Chapter 89: The Brother Arrives

Chapter 89: Big Brother’s Here

Wei Xun looked just like his father. Having served under Marquis Wei for over a decade, Xie Zheng knew his superior's features well. Though he had never met Wei Xun before, he recognized him instantly from those familiar brows and eyes.

"General, is that man the Wei Crown Prince?" Xie Yi, sensing the killing intent from his commander, asked cautiously.

"Mm." Xie Zheng tightened his grip on the reins and averted his gaze.

He hadn’t expected Wei Xun to leave first—lucky him.

But there’d be time. Sooner or later, he would get him back for hurting his sister.

...

By late October, rain had fallen over Jiangnan, and the weather turned abruptly cold.

Before bed, A Yuan shut the windows tight and checked in on A Man next door.

The little girl clutched her rabbit plushie, sleeping like a log.

A Yuan tenderly smoothed the loose hairs by her temples and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before quietly leaving.

"Mistress, someone’s at the door."

As A Yuan stepped out of her daughter’s room, Chun Tao held out an oiled-paper umbrella, urging her to listen closely to the commotion outside.

The rain poured heavily, yet it couldn’t drown out the steady *knock-knock*.

Wei Xun had left the capital today—it couldn’t be him. The only one who would visit at this hour was Hui Gu.

Fearing something had happened, A Yuan grabbed the umbrella from Chun Tao and stepped into the rain. "Let’s go see."

Chun Tao followed close behind. The courtyard in Osmanthus Lane was small, and in moments, the two reached the gate.

A Yuan opened the door to reveal a tall figure, water dripping steadily from his straw raincoat.

"Who are you?"

The man wore a rain hat, obscuring his face, but inexplicably, A Yuan’s heart ached.

Xie Zheng was five years older than his sister. From the moment he could walk, their father had taken him hunting. As Xie Senior often said, the men of their family must be strong in martial arts—to be unyielding, to protect the women at home.

So when A Yuan was born, Xie Zheng naturally became a protective big brother.

Little A Yuan was pretty and sweet-natured, adored by all the village children. Some mischievous boys even hung around the Xie house, refusing to leave.

That was when Xie Zheng would grab the wooden sword his father had carved for him and shoo them all off.

His sister? Those brats didn’t deserve to look at her.

Before the age of five, A Yuan lived a carefree life under the protection of her parents and brother. Her biggest daily worry was what to eat. Had it not been for that massacre, she would never have suffered so much.

"A Yuan..."

Xie Zheng’s voice trembled slightly as he gazed at the woman before him.

His hands clenched at his sides, not daring to step forward.

The courtyard lantern illuminated his face. Seeing the man who so resembled their father, A Yuan’s tears spilled over instantly.

She tossed aside the umbrella and rushed to him in a few steps, her hand shaking as she reached for his face. Feeling his warmth under her fingers, A Yuan sobbed harder.

"Gege, you're alive!"

"Yes, I'm alive."

The siblings locked eyes, tears streaming, while Chun Tao stood there, baffled.

She held the umbrella over A Yuan's head and urged, "Mistress, let’s get inside first. You’ll catch a chill out here."

"Yes, yes, let's go in!"

A Yuan snapped out of it, grabbing Xie Zheng’s sleeve to drag him in.

"Brother, you must be hungry. I'll make you a bowl of noodles. I still remember how much you loved Mom's braised noodles—you’d scarf down three bowls at once, even more than Dad."

Those brief memories stayed sharp in A Yuan’s mind. Though she rarely cooked, braised noodles were her best dish.

Ever since she was five, A Yuan had waited for the day Xie Zheng would suddenly return, so she could welcome him with a bowl of braised noodles. Now, it was finally happening.

"It's too late, don't trouble yourself..." Xie Zheng hated to put his sister to trouble.

"It's no trouble at all. Just wait, brother."

Though fifteen years had passed since they last saw each other, A Yuan fell right back into teasing him—a side of her Chun Tao had never seen.

"Mistress, was that... your brother just now?"

She thought her mistress had no family left.

A Yuan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, her expression turned serious. "Chun Tao, who do you really serve?"

"Mistress?" Chun Tao looked puzzled. "I’m yours, of course."

"Good. Then answer me this—if I split from Wei Xun, who would you follow?"

"Mistress..." Chun Tao hesitated, but seeing the unyielding look in A Yuan's eyes, she gritted her teeth. "You!"

"Good. What you saw tonight stays buried. Not a word to anyone, especially not to Chang Yuan about my brother. Otherwise, you’ll never follow me again!"

A Yuan’s voice was steel, and Chun Tao nodded firmly. "Don’t worry, Mistress. Chun Tao won’t tell a soul!"

She’d never walk away. She had struggled so hard to find her mistress—how could she ever leave?

"Good. I trust you."

A Yuan’s expression softened. "Go heat water for my brother to wash up and change into clean clothes."

Xie Zheng had been drenched in the rain for so long; even with his strong physique, he’d catch sick in no time.

Chun Tao obeyed and left, while A Yuan headed to the stove to prepare the noodles.

The Xie family had never been well-off. In those chaotic, famine-stricken times, Xie Zheng’s father didn’t always bag game—sometimes going days without a catch.

Xie’s mother would preserve the meat, using just a bit at a time, finely minced and turned into a fragrant sauce to ladle over noodles.

Both father and son had hearty appetites, capable of finishing an entire pot between them.

There was no preserved meat in Osmanthus Lane, so A Yuan used fresh minced pork instead, throwing in some fat shrimp to jazz it up.

The braised noodles were served, and as the mouthwatering smell wafted up, Xie Zheng sighed, "You've been through so much all these years."

A Yuan smiled and sat down across from him. "Just having you back makes up for everything."

She had no other wishes; her brother still being alive was already a miracle.

Xie Zheng lowered his head, digging into the bowl to hide the moisture in his eyes from A Yuan.

"Where have you been all these years, Brother? Have you been well?"

Seeing him wolf down the noodles, A Yuan felt a pang of worry.

Xie Zheng lifted his head. "That day, I sneaked off to the mountains alone. When I returned, the village was destroyed—our parents lying in blood, and you were gone. I searched the entire back mountain for you, then went to town, but found nothing."

"I had no food or money. Later, I begged with Song Xiuming..."

Xie Zheng paused. "You probably know Song Xiuming. He was the one who told me you were in Suzhou, which led me to you."

"He's my closest friend. We begged for a month before he married into a wealthy family, while I joined the army. I worked my way up from a foot soldier to general, and only returned to the capital half a year ago after a big win at the frontier."

So that’s what happened. A Yuan suddenly understood.

"Brother, you're amazing—a general now!"

A Yuan rested her chin in her hands, her eyes shining with admiration.

Her brother was always more capable than her, able to turn desperate situations around, unlike her, who had always been controlled by others.

Thinking of her current status, A Yuan lowered her gaze slightly, a flicker of shame in her eyes, unsure how to face her brother.

Xie Zheng placed his broad palm on her head, ruffling her hair gently as he had in childhood. "From now on, no one’s gonna mess with you while I’m around."

"A Yuan, I'm taking you home."