Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Empress Jiang
At this moment, Shang Ruyi could hardly believe her ears.
She even felt that Lei Yu was joking with her or playing a prank, but she couldn’t doubt this woman who had rushed out to protect her at the moment of life and death; and then she turned to Tushere, seeking a trace of comfort, even if it was a joke, from her face—
But she couldn’t.
Tushere’s expression was heavy, the look of wanting to speak but hesitant from the beginning, at this moment seemed to further confirm Lei Yu’s words.
"..."
After a long freeze, Shang Ruyi finally rasped out, "How is this possible?"
"Why is it impossible? We saw it with our own eyes!"
Lei Yu’s face carried a slight anger, she thought for a while and then said, "Moreover, not only did we see it, but the surrounding soldiers and civilians saw it, even—"
She didn’t finish her sentence, suddenly, a gentle voice, as if carrying a trace of laughter yet with an undeniable dignity, came from outside the window, saying: "Even I saw it."
"...!"
The three of them simultaneously turned their heads to look out the window.
The window was tightly closed, but outside the sun was shining brightly, casting the silhouette of a person onto the thin window paper.
It was a silhouette with flowing and graceful lines, like a Cloud Fairy, high cloud-like hair, gently shaking steps as she walked past the window, truly resembling a fairy walking among the clouds.
Shang Ruyi instinctively held her breath.
Looking toward the door again, this person had already slowly walked in.
She was a stunningly beautiful woman, with beautifully adorned hair, stunningly beautiful, especially her gentle and affectionate eyes, shimmering as if wherever she looked, even if it were a frozen land, it would melt immediately.
Shang Ruyi was so stunned by this beauty that she couldn’t speak, just widened her eyes to look at her.
This beautiful woman said lightly, "Young Madam wouldn’t even disbelieve what I say, would she?"
As soon as the words were spoken, the other two in the room had already prostrated themselves on the ground with a plop, bowing to this beautiful woman, saying, "Greetings, Empress!"
Shang Ruyi gasped sharply.
The one before her was the current Emperor’s Central Palace Empress, Chu Ruoyan’s mother.
The Empress who ruled the world—Jiang Xinyue!
She walked into the room with graceful steps, Shang Ruyi almost stared unblinkingly at the Empress, although she was dressed in magnificent attire and adorned with jewels, Shang Ruyi felt all of it was cumbersome on her body, as long as she appeared, that was already more noble than all this, even more than her Empress status.
At this moment, she suddenly recalled that night when someone said in front of her—
"I really didn’t expect there to be a woman like Young Madam in the world, so young, yet possessing such majesty, enough to rule the land."
Now she knew that was simply a great joke.
Only a woman like the one in front of her could be the Empress ruling the world!
Shang Ruyi had never seen her, but had long heard of her fame, and her illustrious reputation—this Empress had come from a prestigious Lanling family, said to be remarkably intelligent from a young age, favored by the late Emperor, married to Chu Yang who was only thirteen at the time at the age of sixteen; later, when Chu Yang became Crown Prince, she naturally became the Crown Princess Consort, and then ascended to the Empress’s throne.
At the beginning of the Emperor’s reign, Empress Jiang had close ties with officials of the outer court, often advising and restraining the Emperor’s behavior and words, respected by courtiers as a "wise empress," but in recent years, the Emperor’s actions have become increasingly wild and unrestrained, and the Empress’s voice gradually diminished, her figure seemingly drowned in the dust and noise.
Unexpectedly, to meet this Empress here.
Just as Shang Ruyi was filled with emotion, Empress Jiang had already walked in, as she passed by Lei Yu and Tushere, she gently flicked her sleeve, and a tranquil fragrance wafted from her sleeve: "You may withdraw."
The two didn’t dare to say more, hurriedly got up and left the room.
Then, only the two of them were left in the room.
Shang Ruyi suddenly grew nervous again.
She urgently tried to prop herself up to salute the Empress, but the pain from the wound on her shoulder was so tearing that she fell back with sweat all over her forehead.
Seeing her in such an awkward state, Empress Jiang smiled lightly, walked over to sit by the bed, extended her hand to gently press the uninjured shoulder, and said: "No need for formalities, Young Madam Yu Wen is already so severely injured, there’s no need to get up anymore."
Her hand was as white as jade, probably because of her gentle nature, as soft as a willow branch fluttering in the wind.
Shang Ruyi’s shoulder went numb for a moment.
She dared not lift her head to meet the Empress’s gaze, only lowered her head and softly said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Does the wound still hurt?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, it’s not a serious issue now."
"That’s good. Earlier, I saw your wound and it was truly frightening, the blood dyed half of the Emperor’s body red."
"..."
This was something Shang Ruyi dared not respond to no matter what.
Seeing the Emperor carry her back to the government office was already putting her in the eye of the storm, but now it seemed, that was not the most troublesome part, the current situation was the most terrifying!
The Empress personally came, what did she want to do?
Just as Shang Ruyi was in a turmoil and even breathing cautiously, she heard Empress Jiang slowly say: "Therefore, I specifically had some blood-tonifying remedies prepared for Young Madam, which will be delivered to you later."
"...?"
Shang Ruyi was stunned, looking at Empress Jiang in disbelief.
She thought, after what happened, the Empress had come to find her, at the very least she would scold her for being improper, and might even use her Empress authority to punish her, yet her current demeanor did not seem to blame her, on the contrary, she graciously concerned herself with her injury.
Is this her genuine intention, or is it a cover for something else, an opportunity?
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but look again at those gentle, shimmering eyes, although she understood the Emperor’s Heart is complex, and the mind of the Empress accompanying the Emperor could not be fathomed by ordinary people, yet the gaze of this Empress Jiang, though not clear, was so tender it moved the heart, even just looking into those eyes, one would want to believe she was such a gentle person.
She dared not believe, yet could not help but believe.
Seeing Shang Ruyi’s puzzled expression, Empress Jiang softly said: "Is there something you wish to say, Young Madam, watching me like this?"
"Ah?"
Shang Ruyi came back to her senses, realizing she had been staring at the Empress, quickly lowered her head: "Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Empress Jiang said: "I’ve already said, no need for formalities."
"..."
Only then did Shang Ruyi raise her head again, with mixed emotions, to meet those gentle eyes that were like autumn waters, even as a woman, being gazed upon so gently by such clear eyes, she couldn’t help but feel moved.
After a long while, she murmured, "I’ve never seen anyone like the Empress, with such magnificent bearing."
Empress Jiang laughed softly, saying, "I also didn’t expect Feng Chen’s wife to be a woman like you."
"...?"
Shang Ruyi’s body stiffened.
As if in the muddled waters of confusion, a stick suddenly stirred fiercely, now her mind was completely in chaos.
Yu Wenye?
Why did Empress Jiang bring up Yu Wenye at this moment?