Shang Ruyi looked at the nameplate in her hand, then at the box of precious jewelry, and couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty.
Until now, she didn’t know whether Guan Yunmu knew that her daughter-in-law was actually "fake", and that her marriage with Yu Wenye was just a deal that deceived everyone.
If she didn’t know, then those words just now, Shang Ruyi could only listen and let it be.
At this moment, Guan Yunmu said again: "Ye’er, he has a peculiar temper, and sometimes isn’t easy to get along with. But he is a good child. You—I believe you are someone who can understand him."
Shang Ruyi didn’t know how to respond to this.
After hesitating for a while, she softly said: "Please don’t worry, Mother, Second Brother and I—we will, we will be fine."
Guan Yunmu nodded, smiling gently.
Perhaps because she had never spoken for such a long time and had tired herself out, Guan Yunmu’s complexion gradually turned pale, she leaned against the chair and kept coughing. Jinyun quickly leaned over to support her, and Shang Ruyi also said: "Mother, do you need to take medicine?"
Guan Yunmu coughed for a while before finally catching her breath, waving her hand.
"I’ll be fine after resting for a while."
Shang Ruyi hesitated for a moment, then softly said: "Mother, your health really isn’t suited for long journeys, this time going to Liaoxi..."
Guan Yunmu looked up at her, smiled and said: "I know you want to help them persuade me, but you shouldn’t."
Saying this, she sighed and said: "The Emperor issues such a decree just to see how people like us will react. The Duke is now in a precarious position, a slight mistake and he would trigger the Emperor’s wrath. I cannot let him be in such danger."
Hearing these words, Shang Ruyi felt both sad and moved.
Guan Yunmu, such a cold and indifferent person, yet with such fiery loyalty to her husband.
At this time, seeing Guan Yunmu’s poor complexion, Jinyun lifted her head and said to Shang Ruyi: "Young Madam, please return first, I will attend to Madam."
Shang Ruyi had no choice but to nod and leave the East Courtyard with her things.
Walking out of there, she was still somewhat dazed—having married into the Yuwen Family for so long, this place felt like an ice chamber to her, yet, unexpectedly, everything suddenly changed.
But, not entirely all of a sudden.
Guan Yunmu said things were advanced, presumably because she was going to Liaoxi with the Duke, worried that once she left, being young and inexperienced, she might clash with Aunt Hui at home, causing family unrest, and even greater disputes, thus setting everything in advance with her.
She even gave her such an important official family nameplate as a meeting gift.
Although this was a good thing, for some reason, a saying suddenly came to Shang Ruyi’s mind—
The disaster resides where blessings lie, and blessings rest where disaster lurks.
When Shang Ruyi returned the items to her room and was just about to go to the study, Yu Wenye also returned.
His complexion didn’t look good, and his tall figure exuded a sense of unease.
Shang Ruyi hurriedly approached: "How did it go?"
The Emperor wanted Duke Sheng to oversee the transport of army provisions to Liaoxi front lines; since it was a Holy Decree, it naturally couldn’t be defied, but how the family would deal with this was also a bother.
Yu Wenye looked up at her.
Before he could speak, he saw the box on the table, he obviously recognized it, and immediately frowned: "That is—"