Chapter 82: Chun Tao Arrives

Chapter 82: Chun Tao Arrives

A Man never got to see her father in the end.

When the imperial decree came from the capital, Zhou Yan was appointed magistrate of Junzhou and ordered to depart immediately.

The news brought no joy to Pingyang Street.

Hui Gu packed her son’s belongings while secretly wiping away tears. "Do you really have to go? Junzhou is so far away. Who knows when you’ll be back? Or maybe Mother, A Yuan, and A Man could go with you..."

"Mother, the emperor’s orders can’t be disobeyed," Zhou Yan replied grimly. "Besides, do you know who arranged for my transfer to Junzhou? It was Wei Xun."

"All he wants is to keep me away from A Yuan."

"Hasn’t A Yuan suffered enough at his hands? What more must he do to let her go?"

Hui Gu gritted her teeth, wishing she could skin Wei Xun alive.

A Yuan had finally started to move on over the past two years, only to be ensnared by him again.

"He won’t let her go..."

A man knows another man’s mind best. Just as Zhou Yan understood Wei Xun, he’d sent people to the capital to dig up information after A Yuan fled the marquis’s household.

Wei Xun had faced scandal for putting a concubine above his wife and refused to remarry—all because of her escape.

How could a man like that ever let her go?

"But what about A Yuan? How can she and her child stand against Wei Xun alone?"

Hui Gu panicked. Just as her son and A Yuan had grown closer, Wei Xun had intervened.

Zhou Yan laughed bitterly. "Mother, maybe A Yuan still has feelings for Wei Xun. And they share A Man."

For two years he’d tried to win A Yuan’s heart, but affection could not be forced. Even if he kept trying for ten or twenty years, she would never love him.

A Yuan had given Wei Xun a child—that was the deepest bond between them, one he could never rival.

"But with A Yuan’s background, how could the Anning Marquis’s household ever accept her? And with you gone, who’ll have her back?"

A Yuan had finally found a family and lived peacefully for two years, only to be torn apart again.

"Don’t worry. Someone will soon come to support A Yuan."

Thinking of Song Xiuming’s inquiries, a glint of satisfaction flashed in Zhou Yan’s eyes.

Wei Xun thought banishing him would win A Yuan, but he was in for a disappointment.

"How?" Hui Gu pressed.

Zhou Yan smiled. "You’ll know when the time comes."

......

Zhou Yan departed quickly. A Yuan didn’t come to say goodbye, but Hui Gu took A Man to bid him farewell. The little girl cried her heart out, calling for her father for days afterward.

With his official duties in the capital settled, Wei Xun found himself with ample leisure. He came over every day by climbing the wall, yet A Man never acknowledged him.

A Yuan attended to him dutifully, but the rift between them was not so easily mended.

To A Yuan, tending to him felt no different than serving a master.

Whether Wei Xun was scowling or sweet-talking, the woman remained unmoved, always playing the obedient role.

As Wei Xun stormed off yet again, A Yuan lowered her gaze.

She had no idea how much longer she’d have to endure this, only hoping Wei Xun would grow tired of her soon and return to the capital.

......

"Has the person been brought here?"

Wei Xun returned to the neighboring house and summoned Zhang Feng, his usual cool mask slipping to reveal frustration.

A Yuan had locked her heart away, giving him no chance to enter, and he couldn’t bear to force her, so he had no choice but to take it slow.

Zhang Feng replied, "They will arrive in Suzhou tomorrow."

"Make it quick!"

"Yes."

On the passenger ship in Suzhou, a young woman in pink stood on deck as the wind gusted, lifting the veil from her head.

Chang Yuan emerged from the cabin and wrapped a fur-trimmed cloak around her.

"We’re about to reach Suzhou City—must you fidget out here?"

The young woman pouted. "I just miss Mistress Xie so much. This damn boat crawls like a turtle. We should’ve just ridden horses here."

Chang Yuan scoffed. "Riding horses depends on whether your body can handle it. You’d keel over before laying eyes on Mistress Xie."

"Stupid Chang Yuan, what nonsense are you spouting!"

The young woman, Chun Tao, turned red with indignation and kicked at him, but the man caught her by the waist. "Call me 'husband.'"

Chun Tao’s face burned as she drove her elbow into his ribs. "Shameless! Who’d call you that!"

With that, she bolted back inside, leaving Chang Yuan standing there like a lovestruck fool.

After half a day’s journey, the passenger ship finally arrived in Suzhou City.

Zhang Feng had already sent someone to meet them. The carriage didn’t stop at the Wei residence but instead halted at the entrance of the Xie residence in Osmanthus Lane.

Chun Tao stepped down from the carriage with Chang Yuan’s support, her eyes welling up as she gazed at the house before her.

"Is my lady really here?"

When she had first learned of her mistress’s drowning, she’d been grief-stricken for days. Now, knowing she was alive, Chun Tao felt equal parts thrilled and terrified.

"I’ll knock."

Understanding her emotions, Chang Yuan took the first step for her.

A Yuan was in the courtyard playing string games with A Man when she heard the knock. She figured it was Old Lady Li next door, since Auntie Qian, Su Mengyun, and the others never knocked before entering.

She stood up, smoothed her skirts, and opened the door blank-faced—but when she saw who stood outside, tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Chun Tao?"

"Mistress! Chun Tao has finally found you!"

The young maid, eyes swimming with tears, flung herself into A Yuan’s embrace, sobs finally breaking free.

"Thank heavens you're safe, otherwise Chun Tao wouldn't have gotten to see you again!"

"And you, back then you weren't..."

A Yuan was still in shock. She had personally witnessed Chun Tao being beaten to death, yet here she was, standing before her alive and well.

Chun Tao wiped her tears with the back of her hand and explained, "I didn't die back then. Young Master Wei Xun had someone save me, but my injuries were too severe, so I was recovering at the clinic. I originally planned to see you once you returned from the hot spring estate, but who would have thought..."

Who would have thought the first news to arrive would be of A Yuan's death.

Her freshly dried tears began to fall again.

"So that's how it was..."

A Yuan stood frozen. After Chun Tao's supposed death, she had lost all hope for anyone in the marquis' household, especially Wei Xun. He had promised to protect Chun Tao but failed—or so she thought.

It turned out she had misunderstood.

"Just being alive is enough, just being alive is enough."

A Yuan lowered her gaze, hiding her feelings.

Between her and Wei Xun, this wasn't the only issue. The deepest chasm between them was their status.

"Mommy, who's here?"

A Man had been waiting in the yard for a while without her mother returning, so she toddled over.

Seeing the little girl who was the spitting image of A Yuan, Chun Tao's eyes widened.

"My lady, is this... the young mistress?"

"She's my daughter." A Yuan smiled and picked up A Man.

"This is your Auntie Chun Tao. Say hi to Auntie."

Though A Man had never met Chun Tao before, she was quite outgoing and obediently said, "Auntie Chun Tao."

Chun Tao frantically waved her hands. "No, no! The young mistress shouldn't call me auntie!"

"I'm not the young mistress, I'm Mommy's sweetheart."

A Man hugged A Yuan's neck, correcting her words, which stunned Chun Tao all over again.

A Yuan pinched her daughter's little cheek and said to Chun Tao, "She's just mine."

"Chun Tao, after leaving the marquis' household, I married someone."