Everyone turned their heads as a spacious horse carriage slowly approached from within the city.
The carriage was extraordinarily luxurious, adorned with colorful tassels around its canopy. Even the curtains dangling by the windows were made of sheer yellow silk, which fluttered as it moved, making the entire carriage resemble a celestial chariot descending from the clouds.
Finally, the carriage stopped in front of Yu Wenye’s carriage.
Upon seeing this carriage, Yu Wenye’s face immediately displayed a strange expression—neither joy nor anger, while Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but take a deeper breath.
The guards who saw the grandeur of the magnificent carriage seemed to sense something as well. Their hands, which had been about to draw swords, quickly pulled back, and they stood still, holding their breath. The captain cautiously stepped forward, asking, "Who is arriving—?"
A slender, fair hand reached out from the carriage, holding a gold token.
With just a flash, it retracted back.
But the captain got a clear look at it and instantly his expression changed. He hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, "Your Highness the Princess, this humble servant greets Your Highness."
Hearing this, the surrounding soldiers were also taken aback.
They knew that His Majesty the Emperor had only one daughter—Princess Xinyue, who was cherished beyond measure! To think she would appear here, everyone hurriedly bowed in obeisance.
The captain, keeping his head low, said, "I did not know Your Highness had arrived. What orders do you have?"
The sweet, slightly displeased voice from inside the carriage replied, "I had originally arranged to go hunting outside the city with Young Master Yu Wen—my husband, but something came up in the palace and I was delayed. They went out of the city first. I did not expect you to stop Young Master Yu Wen’s carriage from entering the city. Shall I be without a home after leaving the city?"
The captain broke into a cold sweat, "This humble servant did not know that Young Master Yu Wen was with Your Highness—"
At this, he hastily waved his hand, "Let them pass immediately."
The person inside the carriage added, "Is passing all that this princess desires?"
"I understand, I understand," the captain responded.
The captain looked up, accompanying his words with a smile towards the cold face of Yu Wenye, whose face was showing half through the carriage window, "I was confused earlier. I won’t dare to stop Young Master Yu Wen’s carriage again in the future."
Yu Wenye’s face still showed no hint of joy or anger. He simply lifted his head and glanced at the opposing carriage.
Then, a voice with a hint of sweetness and laughter from the carriage asked, "Second brother, can we leave the city now?"
Yu Wenye did not answer immediately, but instead lowered his head to glance at Shang Ruyi beside him.
He met a face filled with a smile.
Shang Ruyi was smiling at him—though her hands were nearly tearing her clothes to shreds.
Strangely enough, just the day before, she had used a condition to trade with Yu Wenye to accompany her when searching for her uncle and aunt. The next day, the chance to fulfill her promise presented itself.
There truly was no room for maneuver.
Thinking this, the smile on Shang Ruyi’s face deepened, she leaned towards the window and said softly to the carriage ahead, "Your Highness, I apologize. I’m feeling unwell and may not be able to accompany you on the hunt. Please allow my husband to accompany you instead."
It seemed that the person in the opposing carriage was also taken aback.
All the people under the city gate fell silent, only a gust of wind whistling through the gateway, adding an inexplicable sense of oppression.
After a while, the person inside the carriage said, "Very well."
Shang Ruyi smiled and then looked up at Yu Wenye, saying, "Then, I’ll head home first."
Her words were filled with a sense of ’done my duty.’
Yu Wenye remained silent, simply staring at her.
Shang Ruyi wasn’t sure whether it was her imagination, but there seemed to be a hint of anger in his cold, deep eyes.
But the next moment, she realized it must have been her imagination.
Her performance, at least in her own opinion, was flawless. She had provided the opportunity for the two to be together, and claiming illness to return to the manor first was merely to avoid the awkwardness of a party of three. This was not only her promise, but also a way to preserve her dignity as the Young Madam of the Duke Mansion in front of others.
Surely, they wouldn’t deny her even this small dignity?
Thinking this, she smiled gently and said softly, "I’ll take the carriage back, then?"
"Once I return, should I send the carriage back to pick you up?"
Without a word, Yu Wenye glanced at her before stepping out of the carriage.
Inside the carriage, the air stirred by his leap out left a breeze that softly brushed against Shang Ruyi’s face, as though she’d been lightly slapped, causing her cheeks to flush with warmth.
However, regardless, it seemed she had gotten through this.
Watching Yu Wenye leave the carriage, a fair hand immediately reached out from the other carriage, lifting a corner of the curtain, seemingly waiting for him to board, yet Yu Wenye didn’t approach. Instead, he asked Mu Xian to bring a horse over, mounted it, and walked leisurely to the side of that carriage.
Then he said, "Your Highness the Princess."
The person inside the carriage appeared somewhat disappointed, but also quite pleased, "Second brother, let’s set off now."
As soon as the words fell, the coachman of that carriage said, "Please make way."
Only then did everyone realize that both carriages were parked in the middle of the road, facing each other, and couldn’t pass unless one gave way.
Thus, Shang Ruyi immediately instructed, "Make way for them."
The driver on this side didn’t dare delay, quickly steering the carriage to the side. Only then did the opposing carriage slowly proceed forward, swaying left and right due to its large size. The tassels and decorations swayed as well, giving it a sense of ostentation.
Shang Ruyi sat quietly inside the carriage.
But, as she heard the sound of the wheels rolling past her, she finally couldn’t resist, lifting the curtain to look outside.
The carriage passed closely by hers.
And at the moment they brushed past, the opposite curtain was lifted by those slender, fair hands, and two pairs of bright, clear eyes met in that instant.
Shang Ruyi saw a radiant, nearly dazzling face.
Princess Xinyue, Chu Ruoyan.
The last time she saw this face, it was beautiful, but clad in a eunuch’s attire, it felt awkward. Now, the beauty wore a peach-red dress, with Bright Moon Pearls swaying at her cheeks, looking both noble and playful, with a smile on her lips, her eyes gleaming, radiating an innocent yet enchanting presence.
This kind of beauty was not only captivating but also piercing.
Feeling a sharp pain in her chest, Shang Ruyi managed a serene smile towards her, then slowly lowered the curtain.
The carriage rolled away into the distance.