Chapter 4

“Wretched girl! Have you gone mad? What is this nonsense you’re telling people?”

A hand came sweeping toward my cheek. My usually spineless father had suddenly become a paragon of courage.

He seemed to have chosen his side. To please Xu Ling, he put every ounce of strength into that blow, determined to beat me to death.

I supposed that, in his mind, knocking me witless so they could slander me however they pleased would be better still.

Unfortunately for him, his hand was stopped halfway, just as before.

Li Yunxiu regarded him coldly. All warmth had left his pale-gold eyes.

“You still dare raise a hand in front of me? How very bold.” A cold smile curved his lips. With every word, his grip on my father’s wrist tightened.

By the time he finished, he had bent the wrist back and broken it. My father fell into the dust, howling.

Holding his fan, Li Yunxiu surveyed everyone with an icy gaze. “You all witnessed it. This man attempted to attack me.”

My father’s face turned the gray-white of death.

Now he was afraid. He knew that striking Li Yunxiu and striking me carried entirely different consequences.

As Li Yunxiu finished speaking, the synchronized clatter of soldiers forming ranks rose outside the residence.

Then a blaze of gold seemed to light the entire entrance.

It was the distinctive mark of Li Yunxiu’s personal guard. The Li family was said to hold the wealth of the realm; even their household soldiers’ spearheads were set with gold.

And in the whole country, only Li Yunxiu had permission to bring armed troops with him into the imperial capital. Even Xu Ling did not enjoy that privilege.

Only now did everyone come to their senses. They hastily echoed his words and begged him to calm down.

At last, they remembered.

The young man before them, dressed in gold and jade, was more than an aristocratic wastrel. Cherished by the emperor and adored by the Li clan, he was the most powerful wastrel in the world.

Xi Ruyan had collapsed in fright the moment soldiers surrounded the residence. Xu Ling, meanwhile, stared at me with a cold expression.

My father rolled on the ground twice. Knowing how gravely he had offended Li Yunxiu, he shut his eyes and pretended to faint. Sweat streamed from his forehead with pain, yet he bit his lips and made no sound.

He could be ruthless with himself too, I had to admit.

Escorted by his guards, Li Yunxiu strolled away. After two steps, he saw that I had not moved.

“Xi Chixue.” He turned and called my name, then held out his hand. “This place is rotten through. I’m taking you away.”

Behind him, his soldiers’ golden armor seemed to illuminate half the sky. Silhouetted against the light, he smiled at me with lazy ease.

But his faintly trembling fingertips betrayed his nerves.

Something stirred in my heart. I reached out and took his hand.

We left the Xi residence beneath everyone’s gaze. It was improper, but no one dared say a word.

“Xi Chixue!” We had almost reached the gates when Xu Ling shouted behind us.

“If you leave with him today, there will never be another chance for us!”

“Is there something wrong with his head?” Li Yunxiu muttered beside me in utter disbelief. Yet his hand tightened around mine.

As if he truly feared I might turn back.

So I did turn and added, “You’re about to be a father. You aren’t untouched like the two of us. Making such a scene all day—whatever happened to a man’s virtue?”

Then I pulled Li Yunxiu into a little run. He cried out in protest behind me, but his thoughts were bursting with joy.

Once I’ve lured her back to Yangjin, it’ll be too late for regrets, I heard him think. If Xu Ling dares bother her again, I’ll have him beaten to a pulp.

Listening, I considered it a perfectly workable plan.

However liberal the Yun dynasty’s customs, today’s uproar would certainly make me famous.

Ever since buying himself that insignificant official post, my father had found me embarrassing for continuing our old family trade. They had never had room for me, and now I had no wish to see them either.

So I turned to Li Yunxiu and spoke before he could. “Take me back to Yangjin with you.”

Hearing his unspoken wish answered, Li Yunxiu flushed. His eyes swept toward me in startled uncertainty, then darted away as if burned.

“Hey.” The redness spread to his ears, and he almost bit his tongue. “A girl ought to have a little m-modesty.”

“Will you still marry me if I don’t?”

“Of course! Why wouldn’t I?” The answer came instantly. Realizing how eager he sounded, he abruptly turned his head.

Watching him, I could hardly keep from laughing.