Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 763 - 586: Concubine

Almost without disturbing anyone, Shang Ruyi returned to the room.

Closing the door, a slight night breeze swept over the candlestick on the table, causing the flame to flicker. But the air still held his scent, and even the lingering feeling of intimacy within her body made her heart heavy.

But it seemed like everything was different now.

Shang Ruyi walked over and blew out the already flickering candle, plunging everything into complete darkness, yet her mind felt as clear as a mirror. She walked back to the inner chamber and sat on the bed.

Some things became even clearer in her mind.

Just now, it was Eunuch Yu who came.

He didn’t typically serve the Eldest Princess. If the Eldest Princess were summoning Yu Wenye to the palace, it shouldn’t have been him delivering the message. But he said that the Empress Dowager was by the Eldest Princess’s side, so for him to pass the message wasn’t surprising.

However—he mentioned that Eunuch Cao went to summon Lin Shian.

Chief Imperial Doctor, Lin Shian.

At such a late hour, for the attendant eunuch serving the Eldest Princess in the palace to call for the Chief Imperial Doctor, there could only be one possibility—the Eldest Princess was in trouble.

That’s why the Empress Dowager was by her side, and sent trusted Eunuch Yu to summon Yu Wenye.

And if the Eldest Princess was in trouble and needed the Chief Imperial Doctor, it meant she was either ill or injured.

But it shouldn’t be an illness because if she were ill, it wouldn’t be so silent in summoning someone from the palace. The entire Imperial Medical Bureau should have been in the palace waiting, and even if they were really summoning Yu Wenye to accompany her to the palace, the matter could have been explained more openly. Yet Eunuch Yu had been so secretive.

So, it was not an illness, but an injury.

But in the palace, and especially at this time when the Empress Dowager had already returned to the palace, who could have harmed the Eldest Princess?

No one could harm her, so the only possibility was that she hurt herself.

She hurt herself.

Or perhaps, she even attempted—

At this thought, Shang Ruyi shivered suddenly. It was just a cold night, yet she felt a chill seep into her bones, creeping into her heart, freezing her entire body.

She slowly laid down on the bed, the familiar, soft bedding providing her a slight sense of comforting warmth, but it still wasn’t enough.

She thought for a moment, then reached out and pulled the quilt beside her, holding it in her arms.

On it, there was still a trace of his scent.

His smell.

It felt like he was still by her side.

Even though now, he had already gone far away...

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In this way, half lost in a daze, half in a dream-like trance, time passed by little by little.

The sky had not yet brightened, but there were already sounds of people moving outside.

Shang Ruyi also knew what day it was today. Everyone in the household had long been anticipating this day, and for those of them in charge, countless honors were at stake. Not to mention waking up late; there were probably some who were too anxious to sleep at all last night.

However, Shang Ruyi quietly curled up in bed.

The weak morning light slipped through the window, making the somewhat empty room appear even more desolate. Even her every faint breath and heartbeat seemed so distinct at this moment.

One beat, then another.

As if obediently waiting for something.

But what was she waiting for?

Today, everyone awaited the final, most momentous announcement in the court, one that would shock the world, and she should have long known the outcome. Why, then, would she still be waiting at this moment?

Even though she thought this way, she still didn’t move, and as her heartbeat grew clearer, another sound became more pronounced.

It was a familiar sound of footsteps.

From afar to near, they walked from the path outside into the courtyard, up the steps, and finally stopped at the door.

But they didn’t really stop, because the next moment, she heard the door being pushed open, a long, creaking moan, as if spreading the emotions of the night to their conclusion.

Then, there were footsteps.

Neither light nor heavy, but after the door closed, those footsteps felt even more real and closer, almost beating step by step on her heart, gradually increasing in weight with her heartbeat.

Finally, they stopped by the bed.

It was Yu Wenye.

Even with her eyes closed, even with her body curled up facing the wall, his familiar presence spread around her without a sound, as always.

But it was different from last night’s embrace.

Last night’s embrace was real; in the warmth of skin touching, they could feel each other’s heartbeat and body heat. Even though she was in pain, she could find genuine warmth in her suffering.

But now—

That familiar presence drew closer, but it made her involuntarily tremble.

And just when her skin lightly quivered, and her breathing grew erratic to the point it might give away, a warm, large hand with that familiar rough, sturdy feel slowly reached over, gently brushing her cheek, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Then, Shang Ruyi felt him sit down on the edge of the bed.

The aura and warmth drew near once more.

Yet still, she felt no reality, even though his hand remained on her cheek, his knuckles gently tracing her ear, caressing her cool cheek, all the way to her chin.

Finally, just like last night, he reached out, pinching her chin.

With slight pressure, trying to make her turn her head.

But Shang Ruyi did not move.

The hand stiffened for a moment.

She was awake.

Of course, he knew.

In fact, he knew she hadn’t slept at all.

She was clearly disobedient, waiting—for not only him but also for the news he brought back.

After a moment of silence, his fingers applied slight pressure, not to turn her face, but with a slight force that made his knuckles crack, as if struggling invisibly with something.

After a long while, that hand finally withdrew.

Then, two hands supported the bed, one on each side of her body, and a wave of warmer air gradually closed in as that chest, which had embraced her all night, leaned over her.

As if, like last night, to hold her once more in his arms.

But he didn’t do that.

He just, in that dim light, looked at the little woman beneath him—last night, it was the same posture, the same proximity, the distance imitating skin to skin. He clearly knew he had never explored her true thoughts, so he always sought to when she was at her most fragile.

But, even at her most fragile, when the two of them were closest and had to rely on each other, she was unwilling to surrender.

What about now?

Yu Wenye took a deep breath, that exhalation, like a flame once more traversed his "territory."

And Shang Ruyi, also warmed to the point of trembling slightly, almost unable to hold on, opened her eyes to look at him when she heard a low, hoarse voice speak beside her ear—

"After today’s court meeting, I will take Chu Ruoyan as my concubine."