The autumn wind of the desert carried a biting chill, whipping at the hem of skirts, making them sway wildly. The whistling gusts in the ears stirred an inexplicable irritation.
Yan Hui brushed back the strands of hair at her temple, her gaze cool as she looked at the woman before her.
“Miss Yan, you probably don’t know the feelings between Suyu and me.” Jiang Yun furrowed her brows. Whether it was the Wang family’s daughter or this counterfeit Yan Hui, she had always felt hostility. If not for the Wang family’s interference, if not for Li Suyu being burdened with a political marriage, how could he have remained indifferent to her?
Jiang Yun knew Li Suyu too well. Once he bore the mission of the Li family, he would pursue it with unwavering resolve, leaving no room in his eyes for anyone else.
“Not interested.” Yan Hui’s eyes were icy, though her lips curved in a faint smile. “Miss Jiang, instead of telling me things that mean nothing to me, why not do something that matters to you?”
Jiang Yun gave a cold laugh, assuming Yan Hui was feigning indifference: “Suyu and I grew up together, childhood sweethearts. Our bond was never ordinary. Only because of many obstacles did our relationship become what it is today. But you know, misunderstandings will eventually be cleared. When that happens, you standing in between will only bring harm to yourself.”
“So, what are you saying, Miss Jiang?” Yan Hui’s smile deepened with meaning. “That I should not meddle in matters between you and my husband?”
“Miss Yan, you’re clearly intelligent. Why pretend to be foolish? Isn’t Suyu’s neglect of you proof enough?” Jiang Yun’s lips curved faintly as she stared at Yan Hui.
Yan Hui smiled lightly, her voice airy: “I know my place. But it seems Miss Jiang has sunk too deep into the play.” She even cast her a look of pity before turning to walk toward Zhao Chi.
Jiang Yun’s hand clenched tightly beneath her sleeve. Too deep into the play? Could Yan Hui truly remain an outsider? She didn’t believe it!
Meanwhile, as Yan Hui walked toward Zhao Chi, she whispered to Suiqiu: “Later, I’ll tell Zhao Chi I forgot something at the estate and send you back to fetch it. Once in the city, find Yueyue. Have her secure a shop—preferably a large one like an inn or tavern—and purchase it.”
Suiqiu lowered her voice: “Yes, I will see it done.”
Speaking thus, they reached Zhao Chi.
Zhao Chi, seeing Jiang Yun had followed as well, furrowed his brows. With both Sister‑in‑law and Jiang present, hopefully Second Brother wouldn’t be angered.
“Sister‑in‑law, please,” Zhao Chi said.
Yan Hui nodded slightly, and as she withdrew her gaze, she glanced at Suiqiu.
Suiqiu immediately lowered her eyes.
After only a short distance, Yan Hui stopped: “General Zhao.”
“What is it, Sister‑in‑law?” Zhao Chi’s heart skipped, fearing Yan Hui would question him about Jiang Yun’s words.
“I left some things at the estate. Could you send someone to escort my maid back to fetch them?” Yan Hui’s brows lifted slightly, a faint smile at her lips.
“Such a small matter—just say the word.” Zhao Chi turned to his men: “Xiao Song, escort Miss Suiqiu back to the city. If you cannot return before the gates close, bring her tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
Under Yan Hui’s gaze, Suiqiu boarded a carriage and departed back toward the city.
Jiang Yun, though puzzled by Yan Hui’s actions, thought to herself that this newcomer to the Li family could hardly stir up any real waves.
Then Zhao Chi led Yan Hui further inside.
By evening, drills had ended, and many soldiers were washing up in order.
Along the way, seeing Zhao Chi escorting a woman unfamiliar to them—aside from Jiang Yun—many guessed she was the General’s newlywed wife. Because of this, they only glanced twice before averting their eyes. None dared look too long at the General’s woman.
“Sister‑in‑law, this is how the army is—full of rough men. Don’t mind them.” Zhao Chi explained quickly, worried the crude atmosphere might frighten the delicate new bride.
“It’s fine.” Yan Hui replied with a faint smile.
Jiang Yun watched Zhao Chi’s attentiveness toward Yan Hui. She wondered—was this Li Suyu’s will? But since he was still unconscious, it couldn’t be.
After about half a quarter of an hour, Zhao Chi arrived at a certain tent. Just as he was about to speak, a man stepped out.
“Master Chu,” Zhao Chi quickly called out, “Second Brother’s injuries aren’t too serious, are they?”
At the mention of Master Chu, Yan Hui looked toward the tent entrance. Her expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly returned to calm.
In the glow of the setting sun, a man in a dark‑purple brocade robe appeared. His brows lifted slightly, his features always carrying a gentle warmth. He glanced at Zhao Chi: “No danger to his life. But the wounds will require some time to heal.”
“That’s good, that’s good.” Zhao Chi finally relaxed. “Thank you, Master Chu. If you hadn’t happened to be in Yuncheng, I don’t know what Second Brother would have done.”
When Chu Yan’s gaze fell on Yan Hui, his thick brows lifted slightly.
Yan Hui bowed: “Master Chu.”
Both Zhao Chi and Jiang Yun were taken aback.
Zhao Chi asked: “Master Chu, you know Sister‑in‑law?”
Yan Hui lowered her lashes. Meeting an old acquaintance, yet everything had changed.
“Years ago, when passing through Yunzhou, I stayed for a time at the Yan household,” Chu Yan explained, shifting his gaze away from her.
Zhao Chi knew of the Yan family. Back then, the family head and his wife had not yet been killed. At that time, Yan Hui had been in Yunzhou.
Chu Yan nodded to Zhao Chi, then departed.
Zhao Chi was shocked, thinking of Chu Yan’s identity—he was the younger brother of the Empress herself. And he had once stayed at the Yan household?
“Sister‑in‑law, please.” Zhao Chi, being a straightforward man, did not dwell on it.
Entering the tent, the thick scent of medicine filled the air.
Yan Hui’s eyes shifted. She saw the man lying unconscious on the bed. At that moment, a complicated feeling stirred in her heart. In her understanding, a husband was supposed to be someone deeply important, bound to his wife with one heart. Not like her and Li Suyu—each with their own schemes, united only in appearance. She wasn’t even the woman he had wanted to marry.
How pitiful.
While Yan Hui was lost in thought, Jiang Yun had already stepped to the bedside. Looking at his pale face, she was full of sorrow: “How could you be so careless? If something happened to you, what would Grandmother do?”
“Master Chu said it’s nothing serious. Now we just wait for Second Brother to wake,” Zhao Chi said, then glanced toward Yan Hui—only to see her slender figure disappearing through the tent’s curtain.
Yan Hui’s eyes were steady, but the unfamiliar feeling in her chest left her unsettled, though also sharply clear. Since they could not be of one heart, she would simply fulfill her role properly. She would be Li Suyu’s wife—nothing more.
Zhao Chi hurried after her, frowning at her slim back: “Sister‑in‑law.”
Yan Hui turned her head.
Zhao Chi stepped forward: “Don’t mind Miss Jiang. She…”
Yan Hui smiled faintly: “It’s fine. To be honest, I’m not good at caring for people. With Miss Jiang here, that’s just as well.”
Zhao Chi was left speechless. He scratched his head, wanting to say something but unable to. Both Second Brother and Sister‑in‑law were so cold in temperament—how could this work?
“You go on with your duties. I’ll take a walk.” Yan Hui smiled. “It’s safe enough here, isn’t it?”
Zhao Chi pointed in a direction: “Over there—the sunset is best at this hour. The path isn’t difficult. Shall I take you there?”
Yan Hui looked in the direction Zhao Chi had pointed and smiled knowingly: “I’ll go alone. You go tend to your duties.”
Zhao Chi watched anxiously as her figure grew smaller and smaller, his brows furrowed.
At that moment, a voice came from within the tent.
“Zhao Chi, Suyu has woken.” Jiang Yun’s words made Zhao Chi’s worry deepen. He turned quickly and entered the tent.
On the bed, Li Suyu’s brows did not move. He glanced at Jiang Yun, then heard footsteps approaching.
“Second Brother, are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
Li Suyu looked at Zhao Chi’s dark eyes and rasped: “Who told her to come?”
Zhao Chi glanced awkwardly at Jiang Yun, scratching his head: “It was Grandmother’s idea. She asked Miss Jiang to care for you.”
Li Suyu gave a short, cold laugh, then said softly: “Send her back.”
Jiang Yun’s face stiffened, just as she was thinking of how to remain.
Zhao Chi added: “Sister‑in‑law came too.”
Li Suyu’s thin lips moved slightly as he looked at Zhao Chi, his gaze sweeping toward the places he could see.
Zhao Chi quickly explained: “She went out.”
“What of the three men?” Li Suyu asked, trying to rise. But the movement pulled at his wounds, forcing a sharp intake of breath.
Zhao Chi hurried forward to support him.
“The two who fought you are dead. The one captured alive is still imprisoned. I suspect the Turks won’t let this go. Even if their forces are scattered, with winter coming and supplies scarce, they’ll surely slip into the frontier to seize grain for survival.” Zhao Chi helped him sit back on the bed as he spoke.
Li Suyu clenched his teeth, enduring the pain spreading through his body.
“Then station troops to reinforce the checkpoints. Once winter comes, keep alert to face the remnants of the Turks at any time.” He spoke, then cast another glance at Jiang Yun: “Send her back. I don’t need anyone to care for me here.”
“Then come back to the city with me, Suyu. Heal under Grandmother’s watchful eye. Otherwise, if I return alone, she’ll be furious with me.” Jiang Yun said slowly.
Li Suyu’s already stern expression grew colder. He shifted the topic to the missing Yan Hui: “Where is my wife?”
Zhao Chi immediately replied: “I’ll go find Sister‑in‑law at once.”
Meanwhile.
Yan Hui walked across the yellow sands, her shadow stretched long by the setting sun. With each step, she thought about how to establish herself in Yuncheng and gradually move all her business to the northern frontier. Before leaving the capital, she had entrusted many matters to Yueyue and Yan Shi.
But now, Yan Shi was the most important. He must not be entangled in other affairs, nor could anyone know he was secretly engaged in trade. So Yueyue had remained in the capital to take over from Yan Shi and then head north.
The situation now was entirely different from what Yan Hui had expected. Her brows knit lightly. When a figure appeared in her line of sight, her frown deepened.
Chu Yan, too, was surprised to encounter Yan Hui here.
Yan Hui had intended to turn back toward the camp, but since the person before her was someone she knew, leaving abruptly would seem improper.
As Chu Yan approached from afar, a flicker of wariness flashed in her eyes.
Chu Yan caught the wariness in Yan Hui’s eyes and smiled faintly: “Ah Hui, you’ve grown quite a bit.”
Yan Hui lowered her gaze: “Master Chu’s elegance is unchanged.”
“All these years, I only heard of you being in the Wang household. I never expected that when we met again, you would already be a married woman.” Chu Yan raised his brows slightly as he finished.
Yan Hui gave a smile of uncertain meaning: “Master Chu, being at my husband’s side—surely you are here on behalf of the Empress, aren’t you?”
Her tone was playful, but she emphasized the word *Empress* heavily.
Chu Yan knew exactly what kind of woman Yan Hui was. He only smiled: “Since you already understand, then tell General Li my intentions yourself. That way I need not repeat them.”
Yan Hui met his gentle gaze. She had always disliked such eyes—appearing soft and warm, lowering one’s guard, yet ready to strike at any moment.
Just as she was about to speak, Zhao Chi’s voice rang out from afar. “Sister‑in‑law!”
Yan Hui turned to see him, a small dot in the distance, and immediately walked toward him.
Chu Yan’s lips curved in a smile, his eyes half‑narrowed as he watched her figure gradually disappear.
Yan Hui felt his gaze like thorns on her back. Her steps quickened as she reached Zhao Chi, breathless: “What is it?”
Zhao Chi had also seen Chu Yan in the distance and frowned: “Second Brother has woken.”
Yan Hui was surprised. Awake was awake—but she still asked with concern: “Nothing serious, I hope?”
“With proper rest, nothing major,” Zhao Chi replied, glancing back nervously. Then he asked carefully: “Sister‑in‑law, are you very familiar with Master Chu?”
“Why do you ask?” Yan Hui said coolly. She had done nothing to suggest such familiarity.
“It just… seemed like you knew him well before,” Zhao Chi probed.
Yan Hui halted, her voice turning cold: “General Zhao, you must never say such things aloud. Otherwise, the Li family would drown me in a pond.”
Only then did Zhao Chi realize the danger of his words. He quickly apologized: “Forgive me, Sister‑in‑law. I’ll be more careful in the future.”
“It’s fine.” Yan Hui would not take offense. She knew she would need Zhao Chi in the future. Even if she could not win Li Suyu’s heart, she could still negotiate with him in other ways. But she must never alienate those close to him.
The rest of the walk was silent. By the time they returned to camp, night had fallen.
At Zhao Chi’s earnest persuasion, Yan Hui entered Li Suyu’s tent. Yet she thought to herself, whether he persuaded her or not, she should come. After all, wasn’t this visit for Li Suyu?
“Second Brother, Sister‑in‑law is here.”
Yan Hui had expected to find him lying on the bed. Instead, she saw him behind a desk, pen in hand. Was this man made of iron? His face was bloodless, yet he was still working.
As she looked at him, Li Suyu raised his eyes. Calmly, he regarded the woman he hadn’t seen for half a month, his dark gaze as sharp as ever: “Do you know how to grind ink?”
Yan Hui was startled, then quickly replied: “Yes.”
Li Suyu set down his pen, picked up a military text, his expression unreadable: “Madam, do you like this desert?”