gnovel Chapter 999 - 729: Crown Prince’s Right Gatekeeper
Chapter 999 - 729: Crown Prince’s Right Gatekeeper
Shang Ruyi asked nervously, "Is the injury serious?"Seeing her this way, a trace of tenderness passed through Yu Wenye’s eyes. He comfortingly said in a gentle voice, "Don’t worry, it’s not serious. When Ruoyan sent someone to visit him, he was still joking with people. However, it seems he broke a rib, so he’ll need to recuperate for a while."
A broken rib is considered quite serious to an ordinary person.
But compared to someone like Yu Wenye who frequently battles on the front lines, or even to Pei Xingyuan who nearly burned to death in a storeroom during a plague outbreak, it really isn’t much.
Shang Ruyi asked, "Then how did he get injured? Who hurt him?"
Yu Wenye shook his head, "He naturally refuses to say, only joking around with people. Ruoyan’s people couldn’t ask too deeply. Seeing that he was in good spirits, they returned."
"..."
"So, for this matter, we might need to find a time to ask him ourselves."
Shang Ruyi quickly nodded.
One must know, Pei Xingyuan is not only an official of the court but also a close friend of Yu Wenye. Given that Yu Wenqian is about to—no, the position of Crown Prince has already been decided, his presence is not only a support for Yu Wenye but also a source of comfort.
Harming him would be akin to harming Yu Wenye.
It’s crucial to find out who injured him—whether it was the Crown Prince or the Yu Family.
But Shang Ruyi still breathed a sigh of relief and said, "As long as he’s okay, that’s what matters. As for other things, as long as we investigate thoroughly, they can be resolved."
Yu Wenye nodded.
But he glanced at Shang Ruyi again, and his gaze seemed to flicker a bit. Shang Ruyi, too, keenly caught that sharp look and immediately asked, "Is there anything else?"
Yu Wenye didn’t hesitate, but his tone was heavier than when he spoke of Pei Xingyuan’s injury.
He said, "There’s another matter, and I fear you won’t be happy hearing it."
Shang Ruyi widened her eyes, "What is it?"
Yu Wenye said, "Father has appointed your elder brother as the Right Palace Gatekeeper."
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi not only furrowed her brows; her entire small face scrunched up. Instinctively, she said, "Why appoint him? Even if it’s an appointment, my brother should be the one you previously recommended for Director of the Ministry of Revenue. Besides, he just returned—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Seeing Yu Wenye’s meaningful gaze, a light suddenly flashed through Shang Ruyi’s mind, and she understood: "It’s not my brother, it’s Shang Shoufei?!"
Yu Wenye nodded heavily.
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath.
All these years, although she’s kept her name, she’s long considered Mr. and Mrs. Shen as her parents in this life, with Shen Wuzheng as her only brother. As for Shang Shoufei, who shares her surname, she would have nearly erased him from her life if not for Wang Shaoji’s teasing about him being deceived into buying an official position, and his return to Chang An after her appointment as Princess Qin, followed by his visit.
But she hadn’t expected—
Shang Ruyi frowned, "Why would Father appoint him?"
Yu Wenye said, "It’s said that he went several times to an imperial concubine’s residence to meet his younger sister. People there were worried that offending him would lead to offending you, so they had to find a way to pass the word to the palace. After Father found out, he summoned him. Perhaps in remembrance of his relationship with your father, he was appointed as the Right Palace Gatekeeper."
Shang Ruyi’s face turned red and then white.
When Shang Shoufei went to see her at the Shen Family, he already knew she was about to move into the palace. How could he expect to see her at an imperial concubine’s residence? He’s clearly aware of everything and knows she wouldn’t support him, so he’s doing this intentionally. The guards at the residence don’t understand the grievances between her and him, and even if they did, many people believe that family blood ties outweigh everything else—as if women are naturally supposed to help their family rather than pursue their own desires.
Therefore, the guards, out of regard for her, could only introduce him to the Emperor.
As for Yu Wenquan... he’s someone who values old friendships. Even though his father passed away long ago and he’s had to rely on his uncle and aunt to raise him, he’s still willing to honor an old marriage contract by allowing his son to marry her, a girl from a declining family.
Whether it’s marrying her to Yu Wenye or appointing Shang Shoufei, it’s all for the sake of an old friend.
But, the Right Palace Gatekeeper?
If she remembers correctly, this position of Right Palace Gatekeeper was renamed after Chu Yang ascended the throne. During Emperor Wen’s era, its original title was—Crown Prince’s Right Gatekeeper, an Inner Court General’s position, guarding the Eastern Palace and protecting the Crown Prince!
Shang Ruyi immediately asked, "When was he appointed?"
Yu Wenye said, "A month ago."
"A month ago...?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi’s previously bright expression turned completely gloomy. Because she gritted her teeth so hard, her face took on a few more sinister overtones.
A month ago, at that time, even though Yu Wenquan hadn’t officially appointed Yu Wenqian as the Crown Prince, he had already secured the Crown Prince’s Right Gatekeeper. So, this appointment had nothing to do with the merits of the Taiyuan battle.
It was solely to appoint on one hand and suppress on the other.
However, the royal power struggle is their own affair, and Shang Ruyi doesn’t blame anyone, but for Shang Shoufei to be involved is truly reprehensible!
As she clenched her teeth, although Yu Wenye also had anger in his eyes, he was actually calmer than her.
He said, "Your elder brother is indeed disgraceful."
"..."
"But this matter goes far beyond just his disgrace."
Shang Ruyi immediately looked up at him, only to hear Yu Wenye say in a deep voice, "Being appointed as the Right Gatekeeper, which means the Right Palace Gatekeeper, indicates that he has now entered the ranks of military generals. Although this position is only a guard in the Inner Court, he still has the authority to command troops."
Shang Ruyi came to her senses: "Does that mean if war breaks out, he can also lead troops to battle?"
Yu Wenye nodded.
Shang Ruyi immediately sneered: "Him?"
Even though he shares the Shang surname, even though he has the same blood, even though their father is still admired by many military generals in the court, once a gallant and daring General of Cavalry, Shang Ruohong, how can someone like Shang Shoufei, uneducated and ambitious but talentless, lead troops?
She said coldly, "If he is allowed to lead troops, the Dasheng Dynasty of ten thousand years will have the biggest joke of ten thousand years!"
Yu Wenye said nothing.
This need not be said by him. Having followed Yu Wenquan into battle since he was a teenager, he understands too well what a general’s capability means to an army; this is not something everyone can fulfill.
Soldiers are not toys; if played with, they lose their authority. The selection of generals is the same.
However, if Shang Shoufei is just a joke, it’s not much of a concern.
But when the two exchanged glances again, there was still a glimmer in their depths, as if both harbored a deeper anxiety in their hearts, but for a moment, they could not tell what it was.
In the end, it was Tushere who came to invite them to change and bathe, and only then did the two react that even though they had returned to the palace, time was not abundant. In a little while, it would be time for the evening banquet.
So, the two went to bathe separately, and after returning, they took a short rest.
Looking at the sky again, the sun had set.
The two then sipped some tea to clear their throat and mind, donned their finery, and Tushere and Chang Wan each carried a lantern to lead the way. The two left Qianqiu Palace and headed straight to Bai Fu Hall.
As they passed by Jinyu Garden, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but glance inside.
Though it wasn’t brightly lit, candles flickered deep within the palace, and a graceful figure seemed to stand inside, apparently gazing at those passing by the gate.
Even if it was just a moment, she seemed satisfied.
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said softly, "If the evening banquet ends early tonight, why not rest at Jinyu Garden?"
"..."
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a coldness emanating from beside her, piercing through her clothes and into her heart.
But she steadied her spirit, not meeting the glaring eyes, and merely said, "After all, when you just returned, you went there."
"..."
"In my place, if you step in for a day, it counts as a day."
The chill instantly dissipated.
When Shang Ruyi turned her head to look at Yu Wenye again, she saw that those eyes which had just been glaring at her angrily now looked ahead, and though his face remained cold, under the faint light, it was clear that his lips twitched, and his cheeks even twitched a bit before he managed to suppress the corners of his mouth.
Shang Ruyi said, "Hmm?"
Yu Wenye, not looking at her, walked several more steps before lightly snorting, "Sometimes, you are really annoying."
Having said this, the corners of his mouth had already curled up.
But before the smile could be illuminated by the suddenly brilliant lights of the Hundred Blessings Gate behind them, it was immediately restrained, and Shang Ruyi also turned her head. She saw that in front of them, the towering Bai Fu Hall was brightly lit, emanating a great brilliance in the night, instantly brightening their eyes.
At this time, before the evening banquet officially began, the ministers on the invitation list were arriving, and some early arrivals stood at the temple entrance, greeting acquaintances, gathering in threes and twos to chat and laugh, with a pleasant atmosphere in the air.
However, as Yu Wenye stepped in and the little eunuch standing at the hall entrance announced in a loud voice—
"Prince Qin arrives! Princess Qin arrives!"
Suddenly, all the cheerful laughter and talking stopped, and everything around seemed to pause for a moment. But the next moment, everyone immediately regained their senses and started bowing and saluting the two of them.
Yu Wenye raised his hand lightly, "No need for formalities."
Only then did the ministers rise.
But after rising, most of these people retreated, not only refraining from engaging in small talk but also not daring to cast any extra glances in his direction.