Chapter 73: A Familiar Figure

Chapter 73 A Familiar Silhouette

Marquis Wei was originally supposed to arrive in the capital half a year ago, but the enemy captives and rebels colluded in a desperate, last-ditch rebellion.

Caught off guard, Marquis Wei lost two platoons to the rebels. Furious, he immediately regrouped and crushed the rebellion before setting off again.

It had been years since father and son last met, and Chang Yuan wished his lord could be present for Marquis Wei’s triumphant return.

Yet Wei Xun shook his head. “The Second Prince has already sunk his claws into Jiangnan, bribing many court officials. While His Majesty may sit back and watch the tigers fight, I cannot.”

He had already chosen his side. If the Second Prince overpowered the Crown Prince in the succession struggle, the House of Peaceful Marquis would be in peril.

“...Understood.”

Chang Yuan grew solemn and said no more.

After packing, Wei Xun first went to Ci'an Courtyard [a place for farewells] to bid farewell to Madam Wei.

Her forehead band askew, Madam Wei slumped listlessly against the headboard. When Wei Xun entered, she barely lifted her eyelids.

“Leave if you must. Your parents mean nothing to you anyway. We wasted our efforts raising you.”

“Mother...” Wei Xun frowned.

Ever since he broke off his engagement with Shen Qiuyu, Madam Wei had resented him.

Especially when Madam Shen passed away before the new year, requiring Shen Qiuyu to observe a three-year mourning period. Even if Wei Xun married her afterward, he would already be pushing thirty.

Other men his age were grandfathers by that time, yet he didn’t even have a wife.

Madam Wei had taken pride all her life, only to have her dignity shattered by her son in the end.

“Go. Do as you please. This old woman can’t control you.”

Madam Wei closed her eyes, affecting exhaustion.

Wei Xun’s face set like stone as he turned and left.

After he was gone, Madam Wei slowly opened her eyes.

She pressed a hand to her chest and asked the nurse beside her,

“Jinghong, tell me... did I make a mistake?”

If she hadn’t opposed A Yuan, perhaps her third son would already have a wife and children by now.

Matron Lin soothed her chest and reassured her, “What happened to Lady Xie wasn’t your fault. She was simply born under an unlucky star.”

Madam Wei had merely looked down on her—she never wished for her death.

Madam Wei nodded. “You’re right. It was her fate.”

Yet even in death, the woman cast a shadow over them, driving a wedge between her and her son.

Lying in bed, Madam Wei worked herself into greater distress the longer she dwelled on it.

......

Prince Jing's retreat.

Shen Qiuyu lay in disarray in the arms of the Second Prince, Prince Jing. Lash marks crisscrossed her exposed arms and chest, yet she still forced a smile as she pressed herself against the man.

"Your Highness, Wei Xun has already set off for Jiangnan. Aren’t you worried he’ll dig something up... Ah!"

Before she could finish, the man's oily hand roughly squeezed her chest. Shen Qiuyu let out a flirtatious giggle, bracing her arm against his chest to keep from falling.

Prince Jing snorted coldly. "What? Still reluctant to part with your old flame?"

"Your Highness, what are you saying? How could he even hold a candle to you? A Yu’s just worried that Your Highness might fall into Wei Xun's schemes—after all, that man is wickedly clever," Shen Qiuyu coaxed with flattery.

Wei Xun had abandoned her on their wedding day, dragging her name through the mud. How could she possibly harbor any lingering affection?

Men ate up a woman’s flattery. Prince Jing's expression softened slightly, and he eased his grip.

"Don't worry. Who knows if he’ll even reach Yangzhou alive."

......

As soon as the passenger ship entered Jiangnan, it encountered a thunderstorm. The boat tossed violently on the waves, and though the boatman was experienced, he feared capsizing and harming the noble passengers.

"My lord, Suzhou is just ahead. Why not rest for the night before continuing?"

Seeing the rain grow heavier, Wei Xun wasn’t in a rush for a day or two and nodded in agreement. "Very well."

Once the ship docked, Chang Yuan went ahead to book two guest rooms.

An inn attendant brought hot water, and Wei Xun washed up quickly.

The attendant, noticing they were outsiders, smiled and said, "That’s how it is down here in the south—summer rains come often. Though tonight is stormy, tomorrow might be clear. If you’re not in a hurry, you could stay a couple more days. Tomorrow is our Suzhou Flower Goddess Festival—it’s quite lively."

Wei Xun grunted noncommittally but didn’t commit. He was naturally standoffish, and the attendant, sensing the lack of interest, said no more and left after setting down the water.

The next day, the skies indeed cleared.

The summer sky was crystal clear, and the streets were packed with bustling crowds, full of excitement.

Wei Xun paused by the window for a moment before Chang Yuan pushed the door open.

"Master, last night the ship hit a reef and sprung a bad leak. The boatman says it’ll take two days to repair."

"What about the other ships?" Wei Xun’s gaze darkened.

Chang Yuan scratched the back of his head. "As luck would have it, it’s Suzhou’s Flower Goddess Festival. The remaining ships have all been rented out as flower boats."

They were stuck staying in Suzhou for two days. Wei Xun nodded. "Then we’ll rest here for two days."

"Understood."

Chang Yuan hurried off to inform the boatman.

The guest room window remained open. As Wei Xun glanced outside absentmindedly, a familiar figure darted past his view.

"...A Yuan?"

His eyes flew open, his mind going blank.

The woman he’d just seen looked exactly like A Yuan—but when he looked again, she had vanished into the crowd.

Wei Xun whirled around and bolted downstairs.

For two years since A Yuan left, he had dreamed of her every night.

In his dreams, she stood in the water, her robes clinging to her, sobbing and asking why he’d taken so long to come for her. She was freezing, in pain.

Wei Xun felt as if a fist had clenched around his heart, making it hard to breathe.

It was all his fault for being so arrogant, thinking he could protect A Yuan, yet couldn't even see her one last time.

......

"A Yuan, what's wrong?"

On the street corner, A Yuan suddenly stopped and turned to glance behind her.

Zhou Yan, cradling A Man in his arms, followed her gaze but only saw a crowd of people.

At that moment, A Yuan's heart was racing. For some reason, she had just felt someone familiar watching her, as though something significant was about to happen.

Zhou Yan looked at her with concern, while A Man, nestled in his arms, peeked out with her little head and called out in her sweet little voice, "Mama."

A Man had just turned one this month. The little girl was feisty and already talking early, always surprising them with new words. Aunt Hui and Zhou Yan especially loved teasing her.

As her daughter blinked her bright, lively eyes at her, A Yuan's frayed nerves settled.

She reached out to stroke her daughter's small face and said to Zhou Yan, "It's nothing. I just got bumped into earlier."

"Good, you're okay."

Zhou Yan noticed the forced smile on A Yuan's lips and knew she wouldn’t tell him the real reason.

Though they had been pretending to be husband and wife for nearly a year, he still couldn’t reach her heart—if anything, she seemed to be pushing him further away.

Hiding the gloom in his eyes, Zhou Yan passed A Man to A Yuan and gently tapped the little girl’s nose.

"A Man, be good and listen to Mama. Daddy will come pick you up tonight."

Ever since A Yuan had been kidnapped before, Zhou Yan always escorted her to and from Jinxiu Fang.

A Man tugged reluctantly at Zhou Yan’s sleeve. "Daddy stay..."

"Come now, let Daddy go to work. How about A Man helps Mama make little bunnies?"

After some convincing, A Yuan finally managed to calm A Man down. The little girl pouted, holding onto the doorframe as she watched Zhou Yan walk away. Only when he was out of sight did she turn back, making a face at A Yuan and grumbling, "Mama bad."