CHAPTER 458: CHAPTER 397: IN FRONT OF YOU, I AM ALWAYS JUST CHU RUOYAN

Princess Xinyue?!

Upon seeing that familiar, breathtakingly beautiful face, Shang Ruyi felt a chill run down her spine.

When did she arrive? And when did she come to the Buddhist Hall?

What did she see, and what did she hear?

These questions flooded in an instant, leaving Shang Ruyi somewhat flustered, and even more at a loss was that the Princess’s face at this moment wasn’t shocked or surprised, but was a kind of expressionless void, as if she had lost all warmth, even though outside the sun was shining bright and the earth was almost scorching, she stood there like a cold sculpture devoid of warmth.

Not even the sunlight, nor the flames, could melt the ice-coldness in her heart at this moment.

Shang Ruyi’s heart gradually sank.

At this time, Yu Wenye had also come back to his senses, and he calmly turned to Princess Xinyue, saying steadily, "Your Highness—"

Then, Princess Xinyue suddenly smiled at him.

Just a moment ago, her face was still that expressionless void, cold as a sculpture, but with that smile, she suddenly came to life, not only vibrant and charming, but even her surroundings seemed to instantly thaw and bloom into spring, everything changed.

Shang Ruyi was somewhat dazed, but before she could react, she saw Princess Xinyue step forward and say to Yu Wenye, "Second Brother, you’re finally back."

Yu Wenye looked at her in silence and nodded, "Mm."

Princess Xinyue smiled and said, "I came to take Mother Empress back to the palace. I just heard that you and Sister Ruyi had returned, so I let Mother Empress go ahead with the others, I came in to see you both."

As she spoke, she tilted her head, her lively gaze passed over Yu Wenye’s arm, looking at Shang Ruyi still standing in the shadows of the Buddhist Hall, as if she hadn’t quite recovered, and smiled brightly, "Sister."

"...!"

These two words made Shang Ruyi’s heart tighten.

Her breathing was disordered, her heart even heavier than when she faced Yu Wenye earlier, but she still quickly took a deep breath, smiled, and walked forward to pay her respects, "Greetings, Your Highness."

"Sister,"

Princess Xinyue immediately reached out to support her, smiling, "There is no need for such formalities between us."

"..."

"Ever since we parted at the manor, I’ve been worried about you, Sister, afraid you might encounter misfortune. I sought information everywhere but there was no news about you."

"..."

"Now seeing that you and Second Brother have both returned safely, I am relieved."

"..."

She was still as charming and adorable as before, her voice carrying an irresistibly sweet allure, yet for some reason, facing her in the past, Shang Ruyi’s heart couldn’t be completely calm, and now, beneath the surface of calmness, waves were stirring.

How could Princess Xinyue be so calm?

Not to mention what she just saw or heard, the impact it would have on a woman who loves Yu Wenye to the core— even if at the beginning her feelings were not reciprocated, witnessing him with another at Tinghe Building was unbearable, why was she now as calm as if nothing had happened?

More importantly—

Chu Yang.

Her father, His Majesty the Emperor of the Da Ye Dynasty, was dead, and he died in Jiangdu Palace, in her presence.

Wang Shaoji even proclaimed to the world, accusing her of regicide!

Even if Eunuch Yu had returned to Daxing Palace beforehand and told them the whole truth; even if she had just met Empress Dowager Jiang, who had also confirmed the conclusions of these events, but could her heart truly harbor no grudges, could she face herself just like before?

Shang Ruyi asked herself, she couldn’t do it.

Even if she hadn’t really done anything, facing Princess Xinyue, she still couldn’t help feeling insecure, yet she couldn’t say much, she could only force a smile, and softly said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern. I—"

Her mind was in such turmoil that she didn’t even know what to say.

Princess Xinyue immediately smiled again and said, "Does Sister have something to say to me?"

At this moment, Yu Wenye said, "She has nothing to say to you, but I do."

Princess Xinyue turned her head to look at him, and those bright almond eyes opened wide, filled with light as she gazed at Yu Wenye.

Yu Wenye then lowered his head and glanced at Shang Ruyi, saying, "You go rest first, I have to speak with Her Highness. I’ll come to you once I’m done."

"..."

Shang Ruyi looked at him, nodded gently, and was about to return along the path to the Layman Forest.

But for some reason, as she turned and walked away from them, Shang Ruyi suddenly felt a chill as if a sharp gaze was piercing her back, almost stabbing through her body.

She instinctively turned her head and met Princess Xinyue’s smiling eyes.

She said, "Sister, you must still visit me in the palace often, just like before."

"..."

Shang Ruyi’s heartbeat was somewhat erratic—just now, was it her illusion?

Once again, she met Yu Wenye’s gentle yet calm gaze, his serenity gave her some strength, allowing her to set her heart at ease. Shang Ruyi took a breath, smiled, and nodded to Princess Xinyue, "Yes."

After speaking, she left.

Leaving Yu Wenye and Princess Xinyue outside the Buddhist Hall, the two kept watching Shang Ruyi’s figure disappear into the distance. Only then did Yu Wenye turn his head and, upon lowering his gaze, met Princess Xinyue’s smiling and deeply affectionate look, as if she had been watching him like this from long ago, unchanged through the years, even now.

Yu Wenye thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness."

"Second Brother,"

Princess Xinyue interrupted him, with a slightly coquettish smile, "Can you not call me that?"

"..."

"I still want to hear you call me Xinyue or Ruoyan."

Yu Wenye looked at her solemnly, "But now, you are already the Eldest Princess."

Princess Xinyue’s expression dimmed.

But the next moment, she mustered a smile again as she looked at Yu Wenye, her gaze even more imbued with unwavering affection, and softly said, "You know well, whether I am a Princess or the Eldest Princess, no matter who I am, in front of you, I am always just Chu Ruoyan."

Saying this, she smiled gently again, "I know what you want to tell me by staying behind, but when Yu Mingli returned, he already told me everything."

"..."

"Just now, Mother also told me."

"..."

"Second Brother, I don’t actually care about anything, as long as you return safely, that’s the most important thing to me."

She widened her eyes, looking at Yu Wenye, her gaze not only filled with her usual seriousness and dedication to him but also with a deep affection that the passing years could not wear away.

She said, "Truly."

|

After leaving the Buddhist Hall, Shang Ruyi’s steps still did not lighten.

Step by step, as if laden with lead, she walked through the corridor, the echo of her footsteps wandering back and forth, never letting her mind find peace.

Princess Xinyue, Chu Ruoyan.

This woman, so beautiful that one cannot help but feel pity, though from noble lineage, pampered with thousands of favors, she was never arrogant or domineering. Instead, facing her—this clear "rival" who made her cry, feel lost—she showed only gentleness and kindness. Shang Ruyi could somewhat understand; it was because her feelings for Yu Wenye were too deep, and because of Empress Dowager Jiang’s gentle solace, her soul was pure, without hatred, without understanding of hatred.

But now?

Having gone through all of this, is her mind still as pure and unblemished as before?

If that were truly the case, then what face should she present to her, she who has experienced Chu Yang’s death, she who has gone through all these emotional entanglements?

Shang Ruyi only felt her thoughts in chaos.

Just then, a chanting sound came from ahead.

That sound was deep and resonant, yet carried an indescribable tranquility, like a gentle breeze, instantly sweeping away the troubles and dust in one’s heart. Shang Ruyi suddenly felt a stirring in her heart and instinctively looked up.

Not far ahead, the windows and doors of the Scripture Pavilion were already open, indicating that many had already left. At this moment, a few elderly monks with seemingly profound cultivation were slowly walking out from within, likely the last to leave. As they walked, they spoke in low voices, some with heavy expressions, seemingly troubled by inner dust, others with clear eyes, as if enlightened, their minds serene.

Indeed, the three gongs just heard marked the end of the Inner Altar Dharma Assembly.

That—

Shang Ruyi’s heart stirred, and she instinctively stopped, looking towards the main door of the Scripture Pavilion.

One after another, the elderly monks walked out, yet none matched the expected figure—she had never met the Yu Wen family’s Young Master, and did not know his appearance, but these aged cultivators were clearly not what he should look like.

Thinking this, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but wonder what he should look like.

The rumor described Yu Wenqian as erudite and incomparably handsome, and being a cultivator, compared to his stern and resolute younger brother, he should exude more of an ethereal and transcendent aura.

Shang Ruyi stood at the end of the corridor, carefully watching the people emerging from the Scripture Pavilion.

Yet none could be described by those four words.

She couldn’t help but suspect that Yu Wenqian might have left as soon as those three gongs sounded.

But if he left, where would he go?

Though she knew she shouldn’t—or rather, wasn’t suited to meet him, at this moment, Shang Ruyi’s heart instead felt a strange curiosity towards this Young Master Yu Wen. She reached out to the red pillar beside her, counting the monks emerging from the Scripture Pavilion one by one.

It seemed there were almost no more left in the Scripture Pavilion.

Shang Ruyi felt an indescribable sense of loss, yet also a bit of relief. After all, if Yu Wenqian really emerged, she wouldn’t know what face to present to him—but she knew in her heart that no matter what, the two of them were bound to meet, and she must face him.

Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, yet felt more entangled deep within, a somewhat familiar figure walked out from the Scripture Pavilion.