Chapter 94: Personally Rejecting

Chapter 94: A Personal Rejection

The idea of training embroiderers had long been on A Yuan’s mind, but she lacked the means to act on it.

Now, with her brother’s help in setting up the shop and gathering personnel, A Yuan was determined to turn her vision into reality.

In these times, women already endured great hardships, and those cast out by their husbands had it even worse.

Many women, once dismissed by their husbands, were also shunned by their own families, seen as shaming their parents and brothers, forbidden to even step inside.

Many women, with no way to survive, were pushed to their limits.

Heartbroken by their suffering, A Yuan wanted to open an embroidery house to offer them a lifeline.

Chun Tao marveled at her mistress’s generosity. “Leave it to me—I’ll speak to my mother at once!”

...

After the borderlands’ decisive victory, Xie Zheng was promoted to the third-rank General of the Valiant Cavalry and given a post in the Ministry of War, still answering to Marquis Wei.

“General, the Marquis has sent word, inviting you to a welcoming banquet at the Marquis’s residence tonight.”

Xie Zheng’s brush snapped between his fingers. The clerk recoiled, stammering, “H-have I offended you, General?”

Xie Zheng narrowed his eyes. “Not your fault.”

It was just the mention of the Marquis’s residence... that set his blood boiling.

“Inform the Marquis that Yan Sheng... *will* be there!”

The words clawed their way out. The clerk shuddered, not daring to linger, and hurried off to deliver the message.

Back at the Marquis of Anning’s estate, Wei Xun received an urgent letter from Suzhou.

A Yuan and A Man were gone—taken.

Before leaving Suzhou, he had sent Zhang Feng to secretly protect the mother and daughter, but a decoy had drawn him off. By the time Zhang Feng realized the deception, Osmanthus Lane lay deserted.

Wei Xun finished reading the letter, his face darkened. “Have you found out who took them?”

Zhang Feng knelt on the ground. “My lord, I... I lost them.”

Xie Zheng, having spent years at the border, was a ghost in the capital. Moreover, he had Xie Yi disguise himself, making it impossible for Zhang Feng to recognize him.

“Keep searching.”

A month had already passed since A Yuan’s disappearance. If the kidnappers had ill intentions, Wei Xun dreaded to think of the consequences.

“My lord, the Marquis requests your presence in the front courtyard to entertain the guest—General Xie has arrived.”

Chang Yuan entered, his smile nowhere in sight.

With A Yuan gone, Chun Tao had also vanished. Since their marriage, he had never been apart from his wife for so long, and he was sick with worry.

“Understood.”

Wei Xun acknowledged but did not rise immediately. He knew the purpose of Marquis Wei’s banquet for Xie Zheng, but he had no intention of playing along.

It wasn't until the front courtyard sent people to urge him twice more that he changed into an old robe and went out.

Xie Zheng had climbed from a soldier with no connections to a third-grade general, which was not only due to his own abilities but also thanks to Marquis Wei's patronage.

Thus, though Xie Zheng resented Wei Xun for harming his sister, he bore no grudge against Marquis Wei.

The two chatted from military tactics to the Ministry of War's affairs, and the conversation flowed smoothly despite Wei Xun's absence.

However, Wei Xun's late arrival made the atmosphere in the room somewhat awkward.

"Why so late?"

Marquis Wei scowled, looking at him with disapproval—his eyes weren't right, his nose wasn't right—nothing about him was satisfactory.

Wei Xun lowered his gaze. "There was an urgent case that needed handling. It held me up."

He spoke earnestly, and even knowing he was lying, you couldn't call him out on it.

Marquis Wei snorted coldly. "Hurry up and come greet Yan Sheng."

Knowing full well this was about arranging a marriage for him, yet needing to be asked multiple times—if not for Yan Sheng being his subordinate, he would've lost all face.

Xie Zheng set down his cup and casually raised his eyes. "The Wei Crown Prince is of noble status. A military man like Yan Sheng hardly deserves his courtesy."

"It's you?"

Wei Xun looked at the man he had only met once before, his dark eyes narrowing slightly.

He didn't know Xie Zheng, yet this young General Xie kept showing hostility toward him. Wei Xun's expression darkened.

"Has Hengzhi somehow offended General Xie?"

Offended him? There were too many ways!

Xie Zheng clenched his fists, barely restraining himself from punching Wei Xun in the face.

"Perhaps the Wei Crown Prince's face simply doesn't suit my taste. Looking at it makes me uncomfortable."

What kind of ridiculous excuse is that? Even Marquis Wei, even with his thick skin, sensed the tension between them.

"My lord, shall we serve the meal?"

Just then, the steward arrived, interrupting the confrontation. Marquis Wei took the opportunity to stand. "Serve it! Bring several jars of good wine. It's been too long since I drank with Yan Sheng. Tonight, we're drinking till we drop!"

"Come, let's go to the main hall!"

Marquis Wei pulled Xie Zheng along, giving Wei Xun a dirty look as they passed. Before even discussing the marriage, he'd already offended the bride's brother. Had Yan Sheng been in the military camp so long that he disliked the third son's delicate features?

This was troublesome. Maybe he should find a way to send the third son to military training for some toughening up.

Marquis Wei pondered, his displeasure growing with each glance at Wei Xun.

"What are you standing around for? Follow us!"

The main hall was already prepared with food and wine. Marquis Wei seated Xie Zheng beside him, while Wei Xun lagged behind and sat across from them.

He watched as Marquis Wei and Xie Zheng got along famously, polishing off two jars of wine in no time.

"Yan Sheng, you know what kind of man I am. Once your sister becomes part of this household, I'll treat her like my own flesh and blood. No one in this house would dare mistreat her!"

Marquis Wei, heavily drunk, kept patting Xie Zheng's shoulder and going on and on.

"My third son may have done many foolish things, but he’s not completely hopeless. With me keeping an eye on him, if he dares treat your sister poorly, I’ll snap his legs in two!"

"Father."

Wei Xun interrupted him, "I will not marry Lady Xie."

He had never fought for anything in his life, but when it came to marrying A Yuan, he wouldn’t back down.

"Ha! Perfect, because I never intended to marry my sister to you!"

Xie Zheng slammed his wine cup down, stood up first, and bowed to Marquis Wei.

"Marquis, our Xie family is too lowly and unworthy to ally with the noble house. Moreover, she is my only sister, and I wish to keep her with me for a few more years. The Wei Crown Prince is too proud and lofty, hardly a suitable match for my sister. I beg you to call off the engagement."

"This..."

Marquis Wei was stunned, his buzz wearing off a little. Hadn’t it been agreed earlier that once Lady Xie was found, she would marry Wei Xun? Why the sudden change?

But seeing Xie Zheng’s pleading expression, Marquis Wei relented.

"Since you refuse, then let it be. It’s this ungrateful brat’s loss, after all."

A good wife makes a good marriage. Though he had never met Lady Xie, judging by Xie Zheng’s character, his sister couldn’t be far off.

This ungrateful brat was hung up on some lowly concubine—what future could he possibly have?

The wine left Marquis Wei fuming. After seeing Xie Zheng off, he immediately snapped at Wei Xun to get out.

Winter was in full swing, and the capital was bitterly cold.

Wei Xun stood in the courtyard, recalling the look Xie Zheng had given him before leaving. A weird ache settled in his chest, as if he had missed something important.

Zhang Feng rushed in from outside, grinning from ear to ear.

"My lord, we’ve found out! I’ve discovered who took Lady Xie. It turns out Lady Xie is the sister of General of the Valiant Cavalry, Xie Zheng!"

"What did you say?"