CHAPTER 249: CHAPTER 235: EAT VENISON?

Just as everyone was in a panic, shouting and charging forward, frightening the pedestrians nearby into screaming and evading, Yu Wenye suddenly pulled the reins and stopped ahead.

The Imperial Guards chasing closely behind were caught off guard and nearly collided with him.

Everyone was still in shock, not knowing what had happened. Wang Shaoji galloped forward on his horse, looking at him standing calmly there, then glanced around with reddened eyes, angrily saying, "You, what are you doing?"

Yu Wenye calmly replied, "Nothing."

"Nothing, why are you running?"

"Riding a horse, isn’t it for running?"

"..."

His composed and nonchalant demeanor made Wang Shaoji’s earlier panic seem like a joke, angering him to the point his mouth was crooked.

Soon, Shang Ruyi, following behind them, also appeared somewhat flustered.

Looking at Yu Wenye’s calm face, he wasn’t trying to escape, nor did he seem to be teasing these people. But he wasn’t someone who acted without reason; there must have been a purpose behind his earlier feint.

But what was the reason?

Shang Ruyi instinctively glanced around. The people who hurried away, some recognized them, others did not, muttered curses under their breath; after all, who goes out on the street but is leisurely wandering? If a horse crashes into them, it could be deadly.

Nothing unusual.

With doubt, Shang Ruyi looked back, only to find Yu Wenye stopped right at the entrance of Tinghe Building.

The people inside were numerous; some were drawn by the commotion outside and peeked out, but there seemed to be nothing strange either.

Shang Ruyi looked at Yu Wenye with growing doubt.

What was he doing, causing such a scene?

Though a bit unsettled, at least Yu Wenye was still there and hadn’t truly run away. In his panic, Wang Shaoji signaled his men to surround him and proceed forward.

This time, he was completely unable to escape.

They only stopped when they reached the fork in the road.

This was the place where he would head to the Ministry of Justice, while Shang Ruyi and the others would return to the Yuwen Mansion. It was the point where their paths diverged.

Yu Wenye stopped his horse, turned to look at Shang Ruyi in the line, and Shang Ruyi immediately dismounted and walked over. But as soon as she approached, the people beside Wang Shaoji quickly stepped forward to block her: "What do you want?"

Shang Ruyi frowned at them.

Yu Wenye also glanced at them, then looked at the cold-eyed Wang Shaoji and said with a faint smile, "General Wang, are you this cautious?"

"..."

"Even if my wife could turn into wings, she cannot fly out with me."

"..."

"However, if you truly worry about me fleeing, then it’s fine for us to say a few words briefly; at least it can give General Wang some peace of mind."

This statement made Wang Shaoji’s face even more unsightly.

Yu Wenye’s earlier feint already made him appear overly alarmed; now being overly cautious seemed like he was truly afraid of him. After thinking for a long time, he sneered and said, "Say whatever you want; this general actually wants to see what tricks you can pull."

After finishing, he waved his hand, and the Imperial Guards blocking the way made way.

Shang Ruyi hurried over to Yu Wenye and looked up at him: "Second brother!"

Yet Yu Wenye did not dismount, merely leaned down toward her.

Shang Ruyi worriedly said: "You—"

Her words were interrupted by Yu Wenye. He calmly said, "I’m going to the Ministry of Justice; it might take a few days before I return. You should take Mu Xian and the others home. I’ve already made it clear to you before, don’t wander out aimlessly, and definitely don’t go out of town."

Shang Ruyi said, "I understand."

"Try to comfort the people at home; these few days, there shouldn’t be any more trouble."

"Alright."

"I’ve already sent out Father’s letters; if he sends another one, consider carefully how to reply, and don’t let him worry too much."

"Rest assured, I will handle it well."

Although these matters were being instructed, Yu Wenye’s tone remained calm, his expression as usual, as if he was merely going on a trip and would return in a few days. Who could think that the place he was heading the next moment was the Ministry of Justice, and what he was to face trial for was his repeated defeats in battle, leading his forces to flee, and even killing the supervisor personally appointed by the court!

It was a grave crime where any slight mistake could cost him his head!

Although not wanting him to worry too much, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but ask, "About how many days will it take for you to return?"

Yu Wenye said, "Once things are clear, it won’t take many days."

"Then I—"

"You just stay at home and take good care of yourself."

Realizing she could do nothing, seemingly only capable of waiting for his return as a useless person, Shang Ruyi’s mood grew increasingly sunk, her eyelids lowering, lashes shadowing her bright eyes.

Yet Yu Wenye looked at her dimmed eyes and suddenly said, "You actually don’t eat lamb, right?"

"...?"

Shang Ruyi was stunned, looking up at him in surprise: "How do you know?"

Indeed, she hadn’t eaten lamb since she was young. But back at Taiyuan Mansion, on the second day after Yu Wenye’s wedding, when he took her to the restaurant, he exclusively ordered lamb dishes, and she had no appetite except to point at a dish of cooked vegetables to eat a few bites. At that time, given the relationship between the two was merely a transaction, she thought there was no need to express preference and therefore didn’t inform him of her likes and dislikes.

Unexpectedly, he suddenly brought it up now.

Yu Wenye, however, seemed slightly displeased, glared at her, and said, "Such a thing can be said."

Shang Ruyi bit her lower lip.

Yu Wenye snorted softly and then asked, "Do you eat venison?"

Shang Ruyi didn’t understand why he would ask this at such a moment, only said, "I eat."

Yu Wenye then nodded.

Shang Ruyi became more puzzled, clearly the two were discussing household arrangements and the Ministry of Justice case, suddenly he was mentioning eating lamb and venison? While still in doubt, she heard Yu Wenye say, "I just glanced at the new water menu at Tinghe Building. When I return in a few days, I’ll take you there to have some Tian Suo cake and medicinal soup."

"...!"

Shang Ruyi looked at him foolishly, and after a while, hoarsely said, "You, you just ran—and then stopped to look at the water menu?"

Yu Wenye faintly smiled and said, "Go back and wait for me, don’t worry too much."

After speaking, he straightened up and said to Wang Shaoji, "Let’s go."

Wang Shaoji and the others immediately stepped forward and took him away.

Standing still, although watching him being taken away by the people, feeling a bit painful, his gentle and calm words seemed to still echo by her ears, inexplicably calming her heart.

Even, because of anticipation, gaining some strength.

Looking at Yu Wenye’s figure disappearing in the distance, she took a deep breath and turned back, saying, "Let’s go home!"

Mu Xian and others immediately complied, mounted their horses, and followed her.