Chapter 964: Chapter 703: Having Him Right Before My Eyes Is Enough!

At the sight of Taiyuan City, Shang Ruyi finally let out a long breath.

Leaving aside the fact that she had at last returned to a once-familiar place and could finally set her heart down, just speaking of how they had been tossing about on the grassland these past days—though the view was boundless and vast, spectacular in its way—for someone who had grown up within city walls, it was hard not to feel a kind of rootless bewilderment.

And now the solid city walls and lofty gate towers gave people like her a silent comfort and support.

Even Shantong’er stretched out in a great lazy arch on horseback. "We’re finally here."

Shen Tu Tai at his side said nothing, only lifted his large hand to rub that hedgehog-like head of his. The people around them all laughed, nodding one after another, their expressions easing a little more.

Shang Ruyi withdrew her gaze with a smile, only to see Yu Wenye beside her, his eyes flickering, his face grave as he stared ahead.

She said softly, "Feng Chen."

At her words, Yu Wenye immediately turned his head toward her, but at once smoothed away the severity that had just been on his face. He gave her a small smile, then said, "Let’s go. Best we make it into the city before dark."

"...All right."

So they all urged their horses on again and continued forward.

This time, Shang Ruyi slowly gathered in her wandering thoughts. She of course understood what Yu Wenye’s expression meant. Returning to Taiyuan did indeed mean that the Turkic affair had come to a close, but it was also the beginning of something new. And from the looks of it now, the road before them was fated to be more rugged than smooth.

The group pressed on, but no matter how they rode, they could not outrun the slanting setting sun. When they were still some distance from Taiyuan City, the sun had already slipped below the horizon, and the sky quickly grew dark. Yet when they lifted their eyes to look ahead, they discovered that the area before the gate tower seemed to be glowing with light.

Drawing closer, they saw that a blaze of firelight was actually burning at the city gate!

The gate that should have been closed at dusk was now standing wide open. On the gate tower above, the soldiers on watch all held torches high. Below the tower, before the yawning entrance, soldiers stood in neat lines, many of them also holding torches. The lights above and below echoed each other, illuminating the entire North City Gate as bright as day.

The people of the city were lined up to welcome them!

And at the very front of that sea of light stood a tall, straight, graceful figure. Even though they had not yet drawn near, just the sight of him in his white robes, limned by the torchlight in a pure, ethereal glow, made him seem like a drifting white cloud newly descended to the mortal world, giving off an impression of being untouched by dust.

It was Yu Wenqian!

He had actually come out of the city to greet them! 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Shang Ruyi’s heartbeat sank involuntarily. She knew she could not possibly be mistaken; indeed, thinking it through carefully, this was not something that could not happen. Yet for some reason, to come back from the Turkic lands and see Yu Wenqian at once, and in such ceremonious, grand welcoming rites, filled her with a faint unease.

In truth, she had not misseen.

Once he had noticed the situation ahead, Yu Wenye did not say much. He simply quickened their pace, leading the group faster and faster until, in short order, they reached the city gate. The firelight now fully revealed that incomparably handsome face—the pair of bluish-gray eyes, clear as if made of glass, shone even brighter beneath the torches, yet because they were too transparent, it was impossible to tell just whom they were looking at.

Only, when Shang Ruyi looked toward him, the thin corners of his lips seemed to press into the faintest hint of a smile.

But none of this drew Shang Ruyi’s attention. She saw only another familiar figure standing beside that cloud-like, ethereal man, her features even more strikingly beautiful under the blaze of the torches.

Yu Mingyue.

She was here too.

At the sight of her, that soul-rending agony of the past surged up again. Though this time its impact was no longer as overpowering as at the very first, no longer enough to make her dazed and spiritless, Shang Ruyi still could not help but breathe a little more heavily, until she sensed another gentle yet steadfast gaze at her side.

It was Yu Wenye. As they neared the city gate, he glanced at her one last time. "Are you all right?"

It was as if she drew strength from the concern in his tone. Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and calmed herself completely. "I’m fine."

"..."

Yu Wenye gave her another look.

The firelight not far away also illuminated Shang Ruyi’s face. He could feel that momentary lapse of hers just now, and that her complexion was still a shade too pale, beyond her control.

He said softly, "You don’t have to speak later. I’m here."

Shang Ruyi gave him a light nod.

Then the two of them cracked their whips and spurred their horses forward, leading the people behind them in a swift dash. In the blink of an eye, they finally reached the city gate.

Now it was even clearer. Outside the gate, flames leapt to the sky and people thronged in dense crowds. They truly had formed into well-ordered ranks here to await them. Moreover, with a single glance, Shang Ruyi saw that most of the torches in their hands had already burned halfway down. It seemed they had been waiting here since just at dusk. In other words, Yu Wenqian must have long since sent people to scout out their movements.

However, those were not the ones Shang Ruyi wished to see right now.

She tightened her hold on the reins, craned her neck to look ahead, and almost at once, amid that sea of heads bathed in firelight like a blazing ocean, she saw that pair of clear and gentle eyes.

Shen Wuzheng!

He was standing not far behind Yu Wenqian, with several other familiar figures at his side—perhaps Mu Xian and Nie Chong, perhaps Cheng Qiao, or perhaps Nie Chong... But none of this mattered to Shang Ruyi anymore. In the instant she saw that familiar figure, tears flooded her eyes. She had only just taken in her elder brother’s fine, elegant features and the same joyous light in his gaze when her vision blurred at once.

But it did not matter...

It didn’t matter anymore!

He was still alive, he was right before her eyes—that was enough!

Shang Ruyi bit her lower lip, gripping the reins tightly, so overcome that she almost lacked the strength to dismount. It was Yu Wenye, already on the ground, who noticed her state. Calmly walking up to her, he reached out and took hold of her slender wrist.

"Ruyi."

"..."

Only that low, deep voice finally brought Shang Ruyi a measure of clarity.

Yes, Shen Wuzheng was alive. He had been alive all along. Everything had only been some misunderstandings between Yu Wenye and herself—he had not been lost then found again, and she had long known that Yu Wenye would never deceive her. She should not be this agitated.

Even as she thought this, Shang Ruyi still could not still the thunderous pounding of her heart.

She could only try her best to control herself, drawing in a deep breath. When she raised her head, she met that familiar pair of bluish-gray, bewitching eyes. Yu Wenqian had already come up before them, a smile at his lips as he said mildly, "Second Brother."

With that, he looked toward Shang Ruyi. "Sister-in-law."

Shang Ruyi hurriedly stilled her breathing, but when she tried to speak, her throat was so tight and sore that she could hardly force a sound out. It was Yu Wenye who cupped his hands in salute and said, "Elder brother."

Then he glanced around them, the corners of his lips curving in something not quite a smile. "Elder brother, what is all this array you’ve put on?"