Suiqiu glanced back into the inner room. The figure inside rose, but only walked toward another part of the chamber.
After a moment, Yan Hui’s voice came from within: “We’ll prepare then. What time do we depart tomorrow?”
Song Zheng’s tense expression instantly relaxed. He had thought the young madam might refuse. “Likely early in the morning.”
“Good.”
Song Zheng scratched his head, turning to leave, but Yan Hui called out, “Lieutenant Song, wait.”
She held a freshly written, unsealed letter and walked up to him. “Could I trouble you to deliver this to Miss Ah Yue at the second shop on Lihua Alley in the West City?”
Song Zheng accepted it. “Young Madam, no need to be polite. Just give the order.”
Hearing this, Yan Hui suddenly recalled that Zhao Chi had once said the same words. Strangely, she hadn’t seen Zhao Chi these past two days.
“Still, I must trouble you.”
Song Zheng, seeing her so courteous, felt his impression of her improve. He nodded and strode off toward the outer courtyard.
“Miss, the General is taking you to Yuzhou. Isn’t that perfect? To discuss matters in person is better than sending Suiyue,” Suiqiu said with a smile in her eyes. “And besides, you’ll have time to spend with the General.”
“That’s why I had Song Zheng deliver the letter to Suiyue—subtly telling her not to go to Yuzhou,” Yan Hui murmured, her gaze flickering as she thought of Li Suyu, her chest still warm.
At that moment, Nanny Yuan arrived carrying the storeroom keys entrusted by the old madam. Entering the courtyard, she saw Yan Hui standing at the doorway of the main hall.
She stepped forward respectfully. “Young Madam.”
Yan Hui returned to herself, her eyes shifting slightly, and nodded. “Nanny Yuan.”
“These are the keys to the storeroom holding the First Madam’s dowry, along with the shop ledgers. The old madam has managed them all these years. Now that you are here, they should rightly be handed to you, so the old matriarch may rest and care for her health,” Nanny Yuan said sincerely.
Yan Hui frowned. She had no wish to meddle in such matters. But recalling the man’s thinly veiled anger, she smiled faintly. “Thank you for bringing them personally.”
Suiqiu stepped forward to take a brocade box and two or three ledgers from Nanny Yuan’s hands.
Nanny Yuan’s smile deepened. “Young Madam, the old matriarch has always thought of the Li family first. I hope you will be understanding.”
Yan Hui’s lips curved slightly. “If I were in Grandmother’s place, I imagine I would act even more ruthlessly. Grandmother is still soft-hearted.”
Nanny Yuan’s eyes, clouded with age, flickered with understanding. How could she not grasp Yan Hui’s meaning?
If Yan Hui were in the old madam’s position, being manipulated by the Emperor and the Wang family, she would never show mercy.
“Young Madam understands the old madam’s heart. That comforts me greatly. I won’t disturb you further,” Nanny Yuan said, turning to leave.
Yan Hui stood in place for a long while, until Suiqiu called her back inside.
“Miss, what are you thinking about?”
Yan Hui shook her head. A feeling had just stirred in her heart—one she hadn’t felt in years—a burning sensation mixed with youthful emotion.
Surely the old madam was full of regret. Her only grandson was still trapped in hardship, and who knew when he might meet the same fate as the other Li men. Then the Li family would truly be left with only the old, the weak, and the women.
The next day, at dawn.
A tall carriage was already waiting at the Li residence gates. Suiqiu had prepared everything early. Though Yan Hui had traveled far and wide before, she never neglected herself—everything had to be refined and elegant. Even the carriage could not be careless.
Wrapped in a purple cloak, Yan Hui boarded the carriage. Inside, soft rugs were laid neatly, and food boxes arranged in order upon the small table. Even the rear space was convenient for resting.
“Where is the General?” Yan Hui asked after sitting down.
Since he had called her a hypocritical woman yesterday, she had not seen him. Even the study next door had been quiet. It seemed he had not returned to his courtyard.
“Song Zheng said the General spent the entire night in the old madam’s courtyard. Likely he was discussing matters with her before departing for Yuzhou today,” Suiqiu explained.
Yan Hui sat, recalling the letter she had asked Song Zheng to deliver to Suiyue yesterday. Her lips curved faintly. Surely Song Zheng would not hide it from that man.
She thought—using his men like that should count as honesty. But there were things she could never say. She knew too well how these noble clans looked down on merchants. Lost in thought, she felt the carriage sink slightly as someone boarded. The curtain lifted, and a man’s figure appeared, dimming the light inside.
Yan Hui raised her eyes.
Her gaze met Li Suyu’s in midair.
Suiqiu looked slightly embarrassed.
Li Suyu withdrew his gaze and bent down to sit beside Yan Hui.
Suiqiu immediately stepped out of the carriage.
At that moment, the sound of another carriage came. Suiqiu saw Song Zheng pick up the whip, then glanced to the side—two carriages stood side by side. She sat next to Song Zheng and asked: “Who is in that carriage?”
“Master Chu,” Song Zheng replied.
Suiqiu froze, her expression shifting.
Song Zheng continued: “General, we can depart now.”
A soft “Mm” came from inside the carriage.
Then the wheels began to turn, and the carriages gradually moved away from the Li residence gates.
Yan Hui lowered her eyes, her face calm as ever, though only she knew the surge within her heart. The man’s presence could not be ignored. Ever since yesterday, whenever she thought of him, her chest tightened and grew warm. Just as she was debating whether to speak to ease the awkwardness, the heavy black sleeve beside her shifted. In the next moment, her hand was enveloped in his.
Yan Hui instinctively tried to pull back, but his grip held firm. That domineering, irresistible touch made her heart burn hotter. She glared fiercely at the man, only to see him leaning lazily against the cushion, eyes closed, his whole body radiating indolence.
Yan Hui’s body was taut. In this confined space, perhaps her unease would go unnoticed. Even after living two lifetimes, she had never encountered such a scene.
Yesterday, he had called her hypocritical. Today, he acted like this. Truly, a man’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea—impossible to fathom.
Li Suyu opened his eyes slightly, looking at the woman sitting stiffly upright. He loosened his hold on her arm, afraid she might shake off his hand. She was hypocritical, yes—but there seemed nothing wrong in it. She was careful in everything, always trying to accommodate him. She was only a weak woman, bereft of parents, forced to care even for her younger brother. Even if she used small schemes or subtle tricks on him, it was only to please him—because she had no backing, and she needed to secure one for her brother. If her parents were still alive, she would surely live freely, without having to bow her head here.
“Has no one ever told you that in this world, aside from parents, a husband is the one you can rely on?”
In the silence, the man’s gentle voice made Yan Hui’s back stiffen. Her beautiful eyes suddenly contracted. She wanted to turn and look at him, but she dared not meet his gaze. A trace of fear rose within her—fear of having her inner heart laid bare before another.
In this world, aside from parents, there was no one to rely on. She knew well that women were often treated as mere playthings in men’s hands—cherished for a moment when loved, discarded without thought when not.
The ugliness of human hearts could not withstand any test.
But she had never imagined Li Suyu would say such words to her. The word *“rely”* carried the weight of gold. And she knew he was not merely teasing her.
“I don’t know,” Yan Hui answered frankly.
Li Suyu’s lips curved upward. “You know everything. What you don’t know is what kind of man I am. Step by step, you test me. Your care, your attentiveness—they are all cautious approaches. You want to find out whether your husband is someone you can rely on.”
“Isn’t that right, Yan Hui?”
Yan Hui suddenly turned her head, her clear eyes locking directly with his peach-blossom gaze, faintly smiling.
Li Suyu stared at her intently. Yan Hui’s features were striking—small face, fair skin, delicate features—but the heroic spirit between her brows could not be ignored. She could be both bold and alluring.
“General sees everything, I suppose you find it amusing,” Yan Hui said with a smile.
Li Suyu saw her red lips curve, the arc cutting across his heart. He thought of those lips he had tasted not long ago. His throat tightened.
“Is that what you think?”
Yan Hui turned her head aside, her chest feeling blocked. “I do want to depend on the General. After all, we are husband and wife. Hoping for the General’s protection is not too much. But because of my identity, I…”
“Cannot say it openly. You believe our marriage is neither proper nor legitimate, that you are merely standing in for your cousin to wed me,” Li Suyu interrupted. “The Li family is wary. You don’t want to entangle with the others, but you must with me. So you act virtuous, considerate, hoping I’ll stay with you, share your bed, center everything around me, and give you my true heart.”
Yan Hui pressed her lips together, silent. Yet she felt his grip on her hand tighten.
The man said: “My heart alone is useless. Only two hearts together have meaning.”