Chapter 250: Not One to Be Trifled With

As the carriage curtain was drawn, Li Ce still clung to Ye Jiao. His long arms encircled her waist, his head buried in her embrace, feigning the demeanor of a drunken man.

"Enough," Ye Jiao nudged him gently, "Wake up."

Yet Li Ce nestled deeper into her, as if unwilling to part from her warmth. Ye Jiao lowered her gaze, her fingers tracing the contours of his handsome profile. It was hard to reconcile this languid, childlike man before her with the Li Ce of just days ago—his eyes cold with calculation, his mind orchestrating grand strategies.

Back then, after outlining his entire plan, King Zhao Li Jing had stared wide-eyed and asked, "Are you even human?"

Li Ce merely sipped his tea and replied, "Will you save him or not?"

Of course, they would save him. Yan Congzheng would save his nephew, Li Jing would save his nephew, and Li Ce even used the opportunity to send Cui Jin'er home to safeguard her pregnancy.

"Li Chen is dead," Ye Jiao whispered softly. Regardless of how despicable the man was in life, witnessing the brutal reality of his death stirred an aching sorrow.

Li Ce responded with a faint murmur, then after a pause, said, "He realized."

Perhaps he noticed the boy's palms were not as tender as Li Beichen's, or that they lacked the calluses forged from archery practice. Whatever the truth, Li Chen saw through the deception—that the boy was not his son, that his only flaw lay in his hands. So he chose death. But in his dying moments, he clawed back desperately to grasp the child's hand. No one doubted his intent. A father discovering his child's death, no matter how unhinged, is a sorrow all can understand.

Now, only one worry remained.

"Can Li Beichen leave the city?"

Li Ce, seeming weary, rested his head upon Ye Jiao's lap.

"If my brother agrees to help, this matter is already eighty percent resolved."

But the Crown Prince had decreed the city gates closed and ordered a full search to capture all the condemned who fled that night—an imperial mandate.

"I wonder how sister is—if she was frightened." Ye Jiao's concern mingled with warmth. Forcing the always gentle and reserved Ye Rou to stand atop the carriage roof and vocally curse Bai Xianyu was no easy feat, but only someone resembling Ye Jiao in stature, appearance, and voice could impersonate her.

"Jiao Jiao," Li Ce comforted, "Sister is strong beneath her gentleness. She will be fine."

"I was terrified!"

Inside the An Guo Gong Mansion, Ye Rou wrapped in a quilt sat on her bed, muttering to herself. A scarlet dress lay discarded at the foot of the bed. Ye Rou rarely wore such vivid colors except on nights like last, waiting at the Chu Prince's mansion until Cui Jin'er joined her, then proceeding together to Zhuque Avenue.

Chaos reigned everywhere—fleeing prisoners, guards wielding blades, thunderous horse hooves, and spurting blood. In that tumult, she had to direct the carriage carefully into the imperial moat to avoid harming Cui Jin'er's unborn child. Then climb onto the roof to hurl curses.

"Where is Bai Xianyu? Bring him here!"

Absurdly, Ye Rou repeated the demand, then covered her face, a crooked smile breaking through. The child had been unfairly scolded, truly wronged. But the Chu Prince said this was the surest way to prove Ye Jiao's identity.

"Miss, are you awake?" came a gentle knock and voice outside the door. Ye Rou instantly composed herself, looking up. "Awake. Is something the matter?"

"Your maid is here to assist with your dressing," said the girl cheerfully. "Madam has requested Miss inspect the betrothal gifts sent today to the Pei family to ensure nothing is amiss."

Ye Rou's heart sank instantly. Of course—it was the day of betrothal between An Guo Gong Mansion and the Pei family. This match was the talk of the capital. Some claimed the mansion was fortunate, others sneered that they were climbing the social ladder by marrying into royalty, pandering to the Empress's maternal clan, the Peis.

"What a disgrace to the mansion's tradition of earning titles by valor and defending the realm."

"Isn't it? How is this any different from that pretty boy Zheng Feng'an?"

"Don't mention Zheng Feng'an. Now that the Lu family is ruined, he's finished too. The An Guo Gong Mansion knows whose favor to seek; the Pei clan will never fall."

"This is learned from past mistakes," a whisper hinted, "Picking the wrong Chen Wang all those years ago…"

Ye Rou wondered if her brother had heard such derision. She merely stepped out to tend to business, feeling as if needles pricked her back with every word overheard, returning only to weep.

Ye Chang Geng, as composed as ever, convened with the clan elders, chose matchmakers, procured the auspicious gifts, and disregarded the taboo against house renovations in May, commissioning craftsmen to refurbish the east wing for the wedding preparations. He appeared joyful, like any eager groom, spirited and hopeful. Yet he had never met the Pei daughter—her height, temperament, preferences, all unknown.

Ye Rou's heart ached. Seeing the maid still waiting by the window, she responded, "I will go now."

The betrothal ritual was one of the six rites—on this day, the groom's family brought matchmakers and gifts to the bride's home. To show solemnity, An Guo Gong Mansion had prepared thirty auspicious presents. Due to the tradition "once the marriage is decreed, the betrothal gift is sent with a goose," they had even raised a large goose at home.

Ye Rou inspected all the gifts carefully for any flaw. Her brother was meticulous and would have made no errors. To her surprise, there were deer hides. Legend told of ancient times when the Taihao emperor set marriage customs with paired deer hides symbolizing conjugal harmony. The gift was often omitted for scarcity, yet her brother had procured two.

"Nothing amiss," Ye Rou said, "Let the servants seal the boxes."

Ye Chang Geng stood in the courtyard, his handsome face tinged with severity.

"I will seal them myself."

"I'll help you," Ye Rou offered, picking up the red silk cloth. But Ye Chang Geng took it from her.

"Allow me," he said quietly. "Officials from Jingzhao Prefecture will arrive soon to inspect the population records. Please wait in the front hall."

As Ye Chang Geng led the betrothal procession, officials arrived at An Guo Gong Mansion. Two men, one holding a ledger, the other smiling and saluting.

"Captain Ye, congratulations, I am at your service."

The three carriages brimmed with red silk-wrapped gifts—no need to ask, they were auspicious tokens. Ye Chang Geng nodded simply, "Thank you all for your hard work."

The official tried to speak further. "The streets are chaotic today. Does the Pei family reside in Jincheng Ward?"

"Not Jincheng," Ye Chang Geng mounted his horse, "But Hedong Road, Jiangzhou."

"Ah!" The official sighed, "That is the Pei ancestral home, where the clan chief resides. Captain Ye, you are thoughtful."

Ye Chang Geng smiled and urged his horse forward. The matter of where to present the betrothal was discussed between the families. Though the Peis had residences and elders in the capital—Pei Mo's father even an official there—An Guo Gong Mansion insisted since Pei Mo lived in Hedong Road with her clan chief, the proposal would occur there. They cared not for inconvenience or distance. The Empress approved, pleased that An Guo Gong Mansion honored the Peis properly, showing tact and yielding to them. To test sincerity, the Empress suggested the entire six rites—proposal, naming, acceptance, gift exchange, setting the date, and wedding procession—be conducted in Jiangzhou, crossing the Yellow River multiple times before Pei's daughter could be wed. Ye Chang Geng agreed without hesitation and said the homecoming banquet could also be in Jiangzhou.

"No need," Pei Mo's father smiled before the Empress, "I am here in the capital; let the banquet be held here."

Thus, on this Dragon Boat Festival, Ye Chang Geng departed with betrothal gifts to Jiangzhou.

At the city gate, Bai Xianyu found himself in a predicament.

"By order of His Highness the Crown Prince, city gates are closed; no one may leave unless urgent." He said his congratulations, then hesitated with regret.

Ye Chang Geng smiled, "The Jingzhao Prefecture has already inspected An Guo Gong Mansion. Is my marriage not urgent enough? I ask for your leniency, Marquis Bai."

Bai Xianyu forced a dry laugh. It was not truly urgent, but as a member of the Crown Prince's faction, he should facilitate this union. Ye Chang Geng was marrying the Crown Prince's cousin; only two outcomes awaited him: becoming a tool of the Peis or being watched by them. He shook his head inwardly. He would never wed a woman he did not love for power.

"In that case," Bai Xianyu glanced around, "We shall inspect, then allow passage."

The Tang city gates were strictly guarded. Ye Jiao had once resorted to force to inspect a general's belongings,

but Bai Xianyu had the legal right. He ordered a detailed search of the carriages.

Under Bai Xianyu's watch, Ye Chang Geng's entourage passed inspection smoothly. Ye Rou, inside the mansion, waited anxiously for news, unaware of the ongoing inspection.

Night was falling. Ye Chang Geng's return would not come until the betrothal was completed. Ye Rou took a deep breath, steadying herself for the days ahead.