Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 618 - 500: A Sense of Invasion

Xuanwu Gate!

These three words, as Eunuch Cao said softly, weighed heavily on Shang Ruyi’s heart.

She suddenly felt as if something had exploded in her mind. For a moment, she couldn’t hear or see, only feeling an icy chill rising from her feet and sweeping across her entire body!

Shang Ruyi shivered abruptly.

At this moment, Yu Wenye seemed to sense something and looked down at her: "What’s wrong with you?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi took a deep breath, barely regaining a thread of composure. When she met his deep black eyes, the familiar aura instantly made her feel somewhat reassured. She gasped and shook her head gently: "No, it’s nothing."

Despite saying this, her sudden loss of composure clearly indicated otherwise.

Yu Wenye glanced at her, and then followed her gaze, which had been fixed ahead—the Xuanwu Gate.

There it was, quiet and empty, with only the palace guards and rows of straight pine trees standing before the gate, like a squad of soldiers standing neatly, stern and imposing. The branches only swayed slightly when the wind blew, appearing on the surface as just a tranquil landscape.

Yet, from Yu Wenye’s martial instincts, he sensed that the scene subtly emitted an air of hostility.

At this point, Eunuch Cao chuckled: "Once you pass through Xuanwu Gate, you’ll reach His Majesty’s Liangyi Hall. After court today, His Majesty, the Duke, and several other ministers went there to discuss state affairs. However, we’re not heading there."

"..."

Upon hearing this, the two instinctively withdrew their gaze.

Shang Ruyi regained her senses; indeed, yesterday Yu Wenquan mentioned that due to the Historian’s omen, "comet appears, disaster arises," the Little Emperor was so frightened that he couldn’t eat or sleep peacefully. To find a solution, he summoned several old ministers who had accompanied Emperor Wen to the palace to discuss the matter.

Now, they were over there.

Eunuch Cao spoke again: "Let’s go this way."

Having said that, he gestured, and Shang Ruyi, without saying much, simply nodded and followed him through the Xuande Gate.

Her mind still felt a bit dazed when suddenly a large hand rested on her back.

The rough, solid palm immediately brought a bit of warmth to her slightly chilly body, making Shang Ruyi instantly feel refreshed and as if she’d regained her composure.

She looked up at Yu Wenye, who silently continued onward, saying softly: "It’ll be alright."

"..."

"Don’t lose focus later."

This remark made Shang Ruyi focus even more.

Indeed, she couldn’t lose focus.

After all, they were about to arrive—

As they spoke, they had already entered Xuande Gate, led by Eunuch Cao. Lifting their heads, a different scene appeared before them compared to the solemn landscape before. Here, there were significantly more flowers and greenery, and the air was no longer tense and serious, having a touch of pastoral charm due to the occasional sounds of insects and birds.

Following the path inside the Ziwei Palace of Luoyang, they should continue forward. They could already see Lizheng Hall ahead—the residence of the Empress in Daxing Palace—but at this moment, Eunuch Cao turned his steps east along a small path.

Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi exchanged glances.

Yet at this point, they no longer questioned but followed Eunuch Cao’s footsteps. Soon, amidst the verdant and secluded scenery surrounded by greenery, they spotted an elegant palace.

It was Yichun Palace.

The palace wasn’t large, but it exuded a sense of delicacy and ingenuity everywhere. Shang Ruyi noticed a lush area to the north and could even hear the pleasant sounds of insects and birds, bringing about a favorable view. Unable to help herself, she asked softly: "What’s over there—"

Yu Wenye also turned to take a look.

His expression was slightly solemn, and after a moment of silence, he said: "That’s Yichun North Garden, further ahead is the Eagle and Falcon Yard."

"Eagle and Falcon Yard? It doesn’t seem to exist at Ziwei Palace. What’s it for?"

"It keeps some birds and beasts for people to play and have fun with."

"Oh."

"Although Ziwei Palace is modeled after Daxing Palace in its layout, it’s much smaller. Places like Yichun North Garden, Eagle and Falcon Yard, and even the Shooting Hall for leisure don’t exist there."

"Oh..."

Shang Ruyi looked at him again, finding his expression calm. Yet within his eyes, there seemed to be a flicker of nostalgic emotion.

She was about to ask Yu Wenye why he knew so clearly when a charming, playful voice said with a laugh: "As expected, Second Brother still remembers."

Upon hearing this voice, Shang Ruyi’s heart skipped a beat.

Yu Wenye turned his head calmly, seeing a slender and graceful figure stepping out of Yichun Palace with light steps. She wore a water-red long dress, her skin as white as snow, her features beautifully painted. With just a touch of makeup, she was already breathtakingly beautiful. Under the sunlight, she showed no trace of blemish, appearing even more radiant and captivating.

It was none other than Princess Xinyue.

Chu Ruoyan.

She was also here.

As expected, she is also here.

When Shang Ruyi saw that face of unparalleled beauty, despite being fully prepared, she couldn’t help but feel a suffocating tightness in her chest.

Just moments ago, when she discovered that the person summoning Yu Wenye was an unfamiliar eunuch, a suspicion arose in her heart. The real person wanting to see Yu Wenye was probably not the Empress Dowager, and along the way, Yu Wenye’s somber mood further confirmed her suspicions.

After all, if it were truly to see the Empress Dowager, Yu Wenye shouldn’t have such an emotion.

Nor would he insist on bringing her along.

Though in the past, she had been concerned about his feelings for the Empress Dowager and felt unbearable jealousy, after their hearts connected at Dayan Temple, she understood and even comprehended those feelings. The admiration of youth is the purest and simplest, and she was willing to keep a place in her heart for him, untouched.

But today’s situation was clearly different from before.

In a fleeting moment, Shang Ruyi remembered that even in the Eastern Capital, the Empress Dowager rarely summoned Yu Wenye alone, let alone today, which was supposed to be a moment of "expressing gratitude."

So, it’s Princess Xinyue—

Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi’s gaze deepened a bit as she saw the familiar expression appearing on Chu Ruoyan’s charming face, looking towards the Eagle and Falcon Yard not far away. She murmured, "I also remember, when I was young, Second Brother often took me there to play. But it’s been a long time since—"

"Greetings, Eldest Princess."

Before she could finish her words, Yu Wenye had already greeted her respectfully.

Shang Ruyi, who was still somewhat lost in her thoughts, especially upon hearing Princess Xinyue’s words, dared not be negligent and followed in bowing down.

As both of them bowed, neither saw the fleeting gloom that passed over Chu Ruoyan’s bright and lovely face.

But immediately, she smiled.

She took a few steps forward to help them up and then smiled at Yu Wenye, saying, "Second Brother, there’s no need for such formality between us."

"Thank you, Eldest Princess."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Chu Ruoyan furrowed her brows slightly, and a hint of resentment arose in her clear and charming eyes. She said, "Second Brother, you never used to be so distant with me. Why, after just one trip to Fufeng, do you call me ’Princess’ and ’Your Highness’?"

Yu Wenye looked at her.

Before he could speak, Princess Xinyue laughed and said, "Sister Ruyi wouldn’t wish us to be so distant."

Then, she turned her head and smiled at Shang Ruyi, "Sister Ruyi, isn’t that right?"

"..."

At this, Shang Ruyi, who was standing behind Yu Wenye and sorting out her somewhat chaotic thoughts, was suddenly taken aback. When she looked up, she met those bright, watery eyes, momentarily stunned.

How was she to answer this question?

Everyone knows there should be distinctions between sovereign and subjects, even if they grew up together, their current statuses could never return to what they used to be.

But those words, Shang Ruyi couldn’t bring herself to say.

If it were just her, she might have said something about the distinctions between sovereign and subjects, but Chu Ruoyan’s question was about her and Yu Wenye. If she said that now, it would seem like she was concerned about their relationship, intentionally wanting to distance them.

And moreover...

For some reason, although Chu Ruoyan’s words seemed intimate, they carried a sense of aggression. She stood there motionless as if inching closer to her step by step, forcing her to retreat, step by step, conceding ground.

Was it an illusion, or...?

While Shang Ruyi hesitated, unsure of how to respond, Yu Wenye had already spoken, calm yet indifferent, "This humble servant is not being distant, but fearful."

"..."

"Just now, the eunuch relayed a message to this humble servant, saying it was the Empress Dowager who summoned me, but I didn’t expect that we had taken a wrong path and ended up at the Eldest Princess’s place."

"..."

"I have offended the Eldest Princess, please forgive me."

Hearing this, Princess Xinyue furrowed her brow again.

And beside them, Eunuch Cao hurriedly knelt down and said, "Great General, forgive me, this slave is—"

Before he could finish, Chu Ruoyan gracefully waved her jade hand, stopping his words. Then she smiled at Yu Wenye and said, "Second Brother, don’t blame him, it was I— I wanted to see you."

Yu Wenye slightly furrowed his brow and said, "If the Princess wanted to see this humble servant, you could have said so directly. Why falsely relay the Empress Dowager’s command?"

"..."

At this point, the atmosphere had become somewhat heavy.

Although this matter was between mother and daughter, and as an outsider, a minister naturally shouldn’t meddle, the matter of Yu Wenye entering and leaving the inner palace truly was not a trivial one. Plus, Yu Wenye’s demeanor was solemn with a grave tone, and though he was still a subject, his words carried a hint of reproach.

Standing nearby, Shang Ruyi’s breaths were also becoming tense.

As expected, Chu Ruoyan did not immediately reply.

She just silently lowered her head, and after a while, looked up at Yu Wenye. Her big eyes held a faint shimmer, and when she opened her mouth again, it carried a hint of melancholy as she softly said, "If I don’t use my mother’s command, would you come?"