Chapter 234

The evening wind brought a chill, and the sky grew late.

The newcomer's brows and eyes were warm and kind, his expression gentle; he held a black lacquer food box steady in his hand, standing beneath the lamplight, his whole person radiating a clean, mild aura that softened the study's previous stern chill.

A thread of warmth passed from Yu Yiai's hand to Du Shanü's palm.

Just a breath, just that breath.

After that breath, Du Shanü suddenly realized something——

Yu Yiai, still the former Yu Baobao.

Just since she returned home, she constantly addressed him as the Young Emperor Yu Yiai, yet she seemed never to have called him by that old nickname even once.

Du Shanü hesitated slightly, perhaps due to fatigue, perhaps dazzled by tenderness, yet she finally opened her mouth to call:

"...... Yu Baobao."

Yu Baobao remained just as happy as ever; hearing this, she hurriedly answered:

"Wife Master! I'm here, I'm here! (〃'▽'〃)"

"Everyone says you're angry, telling me I needn't come...... but you're still hungry! How could I not come?"

His palm was warm, his grip gentle yet firm; he led Du Shanü slowly toward the indoor table, his other hand still holding the food box steady, his movements calm and unhurried.

Upon reaching the table, Yu Baobao loosened her grip, gently set down the food box, and slowly lifted its lid.

Today happened to be the Cold Grain Festival; by custom fire is forbidden and food is cold, so the box held no hot dishes or soup, only several refined, refreshing cold plates.

In the center of the box lay a piece of delicate, soft, glutinous rice cake that looked fresh and sweet.

He took out the food from the box one by one, arranging it neatly in clean porcelain plates, orderly and precise, each movement gentle and meticulous.

After setting everything out, Yu Baobao leaned sideways against the table edge, one hand arranging the dishes, the other lightly propping her cheek, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Du Shanü, her demeanor gentle and at ease.

Du Shanü had originally been heavy-hearted, but seeing the gentle, mild person before her, she could not help but relax a little.

Following Yu Baobao's arrangement of the dishes, she opened her mouth and forced down a few bites of cold plate and cool cake, yet she never heard Yu Baobao speak again.

After a moment of silence, Du Shanü looked at the unremarkable Yu Baobao before her and slowly spoke:

"You must have already met your cousin who came incognito, right?"

"He constantly does god-knows-what foolishness, while north and south stand opposed, the world teeters on collapse, powerful enemies surround him on all sides, yet he always hides and holds back, trying to keep his hand."

"This temperament displeases me; therefore, on my return from Dun Cheng this time, I instructed Chinu to never let him return to Dun Cheng, and after my furious outburst last night, he ought to understand that henceforth in Cang Cheng I will not leave him any authority......"

"Could it be that he has not the slightest thought, nor come to you to plead for him?"

Yu Baobao listened silently all along, her gentle smile undiminished, without the slightest hesitation, merely nodding first then slowly shaking her head.

His gaze was clear and compliant, his tone soft yet firm; from beginning to end he merely smiled:

"Wife Master's divine calculations are spot on—I have just reunited with my fourth cousin! We haven't seen each other in many years; his appearance has changed greatly, and his disposition is far more silent and reserved than before—I almost didn't recognize him!"

"But the moment he spoke, it was still his old voice; we talked for a long time, sometimes about the past, sometimes about the present...... the cousin remained the cousin, as if nothing had changed from beginning to end."

"Being able to recover the lost family this time is truly an unexpected joy, but Xiao Ai has always been one who distinguishes right from wrong. When we wed, Wife Master said I was an affianced husband-in-law, and that in all matters I would obey her."

"Xiao Ai will not utter a half-sentence more, nor will she plead for anyone; instead she only makes Wife Master's situation difficult."

Many, many years ago, he already knew a principle——

That principle is, excess is as bad as deficiency.

Throughout history, how many emperors began with the ambition to achieve great feats, undertaking massive construction and waging war?

Yet, mountains of historical records prove that acting is more excessive than not acting.

If one were to speak in Mother's words: 'Xiao Ai need not fear being a poor emperor; in the past there was a child named A Dou who became emperor, clearly doing nothing, yet he surpassed eighty percent of emperors throughout history.'

Sometimes, sitting in that position, it is not only outstanding performance that counts as merit.

But rather, a lifetime of not making mistakes is precisely the greatest merit.

Everyone wants to stand out, but no one can guarantee they will never make a mistake in their lifetime.

Yu Baobao......

She thought the same.

He truly was delighted to have found his fourth cousin.

But the fourth cousin, opening his mouth, asked why he and his wife had everything decided by Wife Master, saying he too should strive for vigor......

After all these years, how has the fourth cousin still not understood that if he were capable, how could Dayin have become a false Dayin, and how could he himself have ended up in this state?

Wife Master has always been a person of perfect clarity; if he meddles recklessly now, it is not for the cousin's good but a betrayal of Wife Master.....

This is wrong, this is not good.

Yu Baobao spoke softly and slowly, laying out her thoughts one by one.

Du Shanü listened silently, a complex struggle rising in her heart.

She had long prepared for Yu Baobao to plead softly, even considering how to refute and placate.

Yet, contrary to expectation, he is sensible, knows propriety, and has been of one mind with her from beginning to end.

Thus, Yu Lve's unruliness and Yu Baobao's goodness complement each other, like a fine blade that cuts countless tiny wounds into her heart.

If Yu Lve is blamed and Yu Baobao punished, Yu Baobao has done nothing wrong—why should she suffer punishment?

If Yu Baobao is excused for Yu Lve's sake, Yu Lve remains unrestrained—who knows whether he will submit in the future?

At this moment, Du Shanü finally could faintly feel Chinu's pain from back then.

Chinu and Yu Baobao originally had no deep grudge or great hatred between them.

Back then, Chinu devoted himself wholeheartedly to the state, at most merely disliking Yu Baobao for not being as formidable as Taizong.

But this 'weakness,' combined with the conduct of those under Yu Baobao, gradually built an uncrossable moat.

If Yu Baobao were not good, she could freely decide as she pleased.

But Yu Baobao is indeed good.

But the trouble is, Yu Baobao understands nothing at all.

Thus, Du Shanü dared not admit to him that she always harbored a sense of possessiveness and desire for control in her heart.

Nor did she dare admit that she had an innate infatuation with power and authority.

Love might not be real, but power and authority certainly are.

She is born imperial material, unable to restrain herself from suspecting everyone who comes before her.

Yu Baobao is good, Chinu is good.

But if the people around them are not good, she will still want to take her anger out on them.

Yes, yes.

Whether it's Yu Baobao or Chino......

Perhaps, they are all the same.

But Chinu is born a servant; he naturally looks up to her from below, like the moon gazing at the sun, innately understands this gap, and will even advise those around him.

But Yu Baobao......

Yu Baobao doesn't understand.

Du Shanü's thoughts swirled; she took a deep breath, then bit into another piece of sugar cake, hoping to dispel that vague, tangled feeling deep inside her heart:

"...... What else did he say to you?"

Yu Baobao had already noticed her absentmindedness; he slightly leaned in, gently raised his hand to encircle his wife master's waist, leaned lightly, and placed a soft kiss on Du Shanü's cheek:

"Nothing else at all! (〃'▽'〃)"

"At that time, my cousin seemed quite anxious; we only chatted about his situation over these years and the wife master's background...... oh, and Chinu, he said Chinu and the wife master are also together. You two have been getting along nicely by the Gui River......"

His kiss remained as gentle as ever.

But after those words, Du Shanü's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

She didn't know exactly what Yu Lve had said then, but she knew he would definitely say something.

That sentence was, "You are her husband."

Exactly.

Even so, to this day.

The only person she has truly married in a formal ceremony is still Yu Baobao.

In others' eyes, she has only one husband.

One......

Unbeknownst to the husband who stays in Cang Cheng, longing for her return day after day, she spends her time outside mingling daily with Chinu.

This shouldn't be.

By rights, she shouldn't treat Yu Baobao this way.

Du Shanü felt a sudden emptiness in her heart; she raised her hand and brushed Yu Baobao's peerlessly handsome face.

Yu Baobao still gazed at her with burning eyes, smiling; the warmth on his face seeped through her fingers into her palm......

"I'm full, the night is deep; you should go rest early as well."

She withdrew her hand, ultimately letting out a long sigh, and only said:

"Tell your cousin that I will no longer pursue him...... From now on, let him serve as the magistrate of Cang Cheng."

"This also counts as my compensation to you."

?? Today is a small fatty chapter, added 25%~ as usual, need to praise~(*^▽^*)