Chapter 277: Chapter 259: How to Spend This Night?
Yu Wenye slightly furrowed his brow upon hearing, but still immediately said, "Alright, we’ll go at once."
Chang Wan immediately withdrew.
Yu Wenye turned back to take a glance, at this time, Shang Ruyi also adjusted her emotions—no matter what happened between them, someone coming from the palace was a big deal, especially at this time. Who from the palace sent someone and for what purpose?
The two immediately pushed the door open and went out.
Upon reaching the main hall, they saw a familiar figure, it was the eunuch who had previously come several times to the Yuwen Mansion to summon Shang Ruyi to the palace, serving beside Empress Jiang, Eunuch Lu.
Seeing him, Shang Ruyi was taken aback; why did Empress Jiang want to summon her to the palace again at such a time?
But there was no time to think more, she already followed Yu Wenye inside, Eunuch Lu, who had been sitting and drinking tea, quickly stood up to greet them politely by bowing, and Yu Wenye reciprocated the gesture, asking, "I wonder what important task brings you here today, sir?"
Eunuch Lu smiled and said, "I specifically came to invite the Great General to the palace."
"...?"
"...?!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi was a little surprised.
Previously, Eunuch Lu always came to summon her to the palace, she thought today was the same, but didn’t expect he was here to find Yu Wenye. But why did Empress Jiang want to see Yu Wenye?
Could it be for Princess Xinyue?
She turned to look at Yu Wenye, who stood there in a daze, and softly said, "Second Brother?"
Only then did Yu Wenye snap out of it, and immediately said, "Alright, I will follow the eunuch to the palace right away."
After saying this, he was about to leave.
Shang Ruyi instinctively called out, "Second Brother..."
Yu Wenye took two steps, then stopped to look back at her, thought for a moment, and said, "You—take good care of things at home, don’t worry about me."
After saying this, he left.
Shang Ruyi stood somewhat desolately in the main hall, watching Yu Wenye’s quickly disappearing figure, she remained silent for a while before softly sighing; when she turned around, she saw Tushere standing behind her, cautiously asking, "Miss, what happened today? Why didn’t the master take you to the palace? Also, what’s the matter with the Third Young Master?"
When she mentioned the Third Young Master, Shang Ruyi remembered something.
She immediately told Tushere to prepare some healing ointment and some food, and brought it to the woodshed herself. She pushed open the door, and saw Yu Wencheng huddled in a corner by the woodpile—though the clothes he wore weren’t too thin, the woodshed was perennially devoid of light and very damp; coupled with being kicked in the waist by Yu Wenye today, he was in so much pain he couldn’t move, only able to grimace and make low whimpering sounds.
Shang Ruyi walked over, squatted down, and softly said, "Third Brother?"
Yu Wencheng immediately opened his eyes.
Facing those eyes filled with malicious intent, Shang Ruyi almost instinctively felt that she shouldn’t have come.
But she thought about it and then said, "Turn around, I’ll apply some ointment for you."
Yu Wencheng sneered, "Second Sister-in-law, how kind of you. Aren’t you upset with me?"
Shang Ruyi said, "Let me apply the ointment for you first."
Yu Wencheng glanced at her again, unable to withstand the pain, he turned around obediently. Shang Ruyi pulled open his clothes, immediately seeing a large bruise on his waist. Yu Wenye’s kick was evidently not merciful, there were also some bruises on his back, Shang Ruyi carefully applied the ointment for him. Even though Yu Wencheng whimpered several times in pain, he didn’t utter a single word.
This kind of resilience is uncommon in ordinary youths.
Once she was done, he slowly turned around and said, "Second Sister-in-law, I didn’t ask for your help, don’t expect me to thank you."
Shang Ruyi asked, "Why did you say those things?"
Yu Wencheng raised his eyebrows, "If you dare to do it, don’t be afraid of me saying it."
Shang Ruyi said, "Yet you should be able to see, even when I meet with Your Majesty, there’s no inappropriate conduct; besides, you’ve hidden this for so long, and deliberately said it in front of your second brother, was it to slander me, or to anger him?"
Yu Wencheng raised his eyebrows again, a slight smile flashing in his eyes, and said, "Second Sister-in-law, it seems you’re not stupid."
Shang Ruyi said, "He is your own brother, why have you never had any respect or regard for him, not even—"
At this point, she paused herself, but Yu Wencheng immediately understood, sneering, "You mean to say, I’m respectful to our big brother who’s not around, but not to my second brother who’s right here, don’t you."
"..."
"I, Yu Wencheng, am the simplest person. Whoever treats me well, I will treat them well."
"..."
"Do you know how my second brother treats me? You saw it today, I just fought an old useless person, and he deals a deadly hand to me; does he regard me as a brother?"
Shang Ruyi furrowed her brow, "Do you still think what you did today was right?"
"What else?"
"Third Brother, you are also human. If today the situation were reversed, and you were the one unable to move, and the old beggar strong and healthy, who dislikes you and beats you at will, would you find that just?"
Yu Wencheng sneered, "How could such a thing happen? I was born the third young master of the Duke Mansion, he was born a useless beggar, it is destined for me to beat him. You speak of those things, that’s dreaming!"
"You—"
Shang Ruyi was rendered speechless by his confrontation.
She now realized, this child was not only malicious but also extremely twisted inside.
Though usually, he couldn’t compare to Yu Wenquan in front of Yu Wenye, he still maintained the guise of a child—capricious and domineering. Yet at this moment, he bore only the innocent malice of a child, devoid of any humanity’s goodness. It seemed that the usual façade was just an act.
Shang Ruyi silently looked at him for a long time, then softly said, "Third Brother, behaving like this will hurt yourself."
Yu Wencheng sneered, "Before lecturing me, take care of yourself first."
"..."
"Don’t think just because you married him and are always by his side, that you’ve truly entered his heart. You don’t exist in his eyes."
Shang Ruyi’s heart trembled slightly.
At this moment, she knew there was nothing more to say to this child. She left some food, stood up, walked out, and locked the door again.
After doing all these, she suddenly felt drained, almost collapsing.
In truth, she wasn’t really ill; she had a good meal at Tinghe Building with Yu Wenye in the morning. It’s just that everything that happened today was unexpected, especially her relationship with Yu Wenye—which she had anticipated for so long, only to face this ordeal.
She even thought, perhaps even if these events hadn’t occurred, the words exchanged with Yu Wenye at Tinghe Building wouldn’t have led to a sweet ending on the last day of this month-long period.
But such an end left her feeling uncomfortable.
Seeing her not looking well, Tushere hurriedly supported her back to her room to rest, thinking she was worrying about Yu Wenye. She brought her some tea and asked, "Miss, the son-in-law just came out from the Ministry of Justice a few days ago and went into the palace again. Would anything happen?"
Shang Ruyi glanced at her, feeling somewhat weary.
After a while, she whispered, "We’ll know when he gets back."
But this wait lasted until darkness fell.
Shang Ruyi couldn’t quite remember when the palace gates closed, but it was already long past, yet Yu Wenye still hadn’t returned home. Tushere urged her several times; she couldn’t show too much of her inner anxiety, so she obediently freshened up and went to bed.
Only a single candlelight was left in the room.
She gazed at the dim shadows above her, listening to only her breath inside the room, and somehow, it felt like her heart was being roasted by the candlelight.
Why hasn’t Yu Wenye come back?
Is this night really going to pass like this?
She couldn’t help but get up, walking barefoot on the cold floor to the door, seemingly trying to hear if there were any footsteps outside. But after listening for a long time, all remained silent, and even her conspicuous heartbeat was louder than any sign of Yu Wenye’s return.
Her mood sank further.
She knew she shouldn’t harbor such resentful sentiments, but at this moment, she felt like those women locked in deep chambers, waiting wholeheartedly for their beloved’s return. Yet, thinking that his heart might not hold her, such grievances became torture.
She could only turn back and lie down on the bed again.
Thinking it over, she subconsciously moved a little inward.
In this tormenting and anguishing emotion, she gradually closed her eyes, being slowly engulfed by uneasy waves, almost falling asleep.
But just then, in the quiet night, there seemed to be the sound of footsteps.
Shang Ruyi instantly opened her eyes.
She dared not move, simply listening carefully. Indeed, she heard those faint footsteps approaching the door, but they didn’t enter immediately; they paused at the entrance.
As if hesitating, or perhaps listening to something.
Shang Ruyi instinctively held her breath.
Then, she heard a creak as the door was pushed open.
The cold moonlight spilled in from outside, casting a tall and agile silhouette on the ground, which stepped into the room after a brief pause, then closed the door with a backward motion.
And the gust of wind that just blew into the room extinguished the last flicker of the candle on the table.
The room immersed into darkness.
Shang Ruyi became even more sensitive; even with her eyes closed, she could clearly hear those footsteps once more resounding inside the room, even closer, walking step by step towards her.
Finally, they stopped beside the bed.
The familiar presence immediately enveloped the room like an invisible net, including this bed and the heart-throbbing Shang Ruyi on it. She knew it was Yu Wenye, and she could even feel his gaze examining her on the bed.
He finally returned. On the last night of this month-long period, he ultimately returned to her side.
But—
How would this night pass?
What would he say to her?
As her heart was almost about to leap out of her chest, she suddenly felt Yu Wenye reaching out to pinch the quilt, then gently lifting a corner—