Chapter 154: Chapter 153: So... He Wasn’t Incapable of Being Gentle
Tushere was taken aback and instinctively said, "He is in the East Courtyard."
"Is he injured too?"
"Yes, he was hit by an arrow in the chest."
"Is it serious?"
Tushere hesitated for a moment before saying softly, "I’ve been staying by Miss’s side and haven’t gone over, but I’ve heard... all the doctors in the city have been summoned there."
Shang Ruyi immediately stood up, "Quick, help me up, I want to go see him."
"Miss!"
Tushere seemed to still be a bit discontented with the husband who had left them behind, letting their Miss face all the difficulties and dangers alone. She muttered, "You’d better take care of yourself first. Your own injuries haven’t healed yet."
Shang Ruyi snapped, "He is my husband. He saved everyone in Yanmen County this time — including you and me. Now that he’s injured, if I don’t go see him, how will outsiders view our Duke Mansion?"
Tushere was left speechless after hearing this.
Moreover, she almost forgot that just two days ago, the Emperor carried Shang Ruyi all the way back to the government office. If Shang Ruyi were to show too much indifference to Yu Wenye’s injury, then they would truly be giving people something to gossip about, becoming the laughing stock.
So, she carefully helped her wash and dress, and they left the room, reaching the East Courtyard in no time.
As soon as they reached the courtyard gate, Tushere couldn’t help but take a deep breath, "It’s so fragrant here."
"..."
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said to her, "You wait here at the door; I’ll go in alone."
Tushere immediately understood, smiled, and said, "Don’t worry, Miss, I won’t disturb you and our master." But then, she turned serious and added, "Miss, don’t let him off too easily. If it weren’t for him leaving you behind, how could you have gotten such severe injuries?"
Shang Ruyi sighed helplessly, waved her hand, and turned to walk in.
This courtyard was deeper than the one she lived in and was cleaned neatly. The three rooms in front had their windows tightly shut, only the middle room’s door was slightly ajar, as if someone had just entered without having time to close it.
So, Shang Ruyi slowly walked over.
Just as she reached the bottom of the steps, she looked up and saw a scene through the crack in the door—
Yu Wenye was sitting on the bed, dressed in plain white clothes, his chest wrapped in thick bandages that even showed faint traces of blood. He had one hand clutching his chest, his brows knit tightly as if he was still enduring pain from the wound.
That arrow had truly hurt him badly!
Shang Ruyi’s heart tightened with anxiety, and she was about to move forward to push the door open.
But just as her fingertips touched the door frame, a sweet, slightly tearful voice came from the room.
"Second brother, does your wound still hurt?"
"...!"
Upon hearing this voice, Shang Ruyi’s hand instantly paused on the door frame.
When she looked again, she finally noticed a slender, charming figure sitting opposite Yu Wenye at the bedside. Although she couldn’t see her face, her thin shoulders trembled slightly as if weeping softly, and the gentle sobbing sounded incredibly fragile and pitiful.
Yu Wenye looked at her, a faint smile appearing on his pale and serious face.
"I’m fine, don’t cry."
"..."
"Silly girl, if you keep crying, your eyes will get swollen."
"..."
Whatever else was said inside, Shang Ruyi couldn’t hear it.
She just blankly watched this scene, her pale lips trembling slightly as if whispering or speaking to herself, "So, this is how it is..."
So... he is capable of being gentle.
To be honest, if she hadn’t seen this scene with her own eyes and only heard the voice, she would have never believed Yu Wenye would say such words. His voice and tone were usually cold and devoid of emotion, but at this moment, they were so soft as to seem unfamiliar.
She didn’t know how long she stood there, but Shang Ruyi slowly withdrew her hand.
Perhaps it was because the Shuo Bei weather was exceptionally cold; even touching the door frame made her finger as cold as an icicle. She withdrew her hand into her sleeve, squeezing it tightly but still feeling no sensation, so she carefully turned around, trying not to make any noise as she left.
But just as she was about to exit, a small figure suddenly appeared to block her path.
"Who are you?"
Shang Ruyi was startled for a moment, looked down, and saw a chubby little child standing in front of her, arms akimbo like a little gatekeeper.
This was a boy of about seven or eight, with delicately beautiful features and a somewhat feminine appearance. Although he was trying to pull a fierce expression, his childish demeanor made him endearing.
Even though Shang Ruyi felt suffocated inside, she managed to muster a smile, "Who are you?"
The child raised his chin, "You don’t even know me? I am the esteemed Prince Zhao!"
Prince Zhao? Chu Chengfei.
He was Chu Yang’s youngest son, and although the youngest, he was the most favored, having been granted the title of Prince Zhao shortly after birth. Shang Ruyi examined the child closely; despite his young age and chubby figure, his prominent features and fair skin unmistakably bore the imprint of his otherworldly father.
This child would probably grow up to be a devastatingly handsome man.
Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "So it’s Prince Zhao, my apologies."
Seeing her respectful demeanour, Chu Chengfei was immediately pleased and also examined her, "Who are you? Why are you here? This is my sister’s place, and I won’t allow anyone to disturb her and her beloved!"
Beloved...
The mere mention of those three words struck a heavy blow to Shang Ruyi’s heart.
Her smile almost faltered, but she forced a smile and said, "Thank you, Prince Zhao, for the reminder. I’m just here to deliver medicine and will leave soon."
"Is that so,"
Chu Chengfei, acting like a little adult, arrogantly said, "Then be on your way, and remember, don’t come in here again to disturb my sister."
Shang Ruyi said, "Yes."
After speaking, she glanced back at the ajar door in the distance, smiled faintly, and turned to leave.
Waiting outside the courtyard gate, Tushere, hearing voices inside, peeked inside curiously. Upon seeing Shang Ruyi come out, she was surprised and said, "Miss, why are you out already? You just went in!"
"..."
Shang Ruyi paused for a moment, calmly replied, "It’s fine, having figured things out is enough."
"Figured out?"
Tushere became even more puzzled. Wasn’t she in there to see Yu Wenye’s injury? What did she mean by figuring things out?
So she asked, "Miss, what did you figure out?"
Shang Ruyi steadied herself, glanced at her, and then smiled, saying, "Why ask so many questions, it’s nothing."
Seeing her unwillingness to elaborate, Tushere didn’t dare ask more questions, instead supporting her to walk back slowly, saying, "Then let’s go back and rest. You just came out for a little while, and your face already looks so pale."
Shang Ruyi’s steps became even more hushed.
After a few steps, she stopped and said, "I... I don’t want to go back."
Tushere was taken aback, looked at her, "Then where do you want to go?"