Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 433 - 379: Who is waiting for her?

Early the next morning, they set off from Tongguan, heading for Daxing City.

Chu Zhengfei, following his promise, prepared a carriage and fresh horses for them. After passing Tongguan, they no longer had to worry about Liang Shide or others making a move against them, so they traveled on the wide and smooth official road. This made their journey much smoother and faster than before.

Even so, Shang Ruyi sat in the carriage feeling far from reassured.

In fact, whenever she turned her head, she would see Yu Wenye beside her, his expression heavy and his brow furrowed in thought.

She softly asked, "Are you troubled?"

"..."

Startled slightly upon hearing her voice, Yu Wenye raised his head to look at her. Because of their close proximity, his deep black eyes seemed to reflect Shang Ruyi’s worried expression.

He said, "Aren’t you as well?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi paused, then thought for a moment and smiled bitterly.

Yes, after the events of the past few days and hearing from Chu Zhengfei about the situation in Daxing City, who in this group wasn’t a little troubled? Even Shantong’er — as Shang Ruyi turned her head again, lifting the corner of the curtain to look outside — saw the child riding on horseback with a somewhat melancholic silhouette. It was said that a ceremony was to be held at Dayan Temple, and they were quickening their pace to return in time for it. He also showed a bit of unusual expression, riding silently instead of joking with others.

After all, he was tonsured at Dayan Temple.

After that, he impersonated Prince Zhao in Daxing Palace, living a monastic life; now, having traveled among the people for several months, he was returning to that place.

It was as if he had come full circle.

If even this child felt that way, the adults were no exception.

Retracting her gaze from Shantong’er’s back, Shang Ruyi slowly let go of the curtain, turning back to look at Yu Wenye — she understood better that Yu Wenye’s silence and worries stemmed not only from recent experiences and upcoming events but more importantly, because they were returning to Daxing City.

In Daxing City, there were not only his father and elder brother, nor was the new emperor the only one in the Daxing Palace.

There was also that person...

Shang Ruyi felt her breath become a little difficult, but she didn’t say much, turning her face towards the window to make herself feel a bit better.

Meanwhile, Yu Wenye, sitting beside her, merely watched her back turned to him in silence.

The silence in the carriage remained constant.

In this somewhat stifling atmosphere, their group quickened their pace, racing along the official road, raising clouds of dust along the way, finally entering Daxing City at dusk that day!

Though a bit muffled after a day, passing through the city gates invigorated everyone.

Shantong’er looked at the somewhat unfamiliar pavilions and towers around, and the constant stream of carriages and pedestrians on the streets, as if awakening from a dream, finding reality perfectly mirroring the dream, murmured in a daze, "Back again."

This sentence drifted into Shang Ruyi’s ears.

She couldn’t help but sigh softly.

Yes, back again.

Compared to all the places she had been over the years — Taiyuan, Luoyang, Jiangdu... Daxing City seemed to her a mere blurry shadow of childhood memory. Yet, upon returning, all memories seemed to come alive.

She was back again.

The surrounding pavilions and towers, some changed and some unchanged, but the scent of dust in the air, the noise of pedestrians, even the excessively hot breeze brushing against her cheeks, felt strangely familiar and unchanging.

And yet, was she still the same Shang Ruyi?

Just as she felt a bit in a trance, Yu Wenye’s voice rang in her ear again, "What are you thinking?"

Shang Ruyi turned back to meet his deep eyes.

Yu Wenye was looking at her, seemingly smiling, with the sunset slanting across his face, adding a touch of warmth to his usual distant eyes.

Shang Ruyi paused for a moment, then turned her head again to look at the scenery outside, saying, "I’m thinking about how I’ve come back here again."

"..."

"I always thought I might never return."

Yu Wenye watched her for a moment, then said, "The world is unpredictable."

"..."

"Many things and people you think you know might not be as you imagined."

"..."

This statement was not uncommon, but for some reason, Shang Ruyi felt his tone was deeper than usual, as if he was referring not only to worldly affairs but to specific people and matters.

She instinctively turned her head to glance at him.

Yu Wenye merely smiled gently at her.

The carriage traveled under the setting sun for nearly half an hour, finally reaching Duke Mansion as the sun sank below the horizon.

Also now the Prime Minister’s Mansion!

Before the carriage had even stopped, chaotic footsteps and some difficult-to-contain excited voices could be heard outside. Yu Wenye got off first, then turned to help Shang Ruyi off the carriage.

No sooner had Shang Ruyi steadied herself than someone rushed towards her, pulling her into a rapid embrace.

"Ru Yi!"

"...!" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Shang Ruyi trembled all over.

Listening to the familiar voice and sobbing beside her ears, feeling those familiar arms and embrace, she stiffened yet softened, dazedly being held in that person’s arms until she felt the wetness of tears on the skin pressed against her cheek. Then, she slowly squeezed two trembling words from her throat—

"Aunt... Mother..."

The one holding her was none other than her aunt, Mrs. Shen, Yu!

As an elder, she wasn’t supposed to greet the younger ones at the door, but she disregarded the etiquette and the gaze of others. Upon seeing the thin figure of her niece, she couldn’t hold back and rushed up to take her in her arms. At this moment, hearing Shang Ruyi’s voice, she wept even more.

"My Ruyi..."

"Aunt Mother!"

Shang Ruyi suddenly felt as if she had just come alive, holding her tightly.

The two of them cried together at the gate of the Duke Mansion. Yu Wenye stood nearby, at a loss for words, until Shen Wuzheng came forward and gently separated them. Yu, still with tears streaming down her face, looked at her niece and then her son, excitedly saying, "Both of you have returned safe and sound, that’s all that matters."

"Aunt Mother,"

Choking on her words, Shang Ruyi managed to say, "These days, you—"

Before she could say "suffered," Yu smiled and said, "I’m fine, I’m doing very well."

"..."

"Just after coming back, hearing that you suffered outside, I couldn’t sleep. Now seeing you return, everything is fine."

Clearly, she and her husband were exiled and wandered around, yet she still spoke as if Shang Ruyi was the one who suffered.

This is the feeling one has when they truly cherish others.

She laughed and cried, completely ignoring her status, clutching Shang Ruyi’s hand tightly. Only then did Yu Wenye step forward and bow to her, "Aunt."

Seeing him, Yu’s face also showed a pleased expression, smiling, "Son-in-law."

Yu Wenye said, "Seeing Aunt is well, I am relieved."

"I am well, well,"

Yu said while looking at the three of them and at Tushere who stood beside them with reddened eyes, as if she was a mother seeing her children return home, overwhelmed, she said disjointedly, "Seeing all of you safe and sound, I am well."

Though her words were somewhat confused, everyone could still feel her genuine emotion and joy.

In this world, what is more touching than true emotions?

So, even Yu Wenye’s eyes revealed a hint of emotion.

And at this moment, a voice, equally joyous yet with a slight coolness, came through—

"Seeing Second Master, Young Madam, and Young Master Shen return, Mrs. Shen is truly overjoyed. But it’s hot outside and the summer heat hasn’t dissipated; we should head inside. The Duke and Mr. Shen are waiting for you."

Upon hearing this voice, Shang Ruyi’s boiling pot of joy and excitement gradually cooled down.

She looked up over Yu’s shoulder and saw a familiar figure.

And the flawless and steady smile she was familiar with.

Aunt Hui.

She led a group of servants standing at the door, clearly there to welcome them. At this moment, she slowly walked down the steps, bowed to them, and said, "Second Master, Young Madam, you have finally returned."

Seeing her, Yu Wenye’s eyes flickered, and the smile on his face seemed to change.

But it was still a smile, he said, "Aunt Hui."

Aunt Hui smiled and said, "These days, the family staff have been yearning day and night, hoping for Second Master and Young Madam’s early return. Today, you have finally returned, and I am glad."

At this moment, Shang Ruyi’s pounding heart slowly calmed down.

She still held onto Yu’s warmly hand, but facing Aunt Hui, she regained her usual composure and calmness, saying, "Sorry to trouble you."

"Not at all."

Aunt Hui raised her hand and said, "Let’s head inside."

Yu Wenye nodded, glanced down at Shang Ruyi, and understanding her, she said no more, as the group walked inside.

The Duke Mansion within Daxing City was the largest of the Yuwen Family’s properties across various places. After all, it was a residence granted by Emperor Wen himself, its grandeur unmatched by the later Eastern Capital Taiyuan residence, especially after Yu Wenquan supported the new emperor and became the Grand Chancellor. This originally extraordinary mansion now exuded an invisible sense of oppression.

As soon as they entered, they felt an unusual aura.

By this time, the sky had darkened.

Lamps were being lit all around the mansion, hanging under the eaves in various places. The distant and nearby lights made Shang Ruyi’s heart momentarily bright, momentarily dark.

Her heart began to beat faster.

In the bright depths of that mansion, who was waiting for her?