Chapter 173: Chapter 172: The Human Heart Cannot Be Forced
Shang Ruyi froze, stopped and turned around, only to see him standing at the door with a gloomy face, as if he was looking for trouble.
But why choose me?
Moreover, when he stepped in front of me step by step, he didn’t say a word, just lowered his head and stared at me huffing and puffing, the hot breath he exhaled on my face, making me feel like he was still sick.
Shang Ruyi said, "What’s wrong?"
"..."
Yu Wenye just glared at her, but said nothing.
As if, he couldn’t speak.
Shang Ruyi really couldn’t understand what he wanted to say to her, but since he couldn’t speak, she instead had something to say to him, so she looked into his eyes and said, "By the way, I just heard Yu—hey?"
Her words were cut off as Yu Wenye turned around and walked inside.
Shang Ruyi was dumbfounded for a moment, looking at his back, not knowing why, but seemed a bit angry and frustrated.
What’s going on?
Moreover, there were quite a few servants around, and when everyone saw the Second Young Master ignoring this Young Madam, their faces showed some contempt, disdain, or even amusement as they scattered away, leaving Shang Ruyi standing at the door.
Just when she felt a bit awkward, Jinyun walked over from the side.
She also glanced at Yu Wenye’s back, then gently said to Shang Ruyi, "Young Madam... the Second Young Master, I’m afraid he won’t be in a good mood these days. Please bear with him."
"..."
Looking at her for a moment, Shang Ruyi originally felt a bit angry, but now suppressed it.
Indeed, his mother’s passing, he couldn’t even see her one last time, such regret and pain could easily lead to a change of temperament, even mood swings. Shang Ruyi sighed and said, "I know, I don’t mind."
Jinyun said, "Thank you, Young Madam."
Shang Ruyi waved her hand, signaling her to go about her business, ready to leave herself.
Just as she was preparing to walk back, she suddenly saw a person from the tea house carrying a food box out the side door. Seeing this, Shang Ruyi stopped, looked around, just in time to see Mu Xian entering with two subordinates, and immediately called out to him.
"Mu Xian."
Seeing it was her, Mu Xian’s expression was still good, but the two people behind him immediately showed disdainful expressions, yet still followed Mu Xian over to her and bowed.
"What does the Young Madam wish?"
Shang Ruyi said, "I want your subordinates to go out and do something—"
Before she finished speaking, the two subordinates immediately replied indifferently, "We have other things to do, we’ll go first."
Saying that, they turned and left directly.
Shang Ruyi was taken aback, then looked at Mu Xian, only to see an embarrassed look on his face, he bitterly smiled and said, "Young Madam, there have been too many things in the mansion recently, and my people... are all occupied."
"..."
Shang Ruyi also understood, since the Yanmen County incident, Mu Xian seemed polite to her, but his men, having witnessed the scene, all treated her coldly, almost no longer considering her the Young Madam.
Human hearts cannot be forced.
Shang Ruyi sighed and said, "No problem, you may go."
Mu Xian glanced at her, then could only turn and leave.
Just as Shang Ruyi stood lonely at the door, silent for a long time, she was about to turn back to the spirit hall when footsteps were heard from outside the door, a familiar voice calling her—
"Miss!"
Upon hearing it, Shang Ruyi hurriedly turned around, only to see Gao Feng coming in with several others.
Shang Ruyi quickly went to greet them, "Why are you here?"
Gao Feng was holding a brocade box in his hands, saying, "The Duchess has passed away, we thought it over, no matter what, we must come to offer condolences. Though the master and mistress were exiled to Lingnan, if no one came from the Young Madam’s family, it will be difficult for the Young Madam in her husband’s family in the future."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi suddenly felt a soreness in her nose.
She had actually lost hope of the Shen Mansion’s people doing anything for her, after all, a married woman’s future life should be her own, but unexpectedly, even if her uncle and aunt were no longer home, Gao Feng and Uncle Chen still thought of her, coming at this time, was indeed a great support.
After all these days, there are still those who love her and care for her.
Her eyes felt warm, she looked at Gao Feng with a reddened gaze, "Thank you, thank you."
Hearing this, Gao Feng immediately became flustered, "Miss, you’re overreacting!"
Just then, Tushere also came over with people, and upon seeing Gao Feng, joyfully rushed over, Shang Ruyi immediately had them go inside to pay respects, the spirit hall became lively again.
However, they didn’t stay long, after offering condolences and chatting a bit more, they left.
Shang Ruyi personally saw them off at the door.
It seemed rare for her to see folks from home, she talked with them for a while before returning.
This day goes by just as busy as before.
By night, even more guests come, even more than during the day or the previous days. Shang Ruyi somewhat understands, it must be because of the "Assistant General", as many families busy with affairs at home have come over. Although they don’t dare to offer congratulations, after mourning, they all surround Yu Wenye.
After entertaining a group of guests, Shang Ruyi steps into the mourning hall with stiff legs.
Just as she walks through the door, she suddenly feels a wave of dizziness.
She staggers and nearly falls, but at that moment, a hand from behind grips her arm and steadies her.
The fright sends cold sweat all over Shang Ruyi, as she hastily turns around, only to meet a pair of cold eyes, and suddenly her sweat retreats inexplicably.
It’s Yu Wenye.
He’s probably exhausted from the day, coupled with his recent recovery, his face still pale, the darkness under his eyes gives his gaze a stormy brooding look, making it seem like a dark cloud hovering overhead with just a glance.
Shang Ruyi stammers, "You—what are you doing?"
"..."
Yu Wenye only casts a glance at her, then releases his grip heavily, before turning his head and says, "Tushere!"
Tushere steps forward immediately, "Master."
"Take her back to rest."
"...Oh, yes."
Shang Ruyi quickly says, "No need, there’s still—"
Before she finishes speaking, Yu Wenye almost snarls with clenched teeth, glaring at her again, scaring her speech back down her throat. Thinking for a moment, she can only nod, "Then, I’ll go lie down for a while, just for a while."
Yu Wenye seems unwilling to speak with her, and turns to leave.
Tushere, perceptive in reading the atmosphere, obviously senses the tension between the two. After a while, he dares to approach, supporting Shang Ruyi towards the back courtyard while asking, "Miss, what’s wrong with Master?"
"What’s wrong?"
"He’s quite fierce. Just now when he spoke with those officials from the Ministry of Rites, he was rather pleasant, but as soon as it’s you, he turns fierce."
"..."
Shang Ruyi thinks for a while before wryly saying, "His mother has passed away."
"..."
"Whose relative passes, and still feels good? Yet, in his position, just conferred as the Great General, people say they come to mourn, but actually, they come to congratulate. He can only greet them pleasantly, though he is deeply sorrowful."
Tushere can’t help but roll his eyes, "Even if he’s sad, he shouldn’t take it out on you!"
Shang Ruyi remains silent for a long while before finally giving a wry smile.
She thought, after what happened yesterday, their relationship might become closer. Unexpectedly, the appearance of Princess Xinyue acted like a mirror exposing her little evil thoughts, also reducing her back to her original form. In Yu Wenye’s eyes, she’s really nothing, and no longer needs to entertain foolish thoughts.
The two return to the room, Tushere makes the bed for her, helps her wash up, and lie down. He places hot tea and snacks on the small table beside her, saying, "I still need to watch over outside, if Miss wakes up hungry, have some of these first, then order me to fetch more from the kitchen."
Shang Ruyi lies on the bed, waving with a smile, "Go busy yourself."
Tushere leaves, closing the door lightly as he goes.
Once he leaves, the room quiets down naturally.
Though Shang Ruyi feels tired, it seems she’s overly exhausted. Once she lies down, she doesn’t feel sleepy at all, keeps her eyes wide open, first looking at the canopy above, then turns to look around the tranquil and spacious room, indeed feeling quite hollow with one person absent.
Speaking of which, it’s been days since she slept in this room, only last night—
Last night...
Thinking about last night, her face suddenly feels warm again, especially recalling Yu Wenye was lying here last night, and to keep him from getting up, she actually threw herself on him to hold him down...
What was she thinking at that moment?
Yu Wenye probably didn’t have the strength to push her away, if it were any other time, they might have argued already.
Thinking of this, she feels both embarrassed and ashamed, can’t help but pull the quilt over her face, waves of regret suffocate her again and again like a tide.
Eventually, in such overwhelming emotions, she slowly closes her eyes and falls asleep.
Yet, as she sleeps, the tide-like overwhelming feeling seems to once again engulf her, wrapping her completely. Shang Ruyi subconsciously stretches her limbs, unable to move, takes a deep breath but even breathing becomes difficult.
She immediately struggles uneasily.
The more she struggles, the more she realizes she can’t move, not only can’t move, but also seems something is pressing on her, controlling her body, and even her breath.
Shang Ruyi finally, barely opened her eyes in suffocation, but upon opening her eyes, her entire body freezes in fright.
On top of her, there’s a person!
A sturdy figure, like a mountain, covers her entirely, and both her hands are pinned to her sides, presenting a completely powerless and yielding posture.
More suffocating, as she’s about to scream in fright, this person slowly opens his eyes.
It’s, Yu Wenye?!