Chapter 23 Confinement

Chapter 23 Confinement

A Yuan was placed under confinement.

The order was personally given by Wei Xun.

The gate to Yuqing Courtyard was firmly closed, with only a bamboo basket-sized opening left for food deliveries.

Chun Tao placed the food box on the table and glanced at her mistress, who was leaning on the couch doing embroidery. She pursed her lips and remarked, "Previously, the kitchen staff always mistreated us, serving us leftovers. Now that we're confined, they don't dare to do so anymore."

Previously, it was she who went to the kitchen to fetch meals. The kitchen maids, following the Second Madam's orders, always bullied them. Now that Madam Zheng was the one fetching the food, those people, knowing whom to please, provided full portions.

Chun Tao said this to find some levity in their hardship. She couldn't comprehend why the Heir Apparent had suddenly turned hostile. Wasn't everything fine just a few days ago?

Could it have been due to the rogue they met on their way to the temple?

Chun Tao looked at A Yuan with concern in her eyes.

At that moment, A Yuan's gaze was fixed on the window, her expression somewhat vacant. The memory of the man interrogating her that night remained vivid in her mind.

She naturally knew that Wei Xun didn't love her. His questioning was merely a manifestation of his possessiveness.

Now confined to Yuqing Courtyard, she felt more like a golden canary in Wei Xun's grasp, unable to escape his hold.

Suddenly, a kite drifted in through the window, rising higher and higher with the wind. It soared over the walls of the Marquis's estate, appearing to ascend towards the heavens, only for its string to snag on the branches, causing it to plummet.

The light in A Yuan's eyes dimmed, and the sparkle vanished in an instant.

"Crash!"

Hearing the noise, Chun Tao pushed the door open and stepped outside. Soon, her surprised voice rang out.

"Hey, how did a kite land in our courtyard? Who was flying it?"

The young maid, still a child at heart, hoisted the kite high and dashed around the courtyard.

A Yuan watched her, and a faint smile gradually appeared on her lips.

However, before the mistress and maid could fully relish the moment, the courtyard gate was knocked upon.

Madam Zheng entered with two maids and promptly inquired, "Did Madam Shen's kite fall into your courtyard?"

Before Chun Tao could respond, another maid stepped forward, snatched the kite, and shot her a fierce glare. "Sister Zheng, no need to search. It's right here!"

This maid was Shen Qiuyu's wet nurse, who had always disliked A Yuan and her maid. Seeing Chun Tao playing so happily, she looked at her as if she were a thief.

Chun Tao's face turned red and then pale. She sneered back, "Who cares about this stupid kite? Falling into our courtyard, I think it's bad luck!"

"You! Who do you think you're talking to, you little wench?"

The wet nurse glared angrily, her hands on her hips, ready to strike her.

Madam Zheng stopped her and pushed her out, saying, "Since the kite has been found, hurry back and let the ladies play with it. There's no need to argue with a little maid."

The wet nurse still wanted to curse, but since they were in the Marquis's residence, she didn't dare to be too arrogant. She could only leave in a huff.

"Nyah-nyah!" Chun Tao stuck out her tongue at her, making her even angrier.

"You little wench, just you wait!"

"Hmph! Bring it on, I’m not scared of you!"

Chun Tao wasn’t the type to be easily scared!

Chun Tao held her head high, like a proud peacock.

A Yuan chuckled helplessly and tapped her forehead, saying, "You really ought to work on that temper of yours. What if one day I’m gone..."

"No way! No way! How could you ever leave me? I’ll always stay by your side!"

The little maid’s eyes welled up with tears. A Yuan looked at the courtyard gate, her smile tinged with melancholy, "There’ll come a day when I can’t protect you anymore."

Wei Xun knew Shen Qiuyu was tormenting her, yet he still allowed her to visit. It was clear how little he cared for her.

Chun Tao's temperament would be fine if someone was there to protect her, but without that, she’d be torn apart in the inner chambers, not a shred left.

"The Heir Apparent’s marriage may be imminent. When the new lady of the house arrives, you must be careful with your words and actions. Don’t upset the master and get us both in trouble."

A Yuan spoke with deliberate seriousness. Although Chun Tao was impulsive, she was also extremely loyal. By including herself, Chun Tao would take it seriously.

Indeed, as soon as A Yuan finished speaking, Chun Tao's face turned pale and she nodded repeatedly, "I know I was wrong, I won't speak out of turn again."

"Good that you know. Let’s eat before the food gets cold."

A Yuan couldn’t bring herself to truly scold her. If only they could stay in the courtyard, away from the outside world, it would be a blessing.

......

At the front courtyard of the Marquis's residence.

Wei Jin and Shen Qiuyu had spent half the day flying kites before Wei Xun returned from his duties.

"Third Brother, hurry over here. A Yuan's kite string broke, help her fix it."

Wei Xun stopped in his tracks, glanced at the shyly bowing Shen Qiuyu beside Wei Jin, his icy gaze betraying no emotion.

"Where are the servants of the house? If they can’t do their job, get rid of them!"

"Brother..."

Wei Jin hadn't expected her brother to refuse such a small favor. He had seemed quite fond of A Yuan before, could it be because of the scandal with the Shen family's mistress?

"Third Brother, how can you listen to outsiders? I know what kind of person Uncle Shen is, it must be that mistress who seduced him. And A Yuan is innocent, you don't feel sorry for her, but you even neglect her..."

"Wei Jin!"

Wei Xun rubbed his temples, never having felt his sister was so foolish before.

"There is no matchmaker or betrothal between me and Miss Shen, how can you talk of feeling sorry or neglecting? Such talk tarnishes Miss Shen’s reputation. If you don't know how to speak properly, I'll have Mother hire two etiquette matrons to teach you!"

"Third Brother..."

Wei Xun's face turned cold, and Wei Jin finally realized she was scared. Shen Qiuyu beside her also turned pale.

Last time, Wei Xun had treated her warmly, nothing like this cold demeanor now.

Shen Qiuyu didn't yet know that her mistreatment of A Yuan had been exposed. After all, A Yuan had just been confined by Wei Xun, and no one could see the man's affection for this concubine.

So she instinctively attributed Wei Xun's coldness to Shen Yaozu. With the scandal of the mistress and the illegitimate child, the Shen family's reputation was no longer clean, and even Wei Xun had begun to look down on her.

Shen Qiuyu clenched the handkerchief in her hand, pulling Wei Jin and forcing a smile, "A Jin, there's no need to explain for me. What kind of person I am, the Heir Apparent will surely understand in the future. Don't let me affect the bond between you siblings."

She spoke generously, making Wei Jin feel even more sympathetic towards her. As for Wei Xun, he gave her a hard-to-read look.

She was so cunning, no wonder he had almost been fooled.

Thinking about what A Yuan had gone through, Wei Xun's gaze grew even icier.

Shen Qiuyu felt a pang of anxiety, but to maintain a good impression, she still managed a gentle smile at Wei Xun.

Wei Xun coldly looked away and walked past her with Changyuan.

Shen Qiuyu's smile stiffened.

"A Yu, don't take it to heart. My third brother is always like that, cold to everyone. He just misunderstood you. Once that's cleared up, he'll see how good you are."

Wei Jin felt sorry for her close friend, and since Li Huai's promotion still relied on the Shen family, she naturally tried to comfort her as much as possible.

Shen Qiuyu forced a smile, "I know."

She would never give up on Wei Xun.

In the past, she was the only daughter of the Shen family and had many choices, but now with the emergence of Shen Yaozu, the family's wealth would not all be left to her.

Without her family's support, she couldn't afford to lose Wei Xun.

So even if Wei Xun was cold to her, she would endure it.