Chapter 95: A Yuan Doesn’t Want Him Anymore

Chapter 95 A Yuan Doesn’t Want Him Anymore

Wei Xun felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, leaving him rooted to the spot.

Zhang Feng had thought his master would be overjoyed to learn of Mistress Xie’s true identity, but the reaction was nothing like he’d imagined. Had Wei Xun not heard him clearly?

Hesitating, Zhang Feng repeated the news. Wei Xun suppressed the blood rising in his throat, his face turning ashen.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Had he known just half an hour sooner, he wouldn’t be wracked with regret.

No wonder Xie Zheng had it out for him—he was A Yuan’s brother.

Remembering how he’d outright rejected the marriage alliance between their families made Wei Xun want to slap himself silly.

“Young Marquis?” Zhang Feng asked cautiously, watching Wei Xun’s despondency.

He thought: shouldn’t this be good news? Mistress Xie now had a family background befitting the marquis’ household, and her brother was even Marquis Wei’s right-hand man. With this, not even the Dowager Madame could object to their union.

But he had overlooked one thing: Wei Xun might want to marry her, but A Yuan did not want to wed him.

Wei Xun lifted his gaze, his fists clenched so tightly that veins bulged along his arms. His voice was hoarse as he ordered, “Have the general’s residence watched. The moment they step out, inform me immediately!”

The general’s residence was no longer like it was in Osmanthus Lane. None of his strong-arm methods would work here—nor could he use them.

A Yuan had suffered so much because of him. If he stubbornly tried to force her back now, he would only push her further away.

Standing in the courtyard for hours, battered by the winter wind, Wei Xun’s dread only grew stronger.

He feared that this time… A Yuan had truly given up on him.

---

At the general’s residence, Xie Zheng returned smelling strongly of liquor.

A Yuan had the servants prepare hangover remedy and brought it to him herself.

“Why did you drink so much?”

Being scolded by his sister didn’t annoy Xie Zheng—in fact, it pleased him.

“Marquis Wei insisted. I couldn’t refuse. I won’t drink so much next time.”

He hadn’t kept his visit to Marquis Wei’s residence a secret from his sister. There was no point in hiding it.

Having risen from a lowly soldier to a general under Marquis Wei’s patronage, it was inevitable that he would maintain close ties with the marquis’ household.

A Yuan was only worried that her situation might complicate things for her brother.

“Don’t worry. Marquis Wei has always been fair-minded. He won’t let my situation affect our relationship. Besides, it was Wei Xun who wronged you first. The way their household mistreated you—they should be the ones ashamed!”

With liquor loosening his tongue, Xie Zheng’s eyes blazed with anger. If not for the marquis’ kindness toward him, he would have already gone after them sword in hand.

“I understand. Don’t upset yourself. We’ll just keep our distance from them from now on.”

A Yuan soothed him gently, just as docile as when she was little. Xie Zheng’s nose tingled, and the hulking man’s eyes grew moist.

"Listen! If that scoundrel Wei Xun dares to mess with you again, I'll break his legs!"

A two-faced pretty boy like him isn’t worthy of Xie Zheng’s sister.

"I’ll find you a gentleman with both character and pedigree. The capital is full of fine young men—every one of them better than him!"

Xie Zheng was fuming. That scoundrel Wei Xun had treated his sister so poorly—if he didn’t vent this rage, his years guarding the border might as well have been wasted.

"Brother..."

A Yuan wanted to say she didn’t wish to marry, but seeing Xie Zheng’s drunken state, she swallowed her words.

Why bother humoring a drunk?

Yet she didn’t know Xie Zheng meant every word.

But among all the young men in the capital, he couldn’t find a single one worthy of A Yuan.

"What about this one? A moon-faced guy with pea-sized eyes, and a gaggle of concubines—how’d this clown even qualify?"

He hated Wei Xun’s pretty-boy looks, but at least they were tolerable. This one was just plain hideous.

"And this one—too damn old to scrape by the exams, spending all his time carousing. Does Lord Qin’s salary even cover his debts?"

Xie Zheng went through the list, only to find a mountain of frustration. Instead of a brother-in-law, he ended up with nothing but anger.

"Enough! I’ll find one myself."

If none of the noble families had decent candidates, surely among the humble scholars there’d be someone suitable. The spring exams were coming up—he’d just pluck a top candidate for his sister then.

Zhang Feng had been keeping watch near the general’s residence, so news of Xie Zheng’s husband-hunting naturally reached him.

In the study outside the marquis’s estate, seeing his master’s dark expression, Zhang Feng held his breath.

His young master was a top-tier catch in the capital, yet his brother-in-law despised him, and now even the wife and child he’d fought so hard to reclaim were slipping away.

Wei Xun took a long time to suppress the fire in his gut. He had underestimated Xie Zheng’s protectiveness.

The general’s residence was locked down tight—no doubt to bar him. And now, selecting a husband for A Yuan was just another way to shut him out for good.

Wei Xun clenched his jaw. He couldn’t just sit back and wait. If he wanted to win A Yuan back, he had to see her first.

"To the Eastern Palace."

...

On the final day of the eleventh lunar month, snow fell over the capital.

An invitation from the Eastern Palace arrived at the general’s residence, inviting Lady Xie to view the plum blossoms in the villa.

A Yuan might refuse others, but not one from the crown princess.

On the second day of the twelfth month, the skies were clear, the streets lined with snow-capped rooftops shimmering under the sunlight.

A Yuan set out with Chun Tao and Chun Yan. Chun Yan was the martial maid Xie Zheng had chosen for her—she and Chun Yu were twins, trained in martial arts for ten years. Their skills could best most men.

For this outing, Chun Yan and Chun Yu sparred to settle it, with Chun Yan winning by a hair.

"My Lady, it's cold outside. Please put on your cloak."

Dozens of carriages already crowded the entrance to the villa. Since A Yuan returned to the capital, she'd been flooded with invitations. While people sought to curry favor with Xie Zheng, they also wanted to catch a glimpse of Miss Xie.

After all, every household had marriageable bachelors, and the most reliable connection was none other than kinship through marriage.

Many families had already marked her as a potential daughter-in-law.

Wei Jin sat in the parlor chatting with Shen Qiuyu. Madam Shen had passed away less than three years ago, and Shen Qiuyu was still in mourning.

By convention, she shouldn’t have attended the banquet, but after the new year, she would turn twenty-seven. This proper young lady had become a spinster. Even if it was improper, others wouldn’t criticize too much.

After all, the Shen family had first been disgraced by the bastard child scandal, and she had been rejected by Wei Xun. Her reputation was already ruined. Taking advantage of the banquet where noble ladies from various families were present, she sought to make herself more visible—just in case someone took notice.

Shen Qiuyu wore plain clothes, with only a jade hairpin in her bun, standing out conspicuously among the gorgeously dressed noblewomen.

They say mourning attire enhances beauty. Though Shen Qiuyu’s looks were average, this attire made her appear delicate and pitiful, especially with the hint of seduction in her gaze, which actually made several young men look twice.

"The Xie family's carriage has arrived."

As the maid delivered the message, the lively atmosphere in the parlor instantly quieted.

Chun Tao supported A Yuan as she entered. The woman wore a cloak, her face hidden, but many recognized Chun Tao beside her—especially Wei Jin, who shot to her feet.

"Chun Tao, why are you here?"

If that was Chun Tao, then who was the woman beside her?