Yu Wenye’s eyes narrowed slightly: "What do you want to say?"
Seeing his expression, Shang Ruyi’s heart skipped a beat, fearing he would be angry again. Yet this time, he didn’t exude that suffocating aura.
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said softly, "I just feel that it’s best for you not to do this."
Yu Wenye didn’t respond immediately. He simply looked at her for a while longer, then chuckled softly, walked over to the low table, raised his robe, and sat down before saying, "It wasn’t me who dragged them back with horses, just my subordinates."
"But you shouldn’t have tacitly allowed them to do so."
"Such abuse of prisoners not only breeds bad habits in the army but also easily loses the people’s hearts. You and the Duke both know how important people’s hearts are without needing my reminder."
"Your subordinates did this because they are content to be mere soldiers or just a Deputy General; but you, if you don’t want to remain as merely the Second Young Master Yu Wen, you’d best not condone your subordinates mistreating prisoners."
Yu Wenye was taken aback for a moment and looked up at her.
When Shang Ruyi spoke those words, she said them firmly. Yet inside, she was somewhat apprehensive, considering their relations; he was completely indifferent to her. If she angered him here, she didn’t know what he would do to her.
His "threats" from the previous day still echoed in her ears.
After saying those words, Shang Ruyi’s heart was pounding. Raising her head again to meet Yu Wenye’s deep, black eyes, she felt even more flustered and quickly averted her gaze.
The tent fell silent for a long time.
Just as Shang Ruyi was becoming increasingly at a loss, suddenly, Yu Wenye picked up a cup of tea and placed it in front of her with a thud.
The words lacked any warmth, as if nothing had occurred just a moment ago.
Shang Ruyi looked up at him. Yu Wenye simply picked up his own cup of tea and took a sip, his expression unchanged.
When she apprehensively brought the cup to her lips, Yu Wenye suddenly said, "Have you heard of the saying ’the hen announces the dawn’?"
Shang Ruyi immediately understood his meaning.
She thought for a moment and said, "But as a wife, I am obliged to admonish my husband."
Yu Wenye looked at her and suddenly said coldly, "Wife?"
Those two words were like a slap across Shang Ruyi’s face, instantly turning her face red.
She had forgotten again.
This marriage was merely a transaction. She and him were just a couple in name, and perhaps because the atmosphere between them had eased along the way, she had become complacent.
Using this identity to persuade him was more like a joke to him.
Shang Ruyi bit her lip and thickened her face, saying, "But, even so—"
This time, before she could finish speaking, Yu Wenye interrupted her coldly, saying, "No need to say anymore. You’ve said so much, just hoping there wouldn’t be any further instances of mistreating prisoners in the army, right?"
Shang Ruyi nodded: "Yes."
Yu Wenye smiled faintly, stood up, and walked out.
Shang Ruyi felt confused, unsure of his thoughts, but she quickly stood up and followed him. As she stepped out of his tent, she heard a commotion from next door.
Listening carefully, it was Huang Gongyi’s voice.
Only to hear him angrily say: "We fight life and death battles, capturing these prisoners, so why should anyone point fingers at us!"