Chapter 87: News of the Sister

Chapter 87 News of the Sister

A Yuan, hazy from wine, couldn’t tell reality from illusion anymore, gradually giving in to his tenderness.

Though they hadn’t seen each other for two years, their bodies remained familiar. Wei Xun only had to tease her a little, and she could barely handle it, especially since her shyness made her seem untouched, unlike a woman who had borne a child.

Wei Xun suppressed the doubt in his eyes and leaned down, cutting off her soft moans with a kiss.

The night grew later.

The emerald bed curtains swayed ceaselessly until the candlelight finally extinguished.

......

When A Yuan woke up, Wei Xun still hadn’t left. His arm rested around her waist, holding her tight against him.

Memories of last night’s intimacy came flooding back, and the afterglow of passion made her even more alluring.

She bit her lip and tried to push him away, but he caught her fingers.

"Awake?"

"Young Master..."

A Yuan lowered her gaze, too shy to look at him—not just because she had been caught, but also because of their first tender moment since they’d reunited.

Though she had been drunk the night before, she hadn’t been entirely unaware. His teasing had gotten to her.

At the thought of Wei Xun asking her to bear his child, panic flickered in her eyes.

She wouldn’t do it. Having a child would mean returning to the marquis’s household, and Wei Xun’s plans were doomed to fail.

Composing herself, she smiled gently.

"It’s getting late. Let me help you up, Young Master."

The man played with her fingers, reluctant to let go. "A little longer."

Yesterday’s tenderness seemed like a dream—his A Yuan, warm and real in his arms, calling out to him softly, making him unwilling to leave.

"...Alright."

A Yuan nodded, dazed. Wei Xun had always prioritized his duties, never one to stay in bed. Now, it was as if he had become a different person.

"Not sleepy?"

He smirked at her wide-eyed look, tracing his fingers from her fingertips to her palm, then slowly intertwining their hands.

Freshly awakened, A Yuan indeed felt no drowsiness, so she shook her head.

With a low chuckle, he tightened his embrace, his warm breath brushing against her ear. "Then we won’t sleep."

"Mmm!"

Her soft moans rose once more. By the time Wei Xun finally rose, the sun was already high in the sky. A Yuan’s body ached, her legs weak, her fingers too weak to move.

After dressing, Wei Xun bent down to press a kiss to her forehead. Her lashes fluttered, but before she could open her eyes, she felt a cool touch around her wrist.

A delicate, jade-green bracelet now adorned her slender, pale wrist—its crystal-clear sheen making her skin glow.

"A Man has her gift, and now you have yours."

This jade bracelet is even more precious than the warm jade, an imperial treasure bestowed by the Emperor. Madam Wei had told Wei Xun to keep it for his wife, and now he had given it to A Yuan.

After all, to him, A Yuan had long been his wife.

"...Thank you, sir."

A Yuan did not refuse it. She could always give it back later if needed.

Her docile manner pleased Wei Xun, his eyes softening.

"Rest a little longer. I'll have a maid bring you food."

"Alright."

A Yuan lay in bed, watching Wei Xun leave, her faint smile slowly fading.

She did not sleep again, instead staring blankly at the bed curtains, lost in her thoughts.

Wei Xun acted as if those two years apart had never happened, but she knew better.

The same problems remained—but now, she was too tired to fight. Since she couldn’t escape, she would simply play along.

"Mistress, you're awake! The young master had Aunt Li make you tonic soup. Please have a bowl first."

Spring Tao helped A Yuan into her clothes, noticing the telltale marks on her skin. The maid couldn’t suppress a knowing smile—until A Yuan's next words made her go pale.

"Go to the pharmacy and get me a dose of contraceptive brew."

"Mistress?"

For a moment, Spring Tao thought she had misheard. Did her lady not want the young master’s child?

"I’m in no position to carry a child now."

"But... if you had a child, you’d have every right to return to the estate! The young master dotes on you so—he’d never allow you to be mistreated." Spring Tao was bewildered.

A Yuan smiled bitterly. "But I don’t want to return. No matter how much he cares for me, he is already married. My place in the household would only earn me scorn from the other women."

"The young master is married?"

No, he wasn’t...

Even slow-witted Spring Tao could tell something was off. Her mistress seemed to have misunderstood the situation.

The news of Wei Xun canceling his wedding because of her had spread throughout the capital—no one would marry into the family now. There was no lady of the house to speak of.

But before she could explain, A Yuan urged, "Hurry, and don’t let anyone from the estate find out."

"...Very well."

Spring Tao stamped her foot in frustration. She couldn’t disobey her mistress, no matter how anxious she felt.

Slipping out through the back door, she had the medicine prepared at the pharmacy and sneaked it back like a thief.

After finishing the entire bowl of tonic soup, A Yuan’s stomach no longer felt so empty. She took the contraceptive brew from Spring Tao and drank it all in one gulp.

The bitter medicine slid down her throat, dragging up old memories.

Remembering the suffering she endured in the Marquis's household, her resolve grew even firmer.

She would never return to the Marquis's household.

......

In the capital, at the Lin family estate.

Xie Zheng had just freed himself when his subordinate Xie Yi emerged from the shadows and handed him a letter.

"Song Xiuming had it rushed over. He said it's about the young lady."

"A Yuan?"

Xie Zheng caught his breath. It had been fifteen years since he lost his sister. Though he had never stopped searching, he knew the fate of a woman abducted would not be kind.

Now, after fifteen years of constant searching, answers were finally within reach—yet Xie Zheng hesitated.

He feared what he might find.

"General?"

Xie Yi's voice snapped him back to reality. With trembling hands, Xie Zheng forced himself to open the envelope.

Song Xiuming's investigation was thorough. Lin Ma was imprisoned in Suzhou Prefecture's jail, while A Yuan had been sold to the Spring Smoke Pavilion at the age of five and later became Wei Xun's concubine. Her faked death and escape from the capital were clearly described.

A few thin pages contained the fifteen years he had been separated from his sister. Xie Zheng had entered the military camp at ten, been shot in the chest by the enemy, and nearly died—yet he had never shed a tear. But reading of his sister's suffering, the battle-hardened warrior's eyes grew moist.

"Spring Smoke Pavilion... Wei Xun!"

How awful that he had once considered asking Wei Xun for help in finding his sister, never realizing the man had hurt A Yuan the most—and now had the audacity to threaten her into becoming his secret mistress.

Xie Zheng's hands clenched, veins standing out as rage burned within him.

With him here, no one would dare harm his sister again!

"Get ready to leave for Suzhou today!"

He couldn't wait a moment longer to find her.

"Right away."

Xie Yi bowed and departed. Just then, a whiny voice rang out from beyond the wall.

"Xie Yan Sheng! Where's my kite? Don't think you can get away with breaking it!"

Lin Qingshuang, clad in nomadic-style riding clothes, marched over angrily with her maids in tow, her face flushed with anger.

Xie Zheng hid the intensity in his eyes, his expression reverting to its usual sternness.

"I'll repay the kite another day. We're even now. I leave today."

"You... you're leaving?" Lin Qingshuang's face fell, a strange pang in her chest.