After the meal, Shang Ruyi had only taken a few bites, her stomach still empty.
She looked up at Yu Wenye, who was just then slowly putting down his chopsticks and taking out a delicate handkerchief to wipe the corners of his mouth. Indeed, the demeanor of a noble son was flawless.
After doing all this, he looked up and said, "Next, is there anywhere you’d like to go?"
Shang Ruyi shook her head, "I’m not familiar with the city."
Yu Wenye said, "Then let’s head back."
With that, he got up, ready to leave.
Shang Ruyi thought somewhat helplessly—he really is just here for a meal with me, unwilling to linger even a moment longer.
But this time, she didn’t simply go along with it. Instead, she spoke up, "No hurry."
Yu Wenye stopped in surprise, turned back, and glanced at her, only to see Shang Ruyi quietly say, "It’s rare to have this chance, I... I want to talk with you."
Yu Wenye was even more surprised, "Talk about what?"
Shang Ruyi pondered for a long time about how to start, then softly said after a while, "Just chat. I want to know, what are your thoughts on the current emperor—on the court?"
Yu Wenye’s brow furrowed tightly.
From the first meeting, he noticed that although Shang Ruyi was young, she seemed to have experienced a lot. She was the type to speak little and reveal less. During the two days they spent together, he also felt that she was a cautious person. He did not expect that she would discuss politics with him at this moment?!
Yu Wenye looked at her for a long while, his expression growing more solemn, "Why are you asking this?"
"I think, since we’re going to be husband and wife, we should have some understanding of each other."
"Being married and my views on the court, do they relate?"
Shang Ruyi pressed her lips together, saying nothing.
Yet in her heart, she thought—it has everything to do with it.
Seeing her hesitant to speak, with a look of maintaining deep secrets, Yu Wenye seemed to sense something. He paused, then sat back down, placing one hand casually on the edge of the table, "I’d like to hear your views first."
Shang Ruyi instinctively shook her head, "I don’t have any views."
Yu Wenye let out a cold laugh, saying nothing.
His expression seemed to say—who are you trying to fool? If you really had no views, why would you ask about others’ views?
Shang Ruyi was made somewhat flustered and confused by his cold laugh. After a long time, she finally struggled to say, "It’s just that, on the way to Taiyuan, I saw so many scenes of desolation, and also saw you pursuing the rebel army even on the day before your wedding."
"You’ve worked so hard, you can account to the court, but what about the common people?"
Yu Wenye narrowed his eyes slightly, "What is it you want to say?"
Shang Ruyi pressed her lips together, struggled for a long time, and finally said softly, "I want to say, if you and the Duke have worked so hard in battle, achieved great merits, but it means nothing to the people, then does your battle have any meaning?"
Yu Wenye’s obsidian-like eyes narrowed into slits, almost obscuring the expression in his eyes. However, Shang Ruyi felt, although his gaze seemed devoid of waves, it was as if turbulent waves were surging in places unseen.
Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Her words were originally just to probe his mind, but now, she felt she might have stepped into a dangerous area.
Ignited something dangerous.
She didn’t know how long it was before Yu Wenye suddenly stood up, turned around, and walked out.