Chapter 960: Chapter 699: Falling in the Darkness

Time passed, bit by bit.

Because it was too dark around, so dark that the grasslands and the night sky were indistinguishable, none of them noticed the hour. It wasn’t until another cold wind blew, tangling a loose strand of hair from Shang Ruyi, which fell across Yu Wenye’s cheek, that the unexpected softness made his heart flutter.

Only then did they realize it was nearly the third watch.

Although Shang Ruyi was still trying to talk to him, at this moment, in the firelight, you could see the thick fatigue on her face.

Today had indeed exhausted her.

So Yu Wenye said, "It’s late, go rest."

Shang Ruyi replied, "Okay."

After speaking, she prepared to stand up, but having sat for too long, both legs were numb. As soon as she stood, she stumbled and almost fell, luckily Yu Wenye immediately grasped her slender arm and steadied her.

"Are you alright?"

"..."

Originally, she was fine.

But the warmth of his palm inexplicably made her face heat up. Shang Ruyi instinctively looked up, and that glance landed on Yu Wenye’s face, as if a warm breath came towards her.

His gaze flickered, "What’s the matter?"

Shang Ruyi almost immediately lowered her head, but even avoiding his intense gaze, her cheeks still felt a little fiery, and she murmured, "Nothing, it’s nothing."

Watching her lightly trembling lashes and the few strands of loose hair, Yu Wenye smirked.

However, he did not lose his mind just yet, even though today had seen such major upheaval and he’d learned so much horrifying news—it seemed it was precisely because of all this that he needed to be a bit calmer, to clear his thoughts.

Moreover, their journey here was just to rescue her.

Throughout the journey, he hadn’t considered anything, nor thought about any problems. But now, with her safely by his side, he had to consider the Taiyuan situation he’d face upon returning, and the potential situation in Chang An. Everything Shang Ruyi told him, while he couldn’t let anyone else know, required some preparation.

Just then, turning his head instinctively, he saw in the near distance, in front of a not-very-large Central Army Tent, Shen Tu Tai and several other Deputy Generals gathered around a bonfire, none of them had gone back to sleep.

Clearly, they were waiting for him.

Yu Wenye took a deep breath, suppressing the ripples in his heart stirred by her strands of hair, and again reached out a hand. He gently tucked the strands still fluttering at Shang Ruyi’s forehead behind her ear, his palm unconsciously brushing her cheek, tenderly saying, "You, go sleep first."

Shang Ruyi’s face blushed instantly.

Though this was merely a most ordinary phrase between husband and wife, at this moment, under Yu Wenye’s gaze, it seemed to carry deeper implications.

But after all, this was in the military camp.

She did not wish to indulge in fanciful thoughts nor reveal more of her reactions, merely softly responding with an "Mm" and then got up and walked away.

And behind her, Yu Wenye stood motionless, until he watched her slender back disappearing into the small tent the soldiers had set up for her, before he exhaled a long breath, suppressing his faintly surging agitation, and turned, heading towards Shen Tu Tai and the others.

As soon as he came over, the men immediately put away their previous chatting expressions, and Shen Tu Tai promptly said, "Your Highness, regarding Taiyuan..."

Yu Wenye gently waved his hand: "We’ll discuss it in the main tent."

So, the group immediately stood and followed him into the Central Army Tent.

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Inside the tent, Shang Ruyi did not immediately lie down.

With nearly the same turbulent emotions as Yu Wenye, she took longer to subside, leaving her standing blankly in the tent’s center for quite a while before barely calming her nerves.

Fortunately, no one saw her foolish appearance.

Then she washed up briefly and went to bed.

The tent here was simpler than the one the Turkic people had separately prepared for her in the Turkic Yatai, although she understood, as this was marching conditions. Moreover, since Yu Wenye attacked Taiyuan and immediately headed north with hardly any preparation, bringing a tent along was already commendable.

Commendable as it was, it was still uncomfortable.

Though this tent didn’t leak from all sides, it was thin enough that the wind’s howling was clear. With a strong wind, the entire tent seemed to shake and wobble. Without a fire basin prepared, inside was as cold as outside, and after lying for a long time, hands and feet remained cold.

Shang Ruyi could only curl up and hug herself.

Even so, she still couldn’t sleep, unaware of how long her bright eyes stared into the night until a familiar set of footsteps sounded outside.

Despite the howling wind, the light footsteps, and the long separation that should render them unfamiliar, inexplicably, she could clearly hear those familiar steps approaching, gradually reaching the tent outside.

Then someone lifted the tent flap and entered.

As the flap was lifted and fell with a sigh, her heart thumped heavily.

That increasingly familiar set of footsteps brought with them the air and warmth she was long familiar with, steadily approaching until they reached the bedside.

Then he seemed to lean over, one hand resting on the bed, quietly watching.

Shang Ruyi’s curled-up body trembled faintly under the thick quilt, hands and feet that hadn’t warmed just moments before inexplicably grew hot. Not only that, her heart raced like thunder, breath heated, as if a flame from the dark, silent gaze was penetrating into her body.

Instinctively she held her breath, but her heartbeat gradually faltered.

At this moment, a hand reached out, gently brushing a wisp of stray hair by her ear.

"Ah!"

Despite her utmost restraint, at the moment of skin contact, it was as if a spark suddenly ignited, causing Shang Ruyi to shiver abruptly. Before she could react, a deep familiar voice spoke by her ear with a hint of amusement, leisurely saying, "You’re indeed not asleep."

"..."

"Waiting for me?"

"I—"

Shang Ruyi, both shy and anxious, hurriedly turned her head to say something, but suddenly felt her body heat up.

Already feeling somewhat feverish, her body suddenly fell into a scorching embrace, those familiar, strong arms tightly held her.

And then, her lips, before having a chance to utter another word, surrendered in the darkness, instantly consumed!