Chapter 204: Chapter 199: He still cares about you a lot
"Hmm?"
Sitting by the bedside reading, Shang Ruyi suddenly raised her head and looked out the window.
Above was a dense layer of black clouds, like a giant black hand covering the entire Luoyang City so tightly that nothing could penetrate it. The continuous wind and snow of these days were pressing the same gloom into everyone’s hearts.
She couldn’t help but frown.
Sitting at her feet, Tushere, who was embroidering a piece of cloth, heard the noise, looked up at her, and asked, "Miss, what’s wrong?"
Shang Ruyi glanced at the sky outside and said, "Just now, did I hear thunder?"
"Thunder?"
Upon hearing this, Tushere couldn’t help laughing: "Miss, what nonsense are you talking about? It’s the middle of winter, and it’s even snowing. How could there be thunder?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi herself found it strange, thought for a moment, and then smiled: "I must have misheard."
Tushere put down the needle and thread in her hand and said, "I think Miss hasn’t been sleeping well these days, lost in thought. It’s been seven or eight days since the young master left, and in these seven or eight days, you probably haven’t had a good night’s sleep yet."
As she spoke, she looked at Shang Ruyi again with a smile: "Miss, are you worried about the young master?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi felt a moment of distraction.
She indeed was worried about him, not just out of concern for her husband on the battlefield but more importantly, she kept recalling what Lei Yu said to her before leaving, and also—what Chu Yang said to her on the day she entered the palace.
This battle of Yu Wenye was of great importance.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi said, "Of course I’m worried about him, this is his first battle since being appointed as a Great General, affecting the entire Yuwen Family, and even the court’s—"
Before she finished speaking, Tushere immediately said, "Oh Miss, that’s not what I meant."
"Then what do you mean?"
"I meant the young master as a person."
"What do you mean?"
"Miss, aren’t you worried about him as a person?"
At this point, Tushere pursed her lips slightly and said, "Although, at first, I was always a bit angry with him. When we were attacked and besieged by the Turkic army in Yanmen County, especially when Miss you were so severely injured, yet he, as a husband, was never by your side, all the danger and hardship you had to face alone. I thought back then, marrying him was a mistake for you, Miss."
"..."
"It would have been better, as the madam said, to stay home and never marry, rather than suffering such grievances."
Shang Ruyi’s heart trembled slightly as she glanced at her.
Tushere continued, "But this time, after coming back, the young master seems to be treating you well. Last time Miss went to the palace, the young master, upon learning of it, reportedly didn’t even dismount his horse but turned back directly to wait for you at the palace gate. Despite the heavy snow, he carried you home..."
"..."
"He is still very attentive to you, Miss."
"..."
"Miss, you too—that day when the young master left for the expedition, you hurriedly went to send him off."
At this point, Tushere’s face showed a hint of sweet smile, softly saying, "Miss, actually, you haven’t been angry with him for a long time, have you?"
"..."
"Otherwise, you wouldn’t have sent people to the city gate every day to inquire if there was any news from the battle—just a moment ago, you kept looking out the window, surely waiting for news of the young master, right?"
"..."
"Actually, if you’re worried about him, just say it. I won’t laugh at you..."
Shang Ruyi sat there dazedly.
Whatever Tushere said afterward, she couldn’t hear at all, at this moment, only that one sentence kept echoing in her ears, as if Tushere said it, yet repeatedly questioning herself in her mind—
Is Yu Wenye truly attentive to her?
On that snowy night, he held her as he galloped all the way home, even carrying her back to their room, the warmth she felt close to his chest—was it real?
She subconsciously reached toward her chest, feeling the uncontrollable, intense beating of her heart. Such a tangible stir, as if everything, like her persistent, unsettled heartbeat these days, were real.
But—
That intense heartbeat also reminded her of another matter.
Wasn’t all of this for others’ eyes?
He clearly said that in front of others, he would play the role of a good husband, portraying a couple everyone envied. Wasn’t this a mutual agreement between them?
Shang Ruyi felt a tangle in her heart, as if invisible threads wrapped around her heart, almost choking her.
She couldn’t easily fall into it again, especially after being clearly rejected and even humiliated before. Not being loved is already pathetic enough; knowingly yearning for love when it isn’t given is more pitiable than pathetic.
Moreover, Princess Xinyue—
Just as Shang Ruyi’s thoughts were becoming tangled, Wo Xue hurriedly entered from outside, saying, "Young Madam, someone has arrived from the palace, claiming it’s the Empress’s decree, summoning you to the palace."
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi furrowed her brows.
Empress Jiang was summoning her to the palace again?
The last time she was summoned to the palace, they got along quite well, but as she left, she was "abducted" by people sent by Chu Yang, and the Empress even personally went to the Warm Dock to bring her back. Originally, she thought that after that incident, the Empress would be more cautious and wouldn’t allow her such private meetings with the Emperor again, but unexpectedly—
Why did she have to summon her to the palace again?
Tushere, although unaware of what happened the last time Shang Ruyi went to the palace, knew that being summoned by the Empress was no small matter for the wife of the newly appointed Assistant General. Tushere immediately stepped forward, worriedly saying, "Miss, do you need to go to the palace?"
Shang Ruyi glanced at her and said gravely, "The Empress’s decree cannot be disobeyed."
She quickly had Tushere help her change into a dignified yet simple outfit, with her hair styled neatly and plainly, before stepping out. The one conveying the decree was the same Lord Eunuch who had accompanied her to the palace last time. Familiar with the procedure, he exchanged pleasantries with Shang Ruyi and then led her out to the palace carriage.
It all proceeded just as it had the last time.
Entering through the Xuanren Gate, passing by Zuocang Palace, and then through the Anning Gate, they arrived at the Empress’s Eastern Palace.
What was different this time was that as soon as they entered the Eastern Palace, they saw Empress Jiang and Princess Xinyue already seated inside, apparently waiting for her. Shang Ruyi hurriedly stepped forward to bow and greet them, only to see Empress Jiang smilingly step forward to personally help her up, warmly saying, "In the future, when you come to the palace, you can ignore these formalities."
Shang Ruyi cautiously replied, "Your Grace, etiquette must not be neglected."
As she spoke, she glanced at Empress Jiang carefully and then instinctively scanned the surroundings.
Seemingly sensing the worry in her eyes, Empress Jiang gently said, "You need not worry."
"Hmm?"
"The Emperor is out of the palace on business today, so that—what happened last time won’t happen again."
"..."
Hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately heaved a sigh of relief.
Yet, she quickly grew a bit anxious, looking at Empress Jiang, who was gazing at her warmly and said, "Ruyi, rest assured, since I summoned you to the palace, I will surely keep you safe; if I couldn’t ensure your safety, I wouldn’t have let you enter, because—I don’t want you to experience any harm."
"..."
Looking at her earnest expression, Shang Ruyi felt a mess inside.
For some reason, she kept feeling that this Empress, when speaking to her, wasn’t merely condescending, but seemed to be—a bit cautiously trying to please her?
Was it an illusion?
As the Empress, it wouldn’t be just to avoid oppressing the wife of a subject or to seek justice for her daughter to please someone as insignificant as herself?
Shang Ruyi could only softly say, "Your Grace flatters me."
Watching her cautious demeanor, Empress Jiang only smiled and gestured for her to sit down, then said, "Today, tribute red oranges were delivered. I thought these are best enjoyed on snowy days with tea, so I called you to the palace to try some as well."
Shang Ruyi walked to the table and sat down, noticing that not only was tea brewing on the table, but there was also a plate of bright red oranges, resembling a cluster of red lanterns, looking vivid and inviting.
Chu Ruoyan, beside her, laughed and said, "I love these red oranges the most, sweet and tart, Sister, have a taste too."
With that, she personally peeled one and handed it to her.
Shang Ruyi apologetically accepted it, saying, "Your Highness, you flatter Ruyi."
Empress Jiang laughed, "I instructed her to address you this way. Since you’re similar in age, and you’re a bit older, more sensible, and stable. Ruoyan has never had someone to guide and care for her since she was young; with you around—I am more at ease."
"..."
Shang Ruyi felt as though she was in an absurd dream.
The last time she was in the palace, Empress Jiang spoke of entrusting her. This time, she directly had the Princess call her "Sister" and even mentioned guidance and care. What exactly was she thinking?
And this Princess Xinyue seemed unconcerned with her noble status, truly exhibiting sisterly affection towards her!
She felt dazed but tried her best to remain calm.
The three of them shared tea, ate red oranges, and chatted idly while watching the snowy scene outside, creating a scene of harmony—only Shang Ruyi knew that her back was drenched in cold sweat.
In the midst of this, Chu Ruoyan suddenly sighed and said, "It’s a pity Second Brother isn’t here; he loves red oranges the most."
Shang Ruyi glanced at her.
Empress Jiang let out a bitter laugh and said, "For the past two years, the roads have been blocked, and not many tribute red oranges were sent; otherwise, I would have offered some to the Duke Mansion."
"..."
"And besides, with the war dragging on this time, he might not get to enjoy these red oranges."
Upon hearing the news about the war, Shang Ruyi immediately looked up at her, "Your Grace, at the Xingluo Granary—are there any updates?"