CHAPTER 497: CHAPTER 425: XUE XIAN, HAS ARRIVED!_3

"..."

"After I return, I’ll also advise my father."

Shang Ruyi was somewhat surprised that her cautious persuasion gained his approval so smoothly, but she immediately smiled happily.

Seeing that his cup was empty, she quickly said, "Let me pour you another cup of water."

After saying this, she picked up the cup and went to the side.

Watching her being so attentive, Yu Wenye slightly smiled. When Shang Ruyi walked back with the cup of water and handed it to him, he said in a deep voice, "However, I thought you would persuade me to boost morale again."

"Hmm?"

Shang Ruyi was taken aback and looked up at him.

Yu Wenye said, "Since last night, you’ve been trying to persuade me to boost morale. Just now at the tower, you seemed to want me to say something—Mu Xian and the others seem to think so too."

"..."

"Why persuade me on that, but not on this?"

Shang Ruyi slowly sat back beside him, still fanning him gently, and said, "I thought about it. When it comes to military affairs, I’m still not as knowledgeable as you."

"Hmm?"

"This time, you took the initiative to lead the troops on an expedition. You must want to win."

"..."

"Even I know to boost morale. You can’t possibly not know. It’s just that I only know we should boost morale, but you, who have led troops, should know better when and how to boost morale."

"..."

"I think, having only observed a few wars, I am ultimately an outsider."

"..."

"If you let an outsider like me guide someone like you, who truly understands leading troops, it would not only disgrace you but also be irresponsible to the soldiers under your command. So, I think it’s better for me to keep quiet."

"...!"

Yu Wenye slightly widened his eyes, somewhat shocked, as he looked at her.

It’s known that the most profound truth in this world is not to let outsiders guide insiders. However, this is also the hardest truth to uphold, because the less one knows, or even knows nothing, the more arrogant they are, and the more they like to point fingers at others.

Conversely, the more knowledgeable someone is, the more aware they are of the intricacies within, and they become more apprehensive of their own shortcomings, reconsidering several times before speaking.

Keeping quiet has always been harder than speaking out.

Yu Wenye silently regarded her for a moment, then suddenly curled the corner of his mouth; the cold frost in his stern eyes seemed to soften into a faint smile.

Shang Ruyi was taken aback: "What are you smiling about?"

Yu Wenye laughed, "I hope you always remain this sensible."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Earlier at Wanggang Village, who was it that didn’t even inform me before going to burn down their granary?"

"..."

Recalling this, Shang Ruyi felt a bit of scalp tingling, but she still retorted stubbornly, "That was a matter of life and death."

"..."

"No matter what, I absolutely couldn’t watch you—"

At this point, she suddenly paused.

Yu Wenye’s eyes instead brightened, staring at her: "Couldn’t watch me what?"

The heat of the day had not yet dissipated, and everyone was restless from the heat. Being stared at like that, Shang Ruyi felt her face start to burn, instinctively turning her head to avoid his gaze, lifting the fan in her hand as if to create distance between the two.

But just then, a low grumbling noise suddenly sounded in the distance.

It seemed to come from afar. Shang Ruyi briefly thought it was thunder, or perhaps the rumble of something being toppled over. But as soon as Yu Wenye heard that sound, the smile vanished from his eyes, replaced by a cold sharpness.

He stood up abruptly and looked outside.

Even Wo Xue, who had been tending the stove in the corner of the courtyard, paused for a moment and looked outside.

Shang Ruyi immediately realized something, rising to stand beside Yu Wenye: "What is it? This sound—is—"

"It’s the sound of drums,"

Yu Wenye’s face had completely taken on a grim, stern look, exhaling deeply before saying, "Xue Xian, has arrived!"