Chapter 953: Chapter 694: No Matter Who You Are...

Why.

These three words seem to have brought another gust of cold wind.

However, at this moment, there really was a cold wind blowing. Normally, it would be strong enough to freeze one’s limbs, even making the blood congeal, but Shang Ruyi felt no chill whatsoever. The one holding her, although confused, never loosened his embrace.

His body warmth and breath surrounded her constantly, like an invisible barrier.

Perhaps, it really could fend off many piercing winds and harsh swords.

Perhaps, she could trust him...

With this thought, Shang Ruyi took a deep breath, once more meeting those eyes that held unwavering resolve and at this moment, a hint of gentleness. She said, "Actually, what I just told you isn’t completely right—"

Yu Wenye frowned, "Hmm?"

Shang Ruyi said, "Before I saw you, I didn’t know uncle and aunt wanted me to marry you, because on that day, you all arrived so abruptly that they didn’t have time to tell me about this decision. But even without knowing anything, I still had one thought in my heart."

"What thought?"

"I don’t want to marry into your Yuwen Family."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Yu Wenye’s brow immediately furrowed.

In the past, or under the initial circumstances, upon hearing someone say something like this, he would certainly have been furious. Because it not only insulted him or his brother, but the entire Yuwen Family.

But at this moment, seeing the solemn look in Shang Ruyi’s eyes, he vaguely felt that this statement had another meaning.

So he said, "Why?"

Shang Ruyi said, "Because that would bring countless troubles, and in the future, there could be endless dangers."

"I still don’t understand."

"Because at that time, I already knew today."

"Today?"

Upon hearing these two words, Yu Wenye first showed confusion, but immediately a flash of insight crossed his mind. He looked at Shang Ruyi somewhat surprised: "Could it be that you—"

"Yes,"

Shang Ruyi said calmly, though her voice slightly trembled, "Back then I already knew that Father the Emperor would ascend as Emperor. And you and your brother would become Princes!"

"...!"

Yu Wenye’s eyes widened sharply.

The next moment, his pupils shook abruptly, as if remembering something, and he said, "So back then, when you went with me to see Father, and when you saw him, your first words indeed were—"

Shang Ruyi said, "Grand Ancestor."

"..."

"When I saw him, I called him, Grand Ancestor."

"..."

"I knew Uncle Yu Wen would become Emperor Gaozu of the Dasheng Dynasty!"

Yu Wenye couldn’t help but draw a breath of cold air.

If someone else said this at another time, he would just dismiss it as nonsense and wouldn’t even bother to listen. But the person in front of him was Shang Ruyi, and at this moment, recalling the occurrences of recent days, he found himself speechless.

However, this is too incredible!

How is this possible!?

Yu Wenye said, "Is there really such a thing as foreknowledge in this world? But you, you—"

Shang Ruyi looked up at him with a slightly mischievous smile and said, "But I’m usually useless, aren’t I?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Wenye felt both anger and amusement. He tightened his arm around her waist, causing Shang Ruyi’s breath to catch, and said through clenched teeth, "Who needs you to be useful?"

"..."

"But you certainly need to be of use."

Shang Ruyi smiled.

She understood what Yu Wenye meant—he didn’t expect her to be useful when marrying her, as at the time, besides her fleeting thoughts, their marriage was merely a transaction, and peace was all they sought; however, the world doesn’t nurture the incompetent and in such tumultuous times, the useless find it even harder to survive.

Though harsh, it is one of the simplest causalities in life.

The capable should survive.

And as the daughter of Shang Ruohong, being incompetent would disgrace her father’s reputation; marrying Yu Wenye and becoming the Young Madam of the Duke Mansion, and now the Princess Qin, enjoying the adulation of the people, if she were useless, not to mention her father’s glory, her own dignity, even her life would be forfeited amidst these complex and perilous imperial power struggles.

The last battle at Fufeng was a warning.

She said, "I understand what you mean, if a person possesses the ability of foreknowledge, at least in some matters, they can take the lead."

"..."

"Like—Yu Mingyue."

Yu Wenye’s pupils shook violently.

He thought for a moment and said, "Indeed. She seemed to know I would contract plague beforehand, so she pre-emptively bought out all the medicine in Central Pass, and later, many troubles we encountered seemed to stem from her foreknowledge."

Saying this, he lowered his head to look at Shang Ruyi, his eyes flickering slightly.

"She has the power of foreknowledge, and you knew Father would ascend and become Emperor Gaozu of the Dasheng Dynasty. What’s the connection between you two?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi fell silent.

Yet this time, her silence was only brief before she looked up at Yu Wenye, whose emotions were complex yet eyes remained calm, and said, "Feng Chen, you once said you don’t believe in God Buddha, but do you believe in reincarnation?"

"...!?"

These four words, even more than anything Shang Ruyi had said earlier, shocked Yu Wenye. His hand noticeably froze, startling the warhorse bound by the reins to abruptly gallop forward. Shang Ruyi cried out, almost thrown off by the sudden jolt, luckily Yu Wenye immediately pulled tight on the reins.

His breath quickened, his face turning pale, yet his grip on Shang Ruyi did not relax.

He looked steadily into Shang Ruyi’s eyes and said, "Who are you?"

Shang Ruyi seemed as though she had anticipated his doubt and immediately replied, "I am Shang Ruyi."

"..."

Yu Wenye tightly furrowed his brows, watching her.

Shang Ruyi met his gaze, without any hint of avoidance, spoke sincerely, word by word, "I am, Shang Ruyi."

"..."

Two people fell silent.

Uncertain how much time passed, Shang Ruyi suddenly felt the arm clasping her waist relaxed slightly, though didn’t release her, only Yu Wenye’s expression slowly relaxed from the previous near grim tension.

He took a deep breath and said, "Actually, it doesn’t matter."

Then he looked deeply at Shang Ruyi again, "No matter who you are... as long as it’s you."

Shang Ruyi blinked.

She hadn’t fully grasped the meaning of this statement when Yu Wenye said again, "Then, what did you mean by reincarnation? Were you—"

Shang Ruyi sorted her thoughts and seriously replied, "Yes, if I’m not mistaken, I should be reincarnated."

"Reincarnated? By whom?"

"Yu Mingyue!"