Chapter 867: Chapter 643: How Many People Do You Still Hold in Your Heart? (2)

Shang Ruyi’s gaze slowly fell, looking at the long sword lying between the two of them.

Sword Dance.

It was because of the sword dance she performed today.

She danced gracefully in the hall of the Qi County government, using the opportunity to seal the throat of the Western Turks envoy Cha Ci with a sword, killing him. Afterwards, everyone around looked at her with concern. She knew it was because of her dazed expression and overly pale face. Everyone thought she was shocked by the act of killing someone with her own hands, and terrified by the tragic scene before Cha Ci’s death.

Only she knew it wasn’t so.

Because it wasn’t the first time she had seen a sharp blade cut open someone’s throat at such a close distance, witnessing blood spray into a mist right in front of her.

She was dazed only because she saw another person in that blood mist.

At this moment, he stood before her, still with that arrogant demeanor, yet smiling slightly, with a teasing demeanor. He was supposed to live freely, like an immortal.

"Why don’t you call me Emperor?"

Amidst her wandering thoughts, uncertain whether to feel joy or sorrow, that smiling voice sounded in her ear again.

This time, Shang Ruyi didn’t hesitate, immediately raising her head, and those bright eyes were so close, along with his warm breath, surrounding her.

It seemed like he wanted to—

Recalling that night in Jiangdu Palace, the scorching heat he left on her lips, Shang Ruyi instinctively took a step back.

And as she retreated, Chu Yang suddenly felt far away from her.

He remained standing there, unmoving, just smiling at her: "Why don’t you call my name?"

"Why don’t you call me Emperor...?"

"Why...won’t you...call my name..."

He smiled, speaking the words intermittently, like an obsession, echoing continuously, as Shang Ruyi struggled, suddenly, he stretched out his long arm horizontally across his neck.

And this action was precisely the same as back then in the Bright Hall, right in front of her —

Seeing the blood mist rise again, Shang Ruyi rushed over.

"Chu Yang!"

With a heartrending scream, Shang Ruyi suddenly awoke from the dream.

And the next moment, she felt herself lying in a familiar, warm embrace, and at the sound of her voice, the chest shook violently.

Shang Ruyi also shook, abruptly opened her eyes.

At this time, it seemed that dawn was approaching. Although the light in the room was dim, there was a faint morning light streaming through the window, allowing her to see the man holding her tightly, with arms suddenly stiff like cast iron.

Not the Chu Yang who broke her heart in the dream.

But Yu Wenye!

Not just his arms, when Shang Ruyi lifted her head to look at him, his face seemed somewhat stiff too, his usual stern look at this moment flickering, giving a dangerous feeling about to shatter.

At this moment, Shang Ruyi froze, just lying foolishly in his arms, looking up at him for a while.

Then said: "Feng Chen..."

She called the two words lightly, even with a hint of residual haze and helplessness from the dream, but it was precisely these two words that suddenly calmed Yu Wenye’s nearly breaking gaze. He took a deep breath, seeming to convince himself, or suppress something, then lowered his head to look at Shang Ruyi, responding solemnly: "Hmm."

This time, Shang Ruyi was somewhat more awake. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Not a dream.

It’s Yu Wenhuai’s return, he’s right here by her side, those still somewhat stiff arms tightly holding her, this is the intimacy they hadn’t had for days. Though the pain and sorrow from the dream still lingered in her chest, hurting her with every breath, Shang Ruyi still calmed down, as if comforted by his embrace.

She gently lowered her head, pressing her cheek against his chest, feeling the real and strong heartbeat.

Then said: "Feng Chen."

The breath above her head deepened, responding again: "Hmm."

It’s real, Yu Wenye.

This man is given to her by heaven, and also her own choice, the only reliance, the only reality in this chaotic world.

She slowly, forcefully grasped him tightly.

And his body temperature and breath, gradually eased the pain brought by the loss in the dream.

She couldn’t tell anyone, this kind of pain couldn’t be expressed in words, besides, once lost, it’s lost. In the dream, she could endure a hundred kinds of pain, the only thing she couldn’t accept was losing the living.

So —

Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi took a deep breath, making herself more sober, and more calm, then lay tightly against Yu Wenye’s chest, gently said: "Feng Chen."

"Hmm."

He responded to her once more, though quickly, that quickness carried a bit of suppressed stiffness and coldness.

But Shang Ruyi didn’t notice at all, she just tried hard to calm the shock brought by the nightmare of reality and illusion, and then softly said: "Can you send more troops back to Changchun Palace?"

"..."

"My brother only has two hundred men beside him, I’m really worried about his safety."

As soon as the words fell, Shang Ruyi suddenly felt a chill.

It seemed as if something robbed the warmth of the chest she was closely pressed against, even the heavy heartbeat halted for a moment.

Then, Yu Wenye’s voice echoed above her head —

"Shang Ruyi,"

His voice was hoarse, almost unfamiliar, coldly said: "How many people do you still intend to hold in your heart?"