Chapter 1244 - 920: The Human Heart Is Hard to Fathom

After the Lantern Festival, it remained bitterly cold for a while. It wasn’t until mid-February that the weather gradually improved, the north wind no longer howled daily, and the heavy snow stopped falling. On this day, the sun finally came out, and Shang Ruyi particularly brought Little Yuanzi out of Qianqiu Palace to take a walk to Jinyu Garden.

Due to the incident at Hot Spring Palace, everyone in the palace knew the Emperor was in a bad mood. Chu Ruoyan, already burdened with Jiang Chong’en’s affair, dared not appear before the Emperor. During the entire New Year period, she hadn’t stepped out of Jinyu Garden, fearing she might inadvertently upset the Emperor and implicate her mother and brothers at Yanchun Palace.

Therefore, seeing Shang Ruyi bringing Little Yuanzi over that day made her especially happy.

The table was laden with snacks and refreshments she had made herself, along with homemade rose tea. The cold air was filled with floral and fruity scents, prompting Shang Ruyi to laugh, "It’s always better here with you; spring hasn’t arrived yet, but the fragrance already speaks of it."

Chu Ruoyan lowered her head with a smile and said, "It’s just a pastime for when there’s nothing else to do."

Shang Ruyi felt a pang in her heart.

She could hear the underlying truth—it wasn’t leisure, but a sign of utter helplessness. Though Chu Ruoyan spoke lightly of it, solitude can be lethal.

So she gently said, "Because of the Hot Spring Palace affair, the palace situation has been quite complicated, and King Qin has been occupied too. Once things ease up, he’s sure to come and see you more often."

Chu Ruoyan blushed and said, "I, I didn’t mean it that way..."

Shang Ruyi smiled.

While they were chatting, Little Yuanzi, nestled in Shang Ruyi’s arms, became restless. Enticed by the floral and fruity fragrance in the air, he eagerly crawled towards the small table along Shang Ruyi’s knee and reached for the snacks on the dish. Shang Ruyi hurriedly held his hand. The chubby child grumbled in dissatisfaction but then grinned widely at Chu Ruoyan sitting opposite.

Chu Ruoyan immediately said, "Yuanyuan, do you like the fragrance of flowers?"

Shang Ruyi laughed and handed the child over to her. As soon as Chu Ruoyan took him, the weight pressed her hands down, and she quickly hugged him tighter, laughing, "Oh my, he’s gained so much weight, I can barely hold him."

Little Yuanzi seemed to enjoy the fragrance on her body, snuggling into her arms and giggling constantly.

Chu Ruoyan felt her heart melt, holding Little Yuanzi without letting go. As she gently patted him, she also pressed her cheek against the child’s soft and chubby face, then turned to Shang Ruyi and asked, "Does Yuanyuan have a name yet?"

Shang Ruyi shook her head.

Chu Ruoyan furrowed her brow slightly and said, "He’s nearly half a year old, how come he doesn’t have a formal name yet?"

Speaking of this, it was indeed a concern for Shang Ruyi. Ever since naming him ’Yuanyuan,’ Yu Wenquan hadn’t brought up giving the child a formal name again. Although the matter with the Hot Spring Palace had caused them to be neglected, when it came to the Imperial Grandson, he was not skimping at all. There were still occasional rewards sent over, which also ensured that no one in the palace dared to neglect them.

Shang Ruyi said, "Perhaps, Father is still pondering over it."

After chatting for a while, Shang Ruyi got up to leave. Chu Ruoyan even prepared two more boxes of snacks to take with her. When she returned to Qianqiu Palace, she found Yu Wenye had already returned, sitting by the table drinking tea. As soon as he saw the food box in Tushere’s hand, he instantly smiled and said, "You went to Jinyu Garden?"

"Yes, I went to have a chat with Lady Chu."

Yu Wenye signaled Tushere to set down the box. Upon opening it, he found several plates of delicate snacks, exuding a fragrant aroma. He sighed, "She never lifted a finger in household chores before, and now she can make such fine snacks, it’s rare."

"It’s because of loneliness as well."

Yu Wenye looked up at Shang Ruyi; she said, "If Your Highness has the time, do go see her more often."

Yu Wenye raised an eyebrow, and before he could say anything, Shang Ruyi immediately said, "I just think she’s been through too much recently. The matter with Jiang Chong’en was his own folly and had nothing to do with Lady Chu. Yet she hasn’t dared to step out of Jinyu Garden for more than half a year because of it."

Yu Wenye’s expression softened slightly, sighing lightly, "I know, but there’s just been too much going on lately. When things settle down, I’ll go see her."

Shang Ruyi immediately asked, "By the way, have you found anything?"

Yu Wenye shook his head.

Hearing this, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but frown.

Not only had the Emperor dispatched the Left Guard to conduct searches throughout the city, but they had also sent people to secretly investigate. However, after Pei Xingyuan’s assassins were silenced, there really had been no clues whatsoever. Now the case was stuck, and even they were at a loss.

Yu Wenye took a piece of pastry from the box, tasted it with his tea, finding the flavor appealing, he nodded lightly and said, "However, today there has been a new discovery."

Shang Ruyi immediately asked, "What?"

Yu Wenye said, "My people discovered during the city’s search that there’s another group investigating this matter."

"Who?"

"The Duke Wushan’s people."

"Duke Wushan? Yu Dingxing?"

Hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately thought of something and said, "If he’s investigating too, then it shouldn’t be his doing."

Yu Wenye nodded lightly.

Indeed, from the rumors heard over these days, the Crown Princess Consort was as anxious as ants on a hot pan, and they vaguely sensed that this matter might not have been done by the Yu Family father-daughter duo. It’s just that their previous deeds had directed everyone’s attention towards them. The Emperor even disregarded Yu Dingxing’s eye injury and had him personally lead troops out of the city to chase Jiang Xian and Liang Youying. So now they were in such a hurry to seek the truth, probably also intending to prove their innocence.

Clarity flashed through Shang Ruyi’s eyes, and then her brow furrowed more tightly.

If it’s not the Yu Family father-daughter, who could it be?

After finishing another snack, Yu Wenye washed his hands and returned to sit beside her, saying, "Since the incident, many have been implicated, with individuals either benefitting or losing out, but no matter what, the group who attempted to assassinate Pei Xingyuan must be within this circle."

Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and murmured, "The Hot Spring Palace affair involves the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess Consort and her father-daughter, Lou Liangdi and her father-daughter, as well as you, me, the Pei Family, and the people from Wanggang Village."

"..."

"If it’s not the Crown Princess Consort’s group, who else would want to kill Pei Xingyuan?"

As she said this, she suddenly looked up at Yu Wenye.

"Could it be—"

Yu Wenye sipped another mouthful of tea, savoring the bitterness and sweetness within the tea, and after a long silence said, "Human hearts are inherently hard to fathom."

Shang Ruyi lowered her head in thought, finding it unbelievable, but also as if she had understood something amidst the disbelief, she softly sighed, shaking her head.

"Then, what do you plan to do? Tell Father?"

"Telling Father the Emperor will only clear our own names; it serves no other purpose," Yu Wenye’s eyes flickered and he said, "If we can make it into a favor, that would be worthwhile."