Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 438 - 383: Between Them, It’s Just Fake

The room suddenly fell silent.

Even though she knew the answer shouldn’t be too unexpected, Shang Ruyi still felt a sudden pain in her chest, catching her off guard and throwing her breaths into disarray.

After a long while, she managed to let out a quiet "Oh" in a voice that was calm but slightly weak.

Chang Wan watched her cautiously, not daring to say much.

Shang Ruyi stood for a moment, then walked to the table to sit down. After a while, she turned her head to look at the jewelry box that Chang Wan had brought. She took a deep breath, feeling herself finally calm down and regain composure, and then reached out to open the jewelry box, taking out two pearl hairpins.

Comparing the two, she put the luxurious and dazzling one back, leaving behind one that was simple yet graceful.

She selected similarly with the bracelets and earrings.

Chang Wan watched for a while, then seemed to realize something and softly said, "Is the Young Madam choosing things for tomorrow?"

Shang Ruyi gently nodded.

Just then, Tushere also walked in from outside. She had just tidied up Shang Ruyi’s bathing items, and was still sweating, fanning herself with her hand. Upon entering, she saw Shang Ruyi organizing the jewelry on the table, and paused momentarily, saying, "Miss, leave what needs to be taken for tomorrow to us servants, you should rest early."

Shang Ruyi shook her head and quietly said, "This has to be done by myself."

"..."

"..."

The two maids instinctively exchanged glances, as if sensing a deeper meaning in her words.

But before they could think further, Shang Ruyi looked up and said, "Bring me the formal attire."

Upon hearing this, Chang Wan anxiously said, "Young Madam, tomorrow’s gathering is not a court assembly, so the officials and ladies do not need to wear formal attire."

"Oh?"

Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "Then prepare the indigo outfit for me."

"That one?"

Tushere and Chang Wan exchanged another glance, and finally Tushere softly said, "Miss, would you like to choose another set?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Although the jewelry Shang Ruyi selected was all simple and elegant, the outfit was also plain, yet when paired together, there was something subtly striking and low-key, almost as if— not very noticeable, but once seen, one couldn’t look away.

But tomorrow is the court gathering, and Shang Ruyi’s identity is special, even more so due to this journey to Jiangdu.

Shouldn’t she try her best to become "indistinguishable among the crowd"?

Faced with the slightly puzzled gazes from the two, Shang Ruyi simply smiled faintly and said, "No need, prepare it just like this, go ahead."

Seeing her so determined, the two could not insist further, and went to bring the outfit, hanging it on a rack, smoothing out the wrinkles, and preparing the belt, all ready for her to wear tomorrow.

Once everything was set, the two maids left the room, leaving her to rest alone.

The room fell silent again.

Almost immediately, Shang Ruyi felt an emptiness in her heart.

She knew she was in distress, yet she knew she had perfectly concealed her distress just now. But even if she deceived everyone, the faint aching and emptiness in her heart could not lie to herself.

Why should it still hurt?

She was somewhat angry at herself, but more helpless, knowing she shouldn’t feel distress over him, over what he had done. Yet, the distress seemed like a beast she couldn’t resist, always crashing into her world, ripping her heart, bleeding.

Shang Ruyi looked at the copper mirror reflecting her pale, pitiful face, and let out a bitter smile.

No matter how much she bled, what could she do? She still had to heal on her own, stand up, and continue living.

She must rely on herself!

Thinking this, the thought brought a bit of strength out of the defeated emotions. Shang Ruyi took a deep breath, stood up, walked to the bed, and prepared to rest early. After all, what she would face tomorrow, not even she knew, perhaps not even the heavens.

But just as she reached the bed, she froze there.

In this room, there was only one bed.

Of course, there was only one bed here, as this was Yu Wenye’s lifelong place, where he lived alone, naturally there was only one bed.

But how should she sleep?

In the past, in Taiyuan Mansion, and in Luoyang, they could still adhere to the agreement and sleep separately, afterwards—

Now, how should their relationship be?

In truth, for her, whether sleeping together or separately didn’t make much difference. After all, the two had long been intimate, already real husband and wife; yet she also knew, after certain events, they couldn’t possibly return to that time, the time of mutual care and close, heart fully given to each other.

Their marriage, ultimately, was false.

False...

Thinking like this, Shang Ruyi suddenly felt a bit less empty in her heart. She calmly climbed onto the bed, blew out the candle, then lay down and closed her eyes.

The night slowly passed under the heavy darkness.

In a blink, it was already three in the morning.

The lights throughout the Duke Mansion were extinguished, and silence reigned. The room was enveloped in an almost tense stillness, along with the heart inside it that was still beating, slowly growing cold.

At this moment, the door to the outer room was gently pushed open.

Even though she felt on the verge of falling asleep, or perhaps she was already in a light sleep, that gentle click was like something she had long awaited. As soon as it sounded, Shang Ruyi instantly woke up completely.

In the darkness, she slowly opened her bright eyes.

At this moment, she felt a bit flustered, not knowing why she had to wake up at this time. She didn’t want to face Yu Wenye tonight, especially after he returned from the palace.

Thinking of this, she tried hard to calm her heartbeat and breathing.

She lay quietly on her side on the bed, pretending to be sound asleep.

However, the more she tried to suppress her heartbeat and breathing, the more her blood surged through her body, almost to the point of bursting. Her senses became strangely acute, and she could clearly hear Yu Wenye’s breathing and his footsteps as he walked step by step into the inner chamber, then step by step to the bedside.

He then stopped.

He stood there motionlessly, as if looking at something, or perhaps waiting for something.

But on such a night, what could he see, or what could he be waiting for?

Shang Ruyi, unconsciously tightened the collar of her robe with her hand placed on her chest.

At this moment, she suddenly realized that this situation, even the familiar feeling of her heartbeat, was reminiscent of that night at Xingluo Granary. She was asleep, yet not asleep, as Yu Wenye walked to her bedside, quietly standing there.

But ultimately, it was different.

Back then, although she had been hurt several times, she still hoped for a true heart that would completely belong to her. Even after being rejected by him repeatedly, she still mustered the courage to go to his tent, to ask him for the truth—whether there could be something real between them.

But now, she knew everything and no longer gathered that useless courage.

Between them, it was false.

Even if they had been physically intimate, even if they had fulfilled the duties of husband and wife... it was false.

Thinking of this, and recalling her past bravery and initiative, it felt rather laughable, and somewhat pathetic. Shang Ruyi gently stroked her hand that was tightly clutching her chest, as if soothing an old wound that refused to heal over.

And at that moment, a warm, large hand suddenly covered her shoulder!

"...!"

At that moment of contact, her whole body seemed electrified, trembling all over.

What is happening!?

Yu Wenye he—

Shang Ruyi’s breath caught, and her heart seemed to stop. All her senses gathered at that moment on her shoulder, that inch of slightly cool skin, covered through a thin layer of nightgown by that warm, large hand, suddenly feeling so hot as if it could ignite.

What is he trying to do?

Why touch her at this moment?

Just as Shang Ruyi felt a bit flustered yet tried her best to remain calm, she heard a soft sigh.

It was Yu Wenye’s sigh.

As if carrying a bit of a smile, yet also, seemingly, a bit powerless.

Why is he sighing?

This night, they hadn’t exchanged a single word. He had gone to the palace, met the person he wanted to see, so this sigh could only be due to the person in his heart.

Yet why, standing beside her, touching her shoulder, does he let out this sigh?

Shang Ruyi’s heart was chaotic, yet she felt, she shouldn’t be.

The things he did, his sighs... why should she think so much?

Thinking this way, she resolutely forced herself to calm down, even though her heart was pounding like a drum. She still struggled to produce even and long breaths, remaining side-lying in the bed, leaving a large space behind her, enough for them to pass the night without disturbing each other.

So that hand—

She waited for that hand to let go.

After a long time, it did let go.

Then, she sensed Yu Wenye slowly taking off his outer garments, sitting on the edge of the bed, seemingly turning back to look at her for a moment, then lying down.

Then, he also turned his body.

Though she didn’t turn back, her sensitive senses clearly told Shang Ruyi that the person behind her was now turned towards her.

In the night, his eyes seemed to be watching her.

After a long, almost suffocating silence, he sighed deeply again.

The breath, carrying his scent, and his body warmth, brushed past Shang Ruyi’s nape, causing a tingling sensation almost unbearable—it nearly made her unable to stand it—even though she didn’t know what she could do if she couldn’t, yet still quietly curled up her body.

The night passed in such confusion and helplessness.