Chapter 150: Mad Dog
When Xiao Li and Wei Ang rushed over from the military training ground after receiving the news, they saw several soldiers lying on the ground, groaning in pain after being knocked down by a horse. Not far ahead lay the chestnut horse that had been shot with an arrow.
Wei Jiamin approached from the direction of the military tent where Wen Yu was under house arrest, her face flushed with anger as she gripped her sword.
Xiao Li’s gaze instantly swept behind her, but he only caught a glimpse of Wen Yu’s retreating figure, flanked by two maidservants as she returned to her tent.
Wei Ang, pale and panicked, dismounted and hurried toward Wei Jiamin. “My dear, what did you promise Uncle Ang? Didn’t you agree to just wander around the training ground? How did you end up here causing trouble?”
Wei Jiamin, already distraught over her beloved horse being shot and further upset by the disturbing discovery she had made, felt even more aggrieved by Wei Ang’s scolding. Tears immediately welled up and streamed down her cheeks like rolling beans. Choking back sobs, she cried, “I don’t want to stay in this disgusting place anymore! I want to return to Yuzhou! I want to find Father!”
Unaware of the latter incident, Wei Ang assumed she was merely upset about being stopped and her horse being injured. He tried to placate her by humoring her demands: “Alright, alright, I’ll arrange a carriage to take you back to Yuzhou at once.”
Wei Jiamin wept bitterly and pointed her sword at the young officer and the soldiers who had blocked her path, shouting, “They killed my chestnut horse! I want their lives to pay for my horse’s death!”
The chestnut horse had fallen after injuring its leg, and its broken bone made recovery impossible.
Hearing her outburst, Wei Ang couldn’t help but think how much she resembled her brother Wei Pingjin. However, Wei Pingjin at least often received reprimands from Wei Qishan and understood the importance of weighing pros and cons. The county mistress, on the other hand, had been pampered since childhood; when she threw a tantrum, even Wei Qishan might not be able to calm her down. Wei Ang deeply regretted ever accepting the task of bringing her to the garrison.
Suppressing a headache, Wei Ang said, “County Mistress, these men are brave soldiers defending our homeland. If they have offended you, let them apologize, and we can consider the matter closed, alright? The Marquis treats his soldiers like his own children. As his beloved daughter, you should understand his intentions, shouldn’t you?”
But Wei Jiamin was in no state to listen to reason. His words only deepened her sense of injustice, and her tears flowed even more freely. Wiping her eyes with her sleeve, she sobbed, “Uncle Ang, you’re taking their side too! If killing a person requires a life in return, why shouldn’t they pay for killing my horse?”
Xiao Li had already learned the full story from the young officer. He directly ordered, “Take your men to the infirmary.”
The young officer acknowledged the command and prepared to leave.
Seeing Xiao Li completely ignore her and let her horse’s “killers” walk away, Wei Jiamin flew into a rage. She yelled, “Did I permit them to leave?”
Xiao Li paid her no mind and simply said to Wei Ang, “General Wei, handle this as you see fit.”
Wei Ang felt deeply embarrassed. The soldier who had first reported the incident had already briefed them on the general sequence of events. From the injured soldiers strewn across the ground and the shot horse, it wasn’t hard to deduce what had happened.
Wei Jiamin had violated military discipline by riding her horse into a restricted area of the camp and had injured people first. Now she was demanding the lives of the young officer and his soldiers out of spite. Wei Ang felt his old face burning with shame.He shamefully cupped his hands toward Xiao Li and said, "It was my negligence for not explaining the military rules to the County Mistress. I apologize to the Governor on her behalf."
Seeing Wei Ang being so humble, Wei Jiamin grew even more furious and shouted, "Uncle Ang! He's nothing but a hypocritical, cunning military man who says one thing to your face and another behind your back. Don't let him deceive you!"
She wanted to say that once she returned to Weizhou and reported to her father how this man was nothing like the upright image he projected—how he had refused two beautiful concubines with lofty words but secretly carried on an illicit affair with a pregnant woman in the camp—her father would surely realize this man was merely putting on airs to win his favor.
How could her father even consider betrothing her to such a person!
The mere thought made Wei Jiamin feel so disgusted she nearly went mad.
But she still had some sense left, knowing this was Xiao Li's territory. Afraid that exposing everything here might provoke him into doing something that could ruin the rest of her life, she ultimately held back for her own safety.
She only shot Xiao Li an extremely disgusted and furious glare before turning her head away.
Wei Ang had no idea why this young mistress was so unreasonably stubborn today. Hearing her continue to insult Xiao Li, his expression turned stern as he scolded, "County Mistress, you must not disrespect Governor Xiao!"
If not for Xiao Li, who knew how the two major battles at the Northern Border would have turned out.
Wei Qishan was doing everything possible to win him over, and veteran generals like Yuan Fang and Liao Jiang got along very well with him. Yet for some unknown reason, Wei Qishan's children insisted on hostilely opposing him.
Thinking of the deceased Eldest Young Master Wei, Wei Ang suddenly felt genuine sorrow for Wei Qishan.
Could it be that the late Eldest Young Master had taken all the intelligence that should have been bestowed upon Wei Qishan's subsequent children?
Wei Jiamin seemed stunned by Wei Ang's shout, tears welling in her eyes. She finally wiped them with her sleeve and choked out, "I'm returning to Weizhou by myself!"
With that, she grabbed her long sword, continuously wiping her tears as she walked back.
Seeing her cry so bitterly yet unable to do anything, Wei Ang's worry deepened the wrinkles on his face. "Governor, I..."
Xiao Li said, "I understand General Wei's predicament. The County Mistress's safety comes first. You may go."
Wei Ang hastily cupped his hands toward Xiao Li and hurried after her.
After they had gone far, Xiao Li turned his gaze to the young officer and asked, "Did she go to the military tent area?"
Though he showed no anger, the young officer was so frightened he immediately dropped to one knee. "It was my negligence. I beg for the Governor's punishment."
Xiao Li's mind recalled Wen Yu's retreating figure as she returned to her tent, his gaze turning cold. "What did they talk about?"
He wasn't concerned about Wei Jiamin's sudden hostility toward him, but Wen Yu always took great care to avoid people from the Wei camp to conceal her identity. Today, she had coincidentally appeared outside the tent and encountered Wei Jiamin.
Xiao Li was certain she wouldn't have done so without reason.
Wen Yu wasn't surprised to see Xiao Li again after today's events.
He remained standing far at the doorway, watching her with an extremely cold gaze.
Wen Yu leaned against the headboard, holding a half-unrolled book as she read, showing no intention of looking up.
The two maidservants paid their respects to Xiao Li but, sensing the strange atmosphere in the room, glanced between Wen Yu and Xiao Li, completely bewildered about what was happening.
It was Xiao Li who finally broke the silence and commanded, "Leave."The two servants felt his voice was cold enough to freeze ice shards. Though uneasy about leaving the delicate Wen Yu alone in the tent, they dared not disobey his orders. After a moment's hesitation, the plump servant woman finally pulled the thin one along as they withdrew.
Wen Yu turned a page of her book, appearing to take no notice of their departure.
Xiao Li watched her indifferent demeanor, the nameless fire in his chest burning so fiercely it seemed to scorch his very organs. Yet he forced himself to mimic her composure, saying in a deliberately casual tone, "Your Highness is indeed clever, constantly surprising Xiao."
Wen Yu finally looked up at him, a faint confusion in her eyes before understanding dawned. Closing her book, she asked, "Has Governor Xiao come to demand an explanation?"
Her eyes above the veil remained tranquil. "Governor Xiao need not worry. When I escape this predicament, I will personally explain to the County Princess that there is nothing between us. As for that cloud brocade cloak—given Marquis Wei's high regard for you, surely you can easily find some pretext to explain it away?"
Her repeated use of "Governor Xiao" clearly delineated the distance between them.
The fire in Xiao Li's chest burned hotter. In his fury, he laughed coldly and stepped closer to her. "Why explain? Why not simply make it true that there is something between us?"
Wen Yu had been leaning against the headboard reading. His sudden proximity left her with the bed behind her. Her heart leaped, and she immediately tried to push herself up from the bed, but she was too slow. Xiao Li's palm slammed against the bedpost, blocking her escape.
At this distance, it felt like that night when she had bandaged his wound, except now Wen Yu was half-reclining against the headboard, even more trapped.
She wanted to avoid looking at him, but turning away felt like admitting defeat in some way.
Forcing her eyes to calm, Wen Yu met his gaze peacefully. "Why ruin your future over a moment of anger? One day, when you become Marquis Wei's esteemed son-in-law..."
Before she could finish, Xiao Li slammed his fist heavily against the solid bedpost. His eyes were red, whether from anger or some other emotion, as he gritted out, "Damn esteemed son-in-law!"
Wen Yu was somewhat frightened by his expression, momentarily stunned. Seeing his reddened eyes, a complex, indescribable feeling welled up in her heart.
Struggling to suppress the unusual emotions in her eyes, she averted her gaze. "If you're afraid my words today will ruin your marriage prospects, I've said I'll clarify everything to the County Princess once I'm free... Mmph..."
The rest of her words were cut off as Xiao Li gripped her head and fiercely covered her mouth through the veil.
He was truly enraged. This could hardly be called a kiss—it was more like biting, utterly different from the brief, gentle touch she had given his lips that night. It was savage and violent, like a beast devouring its prey.
After just a few bites, Wen Yu gasped in pain from her bruised lips, giving him the chance to force his way past her teeth.
Terrified, her scalp tingling—she had never experienced anything like this. That time in the cave when she fed him medicine, he had only sought the liquid from her. But now, his invasion of her mouth was wild and chaotic, brutal and aggressive, as if he wanted to brand her with his mark.
With her veil still on, her breathing obstructed, she soon found herself struggling for air.Wen Yu pressed both hands firmly against his chest in resistance, yet it felt like pushing against an iron wall.
The man's breathing grew noticeably heavier, his warm breath seeping through the veil and scalding her cheeks.
The five fingers clasped behind her head, their pads rubbing against her scalp, tangled into her satin-like black hair.
Lack of oxygen made Wen Yu's head spin, her heart pounding so fiercely it seemed about to leap from her chest. Finally, seizing a gap, she bit him hard, forcing him to hiss in pain and retreat momentarily.
Xiao Li brushed his index finger over his lower lip and saw a trace of blood.
Meanwhile, Wen Yu had shrunk entirely into the bed curtains. The veil fastened to her side buns with delicate chains had fallen off during the struggle, leaving her hair disheveled. Her eyes were red, the area around her lips flushed—clearly, she had been badly mistreated.
Yet her gaze still held a stubborn mix of shock, anger, and defiance. She wiped her lips harshly with her sleeve and said, "How boring."
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