Chapter 267: Chapter 249: If He Blames, I’m Here
Early the next morning, Yu Wenquan set off to return to Taiyuan.
Before dawn, the family members were already at the front gate bidding him farewell. Outside the gate, instead of his horse, there was now a carriage.
To demonstrate his loyalty and due to the urgency of the situation, he had traveled alone from Taiyuan back to the Eastern Capital. However, on the return journey, it was inappropriate for the honored Duke Sheng to travel alone on horseback, so the family arranged a carriage. He, however, declined the suggestion to have additional personnel accompany him.
Before boarding the carriage, Yu Wenye asked again, "Father, are you really not taking anyone with you?"
Yu Wenquan replied, "No need for the trouble."
As he spoke, he turned to take another look at the people seeing him off, his gaze finally settling on Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi. For this couple, he was still so satisfied, and at that moment, a loving smile appeared on his face, showing his elder’s affection as he said, "Have you remembered everything I told you?"
Yu Wenye replied, "Rest assured, Father."
Shang Ruyi quickly added, "Father, be careful on your journey."
Yu Wenquan nodded with a smile.
After saying these things, he looked down at his youngest son standing nearby, his eyebrows now tinged with some worry, and said, "I returned in a hurry this time and didn’t check your studies, but you mustn’t slack off."
Yu Wencheng whispered, "Father, rest assured."
Although he said this, Yu Wenquan still didn’t seem at ease. However, this was not the time for further instructions, so he gave Yu Wenye two more reminders and then turned to get on the carriage.
Just then, Yu Wenye suddenly stepped forward and softly asked, "Father, have you received any letters from elder brother?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi felt her heart skip a beat.
Yu Wenquan turned back to look at him, and also glanced at his daughter-in-law who was stepping back with her head down, before saying gravely, "Did you receive any?"
Yu Wenye replied, "Elder brother said he wants to return, but along the way, the rebel army is rampant, and the roads are dangerous, so he had to change his route. I don’t know when he will be able to return to the Eastern Capital. By now, my letters sent to him probably haven’t reached him."
Yu Wenquan pondered for a moment and said, "I’m not worried about him."
"..."
"No matter how chaotic the world gets, it won’t affect him. If he wants to return, he will definitely come back safely."
These were reassuring words, yet for some reason, Yu Wenye’s gaze deepened as he listened.
He said, "Yes."
Yu Wenquan glanced again at the silent Shang Ruyi.
Then he said, "If he returns and if there is no trouble in the Eastern Capital, have him come to Taiyuan to see me first."
Yu Wenye said, "Yes."
After Yu Wenquan finished speaking, he boarded the carriage. The coachman cracked the whip, and the carriage immediately left the Yuwen Mansion, moving forward through the icy snow until it quickly vanished from everyone’s sight.
However, no one noticed a pair of cold, shadowy eyes lurking in a corner at the end of the street, observing Yu Wenquan’s carriage.
Only when the carriage was no longer visible did those eyes slowly retreat into the darkness.
The people at the main gate also gradually dispersed, but Yu Wenye remained standing at the gate, not leaving for a long time. Beside him, Shang Ruyi looked into his eyes, seemingly watching in the direction where the carriage disappeared, yet her gaze seemed to look even further.
What is he looking at?
At this moment, Yu Wenye turned around and his gaze met hers.
He said, "What’s the matter?"
Shang Ruyi shook her head, hiding her concerns, "Nothing."
After speaking, she turned to walk inside, and Yu Wenye walked beside her, noticing her hesitant expression. He finally said, "If you have any questions, just ask, no need to be so hesitant."
"..."
Shang Ruyi hesitated for a moment longer before softly asking, "Is the elder brother returning?"
Upon asking this question, they immediately fell into silence.
Shang Ruyi herself regretted asking this awkward question, but if she didn’t ask, she wouldn’t know how to handle the situation later on. Yu Wenye remained silent for a while before saying, "It seems that, in the short term, he won’t be back."
"Is it because of the rebel army’s rampage on the roads?"
"Yes."
"Is it that serious?"
Yu Wenye glanced at her, then fell silent again before saying, "After the Lantern Festival every year, the court holds a meeting, and officials from various counties must return to report. Do you know how many could return this time?"
Shang Ruyi shook her head. Although she knew of this rule, the affairs of the court were beyond her reach, especially since Yu Wenye was out fighting and she had followed him to Xingluo Granary, having no time to inquire about this matter.
Yu Wenye said, "There are envoys from more than forty districts who couldn’t make it on time."
"...!?"
Shang Ruyi’s eyes widened in shock.
Yu Wenye took a deep breath; clearly, this number weighed heavily on him as well. He said slowly, "And of those officials and envoys who managed to make it to the Eastern Capital on time, more than half faced harassment and attacks from rebel forces along the way."
"..."
"Do you know what this means?"
Instinctively, Shang Ruyi reached for her chest, her breathing uneasy, trying to tightly clutch her garments.
Yu Wenye continued walking as he spoke, "These are the court’s officials. And what of other travelers without guards or protection—what must their journey be like?"
Shang Ruyi remained silent.
Although the discussion was about Yu Wenqian’s return to the Eastern Capital, she saw clearly that the court was slowly losing its grip and control over the country’s various regions.
Yu Wenye concluded, "Yet, father has confidence in elder brother, as do I."
"..."
"It’s just that it will probably take him longer than usual to come back."
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but frown again.
From Yu Wenquan’s seemingly cryptic words earlier, she sensed that this illustrious Duke Sheng, strict in his disciplining of his children, had an extraordinary confidence and recognition for his eldest son, as if no matter the world’s chaos, if Yu Wenqian desired, he could make it.
To an ordinary person, this seemed somewhat blind.
Moreover, even the recently promoted Great General Yu Wenye, despite his regular military achievements, probably didn’t receive such recognition from Yu Wenquan. After all, before dispatching troops to Xingluo Granary, Yu Wenquan was quite upset when Yu Wenye refused the family’s soldiers, fearing he might suffer in the campaign.
Shang Ruyi resisted the urge to ask—Is Yu Wenqian really that remarkable?
But she held back.
After all, matters concerning Yu Wenqian were a delicate subject for her, and her awkward relationship with him decided that she shouldn’t pry into his affairs.
However, Yu Wenye seemed to perceive her inner conflict, looking at her for a while before calmly saying, "Don’t be afraid."
"Hmm?"
"If you are worried about being blamed when elder brother returns, you can be at ease."
"..."
"I’m the one who married you. If there’s any fault, let it be mine."