Chapter 320: Chapter 292: Is it worth it?
In the pitch-black night, they fled frantically and finally returned to the manor at dawn.
Fortunately, Shang Ruyi had Jiang Kesong and the others come back first to prepare, so when they returned to the manor, the people here immediately came to receive them and had rooms, fire basins, and medicines ready. Soon, this group, as if they had just taken a trip to the underworld, was settled.
By the time everything was arranged and they finally breathed a sigh of relief, it was already 5 AM.
Shang Ruyi sat in her room, looking at the deep darkness outside the window. Although there were still lights faintly in the distance, that weak light wasn’t enough to illuminate the room she was in; she still felt as if she was in endless darkness.
Until the door was pushed open with a creak.
She quickly looked up, but it was Tushere coming in with a candlestick and a food box, gently saying, "Miss, you’re still awake. I’ve had the kitchen prepare some hot soup and food for you. Eat it before you sleep, and we’ll talk about what’s next after you’ve rested well."
"...Hmm."
Shang Ruyi ignored the slight disappointment in her heart, slowly got up and approached the table. Tushere lit the candlestick in the room, and took out the food from the box one by one.
The food was simple; at this time, nothing more sumptuous could be prepared.
Shang Ruyi had no appetite at all, only looking at the steam rising from the bowl, then asked, "How’s everyone else settled?"
Tushere said, "Everyone is settled."
"..."
Shang Ruyi was silent for a while, then said, "Is anyone injured?"
Tushere looked at her across the candlelight, her gaze slightly flickering, gently said, "Only, only the lord, was hit by three arrows on the back."
"..."
"But fortunately, they’re not deep. I heard from Mu Xian that someone named Hua Ziyang should have pulled back on purpose."
"..."
"He might have wanted to capture them..."
Shang Ruyi was silent for a while longer, then asked, "And the Empress... how is she?"
Tushere’s expression became stranger, looking at her, she gently said, "The Empress is fine."
"Nothing at all?"
"No."
"..."
Shang Ruyi smiled slightly, saying, "Indeed, indeed..."
By this time, Tushere couldn’t restrain the doubt in her heart, especially seeing her own miss suppressing herself intentionally, she couldn’t help but feel heartache, so she asked, "Miss, why does the lord... why does he protect the Empress so much?"
Shang Ruyi looked up at her.
It seemed like Shang Ruyi’s gaze was too calm, yet she felt that she shouldn’t be calm at this time. Tushere said somewhat panicked, "I know these matters involve the Empress, I shouldn’t speak recklessly... but I just find it strange, Miss, why does the lord care about the Empress? His wounds were just bandaged, without even taking medicine, and he went to the Empress again."
"..."
"He, why doesn’t he come to see you?"
"..."
Under the flickering candlelight, Shang Ruyi’s eyes gradually darkened.
For a long time, she finally spoke in an almost temperatureless voice, "I also want to know why."
At this moment, as if feeling the unease in her heart gradually turning into reality, Tushere’s expression became increasingly solemn. She frowned, about to speak, but heard Shang Ruyi softly say, "Okay, you’ve been busy for so long, you must be tired. Go down and rest."
"Miss..."
"I’m tired, I want to be alone for a while."
"..."
Hearing her say this, Tushere had no choice but to look at her longingly, then exited the room.
Shang Ruyi sat quietly at the table, gazing with empty eyes at the swaying candlelight. After an unknown period of time, she picked up the slightly warm soup and food on the table, slurped a big mouthful, regained a little strength and warmth, then got up and pushed the door to leave.
After the manor had just experienced a bout of panic, it quieted down again.
The darkness before dawn was the heaviest, like a black curtain wrapped around one’s heart, not only making it impossible to breathe but also impossible to escape. Shang Ruyi walked slowly along the corridor in this oppressive atmosphere, as the surrounding rooms dimmed their lights and quieted down, only a single court at the front still revealed light through its doors and windows.
Shang Ruyi endured the chill, slowly walking over.
Just as she was a few steps from the door, she suddenly felt that the scene before her was somewhat familiar.
Then she thought it over, and remembered, back in Yanmen County, after Yu Wenye was injured, she went to see him. At that time, she also slowly approached his room alone, seeing him sitting injured on the bed, while Princess Xinyue sat in front of him, crying with heartache.
Back then, for the little tenderness she showed him, her heart ached as if twisted.
But now, looking back, the tenderness he showed then was clearly the gentle affection belonging to a brother, warm yet detached, even always, he held the same attitude towards Princess Xinyue.
Unfortunately, back then she did not understand at all, until now she realized what his true tenderness looked like.
To whom it was given.
Actually, it was long overdue to understand that true tenderness is not the expression of a smile, not the words of concern. Everything that can be seen can be faked, but the care and sacrifice to not allow even a scratch is the true, deep tenderness.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi’s steps slowed.
She suddenly felt that she didn’t need to come after all.
At this moment, there was a low, plaintive sigh from the tightly enclosed room. Hearing that familiar gentle tone, usually Shang Ruyi would feel like basking in the spring breeze, but now, she stood in the cold wind, her body’s blood seeming to freeze.
She heard Empress Jiang say in a deep voice, "Feng Chen, why are you being so stubborn?"
"..."
"As long as you don’t mind me, you can surely take them away safely. Why did you go to this extent, and even exhaust yourself receiving these injuries?"
Silence hovered in the room for a long time.
Then, she heard Yu Wenye say softly, "I cannot disregard the Empress’s safety."
Shang Ruyi’s ears buzzed and she heard nothing.
The surrounding cold wind howled, and even fist-sized snowballs kept hitting her face as if someone repeatedly slapped her hard, yet she felt none of it.
After a while, she slowly regained her senses, subconsciously reaching out to pinch her fingers.
Then she laughed again.
At that moment, she had forgotten that her little finger was originally numb, even if she wanted to pinch, she shouldn’t pinch her little finger. Therefore, her hands hanging by her sides slowly clenched into fists, tighter and tighter, until her short nails sunk into her palms, and the sharp pain brought her back to herself.
Then, she heard a long sigh from Empress Jiang in the room.
"Such a child you are..."
As for the person opposite her, it was unknown what emotion he felt upon hearing these words, but Shang Ruyi seemed to sense it too, causing her to almost hold her breath, following the person in the room in silence for a long while before hearing him say deeply, "Empress, please rest well."
Next, footsteps echoed from inside, coming closer.
Then, the door opened.
The candlelight from the room clearly outlined his tall and sturdy figure, even illuminating the darkness on his face and the shock when he suddenly met Shang Ruyi’s eyes. But he quickly shut the door behind him and walked towards Shang Ruyi.
"Why are you here?"
Shang Ruyi looked up, seeing his eyes had returned to their usual sternness. She felt no embarrassment for being caught eavesdropping, instead calmly saying, "I heard you risked your life to save the Empress, so I came to see."
"..."
Yu Wenye furrowed his brow.
He looked at Shang Ruyi, seemingly sensing the hostility, so he said, "If you have something to say, let’s talk in my room."
After saying this, he was about to leave.
But Shang Ruyi remained still, merely tilting her head to look at him, "Why can’t we talk here?"
Yu Wenye said, "She is very tired. I want her to rest well."
"..."
The cold wind pierced Shang Ruyi’s body like a sword.
Though her entire body was so cold that she lost feeling, she still shook from the sharp pain, looking at Yu Wenye and swallowing hard, even though there was clearly nothing in her mouth, her throat seemed to taste a hint of bitterness. Once she managed to regain her breath, she said, "Let’s go."
Thus, the two departed from the quiet courtyard, arriving at Yu Wenye’s room.
In his room, even a brazier wasn’t prepared.
The air was filled with a bloody smell, and after lighting the candlestick on the table, Shang Ruyi saw the ground covered with blood-stained bandages and a copper basin at her feet, the water dyed red with his blood, obviously just returned to the estate and first dealt with the arrow wounds.
Hit by three arrows, and not simple through-and-through wounds.
Removing the arrowheads, stitching the wounds, applying medicine, and bandaging, such a process could take half a person’s life, yet he didn’t rest even a moment before caring for others again.
Turning around, Shang Ruyi finally sees that although he wore thick fur clothing, underneath was obviously just a piece of close-fitting inner wear, faintly revealing the thick bandages wrapped around him.
His face was pallid too, lips bloodless.
Shang Ruyi felt foolishly pained, unsure if her heart was aching for him or for herself.
She asked, "Does it still hurt?"
"..."
Yu Wenye’s brow twitched slightly, as if the question was not only inexplicable but also sudden. He looked down at Shang Ruyi with a constrained tone, "It doesn’t hurt."
"Oh..."
Shang Ruyi nodded lightly.
Then she looked up at him again, those bright eyes in the dim candlelight sharp as blades, piercing straight into his heart.
She asked, "Is it worth it?"