Chapter 980: Chapter 714: Impurity (Part 2)

Seeing Yu Mingyue’s face full of anger, Shang Ruyi continued before she could speak: "As the saying goes, it might indeed sound unpleasant, but there’s another way to put it –"

Saying this, she turned to look at Lu Xiao beside her, whose face was pale, and softly said, "Heaven and earth are unkind, the choices available to her are too few."

"...!"

Lu Xiao trembled, raising her head to look at Shang Ruyi.

She hadn’t quite understood why Shang Ruyi was stepping up to help her at this moment, even at the risk of offending the Han King and Yu Mingyue, who was almost inseparable from the king. But this sentence, like a warm current, instantly warmed her heart that had long been numbed by the cold.

Meeting her gaze, Shang Ruyi said nothing, only pressing her lips together and showing a reassuring smile.

But Yu Mingyue’s face darkened.

Originally, Shang Ruyi alone was enough to give her a headache, and now the fact that Lu Xiao, who had advised Yu Wenqian, was also displeasing. The sight of these two women standing together, confronting her, was even more jarring. She let out a cold laugh, mocking, "Unable to bear it, so she follows one man after another?"

Looking at Lu Xiao, she continued, "Don’t you feel dirty?"

"..."

"I’ve heard that even though Miss Lu Xiao followed us back this time, she’s still thinking about seeking out her former master. But if he knew you’ve served so many men by now—you’re already... unclean! Would he still take you in?"

"..."

"I fear he, too, would despise you as dirty."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiao’s face turned pale again.

She was not someone who would easily cry from grievances, yet Yu Mingyue was different from those women who envied her charming allure that effortlessly captivated men. Every word, every sentence, hit the most vulnerable soft spot in Lu Xiao’s heart.

As a dancing girl, she had grown accustomed to drifting among men, being sold back and forth, and she didn’t even care.

Long had she resigned her tattered self to drift like duckweed, allowing her fading beauty to wither and fall.

Yet when her heart came to hold Xiao Yuansui, everything changed.

No matter how much she’d been through, despite everything she’d encountered, she still longed to return, to go back to that man, even if she herself was already broken beyond repair.

But Yu Mingyue’s words were like a relentless hand tearing open her worst vulnerabilities, exposing them bleeding before the public eye.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

Yet, there was nothing she could do.

She was indeed covered in filth, and even if she schemed to kill Wang Shaoji, upon returning to Xiao Yuansui, how would he perceive her? How would he treat her?

She never dared to consider it.

Seeing Lu Xiao heartstruck and indescribably pained, Shang Ruyi’s brow furrowed even further.

She coldly said, "Unclean? How can a good person become unclean?"

Yu Mingyue sneered, "She’s been with so many men—are you going to say she’s still clean? Even if she was before, she’s not anymore."

Shang Ruyi slightly raised an eyebrow.

She and Lu Xiao were different in appearance. Lu Xiao was naturally alluring, magnified by her training and habits as a dancing girl, with every movement unconsciously exuding a captivating charm. But Shang Ruyi had a dignified poise. Even though she possessed some girlish naivety in the past, after marriage and all she’s been through, that naivety faded, leaving her with more of the Princess Qin’s dignity and solemnity.

Thus, when she made this expression, it carried a sense of superiority and displeasure.

She coldly said, "If being touched by those men makes someone unclean, then by your logic, it’s those men who should be considered unclean."

"...!"

Yu Mingyue was momentarily stunned.

Before she could react, Shang Ruyi continued, "If you can’t tolerate ’unclean’ people, then you should be going after those men instead. Wang Shaoji may be dead, but Wang Shaoqiu is still around."

"..."

"Lord Yu, since Father has appointed you to accompany the expedition, why not contribute your efforts as well!"

Yu Mingyue’s eyes flickered, for the first time showing a look of confusion and uncertainty in her sharp and bright gaze. She stuttered, unable to speak, especially upon hearing Shang Ruyi’s final words, rendering her speechless.

At this moment, another cold voice came from the side—

"Is anyone going to continue pursuing Wang Shaoqiu?"

Upon hearing this voice, Shang Ruyi, though cold and stern, couldn’t help but let a hint of joy surface on her face. She quickly turned her head, and Yu Wenqian and others also turned to see Yu Wenye slowly walking over from another direction.

Under the moonlight, his expression was stern. Though his handsome face showed no joy or anger, he naturally carried a commanding presence.

Yu Mingyue bit her lower lip.

She had already known that her plan had worked but had also entirely flopped. Yu Wenye rescuing Shang Ruyi from the Western Turks despite past grievances meant that the Qin King and Princess Qin would henceforth be inseparable, understanding each other fully, whereas she—

This made her lose some confidence.

And Yu Wenye had already slowly walked to them, bowing to Yu Wenqian, who said, "Second brother, where did you go just now?"

Yu Wenye replied, "I previously sent someone to track Wang Shaoqiu, and now they’ve returned to report."

"Oh? And he is—"

"He’s heading towards Luoyang now."

"..."

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Lu Xiao’s eyes.

Everyone else also fell into silence.

This was not unexpected. There weren’t many places Wang Shaoqiu could go now, and Luoyang’s Liang Shide was indeed his last chance. Without finding a foothold, what little men he had left would soon disperse completely.

Yu Wenye turned to look coldly at Yu Mingyue, "Lord Yu, are you going to pursue Wang Shaoqiu?"