Chapter 208: Chapter 203: Three Military Campaigns, All Defeated
Talking about this, Chu Yang’s face slowly grew grim.
He looked at the opened letter on the table. Although he didn’t pick it up again, he had long memorized its contents by heart and slowly said, "Yu Wenye dispatched troops three times, all met with defeat."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi gasped.
She also looked at the letter on the table, then at Chu Yang, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she couldn’t say a single word. She could only bite her lip and suppress the turbulent emotions in her heart.
Seeing her anxious and unsettled expression, Chu Yang’s face grew even colder, saying, "You’re not going to defend him?"
"..."
"Do you know that such battle results are enough for me to convict him?"
"..."
"If I want to convict him, it’s very easy. With just an imperial decree, I can bring him back from Luokou Ferry, throw him into the Ministry of Justice prison, punish or execute him, as long as the charges are clear, it can all be carried out!"
Shang Ruyi looked at Chu Yang once more: "Your Majesty—"
Chu Yang suddenly narrowed his eyes, revealing a dangerous glint in his slender phoenix eyes.
Shang Ruyi’s heart thumped, hastily changing her words, "Young Master Yang..."
Only then did Chu Yang let out a light chuckle, seeming quite satisfied with her change of address. Afterward, his face slowly grew cold again, saying, "He delayed the battle opportunity, lost troops and generals, affected my future grand plans, deserved to die. Hence, I do not intend to spare him lightly."
At this point, he turned his head to look at Shang Ruyi’s gradually pale face, yet his gaze became gentle.
"You... need not worry."
Shang Ruyi lowered her eyes and did not speak.
Yet, her hand hanging by her side gradually clutched her clothes tightly, the cold sweat in her palm almost soaking through the fabric, and she continued to tremble, even her breathing grew difficult.
So, Chu Yang truly harbored a murderous intent towards Yu Wenye.
If the last time was merely a verbal threat, this time, he had already planned the steps to kill Yu Wenye, and possibly had begun to premeditate the arrangements following Yu Wenye’s death.
Indeed, Chu Yang continued, "You have nothing to do with him."
"..."
"Even if I decree your husband’s death, no storm will affect you."
"..."
"Ru Yi, I will protect you."
His words sounded incredibly gentle, even considerate, but they felt like invisible heavy punches, hitting Shang Ruyi’s chest one after another. She lowered her head and looked at the wine cup in her hand. Due to her trembling fingertips, the wine wavered with an undulating glow. Although her heart was heavy with hidden pain, she still raised her head and drank it all in one go, then placed the empty cup back on the table with a bang.
Shang Ruyi lifted her head to look at Chu Yang: "Why did you tell me all this? You want to kill my husband, why did you notify me in advance?"
Chu Yang looked at her gently: "Because I don’t want you to be afraid."
"..."
"Ru Yi, by telling you everything in advance, you can mentally prepare yourself. Of course, you need to understand one thing, even if Yu Wenye dies and the Yuwen Family ceases to exist, you will not be harmed in any way, I can compensate you—whatever reward you desire."
"..."
Shang Ruyi’s breathing froze.
Not because of his words, but because of the words within them—Yuwen Family ceasing to exist.
Yuwen Family, ceasing to exist, is that possible?
Then Yu Wenquan—
Thinking of this, she felt another surge of strength, but instead of making her more stable, it seemed to tear at her emotions and soul, making her heart beat ever more heavily, almost unbearable.
She suddenly felt that the proud and confident man before her was actually very pitiable.
Searching worldwide, he wanted to find a "confidant," someone who understood him, not knowing what prompted him to find her, stubbornly believing she would be his confidant, would understand his mind. Yet he didn’t realize, maybe the one least capable of understanding him, or perhaps wishing his plans to fail the most, was her.
After all, she had already married Yu Wenye, becoming a member of the Yu Wen family.
More importantly, she was Yu Wenquan’s daughter-in-law!
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi felt firm in her resolve, but upon looking up and meeting those smiling, gentle slender phoenix eyes, she felt a burst of pain in her heart, as if her soul was being torn apart.
This person... so pitiful.
He rules the world, rich across the seas, but his heart resides on a solitary island, he sees the world, yet at his side, no one is around.
Eagerly seeking a confidant, it’s less loneliness and more—
A call for help.
Should she "save" him?
In the pain that seemed to shred her soul, Shang Ruyi, with a hoarse throat, softly said, "Your Majesty—"
Chu Yang immediately furrowed his brows.
Shang Ruyi merely gave a bitter laugh, saying, "Your Majesty wishes to associate with Ru Yi as ’Yang Suyi,’ yet every word spoken is about state affairs, even the life and death of my husband’s clan. Ru Yi truly cannot see such a person as the carefree Young Master Yang from before."
"..."
Chu Yang’s expression stiffened and he looked at her again, his gaze was surprisingly broken and disappointed.
He sighed: "Tell me, say what you want to say."
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment, then said, "Whatever Your Majesty wishes to do, Shang Ruyi has no right to interfere. But I still want to say a few words for my husband."
Chu Yang narrowed his eyes: "You want to defend him?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi pondered for a long time before speaking: "His three deployments, how many casualties were there?"
Chu Yang said, "Thousands."
"Were those three deployments full-scale battles, or merely skirmishes?"
"This—"
"What was the enemy’s state? Were they also going all out against our troops?"
"What’s the difference?"
"Of course."
"What’s the difference?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi didn’t answer immediately but instead looked at Chu Yang, showing a conflicted and struggling expression. Chu Yang was puzzled by her pause and was about to ask again when he saw her slowly raise a hand.
Then, reach towards her own face.
"...!"
Chu Yang was stunned.
Since they met, these days, Shang Ruyi had always maintained the dignity and grace that should belong to a married woman, or rather, a lady from a prestigious family; on the grassland, when he spoke offensively, she would reproach him, and in the palace, when he touched her ankle—even if through a layer of clothing—it brought her to tears.
No matter how deep or private their interactions were, Shang Ruyi seemed never to have any inappropriate thoughts, nor did she allow him to have such thoughts.
But now, she was—
Chu Yang was so shocked that he lost all reaction, just watching helplessly as that white, slender hand slowly reached out towards him, but her movements were so light, he could hardly feel any sensation.
But his heart, at that moment, was beating wildly.