the case with Shang Ruyi, he softly added, "If you feel uncomfortable, tell me."
"..."
Facing his gentle expression, Shang Ruyi felt as if the string tightly stretched in her heart was gently touched by a tender hand and miraculously loosened a bit.
Though not by much.
She bit her lip and was silent for a long while, only shaking her head, then slowly leaning her head into his embrace.
Though her body was covered in sweat and she trembled uncontrollably, leaning into his arms and absorbing that familiar warmth and scent seemed to rescue her from the shadows of a nightmare.
Although he couldn’t understand why she was like this, feeling the person in his arms seemingly investing herself wholly into his embrace was a rare occurrence, and Yu Wenye was momentarily lost.
After a while, he gently stretched out his hand and held her tightly.