Chapter 19

In the afternoon, Li Shan was no longer seen in the convoy. Before Nanny Zheng could inquire, one of Li Shan’s personal guards respectfully said, “Young Madam, there’s an urgent matter in Xiangyuan. The General went ahead to handle it. He asked me to convey: please take your time, this is a leisurely trip, no need to rush.”

Yao Yao nodded. Since Li Shan said so, she really treated it like a relaxing journey, even getting out of the carriage now and then to ease her fatigue.

They proceeded slowly, and by late afternoon, the carriage finally arrived at Xiangyuan. As a key stronghold of Bingzhou, the town had established checkpoints to verify the identities of those entering.

A gate guard jogged over and guided the carriage to a separate entrance: “Please enter the city, Young Madam.”

Suddenly, noise erupted outside. The words “Fanyang” and “Lu family” were vaguely discernible. Yaoyao had been dozing, but quickly became alert — the Lu family of Fanyang was her mother’s family. She gestured for Nanny Zheng to lift the carriage curtain.

The person arguing with the gate guards was a young woman wearing a white veil. She pointed at the guard and said, “My pass clearly states everything. Why won’t you let me in? Do you even know who I am? I’m the General’s sister-in-law. If you keep blocking me, I’ll…”

“Xin’er?” Yaoyao spoke softly, but her voice cut through clearly.

Lu Xin’er turned around. At some point, a stately carriage had stopped by the roadside, and the maid had lifted the curtain to reveal the woman inside.

To travel comfortably, Yaoyao had styled her hair simply. Her delicate brows and eyes, porcelain-like complexion, and natural grace radiated from within. Despite her beauty, she carried no arrogance — only a gentle reserve.

The guards immediately dropped to one knee in respect: “Young Madam.”

Lu Xin’er exclaimed joyfully, “Cousin! Look, they actually questioned me. You have to speak up for me!”

The guards grew remorseful. Following the General’s recent wedding, impostors claiming to be relatives appeared in Bingzhou, prompting the implementation of strict security checks. They hadn’t expected to encounter a real family member.

Yaoyao smiled and said to Lu Xin’er, “The military’s been conducting strict inspections lately. You’ve been wronged.” Then she invited her, “Come on up into the carriage.”

Young Madam did not make things difficult, which eased the guards’ anxiety—they were also genuinely pleased for Li Shan. The General’s wife was truly a gentle-tempered beauty!

At that moment, gentle-tempered Yaoyao was listening to Lu Xin’er explain the reason she had come from faraway Youzhou.

Thanks to the marriage alliance between the Xie and Li families, the Lu family—Yaoyao’s maternal relatives—had been eager to cultivate ties with the Lis. Unfortunately, the Lu family’s sons had visited twice but failed to meet Li Shan, returning disappointed each time. This time, Lu Xin’er came under the pretense of visiting Yaoyao as her sister.

The two of them had very different temperaments. The last time they saw each other was three years ago, and now, having grown past the innocence of youth, they couldn’t really be called close.

Lu Xin’er gazed at Yaoyao, whose beauty had blossomed even more than three years ago, and thought, no wonder her brother was infatuated. If Yaoyao weren’t so indifferent to competition, the most admired Xie daughter in Luoyang wouldn’t be Xie Shu—it would be Xie Yaoyao.

She asked, “Cousin, are you well in the Li family?”

Yaoyao replied, “Everything’s fine. Is Grandfather well?”

Lu Xin’er exclaimed, “Far from it!”

She was full of grievances. “Jizhou was struck by floods, and a rebel force calling themselves the ‘Supreme Army’ emerged. That army invaded our Fanyang State!”

Fanyang was within the territory of Youzhou. Last month, the Supreme Army from Jizhou launched an attack. Though Youzhou should have defended the region, the Situ clan in Youzhou used it as an excuse to send troops into Jizhou, and watched as the Supreme Army seized Fanyang!

This rebel force, unlike those of the past few decades, didn’t pillage and burn upon capturing cities—instead, they took over Fanyang and tried to co-govern with the Lu clan.

The Lu family had cultivated Fanyang for generations and naturally couldn’t allow such a thing to happen. They fortified their strongholds, but the Supreme Army laid siege, and with no aid in sight, their supplies were running dangerously low.

Lu Xin’er fumed, “Those low-born rebels are delusional. How could we hand over the fruits of a hundred years of the Lu family’s effort? I came here to ask the Li family to send troops and crush the Supreme Army!”

Nanny Zheng knew that Lu Xin’er hadn’t changed from three years ago—still spoiled and willful, acting without regard for Yaoyao. She frowned and said, “But you just said this conflict is between Youzhou and Jizhou. Bingzhou shouldn’t get involved.”

Lu Xin’er ignored Nanny Zheng, keeping her gaze fixed solely on Yaoyao, trying to flatter her: “Cousin, you’re already the Lady of the Li family. Surely the General would listen to you.”

But Yaoao cared least about such empty titles. With a gentle tone, she replied, “I don’t understand the Li family’s military plans, nor have I ever tried to give them advice. So, I’m afraid I can’t help you.”

She saw through the situation clearly. When Madam Guo had sought her help before, she had dared to try—but for various nuanced reasons. Now that her cousin was asking Bingzhou to send troops with a single request, it was simply wishful thinking.

Lu Xin’er’s expression shifted. She wanted to say something more, but her maid discreetly held her back.

Nanny Zheng, seeing the tension, stepped in to smooth things over: “We’ve arrived at the post station. You’ve traveled a long way, Miss Cousin—rest first.”

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At the Xiangyuan post station, the finest room was made available for Yaoyao. Spacious and brightly lit, with golden sunlight filtering in, a crabapple tree stood just outside the window, its rosy blossoms framing the view.

After washing up, Nanny Zheng helped her loosen her hair. Yaoyao hadn’t slept deeply on the carriage and looked unrested. Though it was still only early evening, she kept yawning.

Nanny Zheng asked, “Would you like dinner, Young Madam?”

Yaoyao, eyes closed and half-asleep, murmured, “Nanny, I just want to nap.”

Knowing her lady was adorably drowsy, Nanny Zheng quickly laid out bedding. Once Yaoyao drifted off, she quietly left the room to tend to post station matters.

Li Shan arrived in Xiangyuan in the afternoon. After meeting Fan Zhanxian, the two hit it off and chatted pleasantly until early evening, when he learned that Yaoyao had also arrived.

Fan Zhanxian cupped his hands and smiled, “I haven’t yet congratulated the General on his recent marriage.”

Li Shan gave a faint grunt, its meaning unclear, and said no more. He summoned Xin Zhi and asked, “Did you find the pony I asked for?”

Xin Zhi replied, “Yes, it’s waiting outside the post station.”

Glancing at the still-bright sky, Li Shan said to Fan Zhanxian, “Please rest for now, sir. I have a few things to take care of.”

Fan Zhanxian watched Li Shan hurriedly depart, smiling all the while. He grabbed Xin Zhi and teased, “What does the General want with a pony? To eat it?”

Xin Zhi replied dryly, “Great minds think alike.”

Inside the post station, Lu Xin’er was in low spirits, having not received Yaoyao’s approval. Her maid whispered, “Think about it, miss. Xie Yaoyao probably hasn’t won the General’s heart, so she doesn’t dare make requests.”

Lu Xin’er suddenly felt relieved. “That’s true. Wasn’t it our older cousin who was supposed to marry Li Shan first? The marriage got switched—of course, she wouldn’t be doing well in the Li family.”

Since things weren’t going smoothly with Xie Yaoyao, Lu Xin’er changed her strategy. She decided to go looking for Li Shan and wandered through the post station for quite a while. Suddenly, a tall figure strode in through the doorway. Clad in a martial robe, his steps were swift but steady. His face was strikingly handsome, with an upright posture, long, slanted brows, and piercing black eyes. The moment his gaze swept over her, it sent a chill straight to her heart.

Lu Xin’er had never seen Li Shan before, but she instantly knew it was him—the famed plain-robed general whose name shook the northern lands. When he rose to prominence, she had still been an innocent girl. Only now did she realize how young and handsome he was.

Seeing the unfamiliar face, Li Shan asked his guard behind him, “Who is she?”

The guard responded, “Young Madam’s maternal cousin. We encountered her at the city gate.”

Li Shan understood—an aristocratic daughter.

Lu Xin’er quickly recovered and blushed, then respectfully greeted, “General, peace be upon you.”

Li Shan gave a brief nod and walked past her. Lu Xin’er stood still for a moment, then rushed to catch up. “General…”

Without slowing, Li Shan continued down the corridor. The guards stopped Lu Xin’er with an outstretched arm, “Miss, please halt.”

Lu Xin’er stamped her foot in frustration.

Outside Yaoyao’s resting quarters, Xin Zhu sat at the door sorting threads. When she saw Li Shan return, she immediately stood up and said, “Marquis, Young Madam is asleep.”

Li Shan raised an eyebrow. “Sleeping at this hour?” The sun hadn’t even set yet.

Xin Zhu replied, “Yes, my lady spent the entire day on the road and felt exhausted.”

Li Shan responded simply, “Understood.”

But despite saying so, he still entered the room. Xin Zhu hesitated to speak—Yaoyao had been roused late last night, and had only just gotten the chance to rest again. She might seem mild-tempered, but if the Marquis disturbed her again…

Worried, Xin Zhu rushed to find Nanny Zheng.

Inside, the setting sun cast a tranquil glow across the room. As Li Shan adjusted to the dim light, he saw the gauze curtains draped over the bed. Through the haze, the girl lay on her side, waist slightly sunken into the mattress, her figure soft and delicate, graceful in repose.

He stepped closer and lifted the bed curtain. Though he’d seen her sleeping before, this was the first time he’d been so near. Her long lashes, delicate nose, and rosy lips made her look like a porcelain doll.

He called softly, “Xie Yaoyao.”

Yaoyao’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Li Shan’s eyes lingered on her lashes. “Weren’t you the one who wanted to go riding? Today’s my only free day. If you don’t get up now, forget it.”

Finding the noise disruptive, Yaoyao hugged the quilt and turned over, revealing only a cascade of jet-black hair and a graceful silhouette to him.

Li Shan: “…”

He’d considered leaving. Then he remembered she’d been the one who wanted to ride—now she was the one fast asleep again. Letting out a short, amused laugh, he sat on the edge of the bed and leaned closer to look at her.

Sensing someone nearby, her lashes fluttered like butterfly wings, quivering as if about to take flight.

Li Shan narrowed his eyes. Almost without thinking, he reached out and gently brushed her lashes with the pad of his finger. The sensation was hard to define—supple, yet faintly prickling.

The next moment, Yaoyao, utterly annoyed, squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them. All she saw was something flashing in front of her—and purely by instinct, she bit down fiercely.

Li Shan let out a muffled grunt, “Mm.”

Yaoyao’s irritation released, and she was fully awake now. Sitting up, she looked at him, round-eyed, like a kitten that had bitten the wrong person.

Li Shan drew back his hand, revealing a neat row of deep bite marks along the webbing between his thumb and forefinger. He’d suffered all sorts of wounds in his life—the most serious was a spear that tore from his left shoulder down to his right abdomen. But this was different. The sensation in his hand felt like a sting, not quite pain, more of a tingling warmth that seeped right into his bones.

He stared at her silently. Suddenly, her clear eyes brimmed with tears, and a single droplet slid down her cheek, glistening and moist.

He was both exasperated and amused. “I’m the one who got bitten, and I didn’t even complain. Why are you crying?”

Yaoyao covered her lips. Just waking up, her eyes were misty with sleep, her voice tender and nasal: “It hurts.”

Li Shan realized—her lips must’ve bumped into his hand.

Pressing gently on the mark, he recalled that soft sensation tangled amid the sting of her bite—the delicate press of lips and tongue—and his expression turned unreadable. “So it’s my fault for being hard?”