Chapter 162: Chapter 161: The Status of Your Duke Mansion’s Daughter-in-law is Preserved
Inside the cramped carriage, the atmosphere was both stifling and awkward.
Shang Ruyi naturally knew that Yu Wenye’s demeanor in front of Wang Shaoji just now indicated that he would continue to act like a proper husband in front of everyone, which meant their deal would still go on.
However, that was only in front of others.
When it was just the two of them, awkwardness was inevitable.
Shang Ruyi struggled for a long time and thought that since it would take more than a month to return, they couldn’t just remain tense like this, so she broke the ice first: "Does your wound still hurt?"
"..."
Inside the carriage, the air turned stifling again.
After a while, Yu Wenye said, "If it didn’t hurt, I would ride a horse."
"..."
Shang Ruyi let out a gentle sigh.
Indeed, he usually wouldn’t travel in the same carriage with her, and if it weren’t for the wound on his chest this time, he certainly wouldn’t be sitting with her.
The carriage became quiet for a while.
Suddenly, Yu Wenye asked, "Have you thought about how to explain this to my father?"
"Ah?"
Shang Ruyi was taken aback, turning to look at him in surprise.
Facing Shang Ruyi’s astonished gaze, Yu Wenye understood and laughed coldly, "It seems you haven’t thought about it."
"..."
"So what have you been busy with these past few days?"
Shang Ruyi pursed her lips and said softly, "I pleaded with His Majesty the Emperor, asking him to forgive my uncle’s crimes. His Majesty has agreed and said that once we return to Luoyang, he would order to have my uncle released from Lingnan."
Yu Wenye showed a hint of surprise: "You——"
Shang Ruyi replied, "I promised that I would save my uncle and the others; I haven’t forgotten this matter."
"..."
"Actually, I also wanted to plead for Lord Pei and the others, but the Emperor did not agree."
"..."
"He said sparing my uncle was already the limit."
Upon saying this, she looked at Yu Wenye with eyes full of regret, only to see him with a solemn expression, his gaze sparkling with an indescribable glint. After a while, he said softly, "You are thoughtful, Xing Yuan knows and will also be grateful to you."
Shang Ruyi shook her head gently.
She thought about the question Yu Wenye asked her earlier, pondered a bit, and said softly, "As for how to explain to father, I will think about it."
Yu Wenye looked at her for a moment then turned his face to the side, saying faintly, "There’s no need."
"Hmm? Why?"
Yu Wenye frowned slightly, turned back and glanced at her, then said, "Although father is Duke Sheng, he doesn’t hold such high power and authority that his daughter-in-law is renowned throughout the world."
"..."
"The people of Yanmen County do not know who you are."
"..."
"As for those in the palace and officials who have seen you—last night, a warning was already given. Except for someone like Wang Shaoji, no one else will bring it up again."
"..."
"Since no one will mention it again, you need not explain anything to father."
Upon saying this, he looked at Shang Ruyi with a seemingly mocking smile and said, "Your identity as the daughter-in-law of Duke Mansion is preserved."
Though these words carried a hint of sarcasm, at this moment, Shang Ruyi didn’t mind at all. To her, the most important thing was her uncle and their safety, followed indeed by her status as the daughter-in-law of Duke Mansion.
Since this matter has temporarily been set aside and no need to face Yu Wenquan’s reprimand, it was indeed great news for her.
She let out a long breath and smiled, "This is wonderful."
Yu Wenye snorted coldly.
Right at that moment, a command came from ahead, and then the carriage gently jolted and started moving slowly forward. Shang Ruyi lifted the corner of the curtain to look outside, and indeed, the whole troupe had already begun advancing.
Yanmen County, being small, had its government office situated in the southern part of the city, and before long, they had exited the South City Gate along the main road.
The wind immediately became noisy.
The curtain was constantly lifted by the cold wind, and Shang Ruyi turned just enough to see the small county town gradually being left behind in the distance. Recalling the thrilling experiences of the past few days, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but shiver.
She reached out her hand to press down the curtain.
Everything, was over now.
If this was a hurdle in her life, at least she had crossed it safely, and not only that, she had rescued her uncle. Therefore, the injuries from this journey, even the nightmare-like experiences, were worth it.
She just didn’t know what challenges lay ahead on the road.
Feeling the cold wind being blocked, Yu Wenye glanced down at her, especially noticing her long, slender hand pressing on the curtain, still with some small wounds remaining, evidently left from the recent turmoil. Yet she seemed completely unfazed, with only those clear eyes shimmering slightly.
Yu Wenye took a deep breath, slowly shifting his gaze away...
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And so the journey took more than a month.
It was as if they had brought the cold winds of Shuo Bei back to the Central Plains. As they headed south, the cold gradually swept across the land, growing colder day by day. Even when Shang Ruyi wore thick clothes and sat in the carriage holding a hand warmer, she couldn’t help but shiver.
And the people traveling with the carriage complained incessantly.
This northern expedition could be described as a complete failure.
Thinking back to that night when Chu Yang’s eyes were shining, and his lost and desolate expression, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but feel a heaviness in her heart. With Luoyang City nearly in sight, she couldn’t help but wonder what this proud Emperor would do next.
Just as she was filled with anxiety, Yu Wenye suddenly said, "I have a question to ask you."
"...?"
Shang Ruyi turned to look at him.
Throughout this journey, they had spoken very little to each other, often sitting in the carriage like two clay statues, only speaking when necessary; Yu Wenye rarely opened his mouth to speak to her.
And now, he suddenly had a question for her?
Shang Ruyi quickly replied, "What is it?"
Yu Wenye also lifted the curtain slightly to look at the team trudging through the mud and snow outside, then said, "Previously, the things you said to me seemed to be against the court—" Seeing Shang Ruyi’s expression tense up, he smiled faintly and swallowed the rest of his words, saying, "Why is it this time, with rushing to assist the Emperor and resisting the Turkic army, that you appear so eager for quick success?"
"I didn’t..."
"Hmm?"
"I didn’t."
Shang Ruyi murmured, as if she were back in yesterday, when Chu Yang had said the same things to her.
But she didn’t.
Seeing her somewhat lost and yet seemingly stubborn demeanor, Yu Wenye frowned slightly: "Then what are you doing?"
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and said, "This time the Turkic army suddenly attacked the camp. If I hadn’t fought back actively, I’d have died on the path of escape; with ten thousand soldiers at the city gates, if I hadn’t assisted the Emperor and defended Yanmen County, I would have perished when the city was breached."
"..."
"Under a fallen nest, no egg is intact. I just want to survive, not what you’ve said—eager for quick success."
"So you are merely—"
He paused here, seemingly unsure of how to describe her, or maybe he knew but wasn’t comfortable saying it.
Shang Ruyi saw through his thoughts and softly said, "Fearful of death."
Yu Wenye raised an eyebrow: "You are candid."
Shang Ruyi said, "Being fearful of death, I don’t think it’s anything shameful."
"Oh?"
"On the contrary, I feel that fearing death is the best trait a person can have. For oneself, for the ones we love, to protect them, I must live on. Only by living can I see better scenery and meet better people."
"Better people..."
Repeating these four words, Yu Wenye’s brows slowly furrowed.
After a while, he said indifferently, "You think long-term."
Feeling a trace of inexplicable desolation in his words, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but turn to look at him, and seriously said, "Do you not have someone in your heart—for her, even in the most difficult circumstances, you would persist, and become a better person for her?"
"..."
Yu Wenye’s expression became even more peculiar.
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but smile faintly.
How could there not be?
Such a beautiful and charming woman, suppressing his heart’s past jealousy aside, purely in terms of a person’s admiration for beauty, even he would want to protect someone so beautiful, wouldn’t he?
Thinking of this, though unwilling, a sour feeling inevitably surged within her heart.
Suddenly Yu Wenye seemed to awaken, looking at the faint smile on Shang Ruyi’s face with some irritation, and said, "You talk too much."
"..."
Shang Ruyi was stunned.
Before she had time to say anything, the carriage suddenly stopped.
Both of them jolted, and Shang Ruyi nearly fell forward, but luckily Yu Wenye swiftly caught her by the waist and pulled her back.
Feeling flustered, Shang Ruyi quickly sat upright, moving aside slightly.
"Th-Thank you."
Yu Wenye glared at her without a word.
Outside, there was a commotion, as if everyone were complaining. Yu Wenye lifted the curtain and asked Mu Xian, who was following beside the carriage, "What’s going on?"
Mu Xian replied, "Second Young Master, it seems someone is coming ahead."
"Go inquire."
"Yes."
Mu Xian immediately dismounted and ran forward, and Shang Ruyi’s heart, sensing Yu Wenye’s solemn expression, also felt a vague unease.
They were already near Luoyang, and any major affairs should await the Emperor’s return. Why would there be news coming halfway like this?
What on earth happened?
It seemed the people outside were of the same thought, with every face showing signs of panic, and the mood of unease slowly spreading throughout the team.
After a while, Mu Xian came running back, breathless, and looking quite panic-stricken: "Second Young Master, big news!"
Yu Wenye frowned: "What happened?"