Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 435 - 381: I’m Here

Although both of them were puzzled in their hearts, it was not appropriate to immediately ask questions at this time.

Yu Wenye thought for a moment, then turned to Shen Shiyan and said, "Uncle, you shouldn’t say that. If it weren’t for Brother Shen’s design this time, we wouldn’t have been able to bring back thousands of troops from Wanggang Village, let alone cause Wanggang Village to collapse almost overnight. Brother Shen’s intelligence is truly admirable."

"What?!"

Upon hearing this, both Yu Wenquan and Shen Shiyan were taken aback.

Yu Wenquan hurriedly said, "What happened? Quickly tell us."

Yu Wenye recounted the events of Wanggang Village, and Shen Shiyan clicked his tongue in wonder. However, Yu was distressed and said, "You all are too reckless. How many of you were there, and yet you dared to provoke Wanggang Village like that? What if they all attacked at once? Would you still have been able to return?"

Shen Wuzheng reached out to hold her arm, gently stroking it as a means of comfort.

Yu Wenquan remained relatively calm, only looking at Yu Wenye and then at Shen Wuzheng, and asked, "So, this time, how many did you bring back—"

Yu Wenye replied, "Nearly two thousand."

"..."

"Afraid of disturbing the townspeople, we let them temporarily stay outside the city. Meanwhile, the rest of Wanggang Village’s forces have scattered. Now, only Xiao Yuansui and two other leaders who haven’t shown up remain, significantly weakening their power."

"Good."

Yu Wenquan nodded with a smile and said, "I didn’t expect the two of you to bring back so many troops from Wanggang Village without losing a single soldier and to have weakened their forces—it’s indeed for the future—"

Saying this, he paused and smiled again, "Liang Shide will probably have a headache."

After speaking, he smiled and looked at Shen Wuzheng, saying, "Young Master Shen is indeed extraordinary."

Shen Wuzheng said, "Thank you, Uncle, for your compliments. However, this time, Brother Yu Wen contributed more, while I just talked a bit."

Yu Wenquan waved his hand and laughed, "Don’t say that. I know his capabilities well."

Shen Wuzheng slightly furrowed his brows, finding it difficult to continue the conversation. At this time, Shen Shiyan stood up from his seat and said, "Alright, it’s late. Seeing Ru Yi return safely, we are relieved. We shouldn’t disturb the reunion of Brother Yu Wen with his family, so we will take our leave."

Yu, though somewhat reluctant, knew they should leave.

Only Shen Wuzheng had a trace of hesitation on his face.

But in terms of social etiquette and reason, they could not stay longer. Seeing Shen Shiyan approaching to take them away, he could only bow to the host to say goodbye. Yu Wenquan did not insist on keeping them, only personally escorting them to the door and watching the family leave before returning to the reception hall.

When he sat down again, his demeanor had changed.

A heavy aura emanated from him, filling the entire reception hall and making it difficult for people to breathe.

Shang Ruyi subconsciously tensed her nerves.

In fact, she also understood in her heart that after the affairs at Jiangdu Palace, returning to Daxing City to face Yu Wenquan could not possibly be a cheerful reunion. What she had to face was just the beginning.

As expected, when Yu Wenquan looked at her again, his gaze was more solemn, and he said, "Ru Yi, your trip to Jiangdu was unexpected. It was Ye’er’s lack of thorough preparation that put you in danger. However, this accident was far too great."

Shang Ruyi quickly said, "It was Ru Yi’s fault."

Yu Wenquan waved his hand and said, "Now, Father doesn’t want to ask about whose fault it was. Father wants an answer from you."

"..."

"The Emperor—the late Emperor, how exactly did he die?"

"...!"

Upon hearing this question, Shang Ruyi felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, her face immediately turning pale.

She didn’t expect him to be so straightforward.

But she should have expected it; although Yu Wenquan was deep-minded, the matter was too important to allow for too many detours. He needed the most direct answer to make the most secure arrangements.

However—

Just as Shang Ruyi hesitated without speaking, Yu Wenye suddenly said, "Father, let’s not discuss this matter for now."

"Not discuss?"

Yu Wenquan frowned at him, suddenly realizing something: "What, even you don’t know the answer?"

"..."

Yu Wenye remained silent, but tacitly agreed.

Yu Wenquan was also somewhat incredulous, frowning even more tightly: "But you should know, right now, the entire world wants an answer from her."

"..."

"So, who will give the world an explanation?"

Yu Wenye said, "I will."

"...!?"

Shang Ruyi’s heart trembled, and she looked at him with wide eyes.

However, Yu Wenye remained expressionless, even his eyes were calm, as if what he had just said was the most ordinary statement.

Shang Ruyi felt as if something hit her chest hard, causing her heartbeat to become somewhat erratic.

She quickly lowered her head.

And Yu Wenquan, upon hearing these two words, was somewhat surprised too. He looked at his son, who never spoke carelessly—if he said he could handle it, he could indeed handle it; however, this was an event ordinary people couldn’t even imagine. Even he, despite having the power of the new court and stabilizing the empire, couldn’t guarantee they would get through this crisis.

After a moment of silence, he said, "Ye’er, you must know that this matter cannot be resolved simply by someone speaking or not speaking."

"..."

"With the slightest misstep, not to mention your and Ru Yi’s lives, even the entire Yuwen Family cannot bear it."

"I understand."

"Then why do you still——"

Yu Wenquan seemed a bit angry; he couldn’t say anything more. But looking at Yu Wenye’s solemn expression, without any intention of wavering, as a father, he could only sigh deeply and say, "Alright."

"..."

This matter seemed to have just passed like that.

Shang Ruyi stood still, not daring to raise her head to look into Yu Wenye’s eyes, only feeling her heart pounding violently as if it was about to burst out of her chest.

She clenched her hands tightly, trying her best to calm down.

However, Yu Wenquan still seemed a bit uneasy and was about to say something to them, but Yu Wenye suddenly interrupted him, saying, "Father, where is my elder brother?"

"...!"

At the mention of Yu Wenqian, the atmosphere shifted again.

Instinctively, Shang Ruyi raised her head, only to see that the serious expression on Yu Wenquan’s face seemed to have been partly swept away by an invisible breeze. His bright and piercing eyes revealed a hint of what seemed almost like joy.

It was a kind of happiness that came from the heart.

Yet, his face remained calmly expressionless.

Yu Wenye silently observed everything, only saying, "I just found out that our third brother was left in Taiyuan by father. So, why isn’t our elder brother at home either?"

Yu Wenquan replied, "He’s at Dayan Temple."

"Dayan Temple?"

"He’s going to personally lead tomorrow’s ceremony."

"...!?"

Yu Wenqian, personally leading this ceremony?!

Upon hearing this news, Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi instinctively exchanged a glance, with an unmistakable hint of shock in their eyes.

However, they didn’t say much more.

Yu Wenye thought for a moment and then asked, "Why suddenly hold this ceremony?"

At this, Yu Wenquan’s expression darkened as well.

He said, "A few days ago, some news came from the Jiangdu Palace. The court is in turmoil, and the people are unsettled. I thought that something needed to be done to reassure the people and also indicate a stance from the court, so I arranged for Dayan Temple to hold this ceremony."

Hearing this, Shang Ruyi murmured, "So that’s it."

Previously, when they first heard that Dayan Temple was going to hold this ceremony, they knew that the so-called promotion of Buddhist Law was just a pretense. The real purpose was, of course, for the late Emperor, Chu Yang; but if you really dig deeper, he’s already passed away, and whatever is done, he won’t see it.

The ones who can really see it are the living.

Therefore, the real purpose of this ceremony was not to honor the late Emperor but to soothe the people’s hearts and stabilize this new court.

Yu Wenquan added, "For tomorrow’s ceremony, all fourth-rank officials and above, and noble ladies, must attend."

"..."

"Previously, when the new Emperor ascended the throne, he bestowed favors upon all officials and granted amnesty to the world. Ruyi was also conferred as a second-rank noble lady, so tomorrow——"

As he spoke, he looked up at Shang Ruyi, saying, "I thought you wouldn’t return so soon, but unexpectedly, you arrived today. So, for tomorrow’s ceremony——"

Shang Ruyi hurriedly said, "Father, we rushed back just for this ceremony. Ruyi will attend."

The furrow between Yu Wenquan’s eyebrows grew deeper.

He pondered for a long while and said, "Then you must be prepared. Tomorrow, the officials will gather. Although it is a Buddhist ceremony, it’s hard to guarantee no one will question you."

Shang Ruyi replied, "Yes."

Yu Wenquan looked at them and sighed again.

At this point, Yu Wenye said, "Father, we will handle these matters. Please don’t worry too much. It’s late; you should rest early."

Talking about this, Yu Wenquan managed a smile and said, "Indeed, you’ve traveled day and night to return, and you must be tired too. Go and rest early; you need to get up early tomorrow."

"Yes, I take my leave, Father."

After that, Yu Wenye took Shang Ruyi and left the reception hall.

Until they walked into the night, Shang Ruyi’s heartbeat hadn’t calmed yet. The hand held by Yu Wenye also trembled involuntarily. They walked quite a distance, arriving at a long corridor, where Yu Wenye finally stopped and looked back at her.

Fortunately, at this time, it was already dark, and the distant lights weren’t enough to illuminate Shang Ruyi’s flushed face.

But the night couldn’t hide her continuously flickering gaze.

Yu Wenye asked, "Are you okay?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi struggled for a while before she could manage to squeeze out a feeble voice from her throat: "I’m, I’m okay..."

Yu Wenye said, "Father doesn’t know what happened; he is also——"

"I understand,"

Only at this moment did Shang Ruyi manage to regain her voice, although it still trembled unconsciously when she spoke: "Father wants this answer, it is his duty, and a human instinct."

"..."

"In the end, it’s my fault."

Yu Wenye frowned: "Don’t say that."