Chapter 115: Taking the Initiative

Chapter 115: Striking First

The little princess had never even climbed onto a bed in her life, let alone a rockery.

Her legs trembled as she clutched the stones, carefully making her way up.

Below her was a freezing pool—one misstep, and she’d be half-dead.

"Mother, save Sheng'er! Sheng'er doesn’t want to climb!"

Realizing her father was no longer her refuge, the little princess screamed in panic for Consort Su’s help. But how could Consort Su defy Emperor Chengyuan’s orders?

"Be obedient, Sheng'er."

"Mother..."

The little princess’s face turned deathly pale. She never imagined that her mother, who had always protected her, would now force her into this.

It was all that little wretch’s fault. If not for her, she wouldn’t be punished by her father.

The little princess glared at A Man beside the rockery, her eyes burning with hatred.

As punishment, Emperor Chengyuan made A Man watch.

"Are you scared?"

Xie Zheng patted his niece’s head. No one was angrier than him about the injustice A Man had suffered today.

Consort Su’s bullying of A Man was a slap in Xie Zheng’s face. He had fought on the battlefield to defend the nation, yet he couldn’t even protect his own family—how could that not cut him deep? Fortunately, Emperor Chengyuan was still wise enough to let A Man clap back.

The little girl clenched her fists tightly and shook her head. "I’m not scared."

Aunt Lin always said that if someone bullied her, she should fight back with her fists. Though she hadn’t done it herself, seeing the little princess punished by Emperor Chengyuan made A Man’s day.

"When we get back, Uncle will teach you martial arts. From now on, if anyone dares bully you, punch them! Uncle’s got your back!"

Xie Zheng said the same thing as Lin Qingshuang. A Man’s eyes lit up as she nodded firmly. "Okay!"

......

The group watched as the little princess climbed. Spoiled as she was, she was still just a three-year-old girl. After scaling just two stones, her legs were shaking like leaves.

"Mo... Mother..."

The little princess clung to the rock, terrified to look down, sobbing as she begged Consort Su for help.

She’d messed up. She knew it.

Consort Su’s heart ached unbearably, her manicured nails digging into her palms.

"General Xie, show some mercy—isn’t this enough?"

No matter how many military achievements he had, he was still just a general. Did he not fear her retaliation in the future?

Xie Zheng ignored her. With Wei Xun standing protectively beside A Yuan, and Consort Su guilty over what Prince Jing had done to her, she could only watch, teeth gritted, as her daughter reached the top of the rockery.

A cold wind blew, making the stones at the peak wobble precariously. The little princess was petrified, and the palace servants quickly climbed up to carry her down.

Seeing her daughter’s pale face in the arms of a servant, Consort Su seethed. "This isn’t over!"

......

"Brother, are we in trouble for offending Consort Su?"

As they left the palace, A Yuan looked worried.

She couldn't bear the thought of ruining her brother’s hard-earned future because of herself and her daughter.

Xie Zheng brushed it off casually, "Relax, I've got this."

He'd fought tooth and nail on the battlefield just to find his sister, and now that she was found, what did the future matter now?

A Yuan nodded, her eyes red-rimmed.

She knew her brother was comforting her. Noble Consort Su, the emperor's favorite consort, could bring pressure to bear easily.

Emperor Chengyuan wouldn’t always side with her brother, especially since the little princess was his most beloved daughter.

And then there was Prince Jing.

Remembering what Prince Jing had tried to do to her in the side corridor, A Yuan bit her lip, unsure how to tell her brother.

Wei Xun had left the palace with them, and Xie Zheng’s actions today had won his respect.

He'd thought Xie Zheng might sacrifice A Yuan and her daughter for his future, but to his astonishment, he was willing to go this far for his family.

"General Xie, I have matters to discuss."

Xie Zheng shot him a glance. Today, he'd been too focused on A Man and hadn’t had the chance to ask A Yuan why she was with Wei Xun when A Man went missing.

From her frightened look, something had clearly happened.

"Let’s return to the general’s residence."

......

In the study of the general’s residence, rage exploded within Xie Zheng when he learned of Prince Jing’s actions. With a single strike, he splintered the nanmu desk in the room.

"Zhou Jing!"

Though he had only recently returned to the capital, he had already investigated Prince Jing’s character thoroughly.

Stripped of his royal title, he was nothing but a vile, unredeemable bastard.

And this very bastard had dared to violate his sister.

"Thank you, Wei Crown Prince. If anything had happened to A Yuan today..."

He knew his sister’s temperament—gentle outside but steel within. If Prince Jing had truly violated her, she would have sought death.

After finally finding his sister, he couldn’t bear to lose her again.

So this time, Xie Zheng’s gratitude to Wei Xun was genuine.

Wei Xun pursed his lips. "A Yuan is someone I wish to protect as well. There’s no need for your thanks."

When you thought about it, A Yuan’s peril today was largely tied to him. If he hadn’t hurt her so deeply that she refused to return to the Marquis’s residence, Prince Jing wouldn’t have targeted her.

Prince Jing’s intentions were shamelessly brazen. Instead of using honorable means to win Xie Zheng’s allegiance, he had sought to defile his sister, forcing him to join his faction.

Xie Zheng sneered, "You’re no different from him."

Both were scoundrels who had harmed his sister.

Wei Xun didn’t refute it—nor could he. The mistakes of his past were irreversible. All he could do now was protect A Yuan in the days to come and earn Xie Zheng’s forgiveness.

"From what I know of Prince Jing, he won’t let today’s incident slide. His spies are everywhere in the capital, and snatching A Yuan would be a piece of cake. For her safety, we must make the first move."

Four years ago, he had once joined forces with Zhou Yan to have Prince Jing confined to his quarters, but those months of confinement didn’t straighten him out at all.

Today, he would ally with Xie Zheng again, determined to wipe Prince Jing off the map.

"Alright, what’s the plan?"

Xie Zheng chewed on it for a second before nodding.

Wei Xun was right—if Prince Jing dared to mess with A Yuan within the palace, he would be even more unrestrained outside.

A Yuan, a vulnerable woman, wouldn’t stand a chance against him, even with maids and guards by her side.

Xie Zheng wouldn’t go full rebel if it meant keeping his sister out of danger. For her sake, he’d do anything.

......

By the time Wei Xun left the general’s estate, it was way past midnight.

Xie Zheng had sent someone to escort him out, and Wei Xun couldn’t even hang around outside A Yuan’s courtyard.

"Wei Crown Prince, it’s late. Please head back."

The steward smiled as he shooed him off. Though his tone was respectful, the side-eye was obvious.

Wei Xun clamped his mouth shut, his jaw tightening slightly as he gave a faint nod, yet he didn’t leave immediately.

"She was frightened and may have nightmares tonight. Please have someone prepare a nighttime chill pill for her."

It was obvious who "she" referred to. The steward low-key shook but kept his expression neutral.

"Rest assured, Wei Crown Prince. The servants will handle it."

"Mm."

Wei Xun nodded, then glanced back once more. Though only the estate’s gates stood behind him, it was as if he could see through them to the woman inside.

Given Xie Zheng’s wariness toward him, getting A Yuan back would be an uphill battle.

And A Yuan hadn’t forgiven him yet.

Wei Xun lowered his gaze, his mood growing heavier. Winning back his wife was gonna be a bitch.