Chapter 199: Chapter 196: "Stupid" Question
All night long, Shang Ruyi was enveloped by a warm atmosphere, which allowed her to sleep more comfortably and peacefully than any other night. For this reason, when that warmth gradually dissipated, she was reluctant to awaken.
Only when the sounds around her increased did she finally awaken from her deep dreams.
Opening her eyes, the room was already brightly lit.
Shang Ruyi blinked her eyes, remained still, and first recalled the moment before she lost consciousness last night—
It seemed she was being questioned by Yu Wenye?
As for what he questioned, she could no longer remember. The only clear memory was of him leaning towards her after she had fainted, with a smile that seemed to not quite reach his eyes, and that familiar, comforting aura, still seemed to linger around her.
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but blush. Lowering her head, she saw that she was holding a piece of clothing in her arms!
It was Yu Wenye’s clothing!
Could it be that this was where that warm, familiar aura had emanated from all night?
Just at the thought of this, she blushed even more, instinctively tossing the clothing aside, then looking around. The room was as quiet as in her dream, with only her present, and even Yu Wenye’s sleeping couch was empty.
Where did everyone else go?
Thinking of this, she instinctively wanted to get up, but just as she moved, she felt her body was weak and soft, only managing to softly call out, "Come!"
As soon as she spoke, Tushere quickly pushed the door and entered.
Seeing Shang Ruyi awake, she immediately walked over joyfully, "Miss, you’re finally awake?"
"I—what happened to me?"
"You don’t remember?"
"Ah?"
Shang Ruyi furrowed her brows, leaning slowly against the bed with Tushere’s help. Thinking back, she barely recalled being summoned to the palace by Empress Jiang yesterday, going through those things, barely getting out of the palace, finally seeing Yu Wenye at Xuanren Gate, and then she seemed to have—
Seemed to have cried in front of him!
At this thought, Shang Ruyi’s head immediately buzzed.
How could she cry in front of him?
Having just awoken from a deep sleep, her mind was once again muddled, but even if she returned to yesterday, she still wouldn’t understand why she cried in front of him, nor why Yu Wenye, upon seeing her cry, didn’t ask anything, but just carried her onto a horse, braving the wind and snow to rush home.
The only clear memory seemed to be the warmth when leaning against his chest during the bumpy ride.
Shang Ruyi blushed again.
She instinctively avoided that somewhat embarrassing memory and only asked, "Where is he?"
Tushere noticed her dry lips, and hurriedly turned to pour tea, but upon hearing her question, softly replied, "Miss, did you forget, the lord was departing on an expedition today."
"Ah!"
Shang Ruyi started, completely waking up—indeed, Yu Wenye has been appointed as the Assistant General, now leading a force to suppress the Wanggang Army and reclaim the Xingluo Granary!
She hurriedly asked, "Has he already left?"
Tushere instinctively glanced towards the door and said, "The lord stayed with you all last night, but got up just this morning—not wanting to disturb your sleep."
"..."
"By now, he must be departing."
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Almost at the same time as Tushere spoke, a unit of nearly a hundred men had already gathered at the main entrance of the Yuwen Mansion.
The cold wind howled, snow fell heavily.
Yet, in such harsh weather, the soldiers clad in iron armor, cold as ice, showed no signs of shivering. On the contrary, their heavy armor and sheathed swords exuded a martial artist’s fierce aura.
This aura seemed to keep the drifting snow from daring to touch them.
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, finally, a tall and sturdy figure emerged from the Yuwen Mansion.
Yu Wenye appeared, clad in silver armor, glowing like ice, with wide shoulders draped with a heavy black wind cloak embroidered with a majestic lion. It added not the slightest burden, instead accentuating his broad shoulders and slender waist, appearing incredibly imposing.
By this time, the Eastern Capital Luoyang had long been blanketed by ice and snow, the continuous snowfall freezing everything, and Yu Wenye’s silver armor seemed forged from dark ice, exuding an indomitable spirit.
Several Vice Generals immediately stepped forward to salute.
"Great General."
One Vice General said, "The army has been arrayed outside the city, awaiting your command."
Yu Wenye nodded and said, "Mount up!"
Immediately, the Vice Generals mounted their horses, and the accompanying Mu Xian led over a jet-black horse, its snowy white hooves the only contrast. Yu Wenye took the reins with one hand and swiftly mounted.
Seated on horseback, he glanced around.
The near hundred-man contingent was merely a team sent from the mansion to escort him; the main forces awaited his command outside the city. These men were personally chosen by him from the Ministry of War, though not particularly seasoned nor resolute in gaze, they weren’t elite soldiers or valiant warriors.
But, each face is filled with anticipation for battle, yearning to be bestowed a title and land.
This expedition, apart from Mu Xian and his twelve personal soldiers, was comprised entirely of the court’s troops. For someone like him who started fighting at the age of thirteen and is now thoroughly acquainted with warfare, this counts as a new experience. Indeed, deep down, instead of feeling uneasy, he is burning with anticipation for this expedition.
This sentiment is almost visible in his restless steed, which keeps snorting and pawing at the ground.
Just as he was preparing to ride away, he glanced back at the door, his gaze momentarily dazed.
It seemed he wanted to see something.
But it was just for a moment, and the next instant, his gaze was sharp and clear.
He lifted his hand, about to utter "set off," when suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded from within the door. Yu Wenye instinctively halted, and looking up, saw a slender figure hurrying out from the mansion, stopping only at the entrance.
The cold wind swept the fragmented snow around her, causing the hem of her clothes to flutter incessantly, making her appear paper-thin, as if she could be blown away.
Yet, when those bright eyes looked toward Yu Wenye, they were unwaveringly resolute.
"Second brother!"
It was Shang Ruyi.
She was wearing a thin robe, probably too rushed to dress properly, only wrapped in a thick wind cloak. Yet she was still chilled, her nose reddened; just uttering two words, one could hear her stuffed-up speech, her whole person exuding a touch of frailty.
Yu Wenye immediately furrowed his brow.
Seeing her step over the threshold, slowly descend the stairs, and walk to his side, looking up at him, Yu Wenye’s breath got confused several times, became stifled a few times, then he deeply exhaled and looked down at her, his gaze cold: "Why did you come out?"
"I—"
Shang Ruyi hesitated briefly, clearly noticing his indifferent expression and deliberate distance between his brows, instantly feeling somewhat uneasy.
Truth be told, she had no compelling reason to come.
Between them, it seems there’s no deep sentiment of farewell.
Yet, she still wanted to see him off.
Thinking this, she composed herself, smiled, and said, "I came to see you off."
"..."
"Are you setting off now, isn’t it?"
"Yes."
"When will you return?"
Some of the Vice Generals, likely not the first time they’ve seen women come to bid farewell saying things full of affection, even speaking nonsense completely oblivious to warfare, glanced at each other and silently rode off to the side.
Yu Wenye’s lowered eyelids didn’t move, frozen as if in this cold weather, his gaze stationary, fixedly looking at Shang Ruyi: "You shouldn’t ask such a question."
"..."
Shang Ruyi was taken aback, then upon thinking, she came back to her senses.
She couldn’t help lowering her head with a smile.
Indeed, if today she accompanied another woman here to see off her departing husband, if someone asked such a question, she would advise comforting—matters of war, except until it’s truly over, who can foresee the outcome, when it’ll end. How could it be her turn to lose herself in asking such a "silly" question?
But upon thinking about what she could ask or what she wished to know, it was still the answer to this question.
She looked up again at Yu Wenye: "I—"
"Such matters are not up to us."
This time, without waiting for her to speak, Yu Wenye had already spoken calmly.
After speaking, he once again looked at Shang Ruyi’s weary face and said calmly: "You should go back and rest. Yesterday—your body is still very weak."
Upon mentioning "yesterday," Shang Ruyi felt a chill rise from the soles of her feet and spread throughout her body. Her hands involuntarily reached for Yu Wenye’s, tightly gripping the cold and stiff reins with him. Yu Wenye frowned and looked down at her.
Shang Ruyi’s eyes gleamed peculiarly, firmly fixed on him, carrying an expression that seemed entangled with two different thoughts struggling within her, she lightly said: "Will you win?"
"..."
Yu Wenye’s brow furrowed.
In fact, Shang Ruyi knew full well that such a question was even more absurd than the previous one.
This, even more beyond control.
Throughout history, who dared claim to be "undefeated"? Let alone certainly winning? Asking this at such a time was indeed laughable.
But Yu Wenye not only didn’t laugh at her, he didn’t even react as he did earlier, merely slightly furrowed his brow, looking at her with a probing gaze.
She shouldn’t be asking this now.
She wasn’t the type to ask such questions either.
After a long silence, Yu Wenye said: "What exactly are you trying to say?"