Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 745 - 575 Marriage Alliance

Pushing open the door and entering the room, Shang Ruyi immediately saw three men sitting around the table. Yu Wenye and Shen Wuzheng were seated on the left and right sides, while Pei Xingyuan sat facing the door directly. None of them showed much expression, yet there was a stifling silence in the room, making it difficult to breathe.

As she entered, Yu Wenye merely nodded lightly, but Shen Wuzheng spoke gently: "Ruyi, you’re back."

"Hm, brother, Feng Chen."

Shang Ruyi nodded, closed the door behind her, and walked over to sit down.

It was only then she noticed that Pei Xingyuan seemed a bit off.

From the atmosphere in the room, it was clear that Yu Wenye must have brought back some unpleasant news from the palace, which was why he had called these two here to discuss; yet, even when they were scheming about the medicine in their hands or the yet-to-be-revealed Yu Mingyue in the past, the atmosphere was never so oppressive, especially with Pei Xingyuan — normally, he would cheerfully invite her to crouch down even if the sky were falling.

But today, he sat there silently, his expression complex, neither happy nor sad, neither angry nor calm, his always smiling eyes slightly lowered, gaze wooden, as if a thousand emotions had just swept over him, leaving behind only a tired, somewhat shattered shell.

Shang Ruyi instinctively asked, "What’s wrong?"

"..."

No one answered her.

Shang Ruyi seemed to realize she shouldn’t have asked, but she couldn’t help herself and turned to glance at Yu Wenye —

Today, wasn’t it because a message about the Turks came, that Yu Wenquan called him into the palace to discuss, so why would he have such an atmosphere when talking with these two upon returning?

What great matter had transpired?

Just as she wanted to ask but felt it inappropriate, she suddenly heard a soft chuckle in the room.

"Hey, what’s so hard to say about this."

The speaker was Pei Xingyuan.

Shang Ruyi quickly looked up at him, her gaze becoming cautious, and even Shen Wuzheng beside her frowned slightly, saying softly, "Xingyuan..."

Pei Xingyuan chuckled, then said to Shang Ruyi, "You need to know as well. The letter from Princess Qiancheng told the Grand Chancellor, that the Western Turks have suddenly started to assemble troops, seemingly ready to march against someone."

"...Oh."

Shang Ruyi responded, her confusion deepening.

This, wasn’t it a conclusion that could be inferred just from hearing the message from Princess Qiancheng? After all, given Ashina Shali’s vengeful nature, he wouldn’t overlook Yu Wenye’s grudge from that arrow long ago.

Why gather everyone to discuss such things?

Why such an emotional response?

Shang Ruyi thought for a moment, then cautiously asked, "So, Ashina Shali is going to march against us, right?"

Pei Xingyuan laughed and said, "Of course."

"..."

"Currently in the Central Plains, the strongest military force—besides the tens of thousands of troops brought by the Wang Shaoji brothers who haven’t returned yet—is us."

"..."

"Certainly not against the Eastern Capital."

"..."

Mentioning the Eastern Capital, Shang Ruyi’s breath instinctively faltered.

The Eastern Capital, Liang Shide...

The Western Turks certainly wouldn’t strike against the Eastern Capital, because Liang Shide had allied Wanggang Village and the Western Turks before, obtaining a large number of horses from the Turks, secured all Hebei, then pushed south, occupying the Eastern Capital.

It was due to his greatly increased strength that even the Left Imperial Guard General Lei Yi, sent by the court to quell the rebellion, couldn’t—

At this thought, Shang Ruyi suddenly felt a chill down her spine.

She instinctively held her breath, looking up at Pei Xingyuan, only to see his eyelids lowered once more. At this moment, Yu Wenye spoke gravely, "The letter from Princess Qiancheng also mentioned something else."

"What’s that?"

"The Western Turks and Liang Shide have formed a marital alliance. At least for now, the Western Turks definitely won’t strike the Eastern Capital."

"Marital... alliance?"

Shang Ruyi’s breathing became tight, and she whispered, "Who, with whom?"

Yu Wenye’s brows furrowed, his cold face showing hesitation and a bit of resignation for the first time. Even Shen Wuzheng beside him sighed silently.

Then, a smiling voice said, "It’s Lei Yu."

"...!"

Shang Ruyi’s breath caught immediately.

She raised her head, a bit incredulous, but perhaps already knowing in her heart, it was merely this moment when the stone hanging over her heart fell, hitting her with intense pain. She took a deep breath, trying to speak, but her throat was constricted, taking another breath, yet when she tried to speak, her eyes were too blurred by heat to see the person ahead.

She only felt that Pei Xingyuan still smiled, but that smile seemed even more painful than the agony in her heart.

He repeated, "It’s Lei Yu."

"..."

"A few days ago, she married the young prince of the Western Turks — Ashina Yiasu."

"..."

"Liang Shide and the Western Turks originally had dealings, and now there’s this familial alliance, making their partnership even more solid. Therefore, this time we must guard against the Western Turks..."

Listening to him seemed so earnest, so deliberate, yet his voice carried a certain numbness while saying these words; Shang Ruyi was momentarily unsure whether it was this news that shook her more, or a surge of inexplicable melancholia rising in her heart that was deeper. She only quietly watched Pei Xingyuan, until his voice grew increasingly soft, as if even his breath weakened.

Yu Wenye softly said, "Xingyuan..."

He could speak sharply, leaving even someone like Yu Mingyue with nothing to say, but at certain times, a man’s words simply seemed impossible to voice.

After hesitating briefly, his voice also quieted.

Meanwhile, Shen Wuzheng was silent as ever, just calmly watching Pei Xingyuan, not uttering a word.

Looking at them, then at Pei Xingyuan, Shang Ruyi said nothing, only upon hearing familiar footsteps outside the door did she stand and walk out. Upon opening the door, she saw Tushere carrying some snacks, who upon seeing her, immediately smiled and said, "Miss, you’re back. The Master and Young Master, along with Mr. Pei, have all returned, so I—"

Shang Ruyi glanced at the snacks in her hands and said quietly, "Go change them."

"Eh? Change what?"

"Switch for some wine. Ask the kitchen to prepare a few dishes."

"...?"

Tushere was stunned, but upon seeing Shang Ruyi’s serious expression, though she didn’t understand why, she immediately said, "I understand, Miss, I’ll do it right away."

After she finished speaking, she turned and walked away.

After a short while, the wine and dishes were delivered.

Yu Wenye rarely drank during the day, but this time, he made an exception, even the perpetually teetotal Shen Wuzheng drank a few cups. After his eyes and nose turned slightly red, watching Pei Xingyuan drink cup after cup, he stopped drinking, merely quietly serving him dishes and pouring wine.

The drinking session lasted until the afternoon.

Shen Wuzheng, somewhat intoxicated, continued to drowsily chat with Yu Wenye about "not enjoying good fortune" as Pei Xingyuan got into the carriage. Yu Wenye stood below, softly asked, "Really not staying? I have had guest rooms prepared."

Shen Wuzheng glanced down and said indifferently, "I’d better take him home."

After speaking, he cast a glance at Shang Ruyi, and gently said, "Little sister, rest well."

Shang Ruyi nodded.

The carriage soon departed Duke Mansion, Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi stood at the gate watching its disappearance down the long street’s end. Turning back, the sun also started to slant, the golden rays causing both of them, who drank quite a bit, to feel a bit dizzy. Yu Wenye sighed and said, "Let’s go back."

"Mm."

Thus, the two returned to the room.

Because they carried some alcohol smell, both went to bathe one after the other. When Yu Wenye changed into casual clothes and returned to the room, he saw Shang Ruyi with wet hair sitting before the dressing table, despite facing the mirror, forgetting to comb her hair, merely looking down at the wooden comb in her hand, pondering over something.

Yu Wenye walked over and took the wooden comb from her hand.

"Eh?"

Shang Ruyi was startled, then returned to her senses, raised her head to meet Yu Wenye’s gentle eyes, seemingly carrying a bit of steam from the bathroom, and immediately said with a smile, "You startled me."

Yu Wenye looked down at her: "What are you thinking about, so lost in thought?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi did not speak, only looked down again, the droplets from her hair soaking her clothes, Yu Wenye sighed and said, "Like this, you’ll get a headache."

Speaking, he gently adjusted her shoulders to sit properly, and tenderly combed her long hair.

Truth be told, he wasn’t entirely devoid of gentleness; in the majority of times, he was more tender to her, even beyond what others knew, beyond what others saw, but at this moment, Shang Ruyi suddenly understood, the warmth between them wasn’t so naturally assured.

Fate, like a ceaselessly flowing river filled with various treacherous rapids and currents, no one knows what drifting person will encounter next, changing life entirely.

Feeling his large hand gently passing through her hair, the tender care made the bitterness in Shang Ruyi’s heart deepen a shade.

She finally couldn’t help but say, "Actually, you all know?"

"..."

Yu Wenye’s hand didn’t stop, but since they stood so close, Shang Ruyi clearly felt his breath pause.

But it was merely for a moment, the next, he quietly "Mm"-ed.

She hadn’t spoken explicitly, yet Yu Wenye seemed to truly know what she was asking—

Pei Xingyuan, regarding Lei Yu...

Shang Ruyi thought, "Does my brother also know?"

Yu Wenye replied, "He’s been away from home too long, not much interaction with us, nor familiar with Lei Yu. But—your brother is a smart man, many things, even if not witnessed personally, some scattered words, he probably understands too."

"Then—"

Yu Wenye sighed lightly and said, "Among all of us, the only one who didn’t know, is perhaps Xingyuan himself."

He spoke, then bitterly laughed.

"Now, he knows."

"..."

"But it’s too late."