Even though Yu Wenquan had initially said he would "keep it short," by the time they finished speaking and discussing what they needed to, and Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi left the study, it was already past midnight.
Outside, it was pitch black.
Shang Ruyi’s eyes couldn’t adjust, and she nearly stumbled, but a warm, large hand had already reached out to steadily support her.
When she looked up again, she finally managed to see Yu Wenye’s gentle features under the faint moonlight, and his eyes seemed gentle too, so his voice was gentle when he spoke: "Are you tired?"
Shang Ruyi shook her head.
Yu Wenye didn’t let go of her, holding her wrist, and they walked back through the night together.
The surroundings were silent, with only the sound of their footsteps in the hallway, not hurried, as the steady rhythm of their steps slightly eased the tense atmosphere between them, adding a touch of warmth to the bitter cold wind.
And Shang Ruyi, blown by the cold wind outside, cleared her mind a bit.
She immediately asked the question she’d been holding back for a while: "Did you tell father?"
Yu Wenye continued walking ahead without looking back: "Tell him what?"
"About the questions I’ve asked you before?"
"Why do you think that?"
"If you didn’t tell him, tonight’s matters could be discussed with him alone, without bringing me along."
Having dissenting thoughts about the court is a big deal; even a slight leak could lead to being accused of treason and the extermination of one’s family!
Yu Wenquan is an extremely cautious person, even though he is kind to her as a daughter-in-law, Shang Ruyi can feel that he does not easily trust her.
Without a certain amount of probing and ultimate assessment, it’s impossible for him to suddenly reveal his plans and thoughts in front of her; the only possibility is that someone has helped him test and confirm some things.
And Shang Ruyi’s thoughts, since she woke up from a serious illness, she hasn’t informed even her closest relatives like aunt and uncle.
The only time she revealed anything was on the second day after their wedding when Yu Wenye took her to the Xianglai Inn in Taiyuan City, where she asked Yu Wenye his opinion on the court, and the implications of those words were clear to anyone who wasn’t a fool.
At that time, the things she said had already annoyed Yu Wenye, even prompting him to directly warn her never to bring up the topic again; at that time, she thought he was wholeheartedly loyal to the court, and later, when she learned about his relationship with Princess Xinyue, she believed this loyalty was mixed with personal feelings, making it even less possible for him to harbor any criticisms about the court.
But today, he didn’t oppose the things said to Yu Wenquan at all.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi’s heart sank further, and she couldn’t help but look up at this man holding her hand; in the night, his broad shoulders and back looked like a mountain, yet this mountain also seemed to shield his emotions and thoughts.
So she still couldn’t see through him.
As if sensing her gaze, Yu Wenye turned his face slightly to glance at her and then said, "I told him."
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"Why, do you think I shouldn’t tell father what you said?"
"...Well, not exactly."
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment, then softly replied, "I’m your wife and a member of the Yuwen Family. Whatever thoughts I have, indeed, shouldn’t be hidden from you all."
Yu Wenye suddenly said, "You are also Duke Sheng’s good daughter-in-law."
This sentence he said flatly, with no particular emotion, yet Shang Ruyi inexplicably felt that he seemed not very happy.
Moreover, as he said this sentence, he let go of her hand.
But at this moment, they had just reached the doorway; Yu Wenye reached out to push open the door and then walked inside. The room was still lit by candles, so naturally, there was no need to hold her hand anymore in the light.
Shang Ruyi followed him into the room and closed the door herself.
In her heart, there was a subtle chill similar to the feeling when the warm hand that had held her was released.
She watched as Yu Wenye walked inside, took a map from a cabinet against the wall, spread it on the low table in the center of the room, and placed a candle stand beside it, then looked at it quietly.
The candlelight flickered, illuminating the bloodshot strands in his eyes clearly.
He’s still looking at maps?
After spending so much time at the Ministry of Justice, he finally made it back, shouldn’t he be resting well?