Chapter 55: Red Bean Dumplings

Chapter 55: Red Bean Balls

The candles in Yuqing Courtyard burned all night, and A Yuan lay awake until dawn.

When Nanny Zheng came to deliver breakfast in the morning, she was startled by the dark circles under A Yuan's eyes.

"Lady Xie, you should get some more sleep. You’re frail and need to rest well."

She placed the breakfast on the small table by the bed and quickly poured a cup of warm water for A Yuan to warm herself.

A Yuan took it, her eyes slightly lowered, her voice soft and distant. "I can't sleep."

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Chun Tao’s tragic death before her, which had become a nightmare.

Nanny Zheng sighed and tucked in the blanket for her.

"If you keep this up, how can Chun Tao rest in peace? For her sake, Lady Xie, you must pull yourself together."

That little maid didn’t even cry out in pain before she died, afraid of upsetting her mistress. A Yuan's melancholy and loss of appetite would surely worry Chun Tao.

"...Alright."

A Yuan choked back tears, her eyes red.

She would live well, carrying on for Chun Tao.

"Ah, that's the spirit." Nanny Zheng's heart eased. "It’s good that you’re coming to terms with it. Life is long, and we must keep moving forward."

Move forward?

With loved ones dying one after another, how could she just move on?

A Yuan lowered her eyes, tears falling into the tea. After a long while, she finally spoke.

"Nanny Zheng, I’m hungry."

"What would you like to eat, Lady Xie? I’ll fetch it from the kitchen."

It was a good sign that she had an appetite. Nanny Zheng didn’t mind the breakfast she had brought. Even if A Yuan wanted the rarest delicacies, she would find a way to get them.

But A Yuan simply pursed her pale lips and whispered, "Red bean balls."

"Red bean balls?"

Nanny Zheng was taken aback, never expecting her request to be so simple.

A Yuan gave a soft hum, gazing at the tea, murmuring to herself, "Chun Tao liked them. That day, she was looking forward to returning to the kitchen for a bowl, but who knew... she would never have the chance to eat them again."

Her voice choked, tears welling up. Nanny Zheng’s heart ached, and she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "Lady Xie, wait here. I’ll fetch them from the kitchen."

......

Nanny Zheng was favored by the young master, so the kitchen maids didn’t dare delay. They quickly prepared a bowl of red bean balls.

Someone from Ci’an Courtyard also came for food. Seeing that A Yuan wanted red bean balls, they silently noted it and reported it to Madam Wei upon returning.

Madam Wei had mostly recovered from her illness, but Wei Jin stayed at the Marquis’s residence to care for her.

Her belly was already five months along, and the entire household took great care of her.

Madam Wei couldn’t bear to see her daughter overworked, so she made her sit on the couch.

When she heard the servant's words, Madam Wei's face darkened.

Even though Chun Tao had been dealt with, it was A Yuan who really clashed with her.

As long as A Yuan stayed in the mansion, Madam Wei felt uncomfortable.

After finishing her bird's nest, Wei Jin placed the bowl on the table. A maid handed her a wet towel, and Wei Jin carefully wiped her hands clean.

Seeing her mother's unhappy expression, she sneered, "Mother, you shouldn't have given A Yuan to Third Brother in the first place. She's always been good at playing the weakling, coaxing Third Brother into defying you. And you probably don't know, but her body has been ruined for a long time, making it impossible for her to have children. Third Brother deliberately hid this from you."

"She can't have children? Is that true?" Madam Wei was shocked and furious.

Even though A Yuan was just a concubine, she was still supposed to bear children for Wei Xun.

The Hou family's lineage was already weak, and if A Yuan couldn't have children, there was no reason to keep her.

"Of course it's true," Wei Jin nodded. "Xiao Xi's godmother works at the hot spring estate, and she personally heard Third Brother ordering medicine for A Yuan, saying that her body had been ruined years ago and that it would be hard for her to have children in the future."

"Mother, A Yuan came from that dirty place. Who knows what she's gone through? Since she can't have kids, she'll only try harder to cling to Third Brother. According to Xiao Xi's godmother, Third Brother even promised her that he would adopt a child from his future wife for her."

"Nonsense!"

Madam Wei was truly enraged now.

Favoring a concubine over the wife was the root of family chaos. If Wei Xun were to give the wife's child to a concubine to raise, how would others view him, and how would they view the Hou family?

"Summon that unfilial son to me!"

Wei Xun had just returned from court. He had barely slept the previous night. Upon hearing Madam Wei's summons, he rushed to Ci'an Courtyard without even changing his court robes.

As soon as he entered, a teacup was hurled at him, shattering at his feet with a loud 'crack.'

"Unfilial son! Kneel!"

"Mother?"

Wei Xun had already learned from the maids the reason for Madam Wei's summons. He glanced at Wei Jin, who shrank back guiltily, hiding behind Madam Wei.

"You dare glare at your sister? Do you wish for us all to die before you get your way?"

Madam Wei was so furious that she clutched her chest, almost unable to catch her breath.

"Your son dares not," Wei Xun lowered his gaze, his lips tightening.

"Hmph, you dare not! I think you can't wait for your old mother to die so no one will stop you from doting on that little enchantress!"

"Giving the wife's child to a concubine to raise, Wei Xun, what were you thinking?"

Madam Wei grew angrier the more she thought about it. The pride she once had for her son was now replaced with disappointment.

Wei Xun clenched his fists at his sides. He couldn't reveal his arrangement with Shen Qiuyu, as it would only add fuel to the fire.

The only woman he loved was A Yuan, and he naturally didn't care about the feelings of other women.

Once a person falls in love, reason goes out the window.

Even someone as cold-hearted as Wei Xun couldn't escape the power of love.

"A Yuan's health isn't beyond recovery. She's currently taking medicine to regulate her body. And even if I were to adopt a child, I would choose from the clan..."

"I disagree!"

Before Wei Xun could finish speaking, Madam Wei interrupted him.

"What is she? Just a lowly concubine, and she dares to think about adopting a child! Third son, you must either drive her away or send her to the estate. She cannot stay in this mansion anymore."

Madam Wei deeply regretted having assigned A Yuan to her son, otherwise, they wouldn't have ended up with such a rift between mother and son.

"If you wish to take a concubine, I can select another for you. There are many women more beautiful than A Yuan in this world; we will surely find one."

She believed Wei Xun's affection for A Yuan was merely a passing fancy, so she softened her tone to coax him.

Wei Xun lifted his head, his cold eyes brimming with determination, "I want no one but A Yuan."

"..."

"Ungrateful child! Ungrateful child!" Madam Wei slammed her hand heavily on the table, pointing at Wei Xun, her lips trembling with anger.

"Do you want to drive your mother to her grave with anger!"

"Mother, why can't you tolerate A Yuan?"

Wei Xun's voice was heavy with emotion, his A Yuan was so obedient, she didn't even know how to vie for favor, yet his mother kept making things difficult for her.

"Why?" Madam Wei, supported by her maid, sat up straight.

"Because you, Wei Xun, are the heir of the Marquis's estate, you need to uphold the Marquis's estate in the future. If you neglect your wife and estrange your legitimate son for a concubine, how are you any different from those wastrels!"

"Wei Xun, where is your sense of decorum?"