A Shocking Dream

Inside the bumpy carriage, Qin Ruoyu sat upright, clutching the letter that announced the passing of Yun Shuang, the Holy Maiden of the Yun Nation. His gaze fixed on the letter, his face filled with astonishment and shock. The sunlight streaming in from the window couldn't warm his now icy heart.

"How could it be... Yunshuang..." Qin Ruoyu murmured in a low voice, unable to believe this sudden bad news. He knew very well how important Yunshuang was to the emperor's uncle, and he also understood the impact this news would have once it was shared with the emperor's uncle.

Qin Ruoyu looked up at his confused uncle, Qin Rongchen. Qin Rongchen was resting with his eyes closed, his face calm. But Qin Ruoyu knew that this peace was about to be broken, and Yunshuang's death might be difficult for him to accept for a while.

"It's only two days away from the capital..." Qin Ruoyu thought to himself. He slowly put the letter away, deciding not to tell Qin Rongchen for the time being. He gritted his teeth and thought, let the emperor's uncle enjoy this moment of peace and quiet. Once we return to the capital, we can make a long-term plan.

The atmosphere in the carriage became solemn, and Qin Ruoyu's heartbeat was particularly clear in the silence. He looked at the scenery that was constantly receding outside the window, Qin Ruoyu tightly clutched the corner of his clothes, his heart full of entanglement and worry. He didn't know how heartbroken Qin Rongchen would be when he learned the news, nor did he know how to comfort him. But at this moment, he could only choose to conceal it, silently praying that the two-day journey would pass quickly, and hoping that time would stay at this moment forever. As the carriage moved forward, Qin Ruoyu's heart became heavier, as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart. And Qin Rongchen was still immersed in his own world, completely unaware of the impending storm. The two-day journey back to Beijing was destined to be full of unknowns and uneasiness.

"What's wrong? You look so uneasy after receiving the letter." Qin Rongchen frowned slightly and looked at Qin Ruoyu with a sharp gaze. That gaze seemed to be able to penetrate people's hearts, making Qin Ruoyu feel that he had nowhere to hide.

Qin Ruoyu's heart suddenly tightened, his heart beating wildly in his chest, like a trapped beast struggling. His hands felt as if they were burned by fire, and he reflexively hid the letter behind his back, the letter wrinkled in his hands. His eyes flickered and dodged, not daring to look Qin Rongchen in the eye. He forced an extremely unnatural smile on his face, trying to get away with it. "No, uncle, it's nothing serious, just some trivial matters in the capital." His voice was trembling with an uncontrollable tremor, like ripples on the water, subtle but clearly perceptible.

Qin Rongchen narrowed his eyes slightly, a scrutinizing glint in his deep eyes. His gaze was like a sharp sword, piercing Qin Ruoyu straight, as if to see through him. He said nothing, simply staring at Qin Ruoyu quietly. The air in the car seemed to freeze at this moment. Time seemed to pass for an eternity, yet it seemed only a moment. Qin Rongchen spoke again, his voice low but full of majesty: "Ruoyu, between you and me, uncle and nephew, is there anything that cannot be said?" His tone carried an unquestionable sense of oppression, mixed with the concern unique to an elder.

Qin Ruoyu lowered his head even lower. He felt like he was in a desert under the scorching sun, thirsty but unable to find water. Fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead, then larger beads trickled down his cheeks and dripped onto his lapels. His lips trembled slightly, as if a thousand words were stuck in his throat, yet not a single word came out. "Uncle… I…" He faltered, his voice like the creaking of an old bellows, hoarse and weak.

The carriage continued to move forward, its wheels rolling with a monotonous, dull sound. The clatter of horses' hooves echoed, each one like a step on Qin Ruoyu's heart. The atmosphere inside the carriage was tense and oppressive, making it hard to breathe. Qin Ruoyu felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. The letter in his hand felt like a thousand pounds, weighing down his arm and causing it to ache. His mind was in a state of chaos, with countless thoughts racing through his mind. He wanted to tell the truth, but he was afraid of seeing his uncle's grief; he wanted to continue to conceal it, but he felt full of guilt towards his uncle.

After a long moment, Qin Ruoyu took a deep breath and slowly raised his head. His eyes held a hint of determination and a hint of pleading, as if hoping Qin Rongchen wouldn't ask any further questions. Just as he was about to speak, a sudden commotion erupted outside the carriage. The sounds of children crying, adults shouting, and horses neighing intertwined. Qin Rongchen turned to look out the window, and in that instant, Qin Ruoyu felt as if he had been temporarily pardoned. He took the opportunity to quietly adjust his mood, breathing heavily and wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

As the clamor outside the carriage gradually died down, a deathly silence returned to the interior. Qin Rongchen once again cast his gaze upon Qin Ruoyu, his gaze still firm and full of expectation. Qin Ruoyu knew he could no longer avoid this question. But he still lacked the courage to speak the truth immediately. He could only pray silently in his heart, hoping to find the right time and way to tell his uncle this tragic news. His hands unconsciously clenched, his knuckles turning white from the force, his heart filled with struggle and contradiction.

"Is it about Yunshuang's letter?" Qin Rongchen asked tentatively. His voice was low and calm, but there was a hint of subtle tension and anticipation in his eyes.

Qin Ruoyu was startled when he heard this, as if someone had seen through his deepest secrets. He subconsciously looked up at Qin Rongchen, his eyes filled with surprise and panic, as if asking: How did the emperor guess this? His lips trembled slightly, and he wanted to explain, but he didn't know where to start.

Qin Rongchen sighed slightly and continued, "Your abnormality told me. In such a big capital, what could happen that you dare not tell me? The only one is Yunshuang. What did the letter say? She... left the capital?" Although he tried to keep his tone steady, the last few words still had a slight tremor that he could hardly suppress.

Qin Ruoyu bit his lower lip, tears welling in his eyes. He slowly lowered his head, not daring to meet Qin Rongchen's gaze. He knew he could no longer hide the truth. After a moment's silence, he said in a hoarse voice, "Uncle, as the letter says, Yunshuang... passed away due to illness." As he said this, he felt as if his heart had been struck hard.

When Qin Rongchen heard the news, his body stiffened, as if struck by lightning. His eyes instantly went blank, his mind a blank. After a long moment, he slowly came to his senses and muttered to himself, "How could this be... How could this be..." His face turned pale, and his hands unconsciously clenched, his knuckles turning white.