Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Will He Come for You?
Having reached this point, there’s no choice but to forge ahead.
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and slowly repeated the words she said to Empress Jiang earlier, only this time, she spoke more cautiously, constantly watching the expression on Chu Yang’s face.
As long as he showed the slightest sign of displeasure, she would immediately shut her mouth!
However, until she finished speaking, Chu Yang’s face remained unchanged, and even when she uttered the last word, there was a faint smile in those slender phoenix-like eyes.
"Is this what you said to the Empress?"
"Ruyi’s insight is confused and has dishonored Your Majesty’s hearing."
Chu Yang frowned slightly, seemingly not pleased with hearing that last sentence, but when he looked at Shang Ruyi’s cautious demeanor, a subtle smile still played at the corners of his mouth.
He said, "Your words are reasonable."
Shang Ruyi suddenly raised her head to look at him, cautiously saying, "Your Majesty agrees with Ruyi’s opinion?"
Chu Yang turned around, paced slowly with his hands behind his back, and said, "Actually, Wang Shaoji was not the only one advising me during the day; several other commanders also had their own strategies, all sounding reasonable, making it difficult for me to decide."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi’s heart suddenly sank.
She couldn’t help but recall when she was in Taiyuan City, meeting "Yang Suyi" outside Wan Family Fruit Shop, he also said it was difficult to decide, but eventually, he chose for her.
And now—
As her thoughts drifted away, Chu Yang’s soft voice pulled her back: "However, opting for strict defense also has its dangers."
"Your Majesty means—"
"Provisions, the current provisions inside the city are already insufficient for the entire army’s needs for two days."
"If Your Majesty truly chooses to defend strictly, then there’s no need for a large number of soldiers to leave the city. Injured soldiers and weak warhorses can be killed for meat."
Chu Yang looked back at her, slightly surprised.
Shang Ruyi knew no woman would speak such vulgar words as "kill for meat" in front of the Emperor, but at this moment, she went all out. Her eyes were earnest and resolute: "If we are to defend, we must make preparations to do so."
Seeing her like this, Chu Yang’s eyes brightened.
These words were ones those commanders dared not speak easily in front of him, but Shang Ruyi’s remark indeed enlightened him. He then asked, "However, once the warhorses are eaten, there will be no possibility of breaking through. Who can guarantee that we can continue to defend?"
Shang Ruyi said, "Your Majesty, we’ve been besieged for three days now."
"And then?"
"This news must have spread, and if the commanders of the nearby towns around Yanmen County receive the message, they would surely come to aid Your Majesty."
"..."
"We should preserve our forces, waiting for them to arrive so that we can coordinate inside and outside, and the Turkic soldiers will surely be defeated!"
Chu Yang frowned slightly: "Is it that simple?"
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment, then said, "Shali Khan led over a hundred thousand troops to attack suddenly this time. If Ruyi’s guess is correct, they should not have had time to make full preparations."
"How do you know they just received the news?"
"Firstly, we have cut off communication for a long time, so they couldn’t have known in advance about Your Majesty’s northern tour to prepare; secondly, a few days ago when following the Emperor to the camp, I saw some shadows on the road. At the time, I thought I was mistaken, but now I realize they should be scouts sent by the Turkic soldiers. They must have only learned about Your Majesty’s northern tour on that day."
"..."
"From the time they discovered us to the surprise attack on the camp was less than three days, mobilizing a hundred thousand troops was already their limit; and now it’s winter, the grassland is short on provisions, so it’s even less likely that they could gather enough supplies for a hundred thousand troops in such a short time."
"..."
"Therefore, provisions are not only our problem, but theirs as well."
Upon hearing this, Chu Yang’s eyes brightened a bit more.
Shang Ruyi continued, "Ruyi heard from below that they attacked Yanmen City last night, and today continued the siege for four hours. Obviously, they are extremely anxious."
"..."
"So, the more anxious they are, the more we should stand firm and not go out."
"..."
"Once their provisions are exhausted and they have to retreat, our reinforcements will arrive, won’t we have the advantage of timing, terrain, and unity?"
Chu Yang did not speak; he simply stood before her with his hands behind him. Shang Ruyi looked at his back, unsure how much of her words he had taken in, and at this moment, she was also a bit nervous, waiting for his response.
After a long while, Chu Yang said, "You mentioned multiple parties but seemed to have left out one."
Shang Ruyi said, "Which one?"
Chu Yang slowly turned around, looked down at her: "You should still remember, during this outing, the men and horses were divided into two teams. Behind us, there’s another group—your husband is in there."
"..."
"You seem to have no hope for him to come at all."
Shang Ruyi’s heart suddenly felt pierced, but she took a deep breath and tried to speak calmly: "His coming would naturally be good."
Chu Yang looked into her eyes: "Will he come?"
"...Your Majesty is besieged here, as his sovereign’s minister, it’s his duty to come and aid."
"I am asking, will he come for you?"
"With Your Majesty here, it’s not a time to prioritize Ruyi."
Chu Yang looked down at her for a long time, and the smile at the corners of his mouth deepened slightly, saying: "Shang Ruyi, you seem always unwilling to bring him up, even less willing to face your position in his heart."
Shang Ruyi’s heart sank heavily.
She bit her lower lip, trying to speak calmly: "Ruyi is his wife; my position in his heart needs neither facing nor confirming."
Chu Yang said, "Do you know what I meant by the last words I said to you in Taiyuan City?"
"...!"
Shang Ruyi’s heart, which was about to sink into the ice, suddenly jumped heavily, causing her chest to ache slightly.
She looked up instinctively at Chu Yang, meeting those eyes filled with smiles and emotions she couldn’t discern, hesitated for a long time, and then slowly said, "I remember, Your Majesty said he’d make enemies with him for a woman."
"Do you know who this woman is?"
"I know it’s—the Princess."
Chu Yang raised his eyebrows slightly.
His expression didn’t seem surprised, but also seemed—
Shang Ruyi still couldn’t understand his expression and honestly said: "If I haven’t guessed wrong, Your Majesty previously discussed the Princess’s marriage with Feng Chen, right?"
"..."
"But because of Ruyi’s appearance—"
"..."
"All of this is Ruyi’s fault."
Chu Yang quietly looked at her, his face showing no joy or anger, even the faint smile in those phoenix-like eyes slowly faded at this moment, and it was impossible to tell what deeper emotions remained in the depths of his pupils.
After a long silence, he said, "Of course, it’s your fault."
"..."
"Otherwise, who would make enemies with him?"
"...!?"
Shang Ruyi was stunned, not having time to react when she felt a breeze sweep across her face, and Chu Yang had already turned, his sleeve swirling the cold fragrance, leaving.