Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?

Chapter 1152 - 835: Acting Spoiled

With every autumn rain, the chill deepens.After autumn set in, several drizzles made the weather increasingly cooler. For someone like Shang Ruyi, who became pregnant in the summer and suffered through the scorching heat, such a cool breeze was quite fitting. Yet, worried she might catch a cold, even before October, they brought a furnace into Qianqiu Palace for her.

Chu Ruoyan, who came to visit her, barely sat down before breaking into a sweat.

Watching Chu Ruoyan continuously wipe sweat from her forehead, Shang Ruyi felt it was not quite right, and said to Tushere, "Take the furnace away; I’m feeling too warm."

Tushere frowned upon hearing this, "That’s not possible; His Highness gave specific orders not to remove it from the Princess’ side."

"But—"

"If the Princess catches a cold, it’s the servants who will get scolded!"

Now with Yu Wenye as her major supporter, Tushere often used his authority to press Shang Ruyi, forbidding her from this and that. Shang Ruyi was at a loss as how to handle her. Hearing this, Chu Ruoyan showed a hint of wistfulness in her eyes, yet she smiled and said, "Your Highness, don’t mind me; your health is more important."

Shang Ruyi could only smile awkwardly.

In fact, sitting opposite Chu Ruoyan like this, everything seemed somewhat awkward. But as the days of confinement arrived, Chu Ruoyan, as per custom, should visit her to pay her respects, so the two could only force a conversation. Recalling past events, Shang Ruyi still felt gratitude toward her.

She said, "I owe you a great deal."

Chu Ruoyan shook her head with a smile, "I didn’t do much."

After speaking, she looked at Shang Ruyi again and asked quietly, "So that day, did King Qi really intend to use that wine pot—"

Shang Ruyi nodded gently.

Upon hearing this, Chu Ruoyan furrowed her brow.

Shang Ruyi knew that Empress Dowager Jiang always protected her children well, but no matter how well protected, after experiencing the fall of the kingdom, Chu Ruoyan could never return to her simple and carefree self. From the time she took the blame for the hawthorn cake incident, to immediately sending Panqing to notify her upon learning the wine pot’s appearance, it could be seen she had transformed completely.

After a moment of silence, Chu Ruoyan said softly, "The path Second Brother will tread in the future looks rough."

Shang Ruyi replied, "Tough as it may be, it must be walked. At this point, we have no retreat."

By saying "we" here, she included not just herself and Yu Wenye, but also Chu Ruoyan—in the vision she saw while severely ill, after the Crown Prince lost power, nearly everyone in the Crown Prince Mansion faced execution. Whether orchestrated by Yu Wenye or not, she never doubted its reality. The struggle for imperial power had always been so cruel and bloody. Similarly, once Yu Wenye lost power in the future, she had no doubt about her own fate.

Chu Ruoyan’s identity was even more delicate and special. She had the reclusive Empress Dowager Jiang and Chu Chengfei in Yanchun Palace backing her.

She understood the importance of Yu Wenye even more.

Moreover, Shang Ruyi hadn’t fully disclosed to her the current plight faced by King Qin. It wasn’t just about Yu Wenqian soon formally marrying Yu Mingyue, further strengthening the Crown Prince’s forces. The act of sending additional forces to Xingluo Granary without any rewards for Mu Xian and others at Longmen Crossing made it apparent to Yu Wenye that attacking Eastern Capital was not his exclusive task.

More importantly, Yu Wencheng had not yet left Chang An.

Although he returned without an imperial decree, normally subject to impeachment, the ministers understood Duke Shenwu’s political significance and emotional ties with the Emperor. Coupled with Yu Wencheng’s excuse of mourning, no one spoke against him at this time. Now, he hadn’t left, naturally with the excuse of attending Yu Wenqian’s grand wedding. But both Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi knew his aims went beyond that.

He and Yu Wenqian likely wanted to directly resolve the candidate for attacking Eastern Capital.

Yet, it was unknown what methods he would employ.

And what ultimate decision Yu Wenquan would make.

Chu Ruoyan remained silent for a long time, seeming to want to speak but hesitating, ultimately smiling bitterly, "Sadly, I’m of little use and cannot help Second Brother or Sister."

Shang Ruyi quickly said, "What are you saying, you’ve already done so much in these two incidents."

"..."

"It’s just that this time, due to Duke Shenwu’s death, Your Majesty has some reservations about Feng Chen... Hence, the situation is tricky, and we haven’t come up with any solutions yet."