Chapter 105: Retreat to Advance

Chapter 105: Strategic Retreat

Wei Xun pleaded, "Just do it for A Man."

"I’m A Man’s father, A Yuan. Don’t be so distant with me, alright?"

The usually dignified Wei Crown Prince humbled himself to beg her. A Yuan averted her gaze, but her trembling fingers gave away her unease.

A Man watched them argue, her eyes reddening.

A Yuan knew children shouldn’t be dragged into adult matters, so she scooped up her daughter to soothe her.

"Mama, please don’t fight with Mean Uncle, okay?"

She loved Mama and also liked Mean Uncle—she didn’t want to see them quarrel.

A Yuan’s hand, patting her back, paused. "Alright."

She’d messed up today. As much as she wanted to avoid him, she shouldn’t have spoken like that in front of the child.

"I’ll take the seamstresses, but there’s no need for Wei Crown Prince to trouble himself further. The Xies may not be as wealthy as the Marquis’s house, but we can still support ourselves."

She said firmly, and Wei Xun’s chest ached with stifled pain.

His wife and daughter wouldn’t claim him, and now they wouldn’t even accept his money.

"Then... can I visit A Man often?"

Wei Xun asked cautiously—visiting his daughter was just a pretext; what he truly wanted was to see his wife.

A Yuan pursed her lips but didn’t outright refuse. "If you can manage it."

Xie Zheng wouldn’t be absent every day, and convincing him would be no easy task for Wei Xun.

Yet Wei Xun wasn’t disheartened. As long as A Yuan agreed, he’d find a way to keep Xie Zheng occupied.

"Good! Then I’ll come again tomorrow!"

His usual coldness melted into joy, making him even more handsome than usual. A Yuan looked away, uneasy. "Suit yourself."

Even if he could enter, she could still avoid him.

She wasn’t the same Xie Yuan anymore—she had the choice to refuse.

A Yuan retreated to the inner chamber, leaving A Man to keep Wei Xun company. But the little girl, worn out from playing all day and a big meal, was already drowsy.

She sat there yawning repeatedly, her little body swaying, sleepy and sweet. Wei Xun couldn’t bear to keep her up any longer.

He glanced at the nanny nearby and said softly, "Put Young Master to bed. And tell your lady I’m going."

A Yuan sat on the daybed near the outer chamber. When Wei Xun’s words reached her, her sewing paused for a second.

Moments later, the inner chamber’s curtain was lifted as the nanny carried A Man in.

"My lady, Wei Crown Prince has gone."

"...Understood. Let A Man sleep." A Yuan didn’t look up, her face unreadable.

The nanny bowed. "Yes."

When the servants had left the inner chamber, A Yuan set down the embroidery screen. Though a few stitches were in place, the stitching was all messy.

A Yuan seemed distracted. Clearly, Wei Xun still wouldn’t give up.

Did she really have to marry another man just to be free of him?

......

Outside the general’s residence, Wei Xun did not mount his horse immediately.

He turned to look at Chang Yuan, who was still grinning foolishly, and found it downright annoying.

“Did you see Chun Tao?”

Chang Yuan grinned. “I did.”

His wife even fussed over whether he was cold and offered to make him winter clothes.

Chang Yuan had never been this happy—perhaps this was the benefit of having a wife.

“Tch!”

Wei Xun’s expression was cold, his patience running out.

But for his plan’s sake, he had to bite his tongue.

“Then did you ask Chun Tao who Xie Zheng has been close to lately? Is there some girl he likes?”

“Uh, not really…”

Chang Yuan scratched his head. He had barely gotten to see his wife—why would he ask about another man?

“Hmm?” Wei Xun raised his voice, a clear sign of displeasure.

Chang Yuan flinched, then it hit him.

“Yes! Chun Tao said Miss Lin came by today and even suggested she marry into their family!”

“Miss Lin? The daughter of Minister Lin?” Wei Xun pondered for a moment before asking.

“Yes, that’s her!”

“Good, I understand now.”

Wei Xun’s gaze turned sharp—he knew how to keep Xie Zheng occupied now.

......

Xie Zheng kept bumping into Lin Qingshuang these past few days.

With the New Year approaching, the young lady was all dressed up, tagging along with her sister-in-law to buy clothes and jewelry.

Xie Zheng was separated from her by a window, listening to their conversation.

“Qin Erlang’s quite the looker and holds a position in the Ministry of War. Aren’t you into guys who can fight? You’d totally go for Qin Erlang.”

Lin Qingshuang would turn nineteen this year, and though Mrs. Lin spoiled her rotten, she was starting to panic. She only had this one daughter and didn’t care about marrying her into a prestigious family—as long as her son-in-law treated her well, Mrs. Lin would be satisfied.

This outing was meant to prepare new clothes for Lin Qingshuang so she could meet Qin Erlang.

The girl slumped listlessly, her head drooping. “Come on, sis, I’m too young for this.”

She wasn’t ready to meet anyone, let alone marry.

Moreover, there was already someone in her heart, even though that person had deceived her.

Thinking of Xie Zheng, Lin Qingshuang's expression wilted further.

"Of course, your sister-in-law would like to keep you at home for a few more years, but there are only so many eligible bachelors in the capital. If you wait too long, they'll all be snapped up by others. Even if you don’t like him, just take a look—what if you take a fancy to someone?"

"Or do you already have someone you've set your heart on?"

The voice of Lin's second sister-in-law wasn’t loud. It was a clothing shop, and customers occasionally came in, but Xie Zheng, being a trained warrior, could hear their conversation clearly.

Hearing Lin's sister-in-law’s words, Xie Zheng couldn’t help but catch his breath.

Separated by the window, he couldn’t see the young mistress’s expression.

After a moment of being on edge, he heard her voice again.

"There’s no one I like. If you want me to meet Qin Erlang, I’ll go along with it."

"CRACK!"

The window next door suddenly shattered, startling the Lin ladies.

"How... how did this window break?"

The shopkeeper hurried over, making profuse apologies. "It must have been wear and tear. I’ll have someone fix it right away. Please, Madam Lin and Miss Lin, wait in the private parlor for a moment."

"No need."

After this mishap, Lin’s sister-in-law didn’t want to stay. There were plenty of clothing shops in the capital—they could simply take their business elsewhere.

"Ah!"

After seeing them off, the shopkeeper looked frustrated. The window had just been replaced this year—it couldn’t have broken on its own.

How strange.

Shaking her head, the shopkeeper had no idea that Xie Zheng in the next room had already reined in his power.

The moment he heard Lin Qingshuang’s words, his anger nearly overwhelmed him.

"You little liar!"

She had repeatedly claimed to like him before, yet now she was going to meet another man.

What nonsense about Qin Erlang being skilled in swordplay—that pretty-faced boy could barely twirl his sword, far inferior to even one of Xie Zheng’s fingers. He refused to believe Lin Qingshuang would fancy him!

Seething with anger, Xie Zheng didn’t even return to the general’s residence. Instead, he rushed to the Ministry of War that very night to pull Qin Erlang’s service records.

This Qin Erlang had no real talent—his position was bought his way into.

After a quick glance, Xie Zheng dismissed him entirely.

What threat could a wet-behind-the-ears boy pose?

Yet Lin Qingshuang’s words still gnawed at him. Could she really no longer like him?

......

With Xie Zheng away from the residence, Wei Xun visited every day.

Having read many sweet stories recently, he had not only learned honeyed words but also mastered ways to woo young ladies.