After the “heart-to-heart” in the carriage, Yan Hui and Li Suyu grew far more familiar with each other than before.
From Yuncheng to Yuzhou, it was already deep winter. The cold wind pierced into the carriage, its chill making one’s teeth chatter.
Yan Hui feared the cold. As soon as they entered Yuzhou’s borders, she had a brazier lit inside the carriage. She lifted the curtain, gazing at the tall figure astride the chestnut-red stallion ahead, her eyes shifting slightly.
From the border of Yuncheng onward, Li Suyu had chosen to ride on horseback. Men accustomed to marching and battle were used to roughness. Perhaps traveling in the carriage with her from the Li residence had felt stifling to him. But in such freezing weather—was he made of iron?
Even inside the carriage, she could barely feel warmth. The biting cold truly made her understand the hardships of the northern frontier.
Perhaps sensing her gaze, Li Suyu turned his head.
Yan Hui’s eyes froze. His face, outlined against the cold wind, was sharply defined. His handsome features were shadowed with stubble, yet he smiled faintly at her, the corners of his eyes and brows carrying the bright, youthful vigor of a young man. Even in this unkempt state, he seemed as dazzling as the sun to her. She watched him tighten the reins and turn his horse toward her, a warm current flowing slowly through her chest. Her mind was filled with the sound of hooves drawing closer.
“In half an hour, we’ll reach Yuzhou City. Bear with it a little longer,” Li Suyu said.
Yan Hui looked at the man on horseback. Since leaving Yuncheng, he hadn’t bothered to tidy himself. To call him “rough” was an understatement. Yet this image of him, riding beneath the stars and moon, was impossible to look away from.
“Aren’t you cold?” Yan Hui asked.
Seeing the delicate woman in the carriage showing concern, Li Suyu’s eyes glinted with a roguish smile. “No.”
Yan Hui arched her brows and let the curtain fall. *How foolish of me to ask? He’s faced this climate all his life—how could he fear the cold as I do?*
Li Suyu’s lips curved deeper as he looked at the swaying curtain. “Now you understand what a bitter land is?”
“It’s bearable,” came Yan Hui’s faint reply from within the carriage.
Li Suyu raised his brows. *Such a perfunctory answer.*
“Yuzhou City already has lodgings arranged. Once inside, you can rest properly,” he said, his dark eyes flashing with a hint of killing intent.
This trip to Yuzhou—he intended to properly deal with those clans who had taken advantage, yet still acted arrogantly.
Hour of the Boar (around 9–11 p.m.)
Just before the city gates closed, the carriage slowly entered the city.
Outside, voices rose in excitement:
“It’s snowing!”
“A good omen!”
“Truly—it’s snowing!”
“…”
Yan Hui lifted the curtain. A cool touch brushed her face. She extended her slender hand, watching snowflakes fall onto her sleeve and melt instantly. Her eyes lit up. Snow was rare in Yunzhou and Bianjing. Her brows curved with a smile. “Suisui, look—it’s snow.”
Suiqiu, on the other side of the window, looked equally astonished. “Miss, it really is snow!”
Li Suyu, having just dismounted, turned back to glance at Yan Hui’s head peeking out, a smile lingering at his lips.
Chu Yan walked up beside him, chuckling softly. “Bringing her to Yuzhou this time—what for?”
Li Suyu’s smile slowly faded. “Can’t I bring her without a purpose?”
Chu Yan smiled faintly. “They say the men of the Li family are only skilled in war, all straightforward and honest. But the second son of the Lis is different—cunning, vengeful. The Emperor has suppressed the Lis again and again. For you to come to Yuzhou now, your purpose must be significant.”
“What does that have to do with Yan Hui?” Li Suyu’s lips curved with disdain. Even when he had been furious at the Emperor’s schemes, he had never vented that anger on a woman. At most, he would do things to embarrass the Emperor. But because it was Yan Hui, he had refrained from even that. Bringing her to Yuzhou this time was simply because he wanted her by his side. Nothing more.
Chu Yan gave a meaningful “oh,” then said: “I thought you knew Yan Hui’s father and the Fu family were old acquaintances—that’s why you brought her.”
Li Suyu’s lips tugged. “I truly didn’t know.”
Chu Yan frowned, saying nothing.
Li Suyu’s treatment of Yan Hui was not what he had expected. No—he realized Li Suyu cared for her far more quickly than he had imagined. He had thought Li Suyu would look down on her.
After all, in many people’s eyes, Yan Hui had no value, only burdens. The deaths of Yan Yi and his wife remained an unsolved case. The powers behind it were untouchable. Those in Bianjing understood well. Even Yan Hui’s cousin knew there could be no future with her and had long since severed ties.
“Master Chu seems to know a great deal about the Yan family?” Li Suyu asked with a forced smile.
Chu Yan replied calmly: “I do know much.”
Li Suyu narrowed his eyes. It seemed Chu Yan had not merely stayed briefly at the Yan household, but had studied it thoroughly. Otherwise, he would not have said Yan Hui’s parents died because of him.
Seeing Li Suyu’s silence, Chu Yan laughed lightly. “The Fu family has invited many noble houses this time, yet excluded the foremost clan of the northern frontier—the Lis. Suyu, can you guess who stands behind the Fus?”
“The Duke of Ying’s household,” Li Suyu said flatly.
Chu Yan was startled. To know so quickly who backed the Fus—or was it that the entire northern frontier was already under Li Suyu’s control?
“Yes, the Duke of Ying’s household,” Chu Yan said softly. “And Yan Hui’s marriage to the frontier was entirely thanks to Consort Yun, who came from that household.”
How could Li Suyu not know?
Yan Hui’s uncle, Wang Yonghe, had risen under the protection of the Yun family of the Duke of Ying’s household, having married their eldest daughter. And the Yun family’s second daughter was none other than Consort Yun, the Emperor’s favored concubine.
Such ties of kinship had once led his grandmother to hope he would remain in Bianjing.
As for why Yan Hui became the pawn sent to the frontier, only the Wang family and the Duke of Ying’s household knew.
“The Fu family in Yuzhou is wealthy and powerful. They’ve even announced an auction of fine horses. Who are they trying to befriend?” Chu Yan asked meaningfully.
The curve at Li Suyu’s lips faded, his dark eyes hardening with coldness.
Who to befriend?
At this time, the Fu family’s actions were nothing more than an attempt to gather merchants together. They claimed to invite the governors of various prefectures. But Li Suyu knew well what kind of men those governors neighboring the frontier were.
Do they really have the silver to auction off the Ferghana horses? Dreaming! Without a few fawning merchants at their side, how could they stage such a show?
“Profiteering,” Li Suyu said flatly.
Chu Yan looked at him.
From each other’s eyes, both men saw a trace of gravity.
The Fu family—profiteering.
The carriage stopped deep within an alley.
Song Zheng led the horses toward the stable.
Suiqiu helped Yan Hui down from the carriage. Yan Hui walked toward a residence resembling a northern courtyard. Li Suyu’s tall figure stood there; when he saw her approach, the coldness in his eyes eased somewhat.
“This is a courtyard Master Chu arranged beforehand. It should suit you,” Li Suyu said softly as he stepped closer and took Yan Hui’s hand.
Along the journey, Yan Hui had grown accustomed to his sudden gestures of closeness. She felt the warmth of his calloused hand. Snowflakes drifted down onto her face, strangely ticklish. She said, “When away from home, one can make do.”
Li Suyu smiled. “Make do when away from home? Madam’s carriage was so luxurious I hardly dared touch anything.”
Yan Hui’s gaze shifted, glancing at his stubbled profile. “Is the General criticizing me for being extravagant?”
“Extravagant?” Li Suyu lifted her hand slightly, speaking earnestly. “Quite delicate.” Then his eyes dropped toward her feet. “As for those—when will Madam let me see them?”
Yan Hui froze. The more familiar she grew with him, the more she found him irreverent.
Li Suyu, however, recalled that time in the military tent when he had glimpsed her feet—still glowing white even in dim light.
Suiqiu watched the harmonious, well-matched scene ahead and smiled knowingly. To see the General treat her mistress this way filled her with genuine joy.
“You’re incorrigible.” Yan Hui turned her gaze away, trying to pull free, but his grip only tightened. She had to give up. This kind of relationship was new to her—tinged with caution, yet carrying a trace of expectation.
Just as Li Suyu was about to speak, Chu Yan’s voice came from behind.
“Suyu.”
Li Suyu halted, turning to see Chu Yan approaching.
“A few old friends heard you were here. They’ve arranged a banquet to welcome you. Will you go?” Chu Yan asked, glancing at Yan Hui as he spoke.
Yan Hui’s expression remained calm, betraying no emotion.
Li Suyu knew Chu Yan’s associates were rough men. He worried they might unsettle Yan Hui.
“General, go about your business. I’m a bit tired,” Yan Hui said tactfully.
Li Suyu looked to Song Zheng. “You stay here.”
“Yes.” By now, Song Zheng understood that the young madam was not at all the woman the rumors had painted—someone the General would despise.
Li Suyu gave Yan Hui a faint glance before following Chu Yan out of the courtyard.
Suiqiu came to Yan Hui’s side, her face showing some concern for her mistress.
Yan Hui cast her a sidelong look. “Let’s go.”
Perhaps at Chu Yan’s prior instruction, the maids of the residence led Yan Hui to another courtyard. The main hall had everything it should, even the floor heating had been lit early. Entering the room felt like stepping into spring.
“All bathing items are placed behind the screen. If Madam needs anything, just instruct us,” the maid said before withdrawing.
Suiqiu looked around the room and said, “Miss, along the way, I seemed to overhear something in the conversations between Song Zheng and the General.”
“What?” Yan Hui already knew a little, but not the full picture. Li Suyu had never told her directly. For him to personally travel to Yuzhou, it must be for something significant—especially with Chu Yan accompanying him.
“Miss, the third young master of the Fu family should be in Yuzhou,” Suiqiu said, her pupils shifting slightly. “The Fu family acquired a batch of fine Ferghana horses and is auctioning them in Yuzhou. They invited many people. The General and Master Chu must have come for those horses. The army is short of good mounts, so it makes sense. And the third young master has many connections—he likely secured the horses himself.”
“Just that?” Yan Hui knew that Fu Heng had traveled extensively in the eastern Zhejiang and Lingnan regions, making many acquaintances. They often had business dealings. Moreover, Fu Heng’s father had been an old friend of her own father. Before her father’s death, the Fu and Yan families had regular contact.
But Yan Hui felt it was not so simple. After her father’s death, she had cut ties with the Fu family. Yet once, at the Duke of Ying’s residence, she had seen Fu Heng’s father. What connection did the distant Fu family of the frontier have with the Duke of Ying’s household?
Yan Hui remembered—the Fu family’s influence in Yuzhou was formidable. Their wealth alone could dominate the region.
“That’s all I heard,” Suiqiu said, pausing before adding: “I also learned from Song Zheng that the Li family can no longer withstand any strain. Years of war have drained them. Now the General comes for the Ferghana horses—perhaps the Lis are even more impoverished.”
Yan Hui frowned and slowly sat down on the pearwood chair. Thinking of the Li family’s current state, their poverty was unsurprising. Given their character, they would never exploit the people. They could only bear the burden themselves.
“The General marrying you is truly his blessing. Our Miss may not have much else, but she does have some gold and silver. Those Ferghana horses are no small matter,” Suiqiu said with a satisfied smile.
Yan Hui smiled faintly. “Do you think a man like Li Suyu would ever touch a woman’s money?”
Suiqiu froze, then shook her head.
“A man like him would never use his wife’s silver. Besides, he must not know our true background,” Yan Hui said casually. Her lips curved, her eyes glinting with slyness. She beckoned Suiqiu closer.
Suiqiu leaned in. Yan Hui whispered in her ear.
Late at night.
In her sleep, Yan Hui felt the bed sink beside her, the heavy scent of wine filling her nose. She opened her eyes just as a heavy arm fell across her body. She was about to speak when, in the dim light, she saw the half-lidded eyes of the man staring at her. In that moment, his black-and-white gaze seemed clearer than ever. By day, those eyes carried too many burdens.
“How much did you drink?” Yan Hui asked.
Li Suyu’s lips curved faintly. “Not much. I still recognize you.”
Yan Hui looked at him—clearly not drunk—and laughed softly. “Why has the General come to Yuzhou?”
“Is Madam’s cousin very capable?” Li Suyu asked instead, with a touch of self-mockery.
Yan Hui’s smile froze. She thought of Chu Yan going out with him, and how Chu Yan, usually so proper, would say anything once he had drunk.
“What is the General talking about?” Yan Hui did not want to answer such a pointless question.
But Li Suyu insisted. He pulled her into his arms, his chin resting on her head. The fragrance of her hair made him more awake. Chu Yan’s words still echoed in his ears, unbearably sharp.
“Suyu, let me tell you—Yan Hui once admired her cousin. But her father offended the wrong people. Her cousin weighed the risks and abandoned her. Beware that petty man—he still covets Yan Hui, but fears bringing disaster upon himself.”
Li Suyu asked: “Your cousin—Wang Yonghe’s son? The Duke of Ying’s grandson?”