Chapter 296: Chapter 273 Farewell
On the second day, it was the day for the Assistant General to set out on his expedition.
Before dawn, the servants in the house were already busy, boiling water and preparing breakfast. Tushere and the others got up early, coming over to assist Yu Wenye in getting up and washing. After breakfast, it was time to dress the General in armor.
This time, it was Shang Ruyi who personally took action.
Previously, Yu Wenye wore ordinary leather armor in the army. It was only after he was promoted to Assistant General that he received a set of Bright Armor, weighing several dozen pounds. Most people would find it tiring just to hold it, yet he had to move about in this heavy armor and even charge into battle. Shang Ruyi couldn’t fathom how strong he must be—
But somehow, she could somewhat imagine it.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but feel her cheeks grow warm, lowering her head to try not to let anyone notice. However, when she finally struggled to put the heavy breastplate on him, she couldn’t help sweating profusely, her body so weak she could barely stand.
Yu Wenye had his arms spread and stood still originally, but at this moment, he reached out to support her.
"What’s wrong?"
Shang Ruyi hurriedly shook her head, "No, it’s nothing."
She turned to take the waistband to tie for him. Despite the thick armor, his waist was still slender, her hands could easily wrap around it. As she approached his strong and supple waist, some inappropriate memories surfaced in her mind once more.
This time, Shang Ruyi’s face genuinely reddened.
Just as she was about to fetch the overshoes, Yu Wenye grabbed her, not letting her move. Shang Ruyi struggled slightly, whispering, "What are you doing?"
Yu Wenye looked down at her somewhat flushed face, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, saying, "If you’re tired, just say so."
"..."
"Go rest and let them help me dress."
Shang Ruyi’s face was fiercely burning. Indeed, she was very tired at this moment. She barely got any sleep until dawn, and as soon as she closed her eyes, it was time to set off. Yu Wenye, however, was full of energy and comforted her to sleep a little longer, but how could she face that? She forced herself awake to help him dress and wash, avoiding being the butt of jokes for the servants.
However, by this moment, she no longer had any strength in her hands. Fortunately, Chang Wan was quick-witted, immediately stepping forward, "These shoes are difficult to put on, let this servant do it."
After saying, she took the overshoes to put on Yu Wenye.
Shang Ruyi then sat aside, using the candlelight to observe the man clad in heavy armor, looking particularly valiant.
She was actually not unfamiliar with men’s armor. When she was little, she often touched her father’s heavy armor hanging in the study at home. To her, it seemed like a magical garment that could resist all the swords, spears, axes, and halberds in the world, protecting her family from harm. But now, as she grew older, she gradually understood that the harm in this world did not always come from swords, spears, axes, and halberds.
But nonetheless, she still hoped, hoped that that armor could withstand all harm for Yu Wenye.
Soon, the entire set of armor was dressed.
Yu Wenye shook his shoulders, ensuring everything on his body was in place, then turned back to Shang Ruyi, smiling, "So, can you still see me off?"
Shang Ruyi glared at him, stood up, and said, "Let’s go."
Then, they left the room, stepping outside the main gate where Mu Xian was already waiting with over a dozen personal soldiers. Before dawn, they had gone outside the city to count the troops, then returned to Yuwen Mansion, just waiting for Yu Wenye to be completely ready to set out. This time, there was also a carriage prepared especially for Shang Ruyi.
She originally wanted to ride a horse, but as she walked out, not only was her back sore, her legs were also weak. When she climbed onto the carriage, her foot slipped slightly, almost causing her to fall.
Luckily, Yu Wenye leapt forward and caught her.
Shang Ruyi turned back, meeting his smiling eyes, her face burning hotly. Fortunately, the sky was still dark and the lantern at the gate wasn’t bright enough to illuminate her reddened face. She immediately turned and ducked into the carriage.
Yu Wenye smiled and closed the carriage door for her, then mounted his horse.
The group rode away from Yuwen Mansion, heading towards the city gates.
At this time, the sky was still dark, almost deserted along the way. Only a few all-night operating taverns were still lit, dotting the city with a few specks of light. The more so, the more it accentuated the darkness of the entire Eastern Capital City.
They traveled smoothly, reaching the city gate in less than half an hour. Shang Ruyi lifted the curtain to look ahead; the gate was open, but beyond it was still engulfed in darkness. As they slowly approached, it felt as if they were entering the darkness.
She couldn’t help but feel a heaviness in her heart.
At this moment, several soldiers blocked their way at the city gate.
Yu Wenye immediately reined in his horse, looking down at them. Clad in armor, even without a weapon in hand, the aura of a martial artist naturally emanated from him. Any displeasure would instantly turn that aura into an intimidating killing intent, chilling others to the core.
The soldiers did not dare to make a sound, but a man holding a lantern stepped forward from the side, greeting Yu Wenye with a smile, "Great General."
Upon closer inspection, it was the Deputy General who had previously blocked them at the city gate.
Yu Wenye said impassively, "Why are you stopping me?"
The Deputy General smiled, "I heard the Great General is leading the troops on an expedition today and came to see you off."
Yu Wenye said, "No need, please step aside."
But the Deputy General still stood in the middle of the road, Yu Wenye’s brow slowly furrowing.
The Deputy General seemed to sense something amiss and quickly offered a conciliatory smile, saying, "We dare not obstruct the Great General. However, the Great General must know the military regulations: when setting out on a campaign, no family members, especially women, are allowed to go along."
With these words, his gaze fell upon the carriage behind Yu Wenye.
Yu Wenye also turned to look back briefly, then said, "This is my wife. She came to see me off. What’s wrong with that?"
The Deputy General forced a smile and said, "Seeing off at the city gate would suffice."
"..."
"Great General, we act according to the law. Please, Great General, do not take offense."
At this moment, Shang Ruyi’s brows furrowed slightly. In the army, it’s indeed a rule that family cannot accompany, naturally. But who can dictate where family members can see off departing loved ones? Reflecting on the previous time they left the city, this man blocked them once and now again. This Deputy General seemed overly officious.
Moreover, his intention was solely focused on her.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but say, "Why, can’t I leave the city?"
The Deputy General respectfully saluted her, "Please forgive me, Young Madam. Beyond the city walls is not quite peaceful. I am acting for your consideration."
His words shut others up. Shang Ruyi glanced up at Yu Wenye, then looked at the pitch-black darkness outside the city gate, where one could hardly see with an outstretched hand, and the shadows in her heart grew darker.
To her surprise, Yu Wenye did not become angry and merely turned to her, saying, "You should stop here."
Shang Ruyi said, "And you—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Yu Wenye had already turned his horse and approached the carriage. He leaned down to gaze at her, and under the dim light, their eyes met. Despite the dusky surroundings, their eyes shone brightly, seemingly illuminating each other.
Although her heart was filled with reluctance, at this moment, Shang Ruyi still spoke, "Rest assured and go."
Upon hearing this, Yu Wenye smiled.
He looked at her for a while longer and then said, "Remember what I told you before."
Shang Ruyi immediately nodded.
Yu Wenye shook the reins and urged his horse closer to her. The two of them drew nearer.
But they could only approach so far; clad in Heavy Armor, they couldn’t be intimately close as usual. Indeed, now was not the time for him to indulge too much in sentiment; he took a deep breath and then said, "Take care."
Saying this, he turned his horse around, cracked his whip, and his stallion immediately charged forward.
The soldiers hastily moved aside in fright; some stumbled over one another, while the wind raised by the gallop left the Deputy General disheveled, snuffing out the lantern in his hand.
A scene of disarray.
Mu Xian and his company stifled their laughter, saluted Shang Ruyi, and pursued swiftly on horseback. The group, like a gust of wind, quickly vanished outside the city gates.
Only then did the soldiers slowly rise from the ground, muttering curses under their breath. But when they turned and saw the General’s wife still in the carriage, none dared speak further, forced to quietly retreat, while the Deputy General’s face turned grim. Yet, he still politely stepped forward, saying, "Young Madam, won’t you return?"
Shang Ruyi cast him a cold glance, "I’m not leaving the city. Do you mind that too?"
The Deputy General promptly smiled apologetically, "I dare not."
Shang Ruyi snorted coldly and no longer paid him any attention; she merely looked towards the city gates, now incapable of seeing Yu Wenye’s figure; only when even the wind he raised had faded did she wave her hand, "Return to the mansion."
The carriage immediately turned around and headed back the way they came.
As they departed, Shang Ruyi distinctly heard the sound of the Deputy General of the guard station letting out a long breath of relief.
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Continuing the journey back, the sky slowly brightened, and travelers began appearing on the road.
Shang Ruyi, sitting in the carriage, felt drowsy.
Yet as their carriage passed through the busiest street within Eastern Capital City, it unexpectedly came to a halt. Shang Ruyi instantly awoke and asked, "What’s happening?"
The coachman in front replied, "Young Madam, someone—blocks the way."
"...?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi frowned.
She reached out to lift the curtain and look outside, only to find their carriage stopped before the door of the exceedingly familiar inn—Tinghe Building—and in front of the carriage stood several tall and burly men, although dressed in common attire, clearly not ordinary folk.
Soon, a familiar figure emerged from Tinghe Building, walking up to the carriage and saluting her.
"Young Madam."
Seeing him, Shang Ruyi’s heart sank a little, "Eunuch Yu...?"