Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 525 - 444 Nightmare

The sky was murky and dark, filled with miasma.

Shang Ruyi walked aimlessly in this smoky place, feeling an endless sense of bewilderment around her. There was no road under her feet; she could only detect a faint fragrance that seemed to come from nowhere.

It was like sandalwood, yet also like medicinal herbs.

She raised her head, intending to find a way out, but suddenly noticed a blurry figure appearing ahead.

A towering man stood amidst the smoke, his white monk robes absorbed the mist, almost turning into clouds, ready to drift away with him.

He was—

Shang Ruyi’s heart suddenly sank, but before she could think further, a shadow suddenly emerged from behind him.

It seemed like a person, appearing delicate at first, then suddenly becoming enormous, casting a shadow that almost enveloped Shang Ruyi entirely. Seeing the shadow, Shang Ruyi immediately felt a tearing pain within her, as if an invisible hand was tearing at her soul, trying to snatch it away from her body.

So painful...

So painful!

"Ah!"

She let out a low cry of pain, instantly raising her head, and met a pair of eyes filled with worry, only partially visible due to a veil.

"Young Madam, what’s wrong?"

"...?!"

Shang Ruyi was panting, cold sweat pouring down like a tide, finally managing to pull herself back from the chaotic dream, and recognized the person in front of her as Wo Xue.

She knelt in front of her, looking at her cautiously: "Had a nightmare?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi only felt her heart pounding like thunder, so painfully that she lacked the strength to speak.

A nightmare...

Such a real and terrifying nightmare.

Turning back, she then recalled she was sitting by Yu Wenye’s bedside, having just fed him half a bowl of medicine. Somehow, in the blink of an eye, she fell asleep and dreamt, while Yu Wenye lying in bed still had a pale face with a peculiar blush from the lingering fever.

It’s been three days.

His fever hasn’t subsided for three days, and he even vomited once, his breath starting to carry an unusual odor.

No matter how she and He Wenzhu treated him, through burning moxa, administering medicine, and even daring to bleed him once, they were only delaying his illness due to the lack of proper medication; from the second day onwards, he remained unconscious, his mind trapped in a coma, which was why she stayed at his bedside, almost without sleep for three days.

Could it be because of this that she fell asleep and had such a nightmare?

Wo Xue quietly asked, "Young Madam, you haven’t slept for three days; your body can’t bear it, why not have a little rest?"

Shang Ruyi shook her head: "No need, I just slept a bit."

Actually, she merely took a nap.

Wo Xue couldn’t argue further, so she whispered: "In that case, the kitchen sent food over, would Young Madam like to eat something?"

Shang Ruyi turned her head, glanced at the outer room where bowls and plates were indeed placed on the table.

But the frightening nightmare robbed her of any appetite.

Shang Ruyi sighed gently, stood up slowly, stretching her numbed arms and legs, then said: "I don’t want to eat, you all go ahead."

He Wenzhu approached, after these three days, he too seemed much older and more haggard than when he came.

He said, "Then, Young Madam, go out and get some fresh air."

"..."

"Later after dinner, this old man will burn moxa and fumigate again."

For three days now, he did this every evening mainly for those attending to the Great General in the room; the two of them could manage, but if the General’s wife fell ill, the Duke might just end their lives.

Shang Ruyi indeed felt she needed to stretch a bit.

She glanced back at Yu Wenye on the bed, then said, "I’m going out for a walk, guard him, call me immediately if anything happens."

"Yes."

So, Shang Ruyi dusted her clothes and walked out the door.

Once she left the room filled with the scent of medicine, the fresh air outside invigorated her spirit a bit, even though she hardly slept for three days and felt extremely weary, the golden red piercing rays of the slowly setting sun made it hard to keep her eyes open.

Shang Ruyi sighed lightly.

She lowered her head and began walking along the perimeter of the courtyard.

Just after taking a few steps, she suddenly heard footsteps from outside, immediately causing her slightly relaxed spirit to tense up again.

Because of Yu Wenye’s illness, and her instructions to prevent anyone from "disturbing" him, the courtyard had become devoid of others, so quiet that even the wind couldn’t be heard. The sudden sound of footsteps immediately put her on alert; she went to the courtyard gate, only to see a familiar, thin figure appear before her.

Upon seeing her, the figure immediately bowed in greeting.

"Young Madam."

It was Nie Chong.

He remained as before, with a face like pale gold, his appearance haggard, looking even more worn-out than herself after three days without sleep. Although nothing had happened, the news of the Great General’s illness had made many in the military uneasy; they needed to calm the nerves of the people and adhere to the sixteen-word military order Yu Wenye gave before falling into a coma, keeping them intensely busy.

No wonder he appeared so worn out.

Shang Ruyi nodded and said, "You’re here to call Shantong’er for dinner, right?"

Nie Chong acknowledged but added, "Yes, but there is another matter I wish to report to Young Madam."

"Oh? What is it?"

Nie Chong said, "Young Madam, today during the day, a rider entered the city; from the looks of it, they seemed to come from Daxing City."

"Daxing City?"

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately became alert: "Who sent them?"

"I don’t know; it seems they are not sent by the Duke or the court, like someone sent them privately."

"Privately?"

"And after entering the city, that person went to visit Song Yu and General Ma Xu."

"What?"

Upon hearing these two names, Shang Ruyi’s brows immediately knitted, thinking deeply, she quickly asked: "Did Yin Changyue and Dai Junliang go inquire about it?"

Nie Chong shook his head: "They met privately, and the two officials aren’t aware."

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi sighed again.

Nie Chong added, "Moreover, from a distance, I seemed to hear some of their conversation—"

Shang Ruyi’s eyes lit up.

Indeed, she almost forgot that Nie Chong had the hearing of a Sharp-Hearing Ear! Even when he was far away, he could hear Shantong’er’s whispers and the distant sound of soldiers’ horse hooves.

She hurriedly asked, "What did they say?!"

Nie Chong quietly said, "Because their camp is very far from ours, and there’s also a parade ground in between with soldiers drilling, indeed, I couldn’t hear clearly."

"..."

"I only vaguely heard—’First Young Master’, those three words."