Chapter 197: Chapter 194: Crying As Soon As She Sees Him
The snow was heavy, and it was getting heavier. The entire sky darkened, but everything around looked crystal clear because of the accumulating snowflakes. Empress Jiang led her through the snow, step by step. The sound of snow underfoot and the falling snow combined, making the Ziwei Palace even more silent.
As they walked, Empress Jiang asked, "Just now, did the Emperor speak to you about anything?"
"Well—"
Shang Ruyi looked up into those serene yet gentle eyes, thought for a moment, and cautiously said, "Your Majesty is wise and farsighted, has long been prepared for Liaodong’s disloyalty, and plans to, to—"
She couldn’t continue.
And Empress Jiang didn’t seem surprised. Instead, the more she listened, the more her brows furrowed.
After a long time, she gave a faint smile and said, "It’s rare that back in Yanmen County, Your Majesty was willing to listen to you, and now, he’s willing to speak to you again..."
Although she spoke lightly, Shang Ruyi was shocked into a cold sweat.
With her head down, she softly said, "Empress, I..."
"You don’t need to be nervous,"
Empress Jiang looked at her with gentle eyes and said, "Although I’ve only met you a few times, I’ve always felt that you are a trustworthy person—"
At this point, she paused, emphasized her words, and continued, "Even more, a person to whom one can entrust."
A person to entrust?
When Shang Ruyi heard this, her heart skipped a beat.
A person to entrust? What does that mean?
As the Empress of the world, she has countless people around to entrust, so why include her in this?
And considering her as someone to entrust, does she have something to entrust to her?
However, before she could clear her chaotic mind, they had already passed a palace gate. Outside, there was a litter waiting, and Empress Jiang said, "You may leave the palace now; no one will stop you along this path."
Shang Ruyi hurriedly saluted, "Thank you, Empress."
Empress Jiang waved at her, then gestured her to quickly go up. Only then did Shang Ruyi apologize, got onto the litter, and the little eunuchs promptly lifted her, moving quickly along a small path. When Shang Ruyi looked back, the dignified yet delicate figure of the Empress quickly disappeared into the flying, drifting snow.
The snow fell heavier and heavier.
On this way out, the road ahead gradually became unclear. The little eunuchs moved quickly, and the bitter wind carrying snowflakes cut into Shang Ruyi’s face like a knife, yet she seemed to feel nothing. Her hands were numb from the cold, subconsciously gripping something tightly.
It was the small embroidered box given to her by Chu Ruoyan.
During this visit to the palace, so many people and events were encountered—joy, bitterness, panic, fear. So many emotions came in succession, converging into a complex feeling indescribable, lingering in her heart.
Moreover, this feeling grew, gradually swelling in her chest.
As she struggled to breathe, they finally reached the Xuanren Gate.
Though it wasn’t too late at this hour, due to the snow, the sky was heavy with clouds. Snow fell all around, and it quickly darkened, as if night had fallen. Ahead, only the tall palace walls stood sternly in the falling snow, and the open palace gate among countless snowflakes flew chaotically, seemingly disrupting everything.
Yet in this chaotic snow scene, there was a tall figure, holding an umbrella, standing stately.
No matter how the cold wind howled, how the snow flew, he stood there unmoving.
Shang Ruyi was stunned, a bit unsure if she believed her eyes, but as the eunuchs drew closer with the litter, she saw more clearly: that familiar silhouette seemed to walk out from a dream, gradually aligning with the person in reality. Though he wore a heavy wind cloak, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, slender hips, and long legs, even though his face was unclear, he appeared tall, handsome, and extraordinary.
He is Yu Wenye?
She could hardly believe her eyes yet couldn’t help but believe them.
He stood outside Xuanren Gate, with a cold and calm expression as usual, but the moment he saw her, a gleam appeared in those eyes as cold as ice and snow.
The litter landed, and the little eunuchs politely helped her down, while that familiar figure strode forward, holding the umbrella covered in a thin layer of snow over her head.
His whole body came close.
Suddenly, as if the cold wind stopped.
The swirling snow was shielded by him.
A familiar, warm breath enveloped her, as though she was ushered into a world no longer vulnerable, Shang Ruyi only felt her nose sour, and her throat choked up.
But then he asked her a question, and no words came.
The little eunuchs on either side chuckled, "Great General, your efforts are appreciated, Empress Jiang instructed us to deliver the madam here; we’ll take our leave first."
Yu Wenye only nodded slightly, and the group took the litter away.
Now, only the two of them stood at the palace gate.
Yu Wenye looked down at the girl in front of him, whose face was still somewhat pale but whose eyes and nose gradually turned redder, red as if she’d cry the next moment. He couldn’t help but frown, asking once more the question he’d already posed—
"Are you alright?"
As soon as the words fell, his eyes widened: "You—"
Then there was a splat sound, and a tear rolled down from Shang Ruyi’s red eyes, followed by another.
Shang Ruyi cried?
Only then did Yu Wenye realize that some people really have tears that fall like broken beads, not just drop by drop but unstoppable. The Shang Ruyi before him was just like that. She made no sound, even kept her mouth tight, yet the tears flowed uncontrollably like her pent-up emotions suddenly pouring out when she saw him.
Shang Ruyi didn’t even understand why she cried upon seeing him.
Or maybe, she cried because she saw him.
But she couldn’t help it. In this moment, she was nearly unable to stand. She leaned her forehead against his chest, her whole body seemingly collapsed into his arms. Her muffled sobs, amidst the falling snow, sounded fragile and pitiful.
Yu Wenye was somewhat stiff.
By instinct, he knew he should ask her what happened, what she had gone through in this majestic palace today.
But truly feeling her slender body trembling with tears, he couldn’t utter a single word. In the howling wind, he only reached out, gently brushing her trembling shoulder, then slowly drew that thin body into his arms.
"It’s all right now."