Chapter 212: Chapter 207: Yu Wenye, Desertion on the Eve of Battle
Although she knew that traveling in snowy weather would be very difficult, Shang Ruyi truly hadn’t imagined it would be this difficult.
Just before the city gates of the Eastern Capital closed, she slipped out, immediately feeling the winds and snow roaring fiercely, almost sweeping her and her horse into the sky. As darkness fell, she had to travel alone and couldn’t bear a torch high, so she had to feel her way and race along the road in the dark.
The cold wind was like a knife, slicing across her face, causing a bone-chilling pain.
Her hand holding the reins was exposed to the wind and snow with no covering at all, making them so numb from the cold that she almost lost all feeling in them, forcing her to continuously jerk the reins with stiff hands to urge her horse forward.
This was the second time in her life that she encountered such hardship.
In recent years, living comfortably and luxuriously with her uncle and aunt somewhat alleviated the shadows in her heart, but it didn’t dull her will. Especially after this marriage, she understood that surviving in this world on mere pleasure and enjoyment was absolutely impossible.
Life must be, and indeed is, a mixture of joys and sorrows.
A determined figure galloped swiftly on a horse through the howling snowstorm.
Finally, by the evening of the second day, she left the official road and turned onto a small path heading towards Luokou Ferry.
The wind gradually carried a hint of moisture.
Shang Ruyi urged her horse forward, and upon rounding a bend, she was greeted by the sight of an incredibly wide riverbank. The riverbank was dotted with tents, banners fluttering in the wind, surrounded by a few lines of tall fences gathering these camps together, and several soldiers patrolling the perimeter—it was evidently a massive military encampment ready for action at a moment’s notice.
She had arrived!
Overjoyed, Shang Ruyi swiftly dismounted. As she walked forward a few more steps, a sense of strangeness suddenly crept upon her.
This military camp seemed—
And just as suspicion arose in her heart, a patrol of soldiers noticed her and immediately surrounded her: "What are you doing here?"
Keeping her composure, Shang Ruyi nodded to them and said, "Gentlemen, I’m here to see the Great General."
"The Great General?"
At the mention of these three words, the soldiers’ faces revealed a strange expression. Concerned about any misunderstandings, Shang Ruyi calmly said, "I am his wife."
The expressions on the soldiers’ faces grew even more peculiar.
One of them, who seemed to be the captain, looked her up and down and asked, "The General’s wife?"
"Yes."
"How do I know if you’re real or fake?"
"Take me to see the General; you’ll know once we meet."
"Then, why are you looking for the General?"
"It’s an urgent matter; I must speak with him in person."
He looked at her again, let out a sneer, and said, "In person? I’m afraid it won’t be that easy."
"Hmm?"
Shang Ruyi was puzzled; these words sounded strange.
What was even stranger was the soldiers’ attitude. They followed Yu Wenye into battle. Even if they weren’t raised by him, they were still under his command. Normally, upon seeing the General’s wife, even if not overly deferential, they should at least be polite.
Yet towards her, it seemed they held a hint of hostility.
A vague sense of unease grew in Shang Ruyi’s heart, but there was no time to think it over just then. Exchanging glances, the soldiers stepped aside to make way, the leader raising a hand and sneered, "General’s wife, after you."
"..."
Steeling herself, Shang Ruyi led her horse into the military camp.
She took a relatively flat path into the camp, and someone immediately came over to take her horse. The captain had already sent someone ahead to report her arrival. Shortly after, an Imperial Guard soldier emerged, eyeing her with the same discourteous gaze, then raised his hand, "General’s wife, please enter."
Shang Ruyi frowned even more tightly.
She came to see Yu Wenye. If military discipline required verification, Mu Xian should have been the one to receive her, given their acquaintance. One look and he would know.
But now, it was an Imperial Guard who came to escort her.
What on earth was Yu Wenye thinking?
Her unease deepened, but at this point, there was no other path to take. She nodded and followed the Imperial Guard forward. Soon, they arrived in front of a large tent. The Imperial Guard escorted her there and then turned to leave. Shang Ruyi took a deep breath before lifting the flap and entering.
Stepping inside, the scene within the tent startled her.
There was nothing particularly frightening; in fact, the tent was extraordinarily luxurious. Directly in front was a massive screen, seemingly intricately carved and highly valuable. Before the screen stood a low table, with soft rugs covering the ground and delicate flasks, bowls, and plates on the table, filled with various exquisite pastries. Behind the screen, a faintly visible massive, soft bed with a luxurious brocade blanket could be seen.
Around the tent were several braziers burning robustly, without emitting any smoke or soot, evidently using high-quality charcoal.
Shang Ruyi was dumbfounded.
If not for her entering from the military camp, she would almost have thought she’d walked into a palace or the residence of a high-ranking official.
But this was within the military camp!
Just the thought of it made her frown immediately—
Yu Wenye, even back home, was a man of extreme frugality; how could this be?
Just as this thought rose in her mind, she saw a figure slowly rising from behind the screen, leisurely walking around to face her.
Shang Ruyi’s eyes widened in surprise.
In front of her stood a eunuch, clad in luxurious fox fur, arrogantly inspecting her. His gaze was not only rude but emitted a sense of offensive intrusion.
Shang Ruyi soon pieced it together. If she was not mistaken, the person before her should be the supervisor dispatched by the court for Yu Wenye’s military expedition this time.
Where is Yu Wenye? Why hasn’t he come to see me?
As the layers of unease enveloped Shang Ruyi’s heart, the eunuch sneered and asked in a sharp voice, "General’s wife?"
Shang Ruyi replied, "And you are—"
The man said, "I am the superintendent, Kou Junliang."
Indeed.
Taking a deep breath, Shang Ruyi politely bowed and said, "Sir, I came to see my husband. Where is he?"
Kou Junliang’s small eyes flickered with cunning as he stared at her with a grin, "Does the lady want to see the General for something urgent?"
"Yes, it’s urgent. I need to speak with him in person."
"Speak with him in person?"
Kou Junliang sneered, "Well, I’m afraid that won’t be possible."
Shang Ruyi asked, "Why?"
Kou Junliang’s expression darkened, "Because your esteemed Great General Yu Wenye has deserted, and there’s no finding him now!"