A pale light had already spread across the vast sky. After the northern frontier’s cold dew, winter was nearly upon them.
The servants of the Li residence began their busy routines.
Every winter, the old madam rarely left her courtyard. In her youth, following the old master onto the battlefield had left her with lingering ailments—she feared the cold. Each year at this time, the floor heating had to be lit to endure the season.
Madam Tao had gone to Yunshang Pavilion to prepare winter clothing, which happened to be delivered that morning.
As always, the new garments had to be presented to the old madam for inspection before being distributed to the other courtyards.
This year was no different, but today Madam Tao went to Xianyun Courtyard together with Second Master Li Junshan.
“What nonsense are you saying? You think it’s right for Mother to arrange concubines for Suyu when he’s just married?” Madam Tao glanced at Li Junshan in disbelief, then added coldly: “Besides, how long has it been since Suyu’s wedding? Isn’t this a slap in Ah Hui’s face?”
Li Junshan scratched his head. His burly frame made Madam Tao look even smaller beside him. He chuckled: “I don’t think it’s right, but in past years, Suyu only thought of ending wars. Now that the Turks have quieted, it’s rare he has a chance to think of his own life. Why not take this opportunity to have seven or eight healthy sons? Mother would be pleased, and Suyu would fulfill her expectations. If the Emperor hadn’t meddled in the marriage, according to Mother’s original plan, she wouldn’t have needed to arrange concubines for him.”
“Isn’t it simply because she doesn’t favor Yan Hui?” Madam Tao laughed twice, her tone mocking. “You all think the Li family is the victim. You think not venting your anger on Yan Hui is magnanimous, as if she wanted to marry into your family in the first place.”
“My lady, that’s not what I mean. Mother only thinks Yan Hui is suspicious, harboring ulterior motives, not truly part of the Li family. So Suyu’s children cannot…” Li Junshan was cut off before he could finish.
“Enough. A whole family scheming against one young girl—what kind of virtue is that?” Madam Tao shot him a cold look and quickened her pace, muttering: “You’re raising a daughter yourself, Li Junshan. If one day Qingqing were treated like Yan Hui, how would you feel then?”
Li Junshan froze, then anger flared across his face. His burly figure made his fury all the more intimidating. “I’d like to see who would dare!”
Madam Tao gave a soft laugh. “I think you’re all just bullying Yan Hui because she has no family to rely on.”
“That’s not it. Why are you siding with her? Did Yan Hui feed you some kind of spell?” Li Junshan followed, baffled, then put on a placating smile: “But since you’ve said this, I won’t agree either. When we see Mother, I’ll speak with her. Such matters must be carefully considered.”
In the main hall of Xianyun Courtyard, heavy curtains had already been hung, and the room was warm.
Madam Zhou had arrived early to discuss with the old madam the arrangement of concubines for Li Suyu.
When Madam Tao entered, the two elder women sat at the head, smiling broadly, clearly satisfied with the plans.
“Second daughter-in-law is here,” Madam Zhou said cheerfully. Seeing Li Junshan behind her, she teased: “Second Master has returned, too. Could it be because he came back with Suyu last night?”
Li Junshan stepped forward and greeted: “Mother, Second Aunt.”
Madam Tao bowed properly: “Mother, Second Aunt.”
The old madam waved her hand: “The winter clothes have arrived, haven’t they? Yunshang Pavilion has always done well. No need to look today—just distribute them.”
“Yes,” Madam Tao replied, turning to signal the maids behind her.
The maids carrying the garments all withdrew.
The old madam looked at Li Junshan and his wife after they sat down and asked: “You’ve been in the army these past days. Do you know why Suyu suddenly returned to the residence? And why didn’t he bring Jiang Yun with him?”
Li Junshan was straightforward, always saying what he knew: “Madam Yan’s health is weak. Yesterday in camp, she fainted. Master Chu said it was due to not being acclimated. Perhaps Suyu thought the camp too crude and that Yan Hui was unaccustomed to it, so he returned to the residence to recuperate.”
At this, the old madam gave a cold snort, her expression one of “just as I feared.” She turned to Madam Zhou: “See? Exactly what I worried about. That boy Li Suyu is actually pitying beauty now.”
Madam Zhou waved her hand, teasing: “Sister-in-law, after all, Yan is a delicate, flower-like girl. Suyu is a vigorous young man, and they are husband and wife. His actions are understandable.”
The old madam snorted again: “You know what I worry about, yet you jest. That Yan girl has a restless face, and now her behavior is becoming restless too.”
“Mother, a husband caring for his wife is only natural,” Madam Tao said softly, lowering her eyes. “Moreover, Suyu has always been a deep and steady child. If he knew Yan Hui harbored ulterior motives and was restless, would he truly pity her just for her face?”
Li Junshan quickly agreed: “Yes, Mother, Min’er is right. Suyu has always distinguished good from evil. If Yan Hui were bad, he would never treat her this way.”
The old madam gave a heavy snort: “Do you understand the saying ‘a hero’s tomb lies in the land of beauty’? In other matters, I trust Suyu. But has he ever had experience dealing with women? The Emperor arranged for such a beautiful woman to harm my grandson—what was his intent?”
Silence fell in the room.
Madam Zhou’s expression grew heavy. The Li family had weathered storms for so many years—Li Suyu was the family’s lifeblood.
Madam Tao raised her brows, then sighed inwardly.
Only Li Junshan spoke after a pause: “Mother, you should discuss this matter with Suyu. He has his own ideas. If you interfere and he dislikes it, he may retreat back to the army. Then you might never see the shadow of a great-grandson.”
The old madam declared loudly: “I will not allow his dislike. This matter—I decide! Let’s see how he dares defy me, this old woman!”
The atmosphere grew tense. The old madam was truly angry.
At that moment, Nanny Yuan noticed a shadow beneath the curtain. She went to the doorway and lifted it, revealing Suiqiu holding a fine, snow-white fox-fur cloak.
Nanny Yuan was momentarily stunned.
“Greetings, Nanny Yuan. The young madam heard the old matriarch feared the cold, so she sent me to deliver this. Though it is nothing valuable, we hope the old madam will not disdain it,” Suiqiu said with a smile.
Nanny Yuan accepted the cloak, touched the fur, and her expression tightened. Nothing valuable? This was top-quality snow fox fur.
“Thank the young madam. The old madam will surely like it,” Nanny Yuan said smoothly, ever adept at handling people.
Suiqiu bowed. “Then I shall take my leave.”
Nanny Yuan watched her departing figure, thinking to herself: Suiqiu must have overheard every word of the conversation. Who knew how the young madam would take it?
Inside, the old madam’s expression remained indifferent. Only when Nanny Yuan brought in the cloak did her face show a trace of emotion:
“False kindness.”
Madam Tao shook her head.
Madam Zhou stroked the snow-white cloak and drew in a breath. “This… this is called something worthless? Such a fine fox fur—there might not be more than a few pieces like this in a year. Madam Yan is truly generous.”
The old madam’s gaze fell upon the cloak, her thoughts unreadable.
At that moment, a fiery figure darted in through the curtain. Li Qingqing rushed to Madam Tao’s side, excitedly saying: “Mother, look! Sister-in-law gave me this fox fur. Isn’t it beautiful? She said it suits me, so she gave it to me. This winter I’ll wear it to ride out to the Gobi.”
Madam Tao, seeing her daughter’s lack of decorum, gently scolded, “Mind your manners—your elders are present.”
Li Qingqing, hearing this, subdued her smile, though her apricot eyes still brimmed with joy. “Grandmother, Second Grandmother.”
Madam Zhou’s smile deepened the wrinkles on her face. She beckoned: “Qingqing, come here. Let Second Grandmother see the cloak your sister-in-law gave you.”
Obediently, Li Qingqing walked over. Madam Zhou touched the fur. The Li family was no stranger to wealth and grandeur, yet some things could not be obtained merely by being a large and wealthy clan. Even if cloaks bore fur trim, it was usually just embroidered along the edges for decoration. But this cloak—made entirely of fine fox fur—was worth a fortune. Such a perfect pelt was rare, perhaps unseen for many years. And to piece together a whole cloak of fox fur, with no difference in color across the pelts—this was extraordinary.
Yan Hui was indeed generous.
“Yes, very fine. Excellent fox fur—perfect for resisting our northern frontier’s wind and snow,” Madam Zhou said with a bright smile.
“Second Grandmother, Sister-in-law also ordered her people to deliver one to each of the sisters, and one for you too. It should have reached your courtyard by now.” Li Qingqing’s eyes flickered, then turned to Madam Tao: “Sister-in-law also sent one to Mother, but when she saw you weren’t in your courtyard, she returned to Yi Garden.”
“No one gives favors without reason—either a thief or a schemer,” the old madam muttered, though she still reached out to touch the edge of the snow-white cloak, her eyes shifting.
Madam Zhou only smiled, rose, brushed her clothes, and said: “Sister-in-law, I’ll return to my courtyard. No doubt those little monkeys will be shrieking in amazement at such a fine cloak.”
The old madam snorted: “A bunch of shallow-eyed fools. To be bought off by such a trifling thing. Go, go—all of you, go.”
Madam Zhou understood the old madam’s worries and fears. Setting those aside, she bore no malice toward Yan Hui.
“Mother, I’ll return to my courtyard as well,” Madam Tao said, rising.
The old madam waved her hand, dismissing them.
Gradually, the room emptied, leaving only the old madam and Nanny Yuan.
The old madam stroked the cloak on the small table, reminiscing: “Back then, the old master brought me a fox-fur hat from Lingnan, just as white as this. He said the color suited me well.”
Nanny Yuan chuckled softly: “I think the young madam was thoughtful. This must have been prepared in advance, sent today because of the cold weather.”
“Yes. As Suyu said, Yan Hui was coerced into marrying into the northern frontier. But the human heart is hard to read. The Li family cannot withstand even the smallest misfortune now. If my Suyu were to fall, the Li family would truly…” The old madam wiped at the corner of her eye. “How could I let the Li family, which the old master defended with his life, collapse in my hands?”
Nanny Yuan sighed deeply. “Then, aside from matters of heirs, do not mistreat the young madam. After all, she is alone in the Li family. Whatever she might wish to do, it would be difficult. You are right—the human heart is unpredictable. Her younger brother is still in Bianjing, effectively in the Emperor’s hands. If the Emperor ordered her to do something against the Li family, for the sake of her kin, she would surely obey.”
“Yes, all for the sake of kin. But different paths cannot walk together.” The old madam waved her hand. “Leave me. I want to be alone.”
Yi Garden’s main hall.
“What ingratitude! Miss, you show such kindness, yet the old madam only thinks of ways to slight you—talking about equal wives and concubines. Just hearing it makes me angry,” Suiqiu muttered. Her voice was not loud, knowing this courtyard might be full of the old madam’s people, but she was too upset to stay silent. She looked at her mistress, who calmly placed a tea cake into the brazier, her movements serene, as if she hadn’t heard Suiqiu’s complaints.
“Miss…” Suiqiu pressed, frustrated.
Yan Hui set a cup of tea before her maid, lifted her gaze, and smiled: “The old madam is the General’s grandmother. For elders to arrange concubines is customary. Why be angry? Besides, the Li family’s heirs are few. She wants the General’s line to flourish—there’s nothing wrong with that.”
“But… but the legitimate heir hasn’t even been born yet! How can they already be thinking of children from concubines?” Suiqiu exclaimed. “Miss, I know you have little affection for the General, but still—remember, you and he are one now. You are husband and wife. The General is the only one you can rely on.”
Yan Hui frowned, then gave a light laugh: “It is precisely husbands and wives who are hardest to get along with. Don’t worry. I will manage well with the General.”
Suiqiu knew her mistress always did what she set her mind to. But Yan Hui was too proud—she rarely bowed her head, and often bore grievances in silence.
“Leave the residence and meet with Suiyue. Settle matters quickly. Now that the northern frontier is free of war, we must lay the groundwork at once. Have Suiyue instruct our people to focus on the entire northern region.” Yan Hui understood the frontier was not to be underestimated. If, in the future, all of its industries were under her name… her lips curved faintly.
“Best if Suiyue can go to Yuzhou.”
Suiqiu was startled. “Yuzhou? Why send Suiyue there?”
“The Fu family is in Yuzhou.” Yan Hui’s smile faded. “If we want to grow strong in the northern frontier, we need partners.”
Once the Li family’s army no longer relied on the court for support… ha.
Suiqiu rose, her expression solemn. “I’ll go at once.”
Yan Hui watched her leave, then casually lifted her teacup, smiling softly: “Though the northern land is harsh, the future is still full of promise.”
In the study.
“Second Brother, where is Sister-in-law’s maid Suiqiu going?” Zhao Chi peered through the door crack, watching her leave through the side gate.
Behind the desk, Li Suyu lifted his eyelids slightly. His complexion was much improved from yesterday. His gaze fell on the fox-fur cloak lying on the couch. His lips moved faintly: “Zhao Chi, you will personally go to Yunzhou.”
Zhao Chi turned, shocked. “To Yunzhou? For what?”
“To…” Li Suyu’s dark eyes sharpened. “Investigate Yan Hui and her brother. I want everything about her in Yunzhou.”