Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 421 - 368: A Wise Bird Chooses Its Tree_3

"..."

"On the other hand—"

Shen Wuzheng said, "Shen Tu Tai is also unwilling to lower himself to seek refuge."

Shang Ruyi frowned, "What do you mean?"

Shen Wuzheng glanced at her again before saying, "Just now, you said they ’have no place to settle’, which hit their sore spot. This current group indeed has no place to settle, which means they have come seeking refuge out of desperation, in a completely disadvantageous position. In this case, we can say their value drops significantly, having neither battle merits nor support, akin to surrendered troops."

"...!"

Hearing this, Shang Ruyi snapped back to her senses a little, "I, I said something wrong."

Shen Wuzheng said softly, "Negotiation is just like this, you must constantly devalue the other party, forcing them to create their own value, only then can you profit. You didn’t say anything wrong."

It was clear this statement was meant to console, and Shang Ruyi let out a bitter laugh.

She continued, "So, Shen Tu Tai is having part of his brothers come first to test our attitude, then he plans to find another opportunity to seek allegiance, a chance where he won’t be at a disadvantage?"

Shen Wuzheng nodded, "That’s right."

The surrounding people were left partially understanding, partially confused by their conversation. Shantong’er, scratching his head, was especially perplexed, pouting, "Sister Ruyi, I don’t understand, my Seventh Brother is already so formidable, how can he further increase his value?"

Shang Ruyi looked down at him and couldn’t help but laugh.

She said, "The human heart is very complex, even if you can see through worldly affairs, you can’t see through the human heart. You don’t need to worry about these things right now, anyway, you’ll meet those brothers from Wanggang Village tomorrow."

Hearing this, Shantong’er laughed happily once again.

Once the matters were settled, and as it turned dark, they quickly tidied up the carriages and food at the entrance and returned to the temple. Shang Ruyi thought about everything that had just happened while walking back to her room. She pushed open the door and saw Yu Wenye sitting alone at the table, with piles of small stones on it, and was taken aback.

It looked like the scene from the last time they stayed overnight at Ban Yan Temple.

Was he mapping again?

However, this time Yu Wenye’s expression was strange. Although he was looking at the stones on the table, his gaze seemed unfocused, as if unsure where to look. Shang Ruyi could even sense a touch of... grief from the aura around him.

The small stone was still pinched between his fingers, for a long time without being set down.

Shang Ruyi quietly walked to his side and then sat down.

It was only then that Yu Wenye appeared to come to his senses, he glanced back at her and said, "You’re back."

Shang Ruyi looked at the stones on the table, then at the stone between his fingers, and said, "Just now, Shen Tu Tai came."

"I know,"

Yu Wenye placed the stone aside and said, "Someone reported it to me."

He then smiled at her, "Were you scared?"

Shang Ruyi shook her head and said, "I was just surprised. I didn’t expect him to come alone, and though he wants to seek refuge with us, he also has his calculations. I originally thought he was a hot-headed and reckless person."

Yu Wenye said, "Being hot-headed doesn’t mean being unintelligent."

"..."

"Moreover, during his time serving at the court, he has suffered many losses. If he doesn’t grow from it, it would be a waste of those years of setbacks."

Shang Ruyi nodded and said, "Shall we set out tomorrow then?"

Yu Wenye said, "Since we agreed on meeting at noon tomorrow, we can depart early tomorrow morning."

"But what about the promise of distributing rice for three days—"

"Since it’s promised, we must keep our word. I’ll leave a group of people and ten carts of grain, any remaining after the distribution will be donated to this temple, as compensation for the disturbance over these days."

Shang Ruyi said, "That’s good."

With that, everything seemed to be settled.

However, seeing his half-arranged map and the stone pinched smooth from being held so long, Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "What were you thinking about just now? It seems like you have something on your mind."

"..."

Yu Wenye was silent for a moment, then looked up at her, "Do you care about me?"

"...!"

Shang Ruyi’s gaze became flustered.

She almost wanted to deny it, but felt that denying at this moment would seem like a cover-up. If she didn’t care, why would she have asked that question just now?

Just as she hesitated, Yu Wenye moved a bit closer, looking deep into her eyes, "Do you care about me?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi remained silent for a while before looking up into his eyes and finally sighed softly, "Yu Wenye, we are still husband and wife."

"..."

"Like the first time staying over at Ban Yan Temple, I still want to reconcile with you. The awkwardness between us benefits neither you nor me, nor the path we have to take." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"..."

"But it’s just that."

"..."

"Some things, once known, can’t be unknown. After knowing, I am not the same as when I didn’t know."

"..."

"So, I can admit that I care about you, but you should understand why I care."

"..."

Yu Wenye looked at her quietly for a long time before suddenly letting out a bitter laugh, "I used to always tell you that one must live clearly, but now it seems you are clearer than I ever was."

Shang Ruyi said, "Didn’t you just say that if Shen Tu Tai doesn’t improve after suffering so much, it would waste those years of setbacks?"

"..."

"People must progress."

"..."

"I cannot be worse than him."

Yu Wenye looked at her for a moment, sighed lightly.

Shang Ruyi said, "Now, can you tell me what has happened?"

Yu Wenye looked down at the stones on the table, paused for a moment, and then said, "A lot has happened in Daxing City that can be discussed later. But there’s one thing I think I should tell you sooner. If you’re not happy, you can tell me directly."

Those words seemed familiar to what they just talked about.

But this time, Shang Ruyi didn’t argue with him, she just focused on his eyes. The grief she felt from his aura earlier seemed to pour out from his eyes at this moment.

She said, "Go ahead."

Yu Wenye said, "She... the Empress, committed suicide."

"What?!"

Shang Ruyi cried out in shock and instinctively tried to stand up. However, she misplaced her strength and accidentally scattered the stones on the table, which tumbled to the ground, echoing the chaos in her heart. She looked at Yu Wenye with wide, panicked eyes, "What, what did you say?!"

Empress Jiang she—

Yu Wenye saw her distress and quickly said, "She was saved."

"...!"

Shang Ruyi’s heart sank once again.

The fierce pain from earlier, as if her heart was splitting, finally eased a little. But even so, she was still so pale from the pain, so much so that she couldn’t even clench her teeth, holding onto the table’s edge for support, she finally said, "How, how could this happen?"

Yu Wenye’s expression was somber, he said slowly, "She heard the news from Jiangdu Palace."

"..."

"After knowing His Majesty had passed, she... drew her sword to end her life."