Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?

Yu Wenye did not answer her immediately. After taking off his outer robe and tossing it to Chang Wan, he strode over and sat down beside Shang Ruyi. The chill on his body, carried over by the wind, blew onto Shang Ruyi’s face, making her even more alert.

She asked, "You didn’t see Pei Xingyuan?"

Yu Wenye shook his head.

Shang Ruyi sighed. "I thought that after Su Qinglan was released, Father would ease up somewhat about them having been deceived, that he’d at least let you see him once. I didn’t expect it’s still not possible."

Yu Wenye said, "The people of the Ministry of Justice said that originally, the watch on him had already been somewhat relaxed. But just yesterday, Father suddenly sent an oral decree, saying that after the New Year he will personally interrogate Xing Yuan, so during this period, no one may see him again."

"What!?"

Hearing this, Shang Ruyi was startled. "Father wants to personally interrogate him?"

Yu Wenye nodded. "Mm."

Shang Ruyi said, "Interrogate him how? No, interrogate him about what? No, that’s not right—"

She herself became all mixed up. Seeing her like this, though his mood was heavy, Yu Wenye still couldn’t help but let out a wry smile. He understood that this matter truly was troublesome. Ordinarily, whether it was a case of rebels or assassins, such cases would be handed over to the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Justice (Dali Temple) to be thoroughly investigated, and only then would the final decision be made by the Emperor. Yet this time, ever since Pei Xingyuan and the others were thrown into the Ministry of Justice Prison, they had not been able to extract anything, and the main culprit had escaped and was still at large. Seeing the case about to be dragged out in this murky way, Yu Wenquan naturally could not allow it.

Yet the Emperor actually wanted to personally interrogate the "suspect"; this was something that had never happened before.

It could be seen how much importance he attached to this matter.

Although the Dasheng Dynasty had been established, in such a storm-tossed and chaotic world, no one could be sure whether this Dynasty would endure for thousands of years, or vanish in an instant like a shooting star streaking across the night sky. Yu Wenquan not only had to attach importance to the wars abroad, he could not slacken in suppressing and pacifying internal rebellions either.

Shang Ruyi calmed her emotions. "Father personally interrogating him—does that mean he trusts him, or that he doesn’t?"

Yu Wenye said, "Hard to say."

"..."

"Judging from Doctor Su’s experience this time, it looks as though Father’s suspicion ought to have lessened, but—"

"But what?"

"But at this moment, Father’s thoughts are truly hard to guess."

"..."

"Even if Doctor Su did have dealings with Jiang Xian, in the end, he did not accompany the imperial entourage to the Hot Spring Palace, so strictly speaking he has no direct relation to the assassin incident. Xing Yuan is different. It is a fact that he held a secret meeting in Feishuang Palace. In Father’s eyes, that might mean he has a direct connection with the assassins."

"..."

"In such circumstances, once he is convicted, it is almost impossible to clear his name."

Shang Ruyi frowned as she listened.

Seeing how tense she looked, Yu Wenye added, "However, if Father had already decided he truly was connected to the assassins, and that the assassins were connected to the rebels, he wouldn’t have kept him imprisoned all these days, and then still personally interrogate him in the end. If Xing Yuan can present sufficient evidence, there might be a slim chance of survival."

Shang Ruyi instantly held her breath. "Will Mr. Pei hand it over?"

Yu Wenye glanced at her and said nothing.

A strange atmosphere spread between the two of them as their gazes met. After a long silence, Yu Wenye said, "I can’t see him either now. Everything depends on how he chooses to decide for himself."

"..."

"But he should know what he ought to do."

Shang Ruyi remained silent and nodded lightly.

Over the next few days, they followed their routines step by step. On the fifth day of the first month, the Emperor held court, attending to affairs of state. Before the Lantern Festival, the Crown Prince also entered the palace daily to pay his respects to the Emperor. It was just that the only person he brought with him now was the Crown Princess Consort; the Crown Prince Consort no longer accompanied him.

On this day, King Qin also brought Princess Qin to pay respects to the Emperor. By coincidence, the two parties ran into each other. As the three—father and sons—had matters to discuss, they let the Crown Princess Consort and Princess Qin withdraw first. Shang Ruyi and Yu Mingyue left Liangyi Hall together, but did not leave immediately. Instead, with great tacit understanding, they looked toward each other.

Then Shang Ruyi said, "The weather happens to be quite good today. Would the Crown Princess Consort like to take a walk in the Inner Court?"

Yu Mingyue said, "All right."

So the two of them, politely yielding to each other, walked toward the Inner Court. Before long, they stepped onto the Thousand-step Corridor. Because it had been snowing for several days in a row, the surface of the Mountain and Water Pool had already frozen over with a layer of ice. But the ice was not very thick; one could faintly see the water beneath still flowing slowly, and even catch sight of the brilliantly colored carp, motionless in the water, their forms clearly visible.

Now, the undercurrents surging within the court and the inner palace were much the same.

The two looked as if they were walking shoulder to shoulder, yet there was still a half-step distance between them, one slightly ahead of the other. Yu Mingyue walked in front. Feeling Shang Ruyi’s measured steps following behind her, she let out a cold laugh and spoke first. "After using me, are you very pleased with yourself?"

"Hm?"

Shang Ruyi withdrew her gaze from the ice and looked at Yu Mingyue beside her, her smile radiant. "Crown Princess Consort, you jest."

Yu Mingyue sneered. "Even now, you still won’t tell the truth?"

"..."

"Or do you really think I can’t see through anything?"

"..."

"Someone as cautious and meticulous as Su Qinglan—if she discovered that your son was allergic to some medicine, how could she possibly not tell you immediately? If she made a mistake in prescribing it, she herself would be a dead woman."

Although almost every word she said was within Shang Ruyi’s expectations, hearing the two words "allergic" still surprised her somewhat. "Allergic? What do you mean?"

Yu Mingyue turned back and gave her a contemptuous look. "It’s what you people call ’not responding appropriately’."

"..."

"Barbarians can’t eat grains, beans, or nuts because they’re allergic to gluten. Central Plains people can’t drink milk or eat cheese; that’s called lactose intolerance. And you don’t even understand that!"

"...Oh."

So that, in the future, is called an allergy?

Those two characters were not only unfamiliar, they didn’t seem to mean much to her. But she herself was no physician, so she did not need to pay too much attention to such details. Shang Ruyi then smiled faintly and said, "As for allergies and such, I truly don’t know. But hasn’t the Crown Princess Consort also achieved her own goal?"

Yu Mingyue stopped and turned to look at her. "What do you mean?"

Shang Ruyi said, "Today, Lou Liangdi wasn’t able to enter the palace with you, was she?"

At this mention, Yu Mingyue’s expression eased somewhat. The words Yu Wenqian spoke on New Year’s Eve had been a warning to her, indeed making her a bit nervous. But just as Yu Wenqian himself had said, they were husband and wife; from the wedding night onward, they shared both honor and disgrace. So even if she and Yu Dingxing truly had conspired in this matter, Yu Wenqian was forced to cover it up. Meanwhile, Lou Chan Yue and her father Lou Yingxiong ended up with nothing but an empty basket and were even forced to swallow this dumb loss in silence. This had been Yu Mingyue’s greatest delight these past few days.

Yet amidst her delight, she was even more cautious when facing Shang Ruyi, saying coldly, "The matter is already over. If you’re still trying to pry anything out of me now, you may spare yourself the trouble."

Shang Ruyi smiled. "I know the Crown Princess Consort doesn’t trust me. In truth, even Father may not trust us. That’s why he will personally handle Lord Pei’s interrogation."

"Interrogate Pei Xingyuan?"

Yu Mingyue widened her eyes slightly in surprise. "There’s such a thing?"

Shang Ruyi looked at her with narrowed, smiling eyes. "Ah, so His Highness the Crown Prince didn’t tell you."