CHAPTER 104: CHAPTER 104: I SAID, I LIKE YOU

Yu Wenye’s expression instantly darkened.

He was not foolish, how could he not detect the almost sharp sarcasm in Shang Ruyi’s words? But he said nothing more, only coldly gazed at the person in the mirror.

Until Shang Ruyi said, "For example, you can tell them that I actually bumped into an old acquaintance—the New Moon Princess, and accompanied the Princess to Tinghe Building for drinks. Saying this, how could the people at home still worry about me?"

Yu Wenye’s gaze flickered.

He looked at the pale little face in the mirror with its sarcastic expression and gravely said, "Do you know who she is?"

Shang Ruyi said, "Fortunately, I’m not too foolish."

In fact, she realized that until today, she had indeed been somewhat too foolish.

This afternoon, sitting in the post station, watching the misty scenery, she finally figured out why the betrothal gifts from the Yuwen Family were so luxurious, far exceeding the standard specifications for a Duke’s marriage.

And yet she was only the orphan of a declining family, even needing her uncle’s support to live.

Thinking back now, such extravagant betrothal gifts should have been sent to the Royal Family, only marrying a Princess would require such gifts.

The one to discuss marriage with him was none other than the illustrious New Moon Princess—Chu Ruoyan.

Regarding this Princess, Shang Ruyi had heard of her early on. She was the Emperor’s most beloved daughter, sixteen years of age, the eldest born of Empress Jiang, renowned for her exceptional beauty and intelligence, well-protected since childhood. It’s said that in her early years, Princes from Turkic and other countries attempted to marry her, but the Emperor, unwilling to let her marry far off, preferred to offend diplomats rather than let her leave his side.

Her most famous and absurd story was roaming around on her father’s lap, a father who never adhered to normal conventions, sitting on the Dragon Chair listening to court affairs as she cried, interrupting proceedings and dismissing the officials.

Clearly, she was a most cherished girl, pampered and adored beyond compare.

Recalling the captivating face she saw today at Tinghe Building, and the almost vast difference between them, Shang Ruyi felt as though countless needles were piercing her heart, causing her both pain and discomfort.

Thinking again of the moment when she stumbled upon the two, she even felt herself to be more ridiculous.

No wonder, just as an eunuch dispatched to investigate Duke Mansion left, another little eunuch inexplicably arrived to call him to the palace, because the two arriving front and back obviously came by different orders.

The household, including herself, were kept in the dark.

Yet Yu Wenye knew it all too well.

It was precisely because he knew it all too well that he casually left her saying "heading to the palace."

Shang Ruyi laughed, "Now I finally understand why last night, when your friends heard my small name, they showed such expressions. The New Moon Princess, Heaven’s favored daughter, golden branch and jade leaf, yet perversely, I’m called Ming Yue Nu."

"..."

"Ridiculous that I spoke that small name in public..."

"..."

"And your bridal urging poem,"

At this point, her voice was somewhat uncontrollably hoarse, yet she managed to recite the poem she’d only seen once before, word by word: "The Nine Heavens unfold one by one, Jade Horse and Golden Carriage tread the clouds. A toast of joyous scent dissipates completely, adorned Green Girl descends to Yao Platform."

As she spoke, she sneered, "Nine Heavens, Yao Platform Green Girl... That poem, you originally wrote it for her, didn’t you?"

Yu Wenye remained silent, his brow already furrowed into a knot.

After a long pause, he said, "You think too much."

With that, he turned to leave.

Shang Ruyi immediately said, "Is that all you have to say?"

"..."

Yu Wenye stopped in his tracks: "What do you want me to say?"

Shang Ruyi suddenly stood up from her seat, straight away walking behind him: "Isn’t this something you should explain to me?"

Yu Wenye still coldly said, "I don’t think I need to explain anything to you."

"You—"

"You don’t really think that since we’re married, you’re my wife, I need to be loyal to you, whoever I see, whoever I meet, still needs to be explained to you, do you?"

"..."

"Shang Ruyi, have you forgotten something?"

Hearing these words, Shang Ruyi’s heart sank heavily.

And Yu Wenye turned around coldly, those deep eyes now like consolidated ice, coldly watching her, speaking each word slowly: "If you’ve forgotten, let me remind you once more. Our marriage was a trade; publicly, we are husband and wife, but to me—you are just Shang Ruyi, you have no power to bind me."

"..."

"Today’s meeting with the New Moon Princess is between her and me; how does this affect our trade, does it affect you at all?"

"..."

"I ask you, on what grounds do you demand an explanation from me?"

In that moment, Shang Ruyi was rendered speechless.

Although speechless, her heart was pounded by waves of intense beating, painful with each strike, some words seemingly rushing to break out along with her heartbeat.

Don’t speak!

Don’t speak!

If spoken, in front of him, Shang Ruyi would be beyond pathetic, beyond overwhelmed, even unbearable, utterly ashamed...

In the midst of all emotions colliding, almost shattering her, Shang Ruyi spoke, trembling, "Even if I like you, it won’t do?"

The moment she uttered those words, the entire room fell silent.

Shang Ruyi only felt her blood rapidly cooling and heating, her whole body seemed tortured in the ordeal of two extremes, for a moment she even forgot everything else around her, just glaring at this person before her.

Finally...

Finally, she still said it.

Up to this day, she could no longer deny this matter —

She, apparently came to like him.

Actually, she wasn’t foolish, ever since their first meeting, every time she saw him, her heart raced like that, if not love, what other sentiment was it? Clearly knowing that this road might be fraught with thorns, even dangerous, yet she persisted in walking on it firmly. If not for love, then what?

It’s just, she didn’t expect on the night of their wedding, Yu Wenye’s indifferent tone would crush her budding feelings.

But even so, the heart that loves someone does not easily change.

She still quietly, even, in rationality’s unwillingness to take another step, quietly loves him.

Fluttering with each of his approaches, joyous with his slight tenderness.

But now—

Seeing the unexpected expression on his stern face, yet wholly indifferent, Shang Ruyi already felt herself utterly defeated, yet refused to abandon.

She stared fixedly into Yu Wenye’s eyes, word by word: "I say, I like you."

"..."

"Like you as a wife does."