19 A Risky Move

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Their carriage was not actually falling behind; rather, it had been delayed from the very start. Originally, Lady Wei had arranged everything well, worried that they might be held up by the snow. This concern stemmed from the fact that her precious son had once blocked the Ye family’s carriage on the road during curfew, so this time she intended to make amends by dispatching an escort party, all bearing Lord Wei’s official order, guaranteeing unimpeded passage.

Acuo’s carriage set off first, mainly because Fu Yunrui was talking with Qinglan. Acuo said nothing at the time, but after they had traveled two streets beyond the Wei residence’s precincts, she called out, “Sister Yang Hua, have them stop the carriage.”

The carriage halted, and Yang Hua smiled as she asked, “Cousin, what is it?”

Acuo pressed her lips, her expression cold as she said, “Tell the young marquis that the Ye family does not need his escort. Lady Wei hadn’t arranged for him to escort us in the first place, so there’s no need to trouble him.”

Actually, Yang Hua had seen what happened when they departed. The escort squad was originally led by a general in his thirties, but just before leaving, Wei Yushan appeared in his splendid brocade robe. Without a word, he mounted his horse. Despite the old servant’s pleas—“Young master is still injured and shouldn’t be riding”—he wouldn’t listen. The troops obeyed his orders, and with a command, led the horses out the gate.

Now that Acuo was causing trouble, Yang Hua sensed something amiss. Regardless, they were guests of Lady Wei today and not afraid, especially since Liu Ji was present—a clever steward more capable than most. So Yang Hua smiled and said, “Liu Ji, go and tell the young marquis.”

Liu Ji, bold as ever, jumped down from the carriage shaft to speak with Wei Yushan. The proximity, the mild snowfall, meant Wei Yushan had already overheard everything.

Having grown up on the frontier, the young general, only seventeen or eighteen, was experienced only in battlefield combat—he had never encountered the subtle tactics of a young woman’s gentle but firm resolve. Logically, he was at fault, and besides, they had been polite, even asking him to leave.

But he did not want to leave.

Showing weakness was impossible; he had never begged even after being beaten like that, especially not in front of his men. Nor did he know how to show weakness in this situation. After a few steps on horseback, he moved toward the carriage window.

“Young marquis, please don’t,” Liu Ji quickly spread his hands to block him. Smart as he was, he smiled and reasoned, “There are young ladies inside the carriage—it’s not proper for the young marquis to meet them.”

Wei Yushan wanted to say, “I saw her earlier at noon,” but feared it would only anger her more—and harm her reputation.

So she had come to find him on her own at noon, risking her good name.

Thinking this, Wei Yushan’s heart stirred, recalling the harsh words he had spoken; now he understood the source of her anger.

She must be angry, refusing his escort.

Damn it.

Since they could not meet face to face, he spoke through the carriage window, imagining her anger inside the carriage, unsure how to proceed.

“I…” he hesitated, unable to find the right words, and finally said, “The snow is getting heavier. I’ll escort the lady back first—don’t catch cold.”

“Tell the young marquis,” her cold voice came from inside the carriage, “if I freeze to death, it’s none of his concern.”

If this were a subordinate, Wei Yushan would have likely twisted their head off for speaking so insolently. Yet hearing this, he was not angry at all.

He feared her.

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Suddenly, everything became clear to him, and he vaguely understood why Cui Jingyu, whom he had always seen as invincible, would flush red at the mere mention of the Ye family’s name.

Indeed, the snow was heavy, and with the wind blowing, the carriage would grow even colder. He now understood why Cui Jingyu had abandoned him on the streets of Chang’an earlier.

Yet he was still Wei Yushan. Though moved, he retained his own pride. If he could not force the carriage’s occupants, those outside would suffer. The Ye family’s coachmen recognized him, and when he looked their way, they immediately lowered their heads.

“Drive on,” he urged the coachman.

“No,” Acuo inside the carriage immediately ordered.

An unruly young marquis from the Wei family versus a beloved lady’s cousin who had been spoiled since childhood—both coachman and Liu Ji found themselves in a bind, even forcing a bitter smile.

Fortunately, besides Acuo, another person sat inside the carriage.

“What are you all doing?” Yan Yan, sharing the same carriage as Acuo, soon lost patience and shouted, “If you have something to say, just say it! The elder sisters aren’t here, and I won’t betray secrets. Are we leaving or not? I’m freezing!”

Acuo, still young and unaware of moderation, resented Yan Yan for interrupting. Like a child holding a newly acquired bow and arrow, eager to test its power, she was determined to tame Wei Yushan, forgetting about the cold.

Wei Yushan, on the other hand, reacted quickly.

His father was a battle-hardened general, and his mother had been ill for a long time, so he had matured early and was stubborn to the core. He was even more sensible than Acuo. Seeing Yan Yan complain about the cold, he said, “You all get down.”

Liu Ji understood immediately and led the coachman away; the soldiers also withdrew, leaving space for the conversation. Yan Yan, however, refused.

“I won’t get down! What if I freeze to death?”

Wei Yushan was amused by her defiance.

“Ye Yanyan, four years on, you’re still as hopeless as ever,” he finally said, uttering words the Wei Yushan of four years ago might have said.

Yan Yan naturally refused to back down.

“Hmph! You’re the one who’s hopeless—surrounding us on the street in the middle of the night, trying to freeze us to death! No wonder Uncle Wei hit you. Your mother said nothing—on what grounds do you bully us? Are we your enemies or what?”

Her words left Wei Yushan speechless.

“I don’t have time for you,” he said.

“You won’t talk to me, but you’ll talk to Acuo?” Yan Yan retorted quickly. “Did she offend you? She only came to my house ten days ago! Why blame her for our family’s matters?”

Wei Yushan had actually inquired and knew Acuo’s surname was Yu, not Ye. Faced with Yan Yan’s question, he had no response.

But he had not expected Acuo to be so fierce.

“I came ten days ago, yes, but anyone who bullies Sister Qinglan or Sister Lingbo bullies me. Their enemies are my enemies. I will never forgive them,” she said coldly. “Yan Yan, you have words with him; I don’t. Young marquis, you may return. I do not need your escort, nor do I wish to see you again.”

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Her words left Yan Yan unable to ease the tension. In fact, with the back-and-forth between Yan Yan and Wei Yushan, his stubborn nature might have softened over time. Everyone around him accommodated his temperament, even Marshal Wei. Though the marshal had struck him hard that time, Wei Yushan never begged for mercy. After the fight, he put on his brocade robe—an imperial gift for the victory banquet—signaling a simple message: I am the young general appointed by the emperor, not just Wei Hanhai’s son; you cannot defeat me! The marshal was so angry he skipped the banquet, but Lady Wei persuaded him away to prevent a father-son showdown that might have seriously injured Wei Yushan.

Yet inside the carriage sat a delicate, beautiful young lady, even more stubborn and resolute than he was. In the freezing winter, her words burned like fire, leaving no room for compromise.

Wei Yushan tightened his reins; the yellow dun horse beneath him exhaled white mist anxiously.

“My relationship with the Ye family is not what you think,” he finally said after a long pause.

His words surprised Yan Yan. Four years ago, they had been playful rivals, and she had experienced his stubbornness firsthand. For him, this was a rare concession.

But Acuo would not relent.

“Young marquis, you need not explain to me, nor do I require your explanations,” she said calmly, head held high like Ye Lingbo. “I only feel that if we are enemies, there is no need to start anything. At future Flower Signal Banquets, let bridges be bridges and roads be roads; let us have nothing to do with each other—that would be clean.”

“No need to start” implied it had already begun.

Wei Yushan understood her meaning; his chest felt as if he had swallowed a fireball, the taste indescribable. Yan Yan mischievously cracked open the carriage window a slit to watch his reaction. Though Acuo’s words were harsh, she could not help glancing at his expression.

The sky had not yet darkened. She was in shadow; he was in the light. Outside, the snow’s clarity reflected off his splendid brocade robe, making his handsome face even more striking. His long eyebrows were furrowed; though still young, he already carried the aura of a killer.

The Wei family were Qin people; his narrow face and sharp jawline were typical of Qin, tightening further when he clenched his teeth.

No one knew how long passed before, just as Acuo thought he might relent, he raised his hand.

“He Jiu, escort the young ladies back,” he ordered.

The marshal's official token was a black plaque that traced a line through the air before landing in the arms of the officer named He Jiu.

Wei Yushan finished his orders and rode off without once looking back.

Yan Yan was not surprised that Acuo had overplayed her hand and did not worry. She turned with a smile toward Acuo.

“Second Sister said that Wei Yushan is a bit like a donkey—pull him and he won’t move, but hit him and he’ll back away,” Yan Yan told her.

Acuo understood her meaning and lifted her head even higher with pride.

“I don’t care what he’s like. I’m practically the second Lingbo now. I even have the same habit of speaking fiercely: There are twenty-four banquets at the Flower Signal Festival—we have a long future ahead.”