Yan Hui pressed down firmly on the account book, then rose and walked toward Li Suyu.
“Where is your maid?” Li Suyu frowned, his eyes sharp as blades as he looked at the woman approaching him. She seemed shrouded in mist, indistinct, as though he could never truly see her clearly.
“She went out,” Yan Hui replied calmly. “She dropped something over at Ah Yue’s place.”
Li Suyu gave a cold, cutting smile, locking eyes with her.
Yan Hui frowned. “Why does the General look at me like that?”
Li Suyu lowered his gaze, said nothing, and turned to walk ahead, lost in thought.
Seeing this, Yan Hui quickened her steps to follow the man in black robes. Going to see the old matriarch now—could something have happened?
She thought of the old madam’s pressure yesterday, and of Li Suyu’s words. Her brows, already furrowed, tightened further.
On the way to Xianyun Courtyard, neither spoke.
Only upon entering did Li Suyu say quietly: “Grandmother only values heirs. The Li family lacks men, lacks descendants. She means no harm. I hope you won’t take offense.”
It was the first time Yan Hui had heard this man speak so gently. She lifted her head slightly to meet his gaze. “General, rest assured. I do not mind Grandmother’s actions.”
Li Suyu looked at her silently.
Yan Hui suddenly recalled his cold questioning the day before and added, “I can understand.”
Li Suyu’s lips curved faintly. What she understood was not what he had meant.
When they reached the main hall, they happened upon Nanny Yuan lifting the heavy curtain. Her eyes lit up. “Old Madam, the second young master has arrived.”
Nanny Yuan respectfully held the curtain aside.
Li Suyu naturally took Yan Hui’s hand and led her inside.
As she felt his warm hand enclosing hers, Yan Hui’s pupils trembled. A strange emotion surged silently within her.
The old madam had expected only Li Suyu to come. Reclining on the soft couch, she had not risen. But upon seeing the dark-purple figure following him, her eyes flickered, and she sat up straighter, even her spine stiffening. Her gaze fell upon her grandson holding that hand, and it was as if something struck her heart heavily. Indeed, what she feared had come to pass.
Of course, setting aside her prejudice, Yan Hui was truly an excellent young woman. Not only Li Suyu—even she, were she a man, might be captivated. Calm and composed, her every gesture carried the grace of a noblewoman. Though she had not been married into the Li family long, she had made no mistakes.
Yet the old madam had seen too much in her life. She could not help but be wary of this granddaughter-in-law.
The old madam said sternly: “What have you come for?”
Li Suyu’s lips curved in a smile. “Grandson has come to beg Grandmother’s pardon. Yesterday I was reckless. I hope Grandmother will not hold it against me.”
The old madam gave a cold snort, her gaze sweeping briefly over Yan Hui before returning to Li Suyu. “Your wings have grown strong. This old woman can no longer control you.”
Li Suyu led Yan Hui to sit beside him.
Yan Hui, however, did not realize this was how grandmother and grandson interacted in private.
And the old madam, seeing Li Suyu so casually bringing Yan Hui along, grew more contemplative.
“This time I’ve come to discuss with Grandmother the dowry Mother left behind,” Li Suyu said, his expression growing solemn. “Mother once said that after I married, the dowry should be handed to my wife to manage, as a meeting gift she herself could not give.”
Yan Hui was startled. She had thought Li Suyu brought her here for some other reason—yet it was for this!
“Absurd.” The old madam cast a glance at Yan Hui, then said coldly: “Your mother meant it for Wang Yulong, the Wang family’s legitimate daughter.”
Yan Hui felt no particular stir at these words. After all, Li Suyu’s mother had only known her cousin Wang Yulong, not herself. She only wondered what this man was truly thinking.
Li Suyu said evenly: “Grandmother, if Mother were still alive, I believe she would also like Yan Hui.”
The old madam threw the pastries from the small table at him, one rolling to Yan Hui’s feet. She cursed: “Are you trying to anger me to death?”
A dark glint flashed in Yan Hui’s eyes. She spoke softly: “Grandmother, General, there’s no need to quarrel over me. What Grandmother fears, I swear with my life—I have no ulterior motives. I know well that when one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer. Perhaps Grandmother thinks that because my younger brother remains in Bianjing, I am someone’s spy upon the Li family. I can only say—that is utterly ridiculous.”
“And General, you need not upset Grandmother over such trifles. Though my parents are gone, they left me a considerable dowry. As for Mother-in-law’s belongings, let Grandmother keep them. I am not skilled at managing such matters.”
Yan Hui understood that Li Suyu only wished to show her his intent—that she was part of the Li family. This time, she laid everything bare, speaking frankly. She did not wish to provoke the old madam. She had no desire to focus on the inner household of the Lis. She had many other things to do. Indeed, were she in the old madam’s place, she might act even more harshly.
Yet the old madam, hearing Yan Hui’s words, was momentarily stunned. This Yan Hui reminded her of her younger self.
Li Suyu rose, his expression unreadable, and pulled Yan Hui away.
Nanny Yuan, tense, said: “Old Madam, the young madam understands everything.”
The old madam snorted. “Send Yan Hui the keys to the storeroom. I’ve long been tired of managing the eldest daughter-in-law’s things. Too troublesome!”
Nanny Yuan knew the old madam was unsettled—Yan Hui was too forthright, leaving her no face.
The man walked too quickly, the cold wind stinging Yan Hui’s cheeks. She shook off his hand, her brows sharp with cold anger. “Li Suyu, what madness is this?”
Li Suyu gave a self-mocking smile. “Madness?”
Indeed, he was mad—mad to want Yan Hui to feel she was part of the Li family, mad to want her to take charge of his mother’s dowry. Because his marriage had been exchanged, even his betrothal gifts were perfunctory. He had thought to cast her aside in some corner of the residence once she arrived at the frontier, for she was nothing but the Emperor and Wang family’s insult to him and the Lis.
Yan Hui met his dark eyes, silent.
“Yan Hui, false and pretended honesty is useless,” Li Suyu said, brows furrowed. “If you want something from me, it must be with a true heart.”
Yan Hui’s eyes narrowed. *False and pretended honesty?*
“Hypocritical woman.” Li Suyu glanced at her calm face, then turned and left.
He did feel differently toward this woman, but he loathed her hypocrisy.
Yan Hui watched his tall figure recede, something in her mind suddenly clear. She did not deny that, since marrying into the Li family, she had been hypocritical toward Li Suyu. But her hypocrisy had never been meant to harm anyone. It was only a shield to protect herself.
Li Suyu had just passed through a decorated archway when his steps slowed, his expression darkening. As he was about to turn back, he saw Song Zheng approaching.
“General, Master Chu has arrived,” Song Zheng said.
Li Suyu glanced behind him, noticing Yan Hui had not followed. He frowned, then went with Song Zheng in another direction.
Li Residence, Main Hall.
This was Chu Yan’s second visit here. The first had been long ago, when the Li household was bustling with life.
When Li Suyu entered, Chu Yan was staring at the floor, lost in thought.
“Master Chu,” Li Suyu greeted, taking the chief seat.
Chu Yan gave a faint smile, not rising. “Indeed, recuperating at home suits you. Your complexion has improved greatly.”
Li Suyu chuckled softly. “It was never a serious wound. A few days of rest is enough.”
Chu Yan smiled without reply. *Was it truly not serious? He knew better.*
“What brings you here, Master Chu?” Li Suyu asked. Strangely, he thought of Yan Hui’s wariness—she seemed deeply cautious of Chu Yan.
“News from Bianjing. The court intends to suppress the northern frontier thoroughly. What are your plans?” Chu Yan’s purpose was simple. He could not believe a proud man like Li Suyu would endure such treatment. The marriage had already been forced upon him, and now the court treated the Li family with such disregard—it was clear they held the Lis in no esteem.
“No plans,” Li Suyu said quietly.
In the past, he might have conversed more with Chu Yan. But ever since Yan Hui had shown suspicion toward him, Li Suyu himself had grown guarded.
Chu Yan raised his brows, studying him deeply. After a pause, he said:
“Suyu, you seem to have changed quite a bit.”
Li Suyu nodded, smiling faintly. “As a subject, one can only endure the court’s actions. The Li family is already weathered and fragile, unable to withstand further trials.”
Chu Yan gave a low laugh. He knew such talk was useless. He never offered advice, but everyone coveted the army behind the Li family. He lifted a teacup from the small table and shifted the topic. “Suyu, how is your relationship with the young madam?”
Li Suyu thought of the woman’s calm face just moments ago and answered firmly: “Acceptable.”
Chu Yan smiled faintly, saying nothing.
Li Suyu raised a brow. “Master Chu, how old was Yan Hui when you first met her?”
“Twelve—still a little girl.” Chu Yan seemed to recall something, his smile tinged with sincerity. “Even then, she was remarkably mature. At such a young age, she was more composed than her mother and could discuss the affairs of the realm with her father with ease.”
Hearing this, Li Suyu lifted his gaze, fixing it on Chu Yan. “You were close with the Yan family?”
“It’s a long story,” Chu Yan said, his face full of regret. “Perhaps the misfortune that befell Yan Yi and his wife was my fault.”
If only he had not hidden at the Yan household. If only Yan Yi and his wife had cast him out. Would the Yan family have met such a fate?
He said quietly: “Yan Hui… she hates me.”
A faint ripple stirred in Li Suyu’s dark eyes. He thought of Yan Hui’s guarded tone whenever Chu Yan was mentioned. Now he understood the reason.
“When her parents died, her clan oppressed her. At such a young age, she protected her parents’ estate, then went to Bianjing to rely on her uncle. The hardships she endured—only she knows.”
“To hear she married into the northern frontier surprised me,” Chu Yan said with a soft laugh, his eyes glimmering with something unspoken.
A chill surged through Li Suyu’s heart. Perhaps her “hypocrisy” was nothing more than a means of self-protection.
“She is a fine young woman, Suyu. Do not fail her,” Chu Yan said, like an elder offering counsel.
Li Suyu met his gaze, emotions swirling in his eyes, hard to define. He smiled faintly. “Master Chu worries too much.”
For a moment, the hall fell silent.
Chu Yan pressed his lips into a smile. He had seen all kinds of people and all kinds of hearts, yet he could not fathom the mind of the young man before him—nor of Yan Hui.
It was fate, perhaps, that these two had ended up together. And even become husband and wife. One could only say: truth is stranger than fiction.
“I heard the Fu family of Yuzhou is hosting some kind of banquet. Suyu, will you attend?” Chu Yan suddenly asked.
Li Suyu frowned. “The Fu family of Yuzhou? A banquet?”
Chu Yan nodded. “Merchants from various regions and officials from the northern frontier counties will be there.”
“When?” Li Suyu’s eyes darkened.
“Mid-next month. If you plan to go, you’d need to set out within the next few days. Strangely, they don’t seem to have invited you.”
“Oh? Even the governor of the northern frontier will attend?” Li Suyu’s brows furrowed slightly. *For what purpose?*
“I heard it’s hosted by the Fu family, the foremost clan of Yuzhou. Likely to discuss some major matter. Rumor has it the Fus are close with the Yun family of Bianjing,” Chu Yan said with a faint smile.
“Invitations?” Li Suyu pressed his tongue against his cheek, not mentioning the Yun family, then sneered. “Seems the Fu family values those officials highly.”
Chu Yan raised his brows. “Nowadays, any clan with influence knows the Emperor’s attitude toward the Lis. Who would dare associate with you?”
“Is that so?” Li Suyu’s eyes sank, a cold smile flickering across his face.
Meanwhile, Yan Hui returned to Yi Garden and shut herself in her room until Suiqiu came back.
Suiqiu opened the door to find Yan Hui sitting upright before the dressing table. “Miss, why have you locked yourself away?”
Yan Hui came back to herself, staring at her reflection in the bronze mirror. In her mind still echoed the man’s words. She had long been accustomed to pretending in the Wang household, believing her disguise flawless. At least there, her hypocrisy had been useful. But before Li Suyu, it felt like nothing more than a clown’s act.
“Miss? What’s wrong?” Suiqiu asked, approaching.
Yan Hui’s gaze fell on the account book in Suiqiu’s arms. “Is that this year’s ledger?”
Suiqiu nodded. “Suiyue said she only skimmed it. The numbers still need your careful review. All the silver has been deposited in the bank.”
Yan Hui sighed softly. Year after year, they earned fortunes, yet power was still more effective than wealth. For Yan Shi to establish himself independently would be a long and arduous road. She slowly flipped through the ledger, her thoughts drifting back to that man’s face. Her chest warmed faintly. If she wanted something from him, false honesty would not suffice. It would require a true heart.
But what did she want? Did he know? If she said she wanted his army, would he give it?
Ha! Arrogant man.
At that moment, footsteps sounded outside. Suiqiu grew wary and stepped out, only to find Song Zheng standing at the door. “Brother Song, is something the matter?”
Song Zheng said: “The General departs for Yuzhou tomorrow. He asks if the Young Madam will accompany him.”