Chapter 81: Begging Him to Let Go

Chapter 81 Begging for His Forgiveness

Go back with him?

Then what was the point of her desperate escape?

A Yuan lowered her head with a bitter smile, gently ruffling her daughter’s hair. "Sweet A’Man, take Flower out to play for a while. I need to... have a word with the gentleman."

"Mama?"

A’Man tilted her head, unwilling to leave her, clutching the hem of her clothes.

A Yuan gently uncurled her fingers and bent down to kiss her cheek. "A’Man, be good. Listen to Mama, and I’ll make you sweet osmanthus cakes, okay?"

After all, she was still just a little girl, and the mention of treats made her hesitate.

She twisted her fingers anxiously. "But that mean man better not hurt Mama, or else A’Man... A’Man will let Flower bite you!"

Her threat came out more like a pouty whine.

Wei Xun glanced at A Yuan, his dark eyes unfathomable. "Don’t worry, I won’t hurt your mother."

A’Man kept looking back as she slowly left. The door closed behind her, leaving only the golden autumn light filtering through the window.

A Yuan lowered her head, her trembling hands slowly rising to undo the buttons at her neck, then the sash, the inner robe, and finally the undergarment. Her figure had always been full-figured, and after giving birth to A’Man, her curves were even more pronounced—her beauty was undeniable.

"My lord, A Yuan... will submit to you once. Could you... grant A Yuan her freedom after this?"

She stood there, her porcelain skin gradually flushing pink from shame, her almond-shaped eyes glistening with tears, utterly pitiable.

But Wei Xun felt his entire body turn cold at her words, his hands clenching abruptly at his sides.

"A Yuan, what do you take me for? A lustful predator who covets your beauty, or a shameless lover?"

Furious, he closed the distance between them, pinning her to the daybed.

A Yuan’s chin was gripped in his hand, forcing her to meet his gaze.

The man’s narrow, upturned eyes were striking—though his nature was stern and distant, their upward tilt lent them a seductive charm.

She had once been deceived by those eyes, believing he would love and cherish her. But in the end, she had lost to propriety and rules.

A Yuan lowered her lashes, her thick lashes fluttering faintly. "A Yuan wouldn’t dare. If my lord remains displeased, then tell A Yuan what to do... for you to let her go?"

If submitting to him a few times could buy her peace for the rest of her life, she was willing.

"A Yuan!"

The man gritted his teeth, rage burning through him.

No one could cut deeper than she did, yet he had no way to retaliate.

Wei Xun tightened his grip, bending down to claim her mouth. His teeth pressed down with force, channeling all his anguish into the kiss.

"Mmm..."

A Yuan tilted her head back, forced to endure it. As their tongues tangled, she nearly lost herself in his arms.

Only after a long while did Wei Xun finally release her.

The man pressed his thumb against her lips, his cold eyes brimming with obsession. "After just a few nights with me, you think I'll let you go? Xie Yuan, since when have you been so naive?"

His fingers trailed down, skimming over her trembling jade-like skin. "Every part of you is mine, and from now on, only I can touch it!"

"Master Wei!"

A Yuan's eyes reddened, her voice hoarse, her heart sinking endlessly. The man still found it insufficient, lowering his head to bite her shoulder, leaving his mark.

A Yuan stifled a pained whimper. "My lord... please spare me."

"Spare you? A Yuan, if I spare you, who will spare me? What about Zhou Yan? What about A Man?"

"No! Don’t hurt them!"

Hearing Wei Xun's words, A Yuan ignored her own pain, clutching his sleeve as she knelt before him. "My lord, A Man means everything to me. Please don’t harm her. It was my fault before—take it out on me instead!"

She nearly blurted out A Man’s true origins but swallowed the words at the last moment.

Wei Xun stroked her long hair, gently lifting her chin. "If you want them safe, behave."

He never wanted it to come to this. No one ached more than he did seeing A Yuan’s tear-streaked face.

But if A Yuan rejected him, he’d sink to any low.

"I’ll behave," the woman whispered, pressing her face into his palm, her tear-filled eyes going blank.

She’d run so long, hidden so well, yet in the end, she returned to the starting point.

At least A Man’s secret was still safe.

She didn’t want to return to the Wei household, didn’t want her daughter to suffer.

The thought of the Wei women made her blood run cold.

The old Madam Wei had always despised her, and now that she had been married, the Wei household would never accept her.

Perhaps she could stay in Jiangnan, being Wei Xun’s... mistress.

Outside, A Man played with Flower, who was clutching a bone—its first taste of meat.

A Man chased Flower around the courtyard, their laughter a fleeting calm.

Wei Xun picked up A Yuan’s clothes and draped them over her.

"No need for this next time. I can wait."

If he took her, it’d be when she yielded willingly.

But Zhou Yan could no longer come.

The thought of those two years A Yuan had spent with Zhou Yan made jealousy claw at his chest.

"End things with Zhou Yan. I’ll arrange new servants for you here."

A Yuan bowed her head. "A Man and I don’t need servants. As for Yan-ge... I won’t see him again."

Aunt Hui and Zhou Yan had saved her once—she wouldn’t ruin them too.

Wei Xun also knew he couldn't push too hard. After all, Zhou Yan was currently tied up with work. Once he found an official position to post him far away, the two of them would have no chance to meet again.

"Alright, if anything happens, go next door to Uncle Li and Aunt Li. They’ll help you."

Next door? That explains it.

A Yuan smiled bitterly. So Wei Xun had everything under control. How laughable that she had thought she could escape him.

"Yes."

A Yuan took a deep breath and agreed mechanically.

Wei Xun opened the door, and she adjusted her clothes.

A Man rushed over, looking her mother over to check if she was truly unharmed before finally easing up.

But toward Wei Xun, the little girl remained wary.

"Go away, bad uncle, and don’t come back!"

Wei Xun snorted lightly, tugging her little hair bun before walking away.

Once he was gone, A Yuan sank to her knees, clutching her daughter tightly.

Feeling her mother’s fear, A Man hugged her back with her small hands. "Mommy, can we go find Daddy?"

Last time, it was Daddy who chased the bad uncle off. If Daddy protected Mommy, Mommy wouldn’t have to be afraid anymore.

Her daughter’s words made A Yuan’s eyes well up. She didn’t know that the "bad uncle" she spoke of was actually her father.

"Sweetheart, Daddy is busy. When he’s done, he’ll come see you. Let’s not bother Daddy, alright?"

The little girl scrunched up her face. "But when will Daddy be done? A Man hasn’t seen Daddy in a whole bunch of days."

She still couldn’t count, so A Yuan had taught her to count on her fingers. The little girl kept count every day.

"Soon..."

A Yuan whispered, but she knew Wei Xun’s temperament wouldn’t tolerate her seeing Zhou Yan again.

A Man’s wait would never end.

"Then A Man will wait nicely for Daddy. When Daddy comes back, I’ll tell him Flower doesn’t like snacks—she likes meat bones! She can eat a whole big bowlful!"

"Okay."