CHAPTER 115: CHAPTER 115: ONLY ONE BED

In an instant, the originally tense atmosphere inside the posthouse relaxed.

Shang Ruyi also felt that the stifled feeling in her chest had cleared up. She let out a sigh of relief, then turned to look at Shen Wuzheng and said softly, "So, brother, you came tonight also to—"

"Yes,"

Shen Wuzheng nodded calmly and said, "Originally, I came back to see you, but halfway through, upon receiving the news, I turned around and came here."

"..."

"I cannot just sit by and watch my parents suffer. If things here were not right, naturally, I would take them away. But after arriving, I found their situation different from what I had imagined, so I did not act but instead came in to discuss their next arrangements with them."

"..."

"Given the current situation, I should also reconsider my plans."

"Oh..."

Shang Ruyi gently nodded.

Actually, after listening to the government officer, she also dispelled her thoughts. She originally wanted to rescue her uncle and aunt because she was worried they would suffer, but now that the officers were treating them favorably, there was no need to act, and they even said that the people from Lingnan intended the same.

If there really was someone looking after them, then when Shen Shiyan reached Lingnan, apart from the harsh environment, it would indeed be safer than being in court.

Compared to Shen Wuzheng’s calmness, it was clear she had been too impulsive. If not for Yu Wenye’s words, she might have made a huge mistake.

Ah, where is Yu Wenye?

She just realized this, and at this time, Shen Wuzheng also furrowed his brow slightly and asked, "Ruyi, did you come alone?"

As soon as he finished speaking, footsteps were heard outside the door.

Everyone hurriedly looked up, only to see a tall figure slowly walking into the posthouse in the dim night outside the door.

It was Yu Wenye!

He had left the others outside and entered the posthouse alone, but it was still apparent that shadows flickered outside the courtyard wall, and the neighing of warhorses drifted far away on the wind.

Upon seeing him, Shen Wuzheng’s gaze slowly focused.

But he didn’t speak. Instead, it was Shen Shiyan who said, "Young Master Yu Wen, why are you here too? Did you come with Ruyi?"

Yu Wenye walked in step by step, expressionless, but when he reached Shen Shiyan, he still respectfully raised his hand and saluted: "Uncle Shen, your junior has arrived late and asks for your forgiveness."

"You are so foolish!"

Knowing that he came with Shang Ruyi, Shen Shiyan was so angry that he pounded his chest and stamped his feet: "If I again implicated the Duke because of me, wouldn’t it be my fault?"

Yu Wenye said, "Uncle, please don’t say that."

Shen Shiyan repeated, "Foolish! Foolish!"

At this point, Shen Wuzheng stepped up beside him and said calmly, "Father, what we are doing is the same as when you and Lord Pei persuaded the Emperor to stop the campaign in Liaodong. Doing what seems impossible is right, protecting oneself and safeguarding the family is also right, it’s just that people make different choices, and there is no right or wrong."

"..."

"Father, please, don’t blame others anymore."

His words were calm and composed, leaving no room for criticism even to elders.

Indeed, his words held an undeniable authority that made Shen Shiyan, as the father, somewhat hesitant. He looked at his son for a while, then turned to Yu and said, "It’s all your fault!"

Yu said, "It’s my fault too!"

The couple huddled to the side and began arguing again.

And only then did Shen Wuzheng turn his head towards Yu Wenye.

Yu Wenye also looked at him.

Their gazes met silently, one firm and one gentle, but a strange atmosphere seemed to spread in the gray and simple posthouse.

After a while, it was Shen Wuzheng who spoke first: "Young Master Yu Wen, it’s been hard on you."

Yu Wenye cupped his hands towards him: "Elder brother, you are too kind."

This term ’elder brother,’ it was unclear if it referred to age or to brother-in-law, but Shen Wuzheng’s brow slightly furrowed, and he glanced at Shang Ruyi before saying, "This time, the matter of your and Ruyi’s marriage, I didn’t know beforehand."

Yu Wenye said, "It is the command of parents, the words of the matchmaker, all rites are completed."

Shang Ruyi looked at her brother, then at her husband, and couldn’t help but frown.

She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but both of them were expressionless, speaking in calm tones, yet every word seemed to clash, giving the feeling of swords flashing in front of them.

She subconsciously said, "Brother—"

Upon hearing her call him, Shen Wuzheng’s gaze immediately softened, and he turned to her, "Hmm?"

Even though she called him, Shang Ruyi didn’t know what to say.

While she hesitated, Mr. and Mrs. Shen had a brief discussion with a few Posthouse Ministers and then stepped forward to say, "We’ll end today’s matters here. Since it’s late, you can rest at this posthouse for now. Once day breaks, we are leaving, and you should hurry and leave too."

As he spoke, Shen Shiyan specifically advised Yu Wenye, "Now that Duke Sheng is in the court, Young Master Yu Wen must be even more cautious. Once you return to Luoyang, everything is under their watchful eyes; no more recklessness as today."

Yu Wenye calmly said, "Thank you for the guidance, Uncle Shen."

Shang Ruyi listened with a cold sweat running down her back.

Speaking of which, the reckless one was her. Moreover, she was the one who used such an exchange condition to force Yu Wenye to come with her, yet Shen Shiyan, unaware of the facts, only lectured Yu Wenye, who accepted it all quietly.

Therefore, the people in the posthouse immediately arranged rooms upstairs, and everyone, without fuss, went to rest.

Before going upstairs, Yu Wenye also instructed Mu Xian and the others to guard around the posthouse and report any disturbances immediately.

And Shang Ruyi helped Mr. and Mrs. Shen upstairs into their room, spoke with them for a while, and then went to the room arranged for them by the Posthouse Minister.

Pushing open the door, she found the room extremely small, with no furniture except for a low table with a candlestick in the center and a bed beside the wall, which was dilapidated, with the red paint peeling off almost completely. Luckily, the blanket on it seemed clean.

Shang Ruyi stood in the center of the room, dazed, looking around.

Too many things happened today, leaving her somewhat at a loss.

As she stood there, a bit bewildered, the half-closed door behind her creaked open, and she hurriedly turned around, only to see Yu Wenye walking in.

The two met each other’s gaze and instinctively spoke at the same time.

"You—"

"You—"

Both stopped immediately after speaking.

Yu Wenye looked at her, "What do you want to say?"

Shang Ruyi wanted to thank him, but it seemed too contrived to express gratitude at this moment, so she could only mumble, "Are you going to rest?"

"..."

Yu Wenye said nothing but looked at her with an odd expression.

The next moment, Shang Ruyi suddenly realized.

There is only one bed in this room, by telling him to rest, wouldn’t it mean—

Shang Ruyi’s face immediately turned red, and she stuttered, "I, I didn’t mean that."