CHAPTER 250: CHAPTER 236 AN INVISIBLE EMBRACE

Returning to Yuwen Mansion, the first person she faced was Tushere, who was crying incessantly. She had been living in fear these days, any rumor made her feel like life and death were at stake. Upon seeing Shang Ruyi, she directly grabbed her hand and sobbed, "Wherever Miss goes in the future, you must take me with you, or I’ll die right in front of you!"

Shang Ruyi knew she had made her worry in recent days, and could only apologize repeatedly, using oaths and promises to finally soothe her.

Next, there was the matter of the family.

Everyone was evidently worried about Yu Wenye’s expedition and subsequent interrogation at the Ministry of Justice. Although they didn’t dare to ask too many questions, it was evident from their anxious expressions and apprehensive eyes; at this moment, the Yuwen Family was already in a state of panic.

Some of the more timid ones had even come directly to resign.

Shang Ruyi did not make things difficult for them; she distributed the monthly wages as usual and even provided some additional rewards. She gave consolation to those staying at home, instructed Jinyun to discipline the household servants, and further advised all personal soldiers who accompanied Yu Wenye on the expedition to stay inside. Besides the routine outings for purchasing supplies, she minimized trips outside the mansion, even politely refusing visits from some guests.

This approach made the truth about the Assistant General’s defeat and subsequent triumphant return appear even more mysterious.

In the blink of an eye, five days passed.

Under her management, everything at home remained relatively calm, but Shang Ruyi’s inner turmoil was far from the tranquility of the mansion. During the day, when dealing with everyone, she had to adopt the demeanor of the Young Madam, staying calm and composed to reassure everyone. However, at night, her anxious feelings were like a venomous snake unwilling to leave her alone, coiling around her mind and body, often leading to sleepless nights.

This night was no different.

It was already past 3 AM, yet she had no intention of sleeping, the sound of the watchman outside seemed like something striking at her heart, preventing her from finding peace.

The room was too quiet, which turned out to be a form of torture.

Unable to resist, she raised her head to look at the couch by the window. At this time, if she was awake, she would usually see Yu Wenye sleeping there, always in a deep sleep, with serene breaths and a calm face, even his sleeping posture was so neat, like his person, without the slightest imperfection.

But now—

The couch was empty, Shang Ruyi even felt her heart was also empty; she couldn’t help but get up and walk over, barefoot on the ground yet not feeling cold at all, until she lay down on that couch, the cold, hard bedboard made her aware of how cold it was here.

So this was how Yu Wenye always slept.

Her heart suddenly felt a bit sour, but she couldn’t pinpoint the source of that sourness. She merely curled up slightly, pulling his not-so-thick quilt over her body, his faint scent engulfed her at once, like an invisible embrace.

Shang Ruyi slowly closed her eyes.

But what was Yu Wenye doing right now?

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While Shang Ruyi was finally drifting off in that familiar scent, at the Ministry of Justice, in an empty room on the other side, the atmosphere was stiff and cold, seemingly freezing everyone present.

This was where the Ministry of Justice housed those in custody.

Neither a prison cell nor a dungeon but a simple, empty room, with just a bed against the wall; the thin bedding didn’t appear warm. In the middle of the room stood a low table and two mats for those responsible for the interrogation records.

At this moment, three people sat here.

Sitting at the head was Yu Wenye.

He was still dressed in the fur garment he wore returning from Xingluo Granary; unable to change for days, it now bore much dirt, appearing somewhat filthy. Yet he sat upright, with a straight back, still looking quite dignified, even exuding some nobility.

Opposite him sat the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice — Zhai Ying.

This person was only in his thirties, with a thin beard and gaunt appearance, but his slender eyes were sharp, particularly in such a dim environment, facing the candlelight on the table, making the occasional sly gleam in his eyes unmistakable.

Beside him was the document he brought.

At that moment, the document keeper lifted his pen to record the previously heard words, finished writing the last word, then looked toward Zhai Ying.

Only to see Zhai Ying stroking his beard while smiling: "So it seems Lord Kou rebelled, ambushing the Great General midway, killing to steal merit?"

Yu Wenye replied: "Killed, yes, but whether to steal merit — this, I fear, will require you Lords to investigate."

Zhai Ying sneered: "The people are dead, how can it be investigated?"

Yu Wenye gave him a cold look.

Zhai Ying continued: "Speaking of which, the Great General was too hasty, why immediately kill? Had you kept him alive, at least there could be a confrontation to clarify things. Now, hearing only one side of the story from the Great General, it’s hard for this official to judge."

Yu Wenye sneered: "Mr. Zhai, if I hadn’t killed him with one strike, then the one being interrogated here would be Kou Junliang himself."

"..."

"I wonder whether Mr. Zhai would have told Kou Junliang at that time to spare a life for this General?"

Zhai Ying’s complexion changed.

The document keeper hesitated about whether to record those words, but Zhai Ying glared at him, causing him to lower his head quickly, not daring to act.

At that moment, the watchman’s sound echoed outside.

It was almost 5 AM.

From the moment he arrived at the Ministry of Justice, Yu Wenye had been interrogated almost day and night over these few days. The questions were the same, asked from different perspectives, sometimes from different people, picking out details to question him again, repetitively overlapping; although he answered fluently, his mental state was already at the limit.

His eyes were swollen and bloodshot, barely able to see the person before him, only a vague candlelight flickering slightly.

As if ready to extinguish at any moment.

Just as Yu Wenye’s consciousness began to blur, Zhai Ying’s voice unexpectedly sounded again: "Yet there is one point that I am curious about, I wonder if the Great General can clarify."

Yu Wenye immediately raised his head: "Oh? Please ask."

Zhai Ying sneered: "The Great General said, Kou Junliang led his men and the Imperial Guard to block the General at the foot of the mountain, taking the first move by shooting arrows at the General’s troops, even injuring the General’s wife. Later, they were scattered by some people, giving the General a chance to defeat them — so, who were these people bold enough to attack the court’s troops at that time?"

Yu Wenye’s muddled eyes flashed briefly before dimming again.