Yan Hui struggled free from Li Suyu’s embrace, sat upright on the bed, and said calmly: “General, what do you mean? Do you wish to pin a false charge on me, so you can demand an explanation?”
Li Suyu gazed lazily at her seemingly composed face, though to him it looked like anger born of shame. His lips curved faintly. “Can’t say it?”
Yan Hui looked at the man determined to press her for the truth, and replied evenly: “What is there that cannot be said? Who in their youth has not admired a young man?”
Li Suyu’s eyes narrowed. The calmer she was, the more it irritated him. That sense of being excluded from her past stirred a jagged unease in his heart. In his youth, his world had been only the battlefield, only the desolate land that devoured his kin. The young man Yan Hui had once admired must have been dazzling and talented. He himself had nothing but roughness. The smile on his lips slowly froze. He looked at the woman with ink-black hair spilling down her shoulders, and rose to his feet.
Yan Hui’s brows arched slightly, her hands clutching the bedding in nervous tension.
His gaze was so brazen that her heart pounded wildly—she had never felt this way before. Suddenly, she felt his arm encircle her waist, pulling her whole body toward him. The heavy scent of wine spread across her lips as the coolness there turned to heat. She gasped in shock, her hands pushing against his arms and chest, but it was useless. She realized her strength meant nothing against this man.
In the dim light, his eyes half-closed, half-open, his breath hot against her skin. The warmth made her eyes widen. He seemed intent on drawing her into his very bones. In an instant, the two figures tumbled together.
Yan Hui felt her whole body swept into helplessness. The man grew more domineering, crushing her lips before moving to her neck.
Between breaths, she called out: “Li Suyu.” Her voice trembled, carrying a trace of allure.
Li Suyu froze, his head still buried against her neck, his breathing fast and heavy. It was as if the whole world had gone silent, leaving only the sound of their breaths.
“Chu Yan only knows of things from Yunzhou—back when my parents were alive, when I often visited my uncle’s household. My cousin was a few years older than me. At that time, I truly admired him. But now, he no longer exists in my life. I only move forward, never back.”
Outside, the cold wind stirred, shaking snow from the branches in the courtyard. After the surge in her heart, Yan Hui felt calm again. She would never leave herself any hidden dangers—including in matters of love.
Just as she had told Suiqiu on the eve of her marriage to Li Suyu, it was nothing more than a faint regret. Once let go, it was gone—never to be thought of again.
Li Suyu slowly lifted his head, looking at Yan Hui’s pale face, his eyes deep. Their happiness should not happen under such circumstances. He, Li Suyu, was never lacking. He wanted this woman to follow him willingly—to love him willingly. He pulled on his robe and lay down beside her.
Yan Hui could not sleep. His silence—what did it mean? Was he angry?
Thinking of that domineering kiss just now, she pressed her lips together. She did not know how much time had passed before her heart had calmed; she tested softly: “General?”
Li Suyu’s voice came: “Sleep.”
Yan Hui, hearing his words, relaxed her gaze upward in a daze. This was the first time since their marriage that they had shared a bed—yet it had unfolded in such a way.
Truly…
The next day.
When Yan Hui awoke, the man beside her was gone. Instead, Suiqiu was arranging breakfast. She rose.
Suiqiu looked over. “Miss, you’re awake. The General and Master Chu have gone out. Come, have breakfast.”
Yan Hui glanced at the copper basin and embroidered towels already prepared, her expression shifting slightly.
Suiqiu came forward to assist. Just then, she noticed the uneven red marks on Yan Hui’s neck. She thought of last night—when the General and her mistress had finally shared a bed—and her cheeks flushed faintly.
Seeing her reaction, Yan Hui touched her neck. “What is it?”
Suiqiu lowered her eyes. “Nothing, nothing. Let me help you wash. After breakfast, you can dress.”
Yan Hui gave her a puzzled look, touched her neck again, and realized—it must have been the marks left by that man last night.
After washing and eating, Yan Hui sat at the dressing table. In the bronze mirror, she clearly saw the red marks on her neck. Her heart warmed again.
Suiqiu smiled. “Miss, you and the General must be settled now.”
Yan Hui gave a soft “Mm” and said no more. She seemed unwilling to speak of her matters with that man. By the time she finished dressing, it was nearly noon.
Song Zheng returned from outside. Entering the courtyard, he saw Yan Hui, lost in thought, staring at the lone green plant in the yard, its tiny leaves covered in snow.
“Madam,” Song Zheng called.
Yan Hui came back to herself and looked at him.
“The General sent me to fetch you,” Song Zheng said. Seeing her raised brows, he quickly explained: “Today, there is an auction. The Fu family is a powerful clan in Yuzhou, with many treasures. The General asked me to bring you to see if there is anything you like.”
Yan Hui smiled faintly. The Fu family might have treasures—but did Li Suyu have silver to buy them for her?
She said: “Suiqiu isn’t feeling well today. I’ll speak to her briefly, then we can leave.”
Song Zheng nodded.
Yan Hui turned back into the house. After a short while, she emerged from the main hall. “Let’s go.”
The heavy snow from the night before had turned all of Yuzhou into a single color. Yet the city, blanketed in white, was still bustling with people.
Yan Hui lifted two fingers to draw back the curtain, gazing at the cleanly swept streets. She frowned. Yuzhou seemed far more prosperous than Yun City. Wasn’t Yun City deep in the northern frontier?
After about half an hour, the carriage stopped at the Fu family’s horse farm—renowned as the finest in Yuzhou.
Yan Hui alighted, donning her veiled hat. Through the gauze, she saw that the guards at the gate were the same soldiers who had manned the city gates the night before.
“Madam, this way please,” Song Zheng said respectfully.
Yan Hui followed him toward the gate and asked: “With soldiers guarding here, is the General meeting Yuzhou’s governor today?”
Song Zheng nodded. “And governors from other regions as well. All invited by the Fu family.”
“Without an invitation from the Fu family, does that mean we cannot enter?” Yan Hui asked again.
“This…” Song Zheng hesitated. “Not necessarily. The General wasn’t invited either, yet he came in. Today, it seems they don’t care who was invited—many merchants are here as well.”
“I see.” Yan Hui was surprised. She had thought it would be strict, but even merchants were mixed in. What was the Fu family planning?
“Then why hold the auction banquet here at the horse farm?”
“I heard Master Chu say that many officials love horses. Today, there are Ferghana horses brought from the Western Regions.”
“Horses from the Western Regions?” Yan Hui frowned, thinking further—Li Suyu hadn’t even been invited?
She connected the dots: the Fu family was backed by the Duke of Ying’s household. Was this a deliberate attempt to distance themselves from the Li family of Yun City?
Inside the gate were grand rockeries and winding corridors. Perhaps they were designed so guests could better experience the horses galloping across the grounds. The corridors were stylishly built, stretching endlessly, with stone steps and corners—everywhere offering a view of the vast horse field. The stables were on the other side. From afar, many people could be seen gathered under the eaves of the high platform.
Yan Hui withdrew her gaze from the distance, focusing on the wide horse grounds. The Fu family had Ferghana horses? They must have been transported from the Western Regions to Yuzhou in the northern frontier.
The Western Regions? Had the Fu family’s reach extended that far?
Ferghana horses were not something just anyone could obtain. At that moment, Yan Hui regretted not bringing more attendants with her. She had always kept only Suiqiu by her side, disliking crowds and finding them troublesome.
“Why didn’t the Fu family invite the General?” Yan Hui asked.
Song Zheng froze.
“Speak freely,” Yan Hui said softly. “Does the Fu family bear a grudge against the General?”
“No, not that. It’s just that this time the Fu family deliberately avoided him. I don’t know what they mean by it.” Song Zheng scratched his head. Such matters were harder for him than fighting battles. He disliked these clans with their honeyed words and hidden daggers.
“Then the General’s sudden arrival must have startled them.” Yan Hui thought of that man’s demeanor, her lips curving faintly. The Fu family’s roots were in the northern frontier, yet they dared to offend the Lis. Clearly, they did not take the Li family seriously.
“They were startled indeed. When they saw the General, the Fu family’s faces grew noticeably heavy,” Song Zheng said with a laugh.
Yan Hui raised her brows. She recalled Suiqiu saying the Li family was impoverished, and that this year the court had allocated fewer supplies than before. Thinking of the heavy burden on Li Suyu’s shoulders, she drew in a deep breath.
Yet the Fu family was secretly colluding with merchants and other northern officials against the Lis?
Song Zheng led Yan Hui through the corridors until they reached the high platform. From afar, it hadn’t seemed large, but up close she saw rows of seats rising tier by tier, now filled with people.
From here, one could overlook the entire horse field.
At the front of the platform, steps and a finely crafted counter had been set up especially for today’s auction. As with all auctions, whoever bid the highest would take home the desired treasure.
Yan Hui felt a strong gaze upon her. She looked toward it and saw Li Suyu in purple robes seated in the central position. The empty seat beside him was clearly reserved for her. She walked toward him, aware of many eyes following her. She sat down at his side.
There was no sign of Chu Yan. Yan Hui frowned. In a remote place like the northern frontier, few should know him. In Bianjing, he was little more than a rumor—apart from being known as the Empress Chu’s younger brother, few had ever seen him.
Chu Yan had endured the long journey to accompany Li Suyu to Yuzhou, yet at this crucial moment, he did not appear. That could only mean someone present today knew him. And that someone was likely an enemy of Empress Chu, forcing Chu Yan to avoid them.
Empress Chu’s greatest adversaries were the still-young Crown Prince and Consort Yun.
Consort Yun was backed by the Duke of Ying’s household. So perhaps members of the Duke of Ying’s household were present as well.
The vast heavens and earth stretched endlessly. Though the wind blew cold upon the high platform, it was not as biting as in the winding corridors.
“Where is your maid?” Li Suyu asked.
“She’s not feeling well, so I didn’t bring her along,” Yan Hui replied softly.
Through the veil, Li Suyu looked at Yan Hui. Her face was blurred, much like the night before. His dark eyes flickered.
Yan Hui had to admit—at a glance, this man’s aura was overwhelming. Even in his unkempt state, he was strikingly handsome.
“Is there anything you particularly like?” Li Suyu suddenly asked.
Yan Hui paused in thought. “Why?”
“Whatever you like later, just tell me,” Li Suyu said, his deep gaze narrowing, his expression toward the distance tinged with menace.
Yan Hui looked quietly at him, then withdrew her gaze. “Alright.”
For him to say such a thing was rare indeed. But what exactly was the Fu family planning? A faint glimmer of suspicion passed through Yan Hui’s eyes.
Then Li Suyu’s voice came again: “Do you know how to ride a horse?”
Yan Hui returned to herself. “No… I don’t. Why?”
Li Suyu’s eyes shifted. “In the northern frontier, how can you not know how to ride?”
Yan Hui’s lips curved. “I don’t go to battle. Why would I need to ride?”
“What if…” Li Suyu didn’t finish. The words caught in his throat. *What if he were gone? If she couldn’t adapt to the frontier, would she return to Bianjing?*
“There is no ‘what if.’ The General will protect me to the very end,” Yan Hui said, regaining her dignified composure.
Li Suyu was momentarily stunned. The next instant, his rough hand was clasped by her soft one. He turned to look at her veiled face, fixed forward, then lowered his gaze to her pale hand gripping his tightly. Without a word, he lifted his eyes again toward the distance. But his large hand had already turned to hold hers firmly in return.
At that moment, a man of about forty approached the lone staircase.
“Honored guests, if today’s hospitality is lacking, I beg your forgiveness. The Fu family has always been a clan of rough men, and even now, we remain rough. So if there are shortcomings, I ask for your indulgence.”
As Yan Hui wondered who the speaker was, Li Suyu’s voice came to her ear: “That man is Fu Qi, the third son.”
Yan Hui smiled lightly. She remembered that only Fu Heng’s father was of the main branch of the Fu family. This speaker must be from a concubine’s line.
“The Fu family’s steward is entertaining the guests,” Li Suyu said, his lips curling into a reckless smile.
Yan Hui smiled faintly. “General, it seems this guest is not very welcome to the Fu family.”
Li Suyu’s expression flashed with coldness. For the Fu family to have such audacity, it could only be because of the power behind them.
“Madam, do you want to watch a show today?” Li Suyu suddenly asked.
Yan Hui’s brows lifted slightly. “Will it be worth watching?”