Chapter 985: Chapter 719: Upsetting Him Again

"But I cannot divorce her."

Hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately struggled, but she felt that Yu Wenye was still holding her tightly, not allowing her to move in the slightest. That feeling was just like back on the grassland, when every time he spoke, he wouldn’t allow her to lift her head to look at him.

Even though she couldn’t move, Shang Ruyi still said at once, "I—I didn’t mean that."

To be honest, it wasn’t that she didn’t mind at all, but she had never had such a thought.

Marriage is no child’s play. Even if she and Chu Ruoyan could barely be considered "love rivals," it hadn’t reached the point of being true enemies, let alone to the extent of having to harm one another—Chu Ruoyan had married Yu Wenye as a concubine on the condition that Yu Wenqian would be enfeoffed as Han King back then. That had indeed helped them quite a bit, even if now, it seemed to have all come to nothing.

But if she insisted that Yu Wenye divorce Chu Ruoyan, or forbade the two of them from being together, for a woman, that would be no less than a bone-deep humiliation, even worse than when she refused to marry Yu Wenqian and instead married Yu Wenye. That Princess, who had long since lost her parents and the protection of her homeland, would truly be driven to a dead end.

In this respect, she was somewhat like Lu Xiao.

Speaking of it, though Princesses and dancing girls are worlds apart in status, as women, they all have far too many things beyond their control.

As a fellow woman, Shang Ruyi couldn’t even bring herself to humiliate another woman the way Yu Mingyue had just done, let alone to force a woman like that.

Thinking of this, she added, "I truly didn’t mean that."

The arms wrapped around her trembled ever so slightly, a movement almost imperceptible, but because he was holding her so tightly, this time Shang Ruyi could clearly feel it. Then she heard Yu Wenye’s hoarse voice: "So you... don’t mind it at all?"

"..."

At this moment, perhaps it was the last trace of coldness in her heart seeping out, or something else altogether, but Shang Ruyi suddenly had a flash of insight and sensed something.

Yu Wenye seemed to have always cared whether or not she minded this matter.

Thinking back now, ever since he told her he would take Chu Ruoyan as his concubine—no, it should be from the moment Yu Wenquan raised this matter—he had been watching her attitude all along. The two of them had grown unhappy with each other several times because of it. It had become a thorn in their hearts, something they couldn’t avoid along the way.

At that time, recalling the words Yu Mingyue had used to sow discord, Shang Ruyi finally came to herself a bit.

No wonder Yu Wenye had truly had his emotions stirred by Yu Mingyue’s words.

She had kept suppressing her true thoughts, wanting to be a magnanimous Young Madam Yu Wen, a tolerant and gentle Princess Qin. But such utter indifference, or rather, the way she seemed completely not jealous at all, to Yu Wenye, appeared to verify Yu Mingyue’s words—that whether it was the former Second Young Master Yu Wen or the current Prince Qin, he was merely a tool for Shang Ruyi to protect her family.

"...!"

With this, Shang Ruyi finally understood.

She didn’t struggle. She slowly lifted her head and looked at the face so close at hand—clearly stern, yet within that sternness there was a trace of uncertainty, making him look inexplicably fragile. She said softly, "Do you want me to mind?"

Yu Wenye’s gaze wavered. "I—"

Before he could finish, Shang Ruyi softly said, "But if I do mind, then what?"

"..."

"You won’t divorce her... then she’ll always stand between us, won’t she?"

At that, the entire room fell silent.

Strictly speaking, this was not the greatest obstacle between them. Ever since Shang Ruyi learned that Yu Wenquan would become Emperor Gaozu of the Dasheng Dynasty, and that she herself had refused to marry the future Crown Prince Yu Wenqian, who might die in some coup to come, she had already known very well what lay ahead if she married Yu Wenye.

If Yu Wenye truly inherited the throne, then he would inevitably have a harem of consorts.

She would also never be the only one.

This was why she kept telling herself not to mind. She had chosen this path; if she complained about how rough it was once she set foot on it, what would that be but hypocrisy? There were too many things she needed to face, and there were obstacles on this road far rougher than this. She simply had no energy left for it.

It was just that Yu Wenye clearly cared far more about this than she did.

In the silence, Shang Ruyi heard him take a deep breath. Then the arms tightly encircling her waist slowly tightened again, lifting her up and settling her onto his lap so they were facing each other. He stared straight into her eyes, not allowing the slightest evasion.

He himself did not evade either.

He said, "I told you before, I have never had any romantic feelings for her, only regarded her as a younger sister. But in truth, ever since Father took Chang An and supported Chu Chengfei to the throne, I knew this day would come. Her final destination could only be with me."

"..."

"I knew you wouldn’t oppose it, but I did not want you to be indifferent."

As he spoke, he leaned close to Shang Ruyi. Their foreheads touched, the tips of their noses brushed, and even their breaths almost tangled together. "Do you understand?"

Shang Ruyi looked at him and gently nodded.

Yu Wenye took a deep breath, but it was as if he did not feel any lighter. He only said in a low voice, "Now I’m telling you as well, I will not divorce her. This is my promise to the Empress Dowager, and it is also my responsibility toward her."

"..." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"But toward her, it will be only that."

"..."

"From now on, each month, I...I’ll spend a day or two with her. The rest of the time..."

As he spoke, the arms holding her grew gradually hotter.

Shang Ruyi’s face flushed red. She quickly turned her head away, refusing to look at him, but she could feel his gaze on her, hotter than the brazier beside them, making her feel flushed and restless. She muttered, "I didn’t force you into this."

"..."

"It wouldn’t hurt if you went to her a few more days."

Chu Ruoyan was already Prince Qin’s Concubine. If she hogged Yu Wenye for herself and refused to let them spend time together, leaving Chu Ruoyan alone in an empty boudoir, wouldn’t that breed resentment? Wouldn’t that stir up trouble for her?

Right now, though the Crown Prince had already been decided, as long as Yu Wenqian had not ascended the throne, anything was possible. In the future, it wouldn’t just be Yu Wenye facing off against Yu Wenqian, Yu Dingxing, and Dong Bizheng. There would be even more twists and turns. And as Princess Qin, she herself would also have to face Yu Mingyue, Aunt Hui, and even more difficulties.

If she also planted Chu Ruoyan at her side as an enemy...

She wasn’t that stupid.

But when Yu Wenye heard this, his face sank. "What did you just say?"

Seeing she had "provoked" him again, Shang Ruyi knew it at once. Yet today she wasn’t in the mood to indulge him. Pursing her lips, she was about to argue back, when she heard Wo Xue’s somewhat flustered voice outside the door: "Mr. Shen, y-you... why are you here?"

Then, a familiar, gentle voice said, "I’ve come to see Prince Qin."