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“You knew that the land of Yongzhou was a trap set against you…”
“Put on a coat.”
Li Yunli ignored the words and simply tossed her cloak over Yun Chu’s head.
She couldn’t stand the way he looked right now—wearing only a single thin layer. Was he really not cold?
Yun Chu caught the cloak and caught the faint scent of plum blossoms lingering on the fabric.
He had never worn anyone else’s clothes before, especially not Li Yunli’s. Holding the cloak in his hands, he appeared somewhat uneasy.
Li Yunli averted her gaze and rolled her eyes.
“If you’re going to atone for your mistakes, at least pick the right time. I barely received the news a moment ago and haven’t even had a chance to speak. What exactly are you apologizing for?”
Yun Chu’s ears reddened slightly. Having just received her forgiveness, he wasn’t sure whether he should actually put on the cloak or not.
Li Yunli continued, “Now that everything has been said, make sure you understand—don’t make things difficult for me again.”
Their conversation had been entirely rational, addressing the key points directly. They laid out the pros and cons, weighing their respective choices. To Li Yunli, it almost felt like a business negotiation.
Indeed, this was the approach she preferred, the one she was most familiar with and adept at.
Yet, for some reason, a sense of unease crept into her heart. It felt as though she and Yun Chu shouldn’t be handling their matters this way.
When she looked back at him, she saw that he was still holding the cloak, hesitating to wear it. She couldn’t help but say, “If you’re not going to wear it, give it back. I’m heading out now, and you can just freeze for all I care.”
Yun Chu finally snapped out of his thoughts. “Your Highness is going out now?”
“To see Qing Nian. He has sent an invitation.” Li Yunli looked at him and added, “Your matter isn’t over yet. Explain everything clearly first.”
Yun Chu understood what she was implying. Folding the cloak twice over his arm, he said, “Though that man is dead, he passed a message to me before he died. Your Highness must be cautious—there are indeed unusual movements within the Wurong Tribe. If you seek reinforcements from Baotou Mountain, you must take this into account.”
The shadow guards had already reported to Li Yunli everything that happened between Yun Chu and the coachman in prison. She frowned slightly, contemplating the way the message had been passed.
“He meant for you to contact Wurong? That would mean that after Wei’s downfall, they allied with Wurong, who once suffered under Great Chu as well. If I attack Wurong, aren’t you afraid that your people might be among them, leading to a battle between your own kin?”
“They are not my people,” Yun Chu said, his gaze unwavering. “They never were. I have never allied with the Wurong. They are greedy and unreasonable. The last time Your Highness came to Yongzhou, there were no Wurong under my command.”
He hesitated, then met her skeptical gaze and added, “This time, it was probably because I accompanied Your Highness to Yongzhou that A-Si feared something might happen, prompting him to probe the northwestern movements.”
Li Yunli hesitated. “You and A-Si…?”
When did they meet? How far had their talks gone?
“We are not completely transparent with each other. He first appeared the day I recruited a coachman at the manor,” Yun Chu explained, sensing her unspoken questions. He smiled wistfully. “Because Your Highness was prepared in advance this time, I barely had a chance to speak with him. He is wary by nature, and a few encounters were not enough to earn his full trust. His actions were, at best, to ensure I didn’t die in Yongzhou.”
His words extended beyond what Li Yunli had anticipated.
She hadn’t expected him to open up so much.
If she had once doubted his kindness, believing it to be a mere act meant to deceive her, then after this conversation, she now felt a genuine sense of trust in him.
She said, “Since that is the case, I have already stated that the people of Wei who wish to live peacefully under Great Chu will be treated fairly. However, those who conspire with the Wurong, I will not spare. That is my bottom line as the Eldest Princess of Chu. Do you understand?”
Yun Chu nodded, his gaze calm and deep. “I understand. If Your Highness moves against them, I will not interfere.”
“I don’t need you to take action, nor do I need you to feed me any information. I won’t force you to fight against your own kin. I respect your people, and I understand your difficulties. But when it comes to the remnants of Wei who continue to stir chaos, you are to remain neutral—that is my request.”
Li Yunli’s gaze was steady as she spoke her final demand. Then, she lightly curled her lips, her expression carrying an undeniable sense of pride. “This is also my promise to you and to the Wei people who wish for peace. Watch closely—when I refuse to hold back, you will see how I deal with those who disrupt the lives of my people.”
As she spoke, her eyes burned with a determined intensity, exuding authority without the need for anger.
She had always been confident—benevolent when possible, but unwavering when necessary. Her words were not a threat but a statement of fact.
Yun Chu spoke softly, “That is enough. Thank you, Your Highness.”
In the face of complete honesty, their conversation reached a delicate balance.
Rules and order were established in their exchange, forming a silent understanding between them.
If emotions were set aside, this structured, negotiated relationship was the most ideal—perfectly in line with Li Yunli’s preferences.
Or so she thought.
Yet, as she looked at his thin, white garments, an inexplicable sense of discomfort lingered in her heart.
She frowned and called for Yaxiang, instructing her to fetch Yun Chu’s outer robe.
Yun Chu was startled. “Your Highness…”
“It’s already winter. There isn’t much warmth in this room, let alone outside.”
“And another thing,” Li Yunli sighed, looking at his frail figure. “I really want you to forget those unwritten rules you used to follow. You know as well as I do that many of them were designed to break your spirit. Those unreasonable rules are part of the ways I once wronged you. Now, seeing you abide by them so strictly… it’s clear that they’ve left a mark on you.”
Her tone carried a deep sense of remorse.
She didn’t want to see him punish himself again in blind adherence to the past.
But Yun Chu, having just been reprimanded, dared not accept such an apology.
He hurriedly denied, “No, not at all…”
Her words caught him off guard. He wanted to refute her but feared his words would sound too harsh. Instinctively, he took the blame upon himself. “It was my own mistake—I acted rashly, wanting to explain things to Your Highness. My unease led me to follow the old rules subconsciously, not because I wanted to provoke you. I was just anxious in the moment…”
He hesitated and glanced at her, uncertain of her thoughts. After a pause, he asked hesitantly, “Your Highness… did you say that on purpose?”
Li Yunli’s expression was calm, her smile faint. “And if I did, can you ease up a little from now on?”
Yun Chu was silent for a moment before finally smiling. “Alright.”
Li Yunli stood, reaching for her cloak from his hands. “Enough talk. The appointed time with Qing Nian is approaching. You’re coming with me.”
Yun Chu looked up as the cloak slipped from his fingers, leaving only the faint scent of plum blossoms behind.
“Your Highness is willing to bring me along?”
Li Yunli glanced back at him.
Originally, she had planned to meet Qing Nian alone. But after their conversation, she reconsidered.
Given the situation with Wurong, Yun Chu’s presence might prove useful.
Maximizing benefits was always the wisest approach.