Chapter 293: Chapter 270: Do You Consider Me a Beast?_2
Yu Wenye looked at her with a smile and said, "Didn’t sleep well last night? Take a nap at noon."
Shang Ruyi’s face turned red again.
Others might not know, but how could she not know why she didn’t sleep well? Yet this ’culprit’ was looking at her with a face full of smiles, as if watching a show. She couldn’t say a word, just stammered while taking a couple of sips of tea, then prepared to go to bed.
Tushere was the last to leave the room, and then closed the door.
Just as she turned around, she saw Wo Xue grinning as she came forward and said, "Sister She’er, what happened yesterday when you went to Ban Yan Temple?"
Tushere said, "What do you mean, nothing happened."
"Nothing? Why do I feel that the Second Young Master and the Young Madam seem closer than before?"
"Really?"
"Don’t you think?"
Wo Xue laughed, "They rarely take naps together. Usually, even if the Second Young Master is home, he would be busy with his own matters."
"Oh...?"
Tushere thought about it and found it to be true.
Moreover, yesterday at Ban Yan Temple, it was a place of great peace and quiet. At night, listening to the sounds of insects and birds on the mountain, they slept particularly well, and today’s spirits were exceptionally good. But somehow, Shang Ruyi was yawning constantly and stumbled on her way down the mountain today. Yu Wenye had to reach out to support her, but she refused, struggling for a long time before coming down.
They did seem somewhat different from usual.
But—Tushere couldn’t help but think, how different could they get? Aren’t they just a loving couple?
So she waved her hand and said, "Stop asking around; go and do your own work."
Wo Xue, seeing she couldn’t get anything out, pouted a little but obediently went to do her tasks. Tushere turned back to look at the tightly shut door and, for some reason, smiled as well, then turned and walked away.
Inside the room, it was quiet and serene.
Shang Ruyi lay on the bed, feeling a bit sleepy, when she suddenly heard a light rustling sound. She opened her eyes to see Yu Wenye standing by the bed, taking off his outer clothing and sitting down.
Her heart skipped a beat: "Hmm?"
Yu Wenye looked down at her and smiled, "What? Want me to sleep over there?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi’s face turned red once more.
From yesterday till today, she had blushed countless times, and at this moment, she found herself speechless, silently retreating to make space on the bed.
Yu Wenye lay down with a smile, reaching out to pull her into his arms.
His embrace was firm and warm, always giving a sense of security, even complete reassurance. Shang Ruyi relaxed entirely when she leaned into it. But the hand around her waist felt somewhat hot, its iron-like firm grasp making her slightly uneasy. Thinking for a moment, she lifted her head in his arms and said softly, "Just sleeping."
"..."
Yu Wenye looked down at her, then said in a slightly exasperated tone, "Do you think I’m a brute?"
Shang Ruyi pursed her lips and chuckled, burying her face in his chest.
Yu Wenye gave her waist a firm pat, then gently stroked it as if to soothe her. But feeling her slender waist emit a faint aroma, he too felt a stir of restlessness in his heart.
Last night, since it was in the temple, there was both rational restraint and some guilt for going against decorum, intertwining several emotions. Their union was both blissful yet repressive, always seeming to lack something.
But they really couldn’t continue.
This young lady was genuinely exhausted.
So he took a deep breath, suppressing the inappropriate stir within, and gently rubbed her back, preparing to properly nap with her.
Just then, he felt her little head rise in his arms. Looking down at her, he asked, "What is it?"
Shang Ruyi said, "When are you leaving?"
"..."
Yu Wenye was slightly startled, then quickly understood, smiling, "You figured it out?"
Shang Ruyi said, "Mu Xian is not here today, you must have let him return first yesterday. If it weren’t important, you wouldn’t have let him return first."
"..."
"I also saw there are a few more people at the manor, your personal soldiers."
"..."
"Is the court ordering you to dispatch troops?"
Yu Wenye nodded, "The Ministry of War’s document has arrived. The troops are ready and are stationed outside the city; they depart tomorrow."
Shang Ruyi widened her eyes, thought for a moment, then said, "Why don’t they let you select the troops this time?"
Last time, when going to battle the Xingluo Granary, he had been allowed to select troops at the Ministry himself.
An icy glint appeared in Yu Wenye’s eyes: "Why do you think?"
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but frown.
Over the years, with rebellions breaking out everywhere, the court had sent out troops to quell them, but while suppressing revolts, they feared the generals commanding the troops would consolidate power. Thus, generals almost never led the same troops for long; after each mission, the troops would be changed to prevent familiarity and collusion in rebellion.
So, after Yu Wenye seized the Xingluo Granary previously, the troops that had just become familiar with him stayed behind to guard Warehouse City, and he couldn’t command them again. This time going to Hebei, he needed new troops.
However, not even allowing him to select his own troops was indeed a bit much.
Shang Ruyi whispered, "You’re unfamiliar with the troops, and you’re going against Wanggang Village—can you win like this?"
Yu Wenye looked at her for a moment and said, "Have you forgotten what I told you?"
"..."
"I said, now is not the time for me to fight to the death with the Wanggang Army."
"...?"
Shang Ruyi was taken aback.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached outside. Tushere called urgently from the doorway, "Sir, Miss, Eunuch Lu is here again!"
As soon as the words were out, Yu Wenye immediately sat up from the bed.
Shang Ruyi was also taken aback—Eunuch Lu, wasn’t he the eunuch by Empress Jiang’s side?
She quickly asked, "Is he here to see me?"