Chapter 1183 - 861: Hope
As soon as her gaze settled, it was met by a pair of eyes as if sculpted from ice, half-transparent, staring back at her coldly.
The chill in those eyes was like an unexpected gust of cold wind, chilling one to the bone.
Shang Ruyi clenched her hand inside her sleeve, unable to suppress a slight shiver of her heart, and the next moment, she saw Yu Wenqian’s lips slightly quirk up, revealing a faint, almost gentle smile.
Almost indistinguishable from how it had been in the past.
Yet, Shang Ruyi understood that he knew she had seen the coldness in his eyes just now, and he did not mind letting others see him withdraw that sharp edge and return to his former self.
Then, he smiled while holding Yu Mingyue’s hand and slowly walked over, "Second Brother, Ru Yi."
Even the tone of his voice was almost the same as before. If it weren’t for that personal experience by the lake at the Crown Prince Mansion that one night, Shang Ruyi would have doubted whether she was imagining things.
She took a deep breath, lowered her head, and nodded in greeting.
Yu Wenye’s voice, undisguised in its coldness, rang in her ears, "Imperial Brother, Imperial Sister-in-law, you are here too."
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but furrow her brow.
At this moment, she actually had some admiration for Yu Wenye—if it had been any other woman marrying Yu Wenqian, becoming their older sister-in-law, even if swords were drawn and hostility was evident, she could still maintain decorum, even appear to be a good sister-in-law. But unfortunately, it was Yu Mingyue, who not only secretly harmed them from the start, opposed them, but whose actions and thoughts made Shang Ruyi disdain her.
She lowered her head in salute because she couldn’t muster the words "Imperial Sister-in-law" for the moment.
As for Yu Wenye, she knew his temperament well, decisive on the battlefield. She thought he would be more willful, yet he effortlessly called out "Imperial Sister-in-law," even though his tone was cold, he maintained full decorum.
It seems that the cultivation of a noble son was truly not something ordinary people could match.
With his lead, Shang Ruyi took a deep breath too, putting on a full smile, and lifted her head, "Imperial Brother, Imperial Sister-in-law."
As she looked up, she met Yu Mingyue’s disdainful, cold gaze.
However, her coldness merely lingered on the surface, unlike in the past, when even a glance or silhouette could make Shang Ruyi’s heart tremble with fear. Now, with Yu Wenye by her side and having dressed warmly enough today, she did not feel too chilled.
Hence, she smiled again.
Yu Wenqian said, "Third Brother is going on a military expedition, of course, we must come to see him off. Let us hope—" saying this, he looked up again, but under the gray sky, the army had already marched along the long road out of sight. He said, "Let us hope they safely return."
Retracting his gaze, he saw Yu Wenye staring unwaveringly at him.
He smiled and asked, "Second Brother, what are you looking at?"
"..."
Yu Wenye said, "I am looking at Imperial Brother."
Yu Wenqian laughed, "Why do you watch me? Is there something different about me today compared to before?"
Yu Wenye stared at him for a moment and then shook his head, "No."
Yu Wenqian raised an eyebrow slightly, smiling faintly, "Is there truly no change from before, even in the bliss of new marriage?"
"Indeed, Imperial Brother, I find it odd too,"
Yu Wenye looked at him and said quietly, "Surprising that after marrying, you have entered the worldly affairs from the monastic life, distinctly different from the past, yet unchanged at all."
Yu Wenqian’s gaze hardened.
But Yu Wenye, as if he hadn’t said anything, turned to look at the grey skies beyond the city, watched the dust stirred by the marching troops settle back, and said, "Third Brother is favored by the Heavenly Phase, naturally he will return safely."
These words followed on from Yu Wenqian’s earlier statement, as if the previous confrontation had never happened.
Yu Wenqian observed him with a cold expression.
Yu Wenye added, "However—"
He changed the direction of the conversation but then stopped, while Yu Mingyue immediately asked, "However, what?"
Yu Wenye glanced at her, said nothing, but Shang Ruyi picked up the thread with a smile, "However, whether they can return in triumph is another matter."
Upon hearing this, Yu Wenqian and Yu Mingyue’s expressions changed, Yu Mingyue immediately responded with a cold smile, "Princess Qin’s words seem to imply that King Qi cannot win this battle."
Hearing this, Shang Ruyi promptly replied, "Can he win?"
Yu Mingyue’s words were meant to provoke, prepared to deal with Shang Ruyi’s sharp retorts, and even ready to lay some traps for Shang Ruyi to fall into—after all, making reckless comments on military affairs, disturbing military morale, this, if pursued, was a grave offense, if not death, then a severe crime, and Yu Wenquan already suspected Yu Wenye, this matter could be exaggerated.
Surprisingly, Shang Ruyi’s words were not sharp but followed her lead to inquire, catching Yu Mingyue off guard, causing her to pause instinctively, then freeze.
Shang Ruyi raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh."
Yu Mingyue’s face instantly darkened.
She of course knew Shang Ruyi had discerned her origins, and Yu Wenye and others naturally also knew, not only aware of her origins but also knew she was aware of certain matters. And this recent conversation was clearly probing.
Moreover, judging by Shang Ruyi’s expression, she had evidently deduced the information.
Yu Mingyue’s face turned ashen yet was speechless, while Yu Wenqian calmly glanced at them, then said, "It is about to rain, Ming Yue, let’s go."
Yu Mingyue exhaled heavily, then turned and followed him down the city tower.
Shang Ruyi immediately turned to look at Yu Wenye. Their eyes met, a silent yet clear confirmation—indeed, they couldn’t win.
That moment of sudden aggression from Shang Ruyi towards Yu Mingyue, in a completely unprepared state, people only act on instinct, and though Yu Mingyue was steadfast, she did not outright deny it, her expression had nevertheless revealed some truths.
This battle, Yu Wencheng cannot win!
If Yu Wenquan still wishes to advance eastward, he must choose another commanding general, and his choices are already limited.
As the two exchanged glances, even feeling a bit triumphant, suddenly, Yu Mingyue, who had reached the edge of the city wall, stopped, turned to look at Shang Ruyi, and said with a smile, "The world is unpredictable, whether or not they can win is not something a woman like myself can predict. I merely ’hope’ that King Qi can return safely."
Shang Ruyi did not understand her meaning but smiled and replied, "I hope so too."
Yu Mingyue continued smiling, "But for the others, I can’t ’hope’ as much."
"...!"
Hearing these words, Shang Ruyi’s face immediately darkened.