Shang Ruyi hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit guilty for some reason, and said, "That is from you—it’s from Mother to me."
"Mother said that she forgot to give a meeting gift before, so today she just made up for it."
Yu Wenye slightly raised his eyebrows, looked at the box, and then looked at her.
Shang Ruyi understood in her heart that since he did not regard her as a true wife, he naturally felt it inappropriate for his mother to give her such a precious item. Shang Ruyi pondered and decided to clarify things with him, so she told Tushere and Wo Xue in the room, "You two go out first."
Yu Wenye interrupted her, disregarding her somewhat surprised expression, and instructed the two maids, "You stay here and immediately pack luggage for me and the Young Madam."
Shang Ruyi was taken aback, "Why?"
Yu Wenye sat at the low table in the center of the room, beckoning her over. Shang Ruyi hurried over to sit down, and only heard Yu Wenye say, "We need to prepare for our journey to Luoyang."
"Is it arranged by Father?"
"No, it’s the Emperor’s order." Yu Wenye’s face was gloomy, and he said, "This time, in the campaign against Liaodong, not only are many princes accompanying the expedition, but also require these people’s families to return to the Eastern Capital."
Shang Ruyi’s face also darkened, and after a while, she softly said, "Is it to be a hostage?"
Yu Wenye glanced at her and nodded silently.
The mood of both of them was very low.
The Emperor had several campaigns against Liaodong, and there were complaints throughout the country. He was surely worried about any actions from the opposition to the Gouli campaign in the court during the military expedition, so he gathered the families in Luoyang in advance, so the situation could be controlled immediately if something went wrong.
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and then asked, "What about the people at home—"
Yu Wenye said, "Father and Mother are going to Liaoxi, we and Yan Jie are heading to the Eastern Capital, naturally, people at home also have to follow."
Yan Jie is Yu Wencheng’s courtesy name.
Even such a young Yu Wencheng has to be called back to Luoyang, it seems, the Emperor really does not trust Duke Sheng’s family.
Shang Ruyi was about to say something but saw Yu Wenye staring intently at that box.
He obviously knew what it meant for Guan Yunmu to make up the meeting gift for her, perhaps he felt somewhat uncomfortable that such a nominal wife of his was acknowledged by Guan Yunmu.
Shang Ruyi felt uneasy, her lips parted once, and finally, she said, "Just now, I tried to persuade Mother."
Yu Wenye glanced at her.
Looking into his eyes, Shang Ruyi lowered her head guiltily and softly said, "However, Mother still insists on going to Liaoxi with Father."
Yu Wenye was silent for a while, suddenly letting out a light laugh, which seemed to carry a mocking tone, as if he had seen through all her thoughts.
He said, "Then, you just keep it."
Shang Ruyi’s face turned red all of a sudden.
Actually, she understood that when Yu Wenye stared at that box of jewelry, he was silently telling her that he did not want his mother to truly regard her as a daughter-in-law. If she were wise, she should return the item, at least, hand it back to him.
However, Shang Ruyi diverted the topic without this intention.
So, he followed with such an inconclusive remark.
But after saying this sentence, he seemed to feel that the atmosphere was a bit too cold, and looked up. Fortunately, Tushere and the others were focused on packing luggage and did not notice what the two of them were saying.
Therefore, he softened his tone and gently said, "You should also prepare well, we will depart in a few days."