Night.
Xianyun Courtyard.
Jiang Yun saw the old madam’s face darkened as she sat in the chief seat, and a faint unease rose in her heart.
Nanny Yuan also sighed softly. After glancing at the old madam, she said to the maids in the hall: “You may all leave.”
“Yes.” They withdrew in unison, leaving the hall quiet once more.
Jiang Yun’s face tightened. Such seriousness—could it be that the old madam had quarreled with Li Suyu? That Li Suyu, disregarding even his grandmother, refused to marry her?
At that moment, sorrow spread through Jiang Yun’s heart. All her years of devotion meant nothing in that man’s eyes.
“In the past, I only heard that Suyi had a girl he admired, but I never knew which young lady of Yuncheng it was. After Suyi’s death, I dared not inquire further—it would harm the girl’s reputation. But after so many years, today I finally learned who it was.” The old madam’s voice betrayed no joy or anger, her gaze not even resting on Jiang Yun, as though she were recounting a regretful tale.
Jiang Yun was startled, her expression shifting as she looked at the old madam.
The old madam continued: “There are many lone wolves in the desert. That foolish child Suyi went alone to fetch a wolf fang and was surrounded and killed by the barbarians.”
Jiang Yun’s face grew rigid, her hand trembling beneath her sleeve.
Everyone had believed Li Suyi died in a Turkic ambush, but no one had ever known why he went alone into the desert. Since his death, no one spoke of him. In the Li family, apart from the Zhongyuan Festival, they never mentioned the departed.
Jiang Yun remembered when Li Suyu brought back his brother’s body, handing her the wolf fang. She had not accepted it—she could not bear it. Her heart had never been with Li Suyi, so why should she accept it?
Yet Li Suyu had never revealed the truth all these years. She had thought he carried feelings for her because, before Li Suyi’s death, their relationship had been so close. Though after Li Suyi’s death, Li Suyu grew cold and distant, she believed one day their bond would soften again. But when she wished to marry him, he rejected her in this way.
“Ah Yun, do you still think of Suyi?” the old madam asked softly.
Jiang Yun’s heart trembled; she did not know how to answer.
How could the old madam not feel pain? For years, she had treated Jiang Yun like a granddaughter. Knowing Jiang Yun’s heart was set on Li Suyu, she feared to wrong her. Jiang Yun was no longer young, so giving her the position of equal wife was meant to fulfill her long-cherished wish.
The old madam had suspected before: when Suyi lived, Jiang Yun’s relations with the brothers were cordial, even closer with Li Suyu. After Li Suyi’s death, Li Suyu clearly distanced himself; his whole presence was cold whenever he saw her.
Now, thinking back, the old madam understood why Li Suyu had withdrawn from Jiang Yun. It was likely only for the sake of her parents’ kindness to the Li family, and for Li Suyi’s memory, that Jiang Yun was allowed to remain in the household.
“What I promised you before—let it go.” The old madam did not know how to express her feelings. She could not blame Jiang Yun for lacking affection toward her eldest grandson, but her grandson had died because of her.
“Grandmother, did Suyu tell you something?” Jiang Yun asked calmly. “I had nothing with Suyi. Just because he admired me, must I respond?”
“But Suyi died because of you,” the old madam said through clenched teeth.
“I do not accept that.” Jiang Yun’s eyes reddened as she stared at her. “Grandmother, to place Suyi’s death upon me—is that not unfair?”
The old madam knew well that in matters of the heart, no one could be blamed. Everything Li Suyi had done for Jiang Yun had been his own choice. That was why she could not truly fault anyone.
“I made things clear with Suyi back then. He insisted on going to the desert to seek the Wolf King. I feared for his safety and even warned Suyu, but in the end, Suyi still met danger. Grandmother, I have blamed myself all these years. If only I had stopped him. But I never strung him along, nor did I exploit his feelings for me. I told him plainly, and yet it ended this way. I never wanted such an outcome.”
Jiang Yun’s eyes filled with tears. “Grandmother, you know my heart. Just because Suyi stood between me and Suyu, it became impossible. Do you know how much pain I carry inside?”
The old madam cared for Jiang Yun, and that was why she felt such anguish. She said firmly: “You knew it was impossible with Suyu, yet you still dreamed. Suyu is too loyal and righteous—there could never be anything between you.”
“Why?” Jiang Yun’s voice was full of bitterness. “I never harmed anyone. Why must I end up with nothing? My parents are dead, and now even Li Suyu does not want me. Grandmother, I cannot accept this.”
The old madam pressed her hand to her forehead and closed her eyes.
Nanny Yuan quickly said: “Miss Jiang, the old madam does not blame you. It’s just that between you and the second young master lies a gulf that can never be crossed. You and he will never be possible.”
Jiang Yun gradually quieted, her gaze fixed on the floor, her hands clenched tightly beneath her sleeves.
After a long silence, the old madam spoke softly: “You are not young anymore. Tomorrow I will help you choose among the unmarried gentlemen of Yuncheng. You may pick. Rest assured, your dowry will be as generous as that of a Li daughter. The Li family will not wrong you.”
Jiang Yun’s clenched hands loosened instantly. She knew that even the old madam now stood apart from her. Without her insistence, she and Li Suyu were truly impossible.
“Thank you, Grandmother.” Jiang Yun rose. “But as for marriage, I will not settle.” Her meaning was clear: she did not wish to marry at all.
The old madam’s eyelids flickered. “Ah Yun, you know me. Whoever dares secretly harm the Li family’s descendants, I will never forgive.”
Jiang Yun wiped her eyes. “Grandmother, rest assured. I blame no one. As Nanny Yuan said, between me and Li Suyu lies a gulf that can never be crossed.” She bowed deeply. “Grandmother, rest early. I take my leave.”
After Jiang Yun departed, the old madam sighed heavily. “What a mess this is.”
“Madam, the second young master has always had his own mind. All these years, he never told you about the eldest young master and Miss Jiang, likely out of respect for past ties. Now that he has spoken, it is because he wants no connection with her,” Nanny Yuan consoled.
The old madam gave a cold laugh. “No doubt that boy cursed me in his heart when I tried to match him with Jiang Yun.”
Nanny Yuan smiled faintly. “The second young master knows what should and should not be done. He is clear-headed.”
The old madam snorted. “Did you forget what that rascal just said? ‘Yan Hui is my wife’—wasn’t that meant for me to hear?”
“Then… should we still arrange equal wives and concubines for him?” Nanny Yuan asked cautiously.
The old madam sighed helplessly. “Let it rest.”
The next day.
Yan Hui once again carried medicine into the study.
Li Suyu had not slept all night. In the first half, he brooded over the northern frontier until, just as he was about to drift off, Yan Hui’s face suddenly filled his mind. In the second half, half-dreaming, half-awake, he kept seeing those warm lips. The sensation felt so real, yet impossibly distant. He tried to grasp it, but it always slipped away.
Now, seeing the calm-faced woman enter, Li Suyu frowned. *What skill does this woman have? She has shattered my dreams into pieces, yet she remains so composed.*
“General, it’s time to change the medicine.” Yan Hui set down the tray in her hands and busied herself.
Li Suyu’s sword-like brows furrowed as he watched the woman approach him. Just as the day before, she casually loosened his outer robe, then his inner garment, her pale hands moving deftly over his wound.
Li Suyu simply sat there, silently watching her every movement until she finished.
When Yan Hui lifted her gaze, she met the man’s shadowed, unreadable eyes. She spoke directly: “General, you have no pressing matters today, do you?”
“Want to leave the residence?” Li Suyu knew she would never ask to go out just to visit his grandmother.
“Am I not allowed to leave?” Yan Hui smiled.
Li Suyu’s throat tightened as he looked at her smile. “What do you want to do outside?”
In his eyes, Yan Hui was unfamiliar with Yun City.
“We’ve been married nearly a month now. The General has no military duties. What’s wrong with accompanying me for a walk?” Yan Hui spoke with confidence, not looking at him, tidying her things as she added lightly: “That day, General promised me freedom to leave the residence.”
Li Suyu gave a short laugh. “You said it yourself—that freedom was for your maid.”
Yan Hui set the tray back down heavily, turned her gaze to the proud, arrogant man, and asked: “General, are you going back on your word?”
Half an hour later.
In the courtyard, Yan Hui watched the man approach. Clad in a black robe, his brows sharp, his peach-blossom eyes gleamed like blades, his whole presence cold and aloof, just as when she first met him.
Yan Hui looked at his tall, upright figure and suddenly imagined him in armor.
Li Suyu noticed her gaze lingering on him. He frowned and said evenly: “What are you looking at?”
Yan Hui turned her eyes away and replied calmly: “My man—what’s wrong with looking at him?”
Li Suyu’s expression did not change. He looked at her feigned composure, stepped closer, and placed a hand at her waist. “Didn’t Madam say her man’s heart belonged to someone else?”
Yan Hui naturally slipped free of his hand and said casually: “Didn’t the General say his heart held no one?”
Li Suyu glanced at his hand still hanging in the air, then slowly withdrew it behind his back. “Let’s go out.”
This was Yan Hui’s third time leaving the Li residence since her marriage. The first two had been beyond her control. This time, her heart brimmed with countless possibilities.
Once outside, they boarded the carriage. Suiqiu called out a place name, and the driver steered the horses in that direction.
Inside the carriage, Li Suyu sat squarely in the main seat, pushing Yan Hui into the corner.
“West City, Lihua Alley—what business do you have there?” Li Suyu asked, studying her calm face.
Yan Hui raised her brows. “Didn’t I say? As long as the General accompanies me, that’s enough.”
She met his cool gaze and smiled faintly. Perhaps this man was not so difficult—if one followed his lead, he wasn’t bad at all.
“I have a friend who came to Yun City. She bought a shop here to sell medicinal herbs. She’s unfamiliar with the city, so I came to see her.”
“A man?” Li Suyu’s eyes narrowed instantly, his lips curving faintly.
“A woman.” Yan Hui held his gaze steadily.
Li Suyu’s face remained cold and indifferent, his dark eyes never leaving Yan Hui.
An hour later, the carriage slowly entered Lihua Alley. After a short while, it stopped. First came the sound of Suiqiu jumping down, followed by her voice: “General, Young Madam, we’ve arrived.”
Just as when they returned to the Li residence the previous day, Li Suyu stepped down first, then helped Yan Hui alight.
Suiqiu immediately came to Yan Hui’s side and said: “This is the place.”
Yan Hui gave a slight nod.
Li Suyu did not miss the subtle exchange between mistress and maid. He looked toward the “shop” Yan Hui had mentioned.
This was clearly a tavern.
Yan Hui, with her back to Li Suyu, gave Suiqiu a look.
Suiqiu understood and said: “Young Madam, I’ll go see if Miss Yue is busy.”
Yan Hui nodded.
Li Suyu watched Suiqiu enter the shop first, his gaze deepening, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
“A very good friend of yours?” Li Suyu asked.
Yan Hui turned her eyes slightly and replied: “Yes.”
Li Suyu’s interest grew stronger. A friend of Yan Hui’s—someone in business? Yan Hui had barely arrived in Yuncheng, and already someone was here opening a medicinal shop?
Yan Hui walked toward the shop, and Li Suyu followed. As they entered the main hall, they saw Suiqiu standing beside a woman in black brocade, the two seemingly in conversation.
“Ah Yue,” Yan Hui called.
Suiyue looked toward the doorway, her face lighting up. Her gaze shifted to the man beside Yan Hui, her brows lifting—so this was the Li family’s second son?
“Ah… Hui, finally, I see you.” Suiyue nearly misspoke. She bowed politely to Li Suyu. Having followed Yan Hui for many years, she understood her mistress’s meaning with just a glance.
“This is my husband,” Yan Hui said.
Li Suyu stood tall and steady, his eyes on Suiyue, carrying a hint of scrutiny.
Yan Hui then took Suiyue’s arm and asked softly: “When you left Bianjing, did my younger brother send me any message?”
Suiyue glanced at the imposing figure beside her and said: “Ah Shi worried you might not adapt. Because of the Wang family’s arrangements, he is attending lectures at the Duke of Ying’s residence with the Crown Prince.”
Yan Hui’s palm tightened. “What?”