Chapter 276: Chapter 258: Do you trust me, or do you not care?
Shang Ruyi was completely stunned at these words.
Standing behind her, Yu Wenye’s face darkened, and his gaze turned cold.
Shang Ruyi said, "You, how could you—"
Yu Wencheng sneered, "Second sister-in-law, if you don’t want others to know, you must not do it. Actually, the last time, you saw me, didn’t you? That’s why you tried to probe my intentions after returning home. But, I lied, and you actually believed me."
"..."
Shang Ruyi felt a chill all over her body.
It turned out that when she left here after meeting with Chu Yang last time, she did see a familiar figure that was indeed Yu Wencheng. It was just a fleeting glimpse, and she suspected she saw wrong. Then she went home to check on him, but the child deliberately concealed it, and even mentioned Yu Wenqian in their conversation. She didn’t ask further, thinking she was mistaken.
But unexpectedly, Yu Wencheng had kept this secret buried in his heart all along.
Until this moment, his words like a sharp sword pierced between the two of them!
But before she could explain, Yu Wencheng continued, "By the way, it’s not just this time.
"..."
"When second brother was locked up in the Ministry of Justice, they met at the street corner near our home. His Majesty the Emperor was disguised, hiding himself for fear of recognition, and even personally held an umbrella for second sister-in-law."
As he spoke, he looked mischievously at Shang Ruyi, "Second sister-in-law, the Emperor treats you so well, why didn’t you just ask him to release second brother from the Ministry of Justice?"
"..."
At this moment, Shang Ruyi felt completely cold.
She wanted to turn and explain to Yu Wenye, but facing those cold eyes, she couldn’t utter a word.
Yu Wencheng coughed twice, then looked up at his second brother, chuckled, "Second brother, don’t be angry, didn’t you often go to the palace as well? Second sister-in-law did this, you two are even."
Yu Wenye looked at him coldly.
After a pause, he said, "Are you done talking?"
Yu Wencheng was stunned. Originally, he thought even if these words couldn’t regain dignity after the pointless beating he received earlier, they should at least undermine this always superior second brother. Yet unexpectedly, he remained calm without any loss of composure.
Then Yu Wenye walked forward expressionlessly, grabbed him off the ground; Yu Wencheng struggled twice but couldn’t break free, had no choice but to let him manipulate.
Yu Wenye turned to the pale-faced Shang Ruyi, speaking in a calm voice devoid of any fluctuation, "Let’s go home."
He instructed his attendants to send the old beggar to a medical center, then to inquire at the school about the situation, he himself took two people back to Yuwen Mansion.
Upon entering, he threw Yu Wencheng into the woodshed, and locked it.
The household members watched as the third son, bloodied, was dragged back by the second son and locked in the woodshed; none dared to speak, while Yu Wenye just coldly stood in the courtyard.
After a short while, those sent to the school returned, only then did they learn clearly: since Yu Wenquan went to Taiyuan in his official post, Yu Wencheng scarcely attended school, the instructors reproved him several times, unexpectedly, he and some other official family youngsters severely injured a teacher and threatened his family, hence he has not attended classes, spending days idly wandering the streets.
This situation had been ongoing for over a month now.
Listening to these words, Yu Wenye’s face turned grim; after a quiet pause, he instructed Mu Xian, "Send someone to visit the teacher, not only compensate for medication costs, but also give generous gifts; do not neglect them."
Mu Xian complied and went.
Yu Wenye looked again at the locked woodshed, saying sternly, "For three days, do not give him food or water, nor covers or clothes."
The crowd could only agree and withdraw.
Shang Ruyi listened worriedly to Yu Wencheng’s moans inside the woodshed, then pondered, softly said, "It’s all my fault."
"..."
"Earlier, I asked him about his studies, but afterwards—"
Later, because of the battles at Xingluo Granary, she left the Eastern Capital for Luokou Ferry, delayed there for several days; upon returning to the Eastern Capital, Yu Wenye was locked up in the Ministry of Justice, she worried day and night, naturally unable to keep an eye on Yu Wencheng, leaving him unchecked.
Yu Wenye only gave her a glance, faintly said, "He isn’t diligent, it’s not related to you."
After saying this, he turned and left without looking back.
Shang Ruyi remained where she was, fearfully cold, unable to regain composure for quite a while.
Although Yu Wenye’s words were meant to exonerate her, "it’s not related to you" seemed so cold, even isolated.
She silently stood there for a while, then slowly returned to her room. Inside, she saw Yu Wenye standing in the center removing his outer garment, Chang Wan hurriedly stepped up to hang it on a nearby rack, while Shang Ruyi intended to also remove her clothing but felt cold midway, even though Wo Xue and others immediately brought a fire basin to warm the room, she felt like she was still in an ice cave, could only put her clothes back on.
Chang Wan, seeing the scene, withdrew.
By this time, the lingering romantic aura and emotions between the two, lasting for several days, completely vanished.
She looked up at Yu Wenye, softly said, "Second brother..."
Yu Wenye lowered his gaze toward her.
His expression was still cold, even deeper than before, unable to discern any emotions.
Shang Ruyi originally didn’t know what to say, at this moment her heart felt even emptier.
Faced with her silence, Yu Wenye said, "If you haven’t thought of how to explain, you needn’t speak."
Shang Ruyi said, "Do you trust me, or does it not matter?"
"..."
Yu Wenye’s brow slightly furrowed, and seeing his indifferent expression, Shang Ruyi gave a bitter laugh and said, "Even if you truly don’t care, I...I still need to explain."
Yu Wenye said, "Go ahead."
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and said, "I did meet him at the Tinghe Building, but it wasn’t a clandestine meeting. Eunuch Yu and Wang Shaoji were both there. I didn’t do anything to betray you."
"..."
"What he talked about with me was also the war at the Xingluo Granary. It was only that day I learned you had been defeated in three battles. After leaving the Tinghe Building and returning home, I received that painting and, worried about you, I left the city that night."
"..."
"What I said is all true."
Yu Wenye looked at her for a moment and said, "I know what you said is true, but, just like back at the Tinghe Building, you are still hiding something."
Shang Ruyi’s eyes flickered slightly.
Yu Wenye looked into her eyes, his piercing gaze like a blade almost cutting her skin: "He specifically arranged to meet you at the Tinghe Building outside the palace. Could it be just to talk about the war at the Xingluo Granary?"
Shang Ruyi’s lips trembled slightly.
Noticing this subtle change, Yu Wenye said calmly, "If I’m not mistaken, he must have told you about his intention to kill me, right?"
"....!"
Shang Ruyi’s eyes widened as she looked at him.
She was not only shocked by Yu Wenye’s ability to perceive Chu Yang’s intentions but also surprised that the Emperor harbored murderous intent toward him. Such a thing would cause anyone to be panicked and terrified, yet Yu Wenye talked about it so casually, as if he didn’t care at all.
He said calmly, "Even after my great victory, he still had me confined to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation. When I was defeated in three battles, how could he not have the thought to kill me? I suspect he not only wants me dead but has probably also considered what to do with my people afterward."
"..."
"However, your concealment of these things is not to protect me from fear but to shield him."
"I—"
"Why are you protecting him? In your mind, is it possible that he can’t kill me, but I instead would—"
At this point, Shang Ruyi’s heart nearly broke apart, an unprecedented fear welled up, like a man-eating monster crawling out of her own heart, threatening to swallow her whole.
Even Yu Wenye himself stopped speaking.
For a moment, the two of them fell into an indescribable silence.
Seeing Shang Ruyi’s silent and shocked expression, Yu Wenye lowered his eyelashes, covering the dark glimmer in his deep eyes completely. To him, these were not difficult matters to fathom, not even intriguing enough to ask about further.
Yet, there was still a hole in his heart, prompting him to speak again.
"Yan Jie said he met with you nearby, when was it?"
Shang Ruyi looked up at him, not knowing why he suddenly asked about this, but still answered honestly, "I told you before, Wang Shaoji and the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice asked me about the war at the Xingluo Granary to match your testimony."
"On the same day?"
"Yes."
Yu Wenye’s eyes suddenly flashed with a cold light, "After asking you in the palace, why did he come out of the palace to see you again?"
"....!"
Shang Ruyi’s heart trembled, and her gaze flickered again.
Yet she eventually answered, "He came to give me something."
"Give you what?"
"Medical ointment."
Yu Wenye’s brows furrowed, his gaze immediately fell on Shang Ruyi’s slightly twitching slender shoulders, and he understood right away.
At this moment, what more was there not to understand?
Perhaps calling her into the palace was merely for inquiring about the war at the Xingluo Granary, but upon learning she was wounded by an arrow during the questioning, he immediately left the palace to bring her medication.
Even, considering it was raining at the time, the sovereign himself personally held an umbrella for her.
This, how was it different from the carefully crafted, one-of-a-kind Feathered Immortal Shoes?
The Emperor’s intentions, perhaps not meant for the world to know, but never intended to hide either.
Thinking of this, Yu Wenye’s face slowly darkened.
At once, whether it was anger or jealousy, a surge of emotions nearly overwhelmed him. When he looked at Shang Ruyi, his eyes were filled with complicated, indecipherable feelings.
After a while, he said, "Did you use—"
Halfway through, he abruptly stopped. Shang Ruyi looked at him with wide eyes, Yu Wenye said quietly, "Whether you used it or not, it doesn’t matter."
Shang Ruyi said, "I—"
Before she could finish her sentence, a sudden rush of footsteps was heard outside the door, followed by Chang Wan’s urgent voice at the door: "Second Young Master, Young Madam, someone from the palace is here!"