Chapter 274: Chapter 256: There Are Still Secrets Between Each Other
At the moment she spoke these words, Shang Ruyi clearly saw a flicker in Yu Wenye’s eyes.
At this moment, she didn’t know whether she was feeling joy or something else, perhaps it was both.
The joy was because she finally managed to capture his thoughts this time.
What complicated her emotions even more was that Yu Wenye indeed had things he was hiding from her, and it was in the matters he just shared with her, though she didn’t know exactly which part.
Was it about Princess Xinyue, or something else?
Her sensitivity was enough to sense that Yu Wenye’s feelings towards Princess Xinyue included some aspects she couldn’t understand. She certainly wouldn’t forget that in Yanmen County, when he looked at Princess Xinyue, there was an indescribable and unmovable persistence in his gaze, a persistence she hadn’t felt despite the moments of intimacy between them, even though their hearts were in sync today.
What was he persisting about?
Watching his long eyelashes slowly fall, completely covering his cold and deep eyes, even the fleeting glimmer was concealed, Shang Ruyi softly asked, "Can’t you tell me?"
Yu Wenye countered, "Would you tell me?"
His counterquestion was clear and cold.
Shang Ruyi’s throat caught, and eventually, she remained silent, while Yu Wenye looked at her, a hint of mockery and a trace of desolation appearing in his gaze, saying, "It seems we still have things hidden from each other."
These words chilled Shang Ruyi’s heart somewhat.
She didn’t even know whether she should feel disappointed in herself or in him this time, or perhaps he also shared this conflicted feeling.
As the two sat silently opposite each other, the innkeeper walked up again, accompanied by a portly, well-dressed middle-aged man. Shang Ruyi immediately recognized him as the owner of Tinghe Building. As the two walked to the entrance of the private room, they nodded, bowed, and apologized with smiles, "My dear guests, we apologize."
Yu Wenye said, "What’s the matter? There’s still a dish that hasn’t been served."
The owner said, "Esteemed guests, the government officials just took away a fugitive laborer from our small shop, and now they demand to close the shop for a detailed inspection. We can only regretfully ask you both to leave temporarily. Today’s food and wine are complimentary! Next time, I’ll personally host to offer my apologies to both of you honored guests."
So they were here to dismiss the guests.
This owner surely had good judgment, recognizing their extraordinary clothing, and knowing anyone who could sit in a private room on the second floor was either rich or noble and could not be easily offended, hence personally coming to apologize. Coincidentally, the two of them spoke until they had no appetite left, so Yu Wenye nodded towards Shang Ruyi in acknowledgment, then stood up to straighten his garments and said, "Then, we shall leave."
As the two lifted the beaded curtain at the entrance and walked out, the owner standing at the door suddenly froze upon seeing Shang Ruyi, "Eh?"
Shang Ruyi’s heart skipped a beat.
In fact, it wasn’t her first time visiting this place. Normally, the owner wouldn’t personally attend, but she remembered his appearance because the last time she was here, Chu Yang had cleared all the guests, arranged for his people to act downstairs, and brought her up to the second floor. Later, when leaving, the owner was attending downstairs, and it was at that moment they had come face to face.
At present, the owner looked at her with an astonished expression, clearly recognizing her.
But immediately, afraid of causing trouble, the owner urgently lowered his head and repeatedly said, "Esteemed guest, please walk slowly."
Yu Wenye glanced back at him.
Shang Ruyi’s expression grew tense. Meeting his gaze, she suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, but after a glance, Yu Wenye’s gaze only flickered, saying nothing, and continued to turn and walk away.
Shang Ruyi quickly followed.
Upon reaching downstairs, Yu Wenye still paid for a few dishes, and the carriage was conveniently parked at the entrance. Just as they were about to board the carriage, Yu Wenye suddenly stopped, looking towards the other side of the long street.
Shang Ruyi asked, "What’s the matter?"
He didn’t respond, only gestured to the coachman to wait, then walked towards the other side of the long street. By this time, Shang Ruyi sensed something, a faint bad premonition, but she still quickly followed.
Shortly after, they reached an intersection, turned, and entered a small alley.
The alley was dark and damp, with few passersby, corners covered in moss, emitting an unpleasant moldy smell. As they stepped in, even the sunlight dimmed.
Inside, there were two people.
A richly dressed young boy was supporting an old lame beggar, walking slowly to the depths of the alley. The old beggar set down his crutch, gratefully said, "Thank you, little young master."
The boy smiled, "It’s nothing, old sir, don’t walk around much if your legs and feet aren’t well, be careful not to get bumped into."
Upon hearing that voice, it was actually Yu Wencheng!
Shang Ruyi widened her eyes in astonishment—at this time, shouldn’t he be in school studying? Why was he here? Moreover, looking at his concerned expression, and it was towards an old beggar! Shang Ruyi had been married into the Yuwen Family for over half a year, seen through this child’s cunning, indifference, disdain, even ferocity, yet never this kind and compassionate demeanor, making her almost unable to recognize him.
Is this still the Third Young Master Yu Wen, causing headaches for the whole family?
Even more unsettling to her—
As Shang Ruyi’s inner turmoil raged, she heard the lame old beggar wryly say, "Little young master is joking, this old man has no money or food. If I don’t come out to beg for some copper coins, I might not survive the day."
"Oh?"
Yu Wencheng said, "With this, how much can you beg for in a day?"
"Alas, it depends on the gentlemen’s mood passing by. Getting one or two copper coins is considered a blessing from heaven."
"I see..."
Yu Wencheng pondered for a moment, retrieved a piece of silver from his sleeve, and asked, "Well then, would you like this?"
The lame old beggar probably hadn’t seen so much money in his life, his eyes immediately widened, "This, this is—"
Yu Wencheng weighed the silver in his hand, saying, "There’s ten taels of silver here, do you want it?"
The old beggar couldn’t wait, holding out his hands, "I want, I want!"
Just when his hands were about to touch the silver, Yu Wencheng suddenly retracted his hand, hid the silver behind his back, and said, "However, such silver cannot be given to you for free."
The old beggar plastered a flattering smile on his face, "Then, what must the little young master do to give it to me?"
Yu Wencheng tilted his head, thought for a moment, snapped his fingers suddenly, and smiled, "How about this, you hit me once, and I’ll give you one tael of silver. Here’s ten taels, I’ll let you hit me ten times, how about it?"