Chapter 330: Chapter 300 Young Madam, Please Be Careful
Early the next morning, Shang Ruyi rose as usual and immediately noticed an all-too-familiar presence among the palace maids serving her; it was Wo Xue.
She did not say anything immediately, but waited until they had finished washing and dressing her, and then asked while sitting down for breakfast, "You, are you healed?"
Wo Xue was just serving her a bowl of hot soup, and her hand paused slightly upon hearing this.
But she quickly composed herself, saying softly, "Thank you, Young Madam, for your concern, but, this servant is fine now."
Though she said so, Shang Ruyi still noticed her face was a bit pale, and her movements were more sluggish than before while working, but she said nothing more, merely nodded and accepted the bowl to start her meal.
Looking down at the dishes on the table, she couldn’t help but wrinkle her brows slightly.
For some time, her appetite had not been good, and she didn’t eat much, yet every day the kitchen delivered enough food for several people. This breakfast alone was a full table, with two kinds of congee, four medicinal broths and meals, seven or eight varieties of dishes, and light fruits and pastries; there was no way she could finish it all by herself.
Shang Ruyi said, "Next time, tell the kitchen I’m eating alone. I can’t finish this much food."
Wo Xue replied softly, "This was personally instructed by Your Majesty."
The implication was that it couldn’t be changed.
Having known Chu Yang for so long, Shang Ruyi also knew his stubbornness was not just limited to matters of state; even in these small matters, he wouldn’t listen to anyone’s advice, so she could only sigh.
After thinking about it for a moment, she said, "Then you eat some too."
Wo Xue’s face showed a look of alarm, and she hurriedly shook her head, "This servant dare not."
Shang Ruyi said, "No one will know; I’m telling you to eat."
Wo Xue still shook her head.
After pondering a bit more, Shang Ruyi said, "I have no appetite eating alone. Accompany me, and I might eat a little more."
"..."
Wo Xue looked at her, remained silent for a while, and finally lowered her head, saying softly, "Yes."
So, she apologized and sat across from Shang Ruyi, accompanying her to eat.
Though she came from the palace and was at the Emperor’s command, she had never eaten such a sumptuous and exquisite meal before, especially with these being items specifically prepared for Shang Ruyi for nourishment and benefit. Eating them was greatly beneficial to her health.
Wo Xue swallowed a mouthful of warm soup and felt the heat rise to her eyes, moistening her gaze momentarily.
The meal was eaten in silence. Although, with Wo Xue’s company, Shang Ruyi ate more than usual, still much remained. Shang Ruyi thought about how the leftovers would be thrown away and felt a heartache so sharp it hurt, but she could do nothing but watch as Wo Xue and the other two maids cleared the table.
Once everything was tidied up, Wo Xue asked, "Does Young Madam have anything planned for today?"
Shang Ruyi shook her head.
Speaking of it, ever since she arrived at Jiangdu Palace, she had mostly spent her time resting in bed, then recovering her strength and practicing walking again, having done nothing much else; only now did she realize how dull it could be.
Wo Xue said, "His Majesty has arranged for Hundred Play Artists, as well as singers and dancers. If Young Madam feels bored, she can summon them any time for entertainment."
"..."
Hearing this, Shang Ruyi still shook her head.
She was never much interested in songs and dances, let alone now, when she lacked the mood for it. After pondering, she said, "I have been here this long, yet haven’t taken a stroll outside. Will you accompany me for a walk?"
Wo Xue said, "Young Madam, we cannot leave the palace."
Shang Ruyi said, "Then we’ll just walk around the palace? I want to see what Jiangdu Palace looks like."
"Yes."
Thus, the two of them went out the door together.
Though they had visited the inner palace yesterday and seen some sights, today Shang Ruyi didn’t feel like going back there, so she walked in the opposite direction after leaving the room, exiting the palace building, and strolled down a long corridor until reaching a massive plaza in front of the main hall after descending some steps.
It was the dwelling place of the Emperor.
Thus, the guards here were much more numerous than in other places, with each tall and imposing guard standing every few steps along the corridor, all of whom stared at her with expressions of surprise.
Shang Ruyi’s footsteps slowed slightly.
It seemed unwise to proceed further.
Just as she hesitated, a soft male voice suddenly sounded beside her, "Yu Wen... Young Madam?"
Shang Ruyi turned to see a patrol team passing by, led by a young man about twenty years old, of medium build, whose eyes sparkled as he looked at her.
It was an unfamiliar face.
Shang Ruyi said, "Yes. And you are—?"
The man’s face lit up with delight, and he turned back and gestured at the team behind him, who marched forward without glancing aside, while he strode over to Shang Ruyi, cupping his fists in a respectful salute: "I am Cheng Qiao, Deputy Commander of the Left Palace Army."
The guards of Jiangdu Palace were divided into two units, Left Palace Army and Right Palace Army, each responsible for eastern and western gates and guards, with two highest commanders—generals of the left and right palace armies—and deputy commanders as second-in-command of the two units.
It was the first time Shang Ruyi had met the commanders of the guards at Jiangdu Palace.
However, it was strange that when most people introduced themselves, they would put their position first, but he said his name first and then his position, as if his personal identity was more important than his position.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi glanced at him again.
This person’s skin was darker and rougher compared to the surrounding southern soldiers; his eyes were large and round, and his lips slightly thick. He seemed to have an honest temperament, but no matter how you looked at him, it was still an unfamiliar face.
Sensing the unfamiliarity in Shang Ruyi’s eyes, Cheng Qiao softly said, "I once served in the Taiyuan Army."
Taiyuan? In Duke Sheng’s army?
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately became spirited: "You followed the Duke?"
Cheng Qiao immediately nodded and carefully looked at Shang Ruyi: "The second son didn’t mention me?"
"...?! "
Shang Ruyi’s breathing slightly paused, filled with doubt and an unfounded sense of unease, but she still managed to keep her expression unchanged and said, "No."
Cheng Qiao’s face showed a hint of disappointment, but then he lightly smiled and said, "The second son has always been like that."
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but wonder if that person had wronged him in some way.
After a bout of despondency, Cheng Qiao met Shang Ruyi’s puzzled gaze and smiled immediately: "Young Madam, don’t misunderstand, actually, I owe a great debt to the second son without any way to repay it."
Shang Ruyi asked, "What happened?"
Cheng Qiao then told Shang Ruyi that he once served in the Taiyuan Army, always by Yu Wenye’s side. But a few years ago, when the court conscripted troops for the second expedition to Liaodong, his elder brother was forced to march with the army, and later died in Liaodong.
Shang Ruyi frowned and said, "The two of you brothers were both in the army? Isn’t that against regulations?"
"..."
Cheng Qiao looked at her and smiled bitterly: "Young Madam, since the second Liaodong expedition, the rule that brothers cannot serve simultaneously has practically ceased to exist."
Shang Ruyi sighed.
She then asked, "Then how did you end up in Jiangdu Palace?"
Cheng Qiao said, "After my brother died in action, there was no one at home to care for the two elderly. When the second son learned of this, he allowed me to return home. Moreover, he specifically arranged for me to guard Jiangdu Palace. This way, I remained part of the army and wouldn’t be conscripted again."
Shang Ruyi breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That’s good. Your elders at home have some support."
Upon mentioning this, Cheng Qiao’s eyes turned red.
Shang Ruyi immediately sensed something and asked, "What’s wrong?"
Cheng Qiao choked and said, "Actually, just on my way home, the court had already started conscripting troops for the third Liaodong expedition... My father was conscripted."
"What?!"
Shang Ruyi could hardly believe her ears; Cheng Qiao’s father, by any measure, should not have been part of the conscription. So she said, "Your father, then—"
Upon seeing Cheng Qiao’s expression, she knew there was no need to ask further.
That expedition to Gouli Country was the most brutal of the three campaigns. Four hundred thousand troops went to Liaodong, and in the end, less than eighty thousand returned to their homeland. Shang Ruyi had heard that during the final great defeat, Gouli Country’s soldiers pursued them as the Daye Dynasty’s troops crossed the river, drowning nearly a hundred thousand soldiers!
One hundred thousand; it had sounded tragic before, but no matter how tragic, it was just numbers.
But now, among those hundred thousand, there was a very clear figure, perhaps the father of the person before her.
Shang Ruyi suddenly felt a heavy pain in her chest, almost rendering her speechless.
Seeing her face suddenly turn pale, Cheng Qiao also regretted his words and quickly said, "Sigh, I originally came to inquire after the Young Madam, but somehow ended up making the Young Madam unhappy with such matters. Please forgive me, Young Madam."
Shang Ruyi gently shook her head.
Looking at him again, her gaze became heavier, while Cheng Qiao had regained his composure and said, "Although both my brother and father are—my mother and I have now settled down. I always wish to repay the second son. I heard that His Majesty is leading officials and their families on a tour of Jiangdu Palace, and I thought there might be a chance, but then I heard the second son seemed to have been sent to attack Wanggang Village."
Shang Ruyi only felt a wave of dull pain in her chest.
Although Cheng Qiao didn’t mention Yu Wenye’s name, just bringing up the person felt like a repeated wound to her. She could only pretend her expression remained normal and softly said, "Hmm."
Cheng Qiao sighed in melancholy.
But he quickly raised his head to Shang Ruyi and said, "If the Young Madam has any need, please feel free to send someone to instruct me."
"..."
Shang Ruyi looked at him, not knowing what to say.
The relationship between her and Yu Wenye—even if it wasn’t broken, at least now, just hearing his name made her uncomfortable, so of course, she wouldn’t want to involve herself with any people or matters related to him.
Moreover, receiving benefits of gratitude meant for someone else was unthinkable.
So she lightly shook her head and said, "I, I don’t have... In short, you don’t need to be so concerned... Take good care of yourself."
Upon finishing, she turned to leave.
But Cheng Qiao softly said from behind her, "Young Madam... also, please be careful."