Free Web NovelChapter 1109: Chapter 799: Who Actually Died?
"Hm?!"
Suddenly, a thunderbolt jolted Shang Ruyi awake from her drowsiness. She opened her eyes wide, looking around in confusion. At the sound, Tushere immediately came in and cautiously asked, "Princess, what’s the matter?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi did not speak immediately, actually feeling a bit at a loss.
She looked at Tushere again, then at the half-open window beside her and the azure sky outside. After a while, she softly said, "I, I just heard thunder."
Tushere walked over and said, "It was dry thunder, it often happens in the summer."
"Hmm."
Shang Ruyi responded absentmindedly. Indeed, it wasn’t the first time she had heard summer’s dry thunder, but for some reason, that thunderclap just now was exceptionally deafening, echoing throughout the world. It even seemed not to come from the sky but from her heart.
That ominous premonition left her feeling very uneasy.
After thinking for a while, she asked, "What time is it now?"
"Almost 3:00 PM."
"Have I slept that long? Why didn’t you wake me?"
"But these past few days, Princess, you haven’t been sleeping well at night. I thought to let you sleep a bit more."
"..."
Hearing her say this, Shang Ruyi was left speechless.
Indeed, since Yu Wenye left, she hadn’t been sleeping well at night. Not only because of the fright she received from the fire at Dayan Temple, but sometimes, when everything was silent and she closed her eyes, her mind would return to walking in that pitch-dark underground palace. The suffocating and oppressive feeling, with the fire and thick smoke chasing her, was just like the urgency of being chased by demons, making it hard for her to fall asleep even if she stayed calm.
And also, she still didn’t know how things were on Yu Wenye’s side!
Is Jiang Chong’en really setting a trap to kill Yu Wenquan?
Did Yu Wenye catch up with the Emperor’s Imperial Carriage?
How will he handle this situation?
Before they parted, Empress Dowager Jiang specially reminded her that Yu Wenye was obviously irritated. Although she herself advised him a bit, since he left, this matter weighed heavier on her mind than Jiang Chong’en’s, making her uneasy both day and night.
Yu Wenye... hopefully won’t do anything excessive?
Thinking of this, sweat broke out on her forehead. Seeing this, Tushere hurriedly took a handkerchief to wipe her sweat, muttering, "These days, Princess has been startled a lot, doesn’t sleep well at night nor enough during the day. I think it’s better to let the Chief Imperial Doctor take a look."
Shang Ruyi shook her head: "I’m fine."
Speaking, she placed a hand on her enormous belly. Now, not only was it difficult to walk, even sitting and lying down was challenging, as if a huge stone was bound to her front, impossible to adjust properly. Besides, the little one inside would stretch and kick from time to time. Shang Ruyi often saw slight protrusions moving across her belly, sometimes filling her with joy and other times keeping her awake for half the night. However, Su Qinglan had long told her that these were experiences all pregnant women go through. Even if it’s tough, she must endure it, so she didn’t mind much.
She only hoped the due date would come soon so she could give birth to this tormenting little thing.
Hopefully, it would be when Yu Wenye was by her side.
Thinking of this, she looked up and asked, "How long has His Highness been gone?"
Tushere was wiping her sweat when she heard this and couldn’t help but smile: "Truly inseparable. His Highness has only been gone for three days, yet Princess, you ask three times a day or more."
Shang Ruyi glared at her: "You talk too much!"
At this point, Wo Xue outside also heard the voices in the inner hall. She quickly brought in a basin of water and a towel to assist Shang Ruyi with washing up, then smiled: "I heard that the Emperor is going to Longmen Crossing to meet others from there, and it’s not far from Tongguan. If successfully received, it would only take two or three days to return. Princess, you don’t need to worry too much."
Shang Ruyi said, "I’m not worried about that."
"Ah?"
Tushere and Wo Xue both instinctively looked up at her, and after a brief silence, Shang Ruyi just faintly smiled and shook her head: "It’s nothing."
Though the days felt endless, time still flowed slowly yet unrelentingly like the Yellow River, until three days later, when an overcast day finally arrived. There was no scorching sun blazing overhead, but the clouds were thick and low, pressing down on not just people’s heads but also their hearts, creating an indescribable sense of suffocation.
And on this very day, news finally arrived—
The Emperor has returned to the capital!
Upon hearing this news, Shang Ruyi was overjoyed and immediately tried to stand up. Fortunately, Tushere quickly supported her, whispering, "Princess, don’t move rashly. Your belly is so large now, what if you accidentally hurt yourself?"
Shang Ruyi then sat back down, composed herself, and asked the little eunuch who came to deliver the news, "When will the Imperial Carriage enter the city?"
The little eunuch replied, "I’ve heard it will arrive in another hour. All parts of the palace are prepared, though we dare not disturb the Princess, we report to her to ensure she’s prepared."
Shang Ruyi said, "Naturally, thank you for your hard work."
"It’s my duty, I do not dare to complain of hardship."
The little eunuch made a bow to Shang Ruyi and was about to leave, but Shang Ruyi called him back, gesturing to Tushere. Tushere hurried to the side, opened the box, and took out a handful of money, handing it to the little eunuch with a smile, saying, "The weather’s hot lately, your duty has been tough. The Princess gives you this to enjoy a drink and cool off tonight."
The little eunuch had indeed heard of the Princess’s kindness and generosity, so he came today without specific errands, not expecting to receive such a large sum, almost half a month’s salary. His face lit up with joy as he hurriedly thanked Shang Ruyi, who said, "Lately, I’ve been burdened and haven’t seen outsiders, unaware whether outside is windy or rainy, relying on you all to watch on my behalf."
The little eunuch’s eyes brightened, immediately understanding Shang Ruyi’s implied meaning.
He quickly said, "I understand, I will certainly be vigilant for the Princess."
Shang Ruyi nodded with a smile, adjusted her garment, and spoke slowly, "This time as the Emperor returns, is everything smooth? Any news?"
The little eunuch stepped closer, speaking softly, "I’ve heard that things are not very smooth, but no one dare to question what exactly happened. It’s just—"
"Just what?"
"The person returning to report directly passed the message to the Chief Palace, we vaguely heard that, it seems, someone has passed away."
"Passed away?"
Upon hearing these words, Shang Ruyi’s brow immediately furrowed.
However, she didn’t say much, pondering for a moment, then smiled at the little eunuch, "Alright, I know, you may go."
The little eunuch promptly thanked her, and left joyously.
Once he left, Tushere lowered her gaze at Shang Ruyi, surprised, "Princess, who has died?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi remained silent, her brow already knotted—as per the palace situation and this little eunuch’s attitude, the Imperial return was indeed smooth. She was sure Yu Wenye wasn’t hurt in any way, and Yu Wenquan did not encounter any accident.
Yet, news of someone’s death spread.
If the one who died was Jiang Chong’en, the term "passed away" wouldn’t be used, for he was a criminal; even killed, it would be deserved.
"Passed away" sounds more like a death of someone ranking high but met with misfortune.
Thinking along these lines, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but feel panic, especially recalling Empress Dowager Jiang’s words before leaving—"When people are enraged, they often lose sanity, or act recklessly," coupled with the suspicion that those who targeted her and Empress Dowager Jiang at Dayan Temple were sent by the Yu Family father and daughter. If Yu Wenye was truly enraged, acting impulsively in revenge, could it be—
Shang Ruyi suddenly shivered.
The shiver in such hot weather startled Tushere, especially seeing Shang Ruyi’s pale face, which made her uneasy. But Shang Ruyi looked at her, saying solemnly, "Take Chang Wan, pretend to deliver pastries to Jinyu Garden, and go observe."
The words were vague, yet Tushere blinked, quickly realizing whom Shang Ruyi meant to investigate.
She whispered, "I’ll leave immediately."
Saying so, she filled the half-empty tea in her hand, placing it beside Shang Ruyi, and then left with Chang Wan, both quickly departing Qianqiu Palace.
While they were gone, Shang Ruyi had Wo Xue help her change clothes and redo her hair, preparing to welcome the Imperial return. Just as she sat down ready, Tushere and Chang Wan returned hurriedly.
Shang Ruyi immediately asked, "How is it?"
Tushere replied, "I saw many people in the palace sending things outwards, seemingly for memorial purposes."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi’s brow furrowed further.
Indeed, someone has died, and not Jiang Chong’en. If it were him, the palace wouldn’t spend money or items on his memorial, indicating it’s an important person’s death commanding palace preparation.
Such arrangements suggest the deceased wasn’t an ordinary person.
Who exactly has died?
As Shang Ruyi pondered, Chang Wan approached and softly said, "Princess, when we passed Liangyi Hall, we met Han Shanggong. She saw us. At that moment, I noticed her eyes were red and swollen, and after encountering us, her expression was terrible, seemingly—"
Tushere interrupted, "Seemingly wishing to kill us!"
