Chapter 88: Wei Xun Leaves the Capital

Chapter 88: Xie Zheng Leaves the Capital

Lin Qingshuang had found Xie Zheng half a year ago.

At the time, Xie Zheng was injured, lying in her carriage, covering her mouth and urging her to save him.

Having read too many chivalric tales, Lin Qingshuang had developed the spirit of a heroine. Though Xie Zheng’s face was cold, his demeanor was upright, and she instinctively believed he wasn’t a bad person, so she took him to the Lin family’s country manor.

Xie Zheng had secretly entered the capital and was being hunted, so he lay low under a false name and recovered from his injuries at the Lin estate.

Once healed, he agreed to serve as Lin Qingshuang’s martial arts teacher for three months. Now, the term had ended.

“But I haven’t mastered the skills yet—you can’t leave!”

Raised in indulgence, Lin Qingshuang was spoiled and headstrong. Though she often complained that Xie Zheng was as cold as an ice block, in her heart, she couldn’t bear to see him go.

“Martial arts cannot be mastered in a day. If you practice what I’ve taught you well, that will suffice.”

“If I don’t master it, you’ll have to keep teaching me!”

Lin Qingshuang grabbed his sleeve, badgering him endlessly.

“Are you angry because I made you replace the kite? Fine, I won’t ask for it anymore...”

When had the young lady ever lowered herself to plead with someone, especially to a mere servant? The maids beside her were stunned.

“I’m not angry with you.”

Xie Zheng sighed softly. For all her brattiness, she was still just a young girl—and the same age as A Yuan. The thought of his sister softened his expression slightly.

“A gentleman’s word is his bond. You personally agreed to let me leave after three months. Would you really break your promise?”

“But I’m not a gentleman!”

Lin Qingshuang grumbled quietly, though she knew reneging was wrong. Blushing, she asked, “Is there no way you’ll stay? What if I promise not to scold you anymore?”

If Xie Zheng stayed, she was willing to control her temper.

Yet Xie Zheng had already made up his mind. “I must go.”

“...”

“Yan Sheng, I hate you so much!”

Her eyes brimming with tears, the young lady threw the handkerchief in her hand at his face and ran out of the courtyard.

The handkerchief, embroidered with peonies, still carried her scent as it landed in the man’s palm, where he clenched it tightly.

Xie Yi emerged from the shadows with a bundle on his back. Seeing his general with a distant look, he asked, “Shall we chase after her, General?”

Over the past six months, Xie Yi had witnessed Xie Zheng’s interactions with Lin Qingshuang. Though the young lady was hard to like, her nature wasn’t bad.

“No need.” Xie Zheng pressed his lips together, tucking the handkerchief into his sleeve before taking the bundle from Xie Yi. “Let’s go.”

The two slipped over the courtyard wall, where two sturdy horses awaited them at the street corner.

Lin Qingshuang wiped her tears, crouching by the gate for a long time until her legs grew numb.

“He didn’t even come after me?”

The young lady's voice was muffled, tinged with grievance.

No matter how angry she had been with Xie Zheng before, that idiot would come running after her, fumbling over his words to cheer her up.

But today, she had already waited for an hour.

The maid shot a look at the older servant beside her, who hurried into the courtyard to search for him. Yet, after searching every corner, Xie Zheng was nowhere to be found.

"Young mistress... looks like he left..."

The old woman's words crushed Lin Qingshuang's last bit of hope—he had truly left.

"Xie Yan Sheng, you scoundrel!"

On the ground, the young lady had written the name "Sheng" dozens, if not hundreds, of times with a twig, now smudged by her tears.

Xie Zheng rode on horseback, the heaviness in his chest eating at him—this feeling was harder to bear than the arrow wound he once suffered.

Lin Qingshuang couldn’t stand him so much; now that he was gone, she should be happy.

......

Meanwhile, in Suzhou, Wei Xun also received a letter from the capital.

He had been away for too long, and even the Emperor had begun urging his return.

Wei Xun could brush off the Capital Prefect, but he dared not defy the imperial decree. He had to set off immediately.

A Yuan, knowing he was leaving, let out a huge sigh of relief.

These past few days, he had stayed overnight in Osmanthus Lane every evening, and the bitter smell of medicine had begun to permeate the bedroom.

A man as sharp as Wei Xun would surely discover her secretly drinking contraceptive decoctions if he stayed any longer. When that happened, she wouldn’t know how to explain herself.

"I’ll pack your luggage for you, my lord. You like osmanthus tea—I’ll prepare a few packets for you..."

A Yuan’s enthusiasm was excessive, putting Wei Xun on edge.

He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, lowering his head to bite her earlobe. "Are you this happy to see me go?"

A Yuan trembled, carefully choosing her words. "The capital needs you..."

"But you can?"

Wei Xun tightened his embrace. The more she tried to push him away, the more he refused to relent.

Watching her flounder for an answer, he finally gave in.

"Wait for me to return."

When he returned, perhaps he could take her back to his residence.

Wei Xun placed his hand on her abdomen. After all his efforts, there should be a child there by now.

The thought of A Yuan bearing his child melted his heart.

"The shop business can be handled by the servants. Don’t push yourself too hard—your health comes first. Remember that?"

He said seriously, and A Yuan nodded obediently. "I will."

"If you need anything, go to Aunt Li. Don’t try to handle it alone."

Wei Xun knew about A Yuan's unresolved feelings toward him. She'd always swallowed her pain in silence, and he feared that she might be bullied after he left.

"I understand, my lord. You can rest assured and return."

A Yuan agreed to everything, so perfectly compliant you couldn't find fault if you tried, making Wei Xun even more reluctant to leave.

......

Outside the door, Chun Tao yanked Chang Yuan by the sleeve.

"Does our mistress still not know that the heir isn’t married?"

Chang Yuan scratched his head. "Why would you ask that?"

Chun Tao naturally couldn’t mention A Yuan drinking that monthly draught, so she asked sideways, "Have you or the heir ever told her?"

Chang Yuan rarely interacted with A Yuan and knew little about the inner courtyard affairs. How could he answer such a question?

"Typical! Completely unreliable!"

Chun Tao stamped her foot hard enough to shake the floorboards. "Then hurry and remind the heir! Tell him to explain it to our mistress. How could you all leave such an important matter unclear? No wonder she’s upset!"

"Alright, alright, I’ll tell him. Easy now, don't upset yourself."

Despite his imposing presence outside, Chang Yuan was putty in his wife's hands.

"Hmph!"

How could Chun Tao not be anxious? As long as their mistress and the heir remained at odds, she’d have to keep drinking that monthly draught.

All medicine carries some toxicity—how could she take it so often?

Moreover, if their mistress didn’t return to the capital, she’d have to be separated from Chang Yuan.

Though Chun Tao always complained about him, the two had spent every day together these past two years, never apart. The thought of not seeing him for months made her eyes prickle with tears.

Chang Yuan dabbed at her cheeks with his sleeve. "Why don’t you come back with me?"

"Don't be ridiculous! If I go with you, what about our mistress? Quit loitering and get going!"

Her bark was worse than her bite. If Chang Yuan didn’t leave soon, she might really change her mind.

But their mistress needed her too—she couldn’t leave.

With urgent business in the capital, Wei Xun didn’t take the water route this time. Instead, he and Chang Yuan rode back.

On the official road, two shadowy figures came barreling past.

Though the other party moved like the wind, Wei Xun sensed a murderous intent. He clenched his jaw and frowned. Was that man his enemy?