Chapter 65: Entering Jiangnan

Chapter 65: Entering Jiangnan

A Yuan had passed away, and Wei Xun had lost all will to live.

He moved from the outer courtyard to the Yuqing Courtyard.

A Yuan's belongings were kept untouched, as though she were still alive.

Wei Xun carried on with his duties during the day and stayed in the courtyard at night, calling out for A Yuan over and over.

Chang Yuan knew his master longed for Mistress Xie, but this couldn't continue indefinitely.

The dead cannot come back to life, and the master should find a way to move forward soon.

"My lord, Mistress Xie wouldn't be at peace if she saw you like this. For her sake, you must take care of yourself..."

"She despises me."

The man by the window suddenly raised his head, his eyes gleaming with a disturbing obsession in the candlelight.

"She despises me, so she didn't let me see her one last time."

She chose to punish him in this manner, forcing him to live each day in regret.

"My lord..."

Chang Yuan was at a loss for words to comfort him, but recalling his own feelings when Chun Tao was nearly beaten to death, his words now seemed utterly inadequate.

The master had cherished Mistress Xie so deeply; how could he possibly move on so easily?

"Leave me be."

Wei Xun waved Chang Yuan away. He sat on the couch where A Yuan often sat, looking at the unfinished pouch she had been embroidering, his eyes silently welling up with tears.

...

Wei Xun's fleeing from the marriage not only made the Marquis of Anning's household a laughingstock but also made Shen Qiuyu the laughingstock among the noble ladies.

Shen Residence.

Shen Qiuyu shattered every piece of porcelain on the display shelf, panting heavily, her face contorted with rage.

"Wei Xun! You've wronged me once more!"

"Miss..."

The maids stood by, trembling in fear, not daring to approach.

Wei Xun's actions had completely humiliated the Shen family, so their lady's fury was understandable.

"Miss, someone from the Marquis of Anning's household has arrived."

Nanny Chen came in from outside, her expression grim.

Hearing about the Marquis of Anning's household, Shen Qiuyu turned sharply, hope in her eyes. "Someone from the Marquis of Anning's household? Are they here to discuss the marriage?"

She refused to believe that Wei Xun would truly not marry her. Now that A Yuan was gone, she could forgive Wei Xun for fleeing the marriage.

Nanny Chen's arm was grabbed by her, the woman's delicate nails digging into her flesh, causing Nanny Chen's face to turn pale with pain.

"Miss... the Marquis of Anning's residence has come to break off the engagement."

"Break off the engagement?" Shen Qiuyu was disbelieving. She pushed Nanny Chen's hand away and hurried out, "Who came to break it off?"

Her engagement had been personally arranged by Wei Xun. Unless Wei Xun himself came to break it off...

Shen Qiuyu still clung to hope, but Nanny Chen's next words shattered it.

"Young Miss, it was the Wei Crown Prince."

It had been a month since A Yuan drowned. The capital's officials and the Marquis's guards had searched the river but found no trace of her body.

Though it was winter, the river was fast-moving, especially near the highland manor, rushing downstream and into the sea.

Though Wei Xun refused to accept A Yuan's death, he knew it was almost certain.

The scandal of the broken engagement between the Wei and Shen families had spread like wildfire in the capital. Wei Xun personally came to break off the engagement.

In the Shen family's main hall, Shen Qiuyu stared at him fiercely, as if her gaze alone could change his mind.

But Wei Xun's decision was final, and he wouldn't budge for her.

"The Marquis is at fault for breaking the engagement. I’ll compensate you however you wish."

As soon as Wei Xun finished, Shen Qiuyu sneered, "Compensation? How can you fix my ruined reputation?"

Now the whole capital knew Wei Xun had dumped her. Who would want to marry her in the future!

It was all because of that wretched A Yuan, who just had to die on her wedding day.

Shen Qiuyu hated Wei Xun, but her hatred for A Yuan burned even hotter. It was all because of that wretched woman that she had become a laughingstock.

"I don’t want compensation. I want the Wei Crown Prince to honor the engagement and marry me."

Seeing her like this, Wei Xun knew further discussion was pointless. He stood up, his expression cold.

"The Marquis's betrothal gifts will remain with the Shen family. I’ll also transfer two manors to you."

With that, Wei Xun left with his men.

"Wei Xun!" Shen Qiuyu screamed, watching him walk away in a frenzy. Was money all she was worth to him?

But his heart wasn’t hers, so why would he stay?

The engagement between the Wei and Shen families was over for good.

After the twelfth lunar month came the New Year, and the aristocratic families held banquets.

Unable to endure the mocking stares and whispers, Shen Qiuyu fled the banquet hall. Outside, she was stopped by someone.

"Mrs. Shen, my master wishes to meet with you."

Shen Qiuyu stopped. "Your master?"

The eunuch with a pale, beardless face chuckled and pointed in the direction of the palace.

"My master... the Second Prince."

A Yuan had been traveling for a month and a half when she finally arrived in Suzhou.

On the day Zhou Yan left, he had given her his address. A Yuan had originally thought she wouldn't need it, but she never expected to seek him out so soon.

Pingyang Street, Zhou Residence.

A Yuan stood at the door, her hand raised several times, too hesitant to knock.

After her long journey, she had lost a lot of weight, and her already small face now looked even more hollow.

Every household was busy preparing for the New Year festivities, and the streets were nearly empty. A Yuan hesitated for a moment, then decided to leave.

When she had left Chunyan Tower, her aunt had told her not to come back. Now that she was in trouble, how could her aunt possibly want to see her?

A Yuan let out a bitter smile, lowered her head, and turned to leave. Just as she turned, the door behind her opened. Zhou Yan, seeing her, thought he was hallucinating. His voice was cautious but tinged with surprise.

"A Yuan? Is that you?"

"A Yan, who's at the door?"

A woman's voice called from inside the courtyard, having heard the commotion.

Hearing the familiar voice, A Yuan's eyes filled with tears.

Auntie Hui...

"Mother, it's A Yuan."

Afraid that A Yuan might run away, Zhou Yan quickly grabbed her sleeve and shouted into the courtyard.

"Bang!"

Something clattered to the ground, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. The courtyard gate was pushed open, and a woman with a sharp appearance appeared behind it.

"A Yuan!"

A Yuan knew she couldn't hide anymore, so she turned around any longer. Seeing the woman, she felt like a lost child finally finding her way home, her grievances spilling out in tears.

"Auntie Hui!"

Auntie Hui's eyes welled up too. She stepped forward, grabbed A Yuan's arm, and raised her hand as if to strike but let it fall gently. "You're already here, where else could you go? If A Yan hadn't noticed, would you have just left?"

A Yuan hung her head, too afraid to speak. Auntie Hui was her mentor, like a mother, and had always been strict with her. In her presence, A Yuan felt like a guilty child.

Seeing her like this, Auntie Hui grew angrier, but as she took in A Yuan's thin figure, her anger turned to heartache.

She knew A Yuan had become part of the Marquis's household and Wei Xun's concubine. If not for some catastrophe, A Yuan wouldn't have fled.

The scolding died on her lips, replaced by concern, as Auntie Hui pulled her inside.

"Don't just stand there. Come inside, let's talk at home."

"A Yan, go to Granny Zou's and get two hens to help A Yuan recover."

Auntie Hui instructed, and Zhou Yan obediently went out.

A Yuan watched her aunt bustling around, tears welling up again.

"Auntie Hui, I have nowhere else to turn. I had to come to you..."

Auntie Hui's expression softened at her words. "What are you saying? This is your home. You're back where you belong."