Chapter 191: Chapter 188 Yu Wenye... Truly has a keen eye
"Please rise."
Empress Jiang’s gentle yet calm voice echoed in the palace, adding a touch of authority. Shang Ruyi slowly stood up, seeing the Empress already raise her hand: "Sit."
She apologized and sat on a seat below the Empress.
Empress Jiang smiled at her, saying, "I missed you a bit today, so I summoned you to the palace for a chat. I hope I haven’t disturbed you."
Shang Ruyi hurriedly replied, "It is my honor to be summoned by Your Majesty. How could it be a ’disturbance’? How could I ever be worthy of such a term?"
Empress Jiang waved her hand and smiled, saying, "If it were some other lady, I’d just call them to the palace, but you—somehow, I feel different about you."
Saying this, perhaps she felt her words were too heavy, and continued, "Moreover, your family has just had a significant event, and now the Duke is about to leave the Eastern Capital for Taiyuan to take up his position. Has he left?"
"In reply to Your Majesty, my father-in-law set off early this morning."
"I’ve heard that Feng Chen is also set to depart tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"Then, are you the only one left in the Eastern Capital from your family?"
"I also have my third brother, who is studying in the Eastern Capital. My father-in-law decided not to take him to Shanxi, so I have to tend to his daily life."
"Then you must be quite busy."
Somehow, the two of them conversed as if they were relatives discussing everyday life, but the more they talked, the more uneasy Shang Ruyi felt—after all, she was faced not with an ordinary lady, but the Empress with authority over all. Could the summoning to the palace, after such a long journey, truly be just to discuss domestic matters?
But Empress Jiang was indeed only speaking of such domestic matters and even laughed, "I heard that the third Yu Wen child is at an age where boys are most mischievous."
As her words fell, as if responding to them, there was a patter of footsteps outside the hall.
Soon after, a somewhat childish voice exclaimed, "Mother!"
Shang Ruyi quickly turned her head, seeing a child running in from outside the hall, like a heavy stone suddenly crashing into the Empress’s embrace, laughing heartily. Empress Jiang was almost knocked backward by the child’s leap, and although she frowned slightly, she could not hide the affectionate expression on her face. She lowered her head and smiled, "Fei’er, why are you here?"
This child was none other than Prince Zhao, Chu Chengfei, whom she had briefly met in Yanmen County.
Upon witnessing this scene, Shang Ruyi prepared to rise and pay her respects.
But Chu Chengfei just snuggled in his mother’s embrace, acting spoiled, and raised his head to say to her, "My sister brought me here."
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Empress Jiang lifted her head.
As these words came, Shang Ruyi’s heart instinctively sank slightly. She hurriedly stood, seeing another graceful figure enter from outside the hall, none other than Princess Xinyue, Chu Ruoyan. Despite the cold weather, she wore a thick red cloak, her slim figure appearing as light as a Moon Palace fairy. The fluffy white fur around her snowy hat accentuated her radiant beauty, ruby lips, and pearl-like teeth.
Upon seeing her, Shang Ruyi’s already tense breath tightened further.
She quickly walked to the hall’s center and saluted Empress Jiang, "Your servant pays respects to Mother."
Empress Jiang smiled and said, "Why have you come too?"
Chu Ruoyan replied, "I heard Mother summoned Mrs. Yu Wen to the palace, so specifically came to meet."
Finished, she turned and looked at Shang Ruyi.
At this moment, Shang Ruyi hurriedly approached her and performed a salute: "Greetings to the Princess." Then, she paid respects to Chu Chengfei, still nestled in the Empress’s embrace: "Greetings to Prince Zhao."
Before anyone else spoke, Chu Chengfei turned his head to look at her, and a light suddenly shone in his big eyes. Pointing at her, he exclaimed, "I remember you!"
Empress Jiang looked down at him, "What?"
Chu Chengfei remarked crisply, "You are the one who delivered the medicine last time! Almost disturbed my sister and Brother Feng Chen!"
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Shang Ruyi stood awkwardly, feeling embarrassed, as the incident was brought up months later, even if it hadn’t been caught in the act.
Empress Jiang looked at her, then at her youngest son in her embrace, and simply smiled, "Fei’er, do not be rude. She is your Brother Feng Chen’s wife, not merely someone who delivers medicine."
"Wife?"
Chu Chengfei’s small head was evidently unable to grasp complex affairs, and he was instantly dumbfounded: "Then sister—"
Empress Jiang calmly interrupted him: "Someone, take Prince Zhao to play."
A few palace maids outside came in immediately, gently coaxing Prince Zhao away. As he passed by Shang Ruyi, he even wrinkled his nose at her, clearly having placed her in opposition to him and his sister.
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.
And at this moment, the continuously silent Chu Ruoyan, her face slightly flushed, approached Shang Ruyi. Softly, she said, "Thank you, madam, for last time."
Shang Ruyi paused, then smiled at her.
Chu Ruoyan naturally referred to the last time she dressed as a little eunuch to sneak into Duke Mansion to meet Yu Wenye, while Shang Ruyi facilitated their meeting. Unexpectedly, she still remembered and even expressed gratitude.
For some reason, it was Shang Ruyi’s turn to feel embarrassed.
Thinking of this, she lifted her head to take another glance at this Princess.
In appearance and figure, even her name, Princess Xinyue remained in Shang Ruyi’s thoughts and dreams for a long time already. Perhaps this was their first formal meeting—just like each fleeting glance in the past, she stood there as beautiful as ever, unmatched in grace, without a single flaw on her picturesque face.
When she looked at Shang Ruyi, although her expression carried a naive charm, it was devoid of arrogance.
Indeed, she was likable.
Even the sight of the pearl earrings swinging like the bright moon when she slightly tilted her head while speaking was a sight Shang Ruyi found captivating.
Yu Wenye... really had an eye for beauty.
No wonder Guan Yunmu couldn’t promote Chang Wan.
Thinking about this, she smiled gently and bowed her head, saying, "Princess, you speak too highly."
Empress Jiang watched them quietly, then spoke softly, "Please, sit."
So, both sat down again, and Empress Jiang spoke sternly, "Ruoyan, I’ve learned of your disguised escapades out of the palace. What you did was wrong; sneaking out is not befitting a Princess, even going to the Duke Mansion is disrespectful to the deceased."
"...Yes."
"In the future, if you wish to visit the Duke Mansion, you must proceed with formal permission. Never do such things again."
"Your servant understands."
Sitting nearby, Shang Ruyi heard these words, feeling a sudden pang in her heart.