Chapter 125: Transaction

Chapter 125: The Deal

A Yuan's tone was calm, her previously struggling expression now completely still.

She knew that if Wei Xun wanted something, he always got it.

All his scheming was just to get her body.

The woman's clear, indifferent eyes laid bare his shamelessness.

Wei Xun released her hand abruptly, too guilty to look her in the eye.

"I can help you take care of Second Brother. Just meet me once every five days."

"Just meet?" A Yuan was momentarily stunned. She’d already prepared herself to be his mistress again.

Wei Xun nodded, then, worried she hadn’t noticed, repeated, "Just meet."

He had used force and threats too many times in the past, only to push her further away. This time, he wanted to win her over slowly.

"Where would we meet?"

A Yuan wasn’t convinced. He sounded sincere now, but what if he went back on his word?

Wei Xun’s gaze wavered. "You decide."

He didn’t blame her for being cautious—his past self had been a complete scoundrel.

Now, just seeing her was enough.

"Alright. I’ll do it."

After a brief moment of consideration, A Yuan nodded.

She wasn’t powerless now, so she wasn’t afraid he’d back out.

"Then... I’ll come for you in five days?" His voice shook slightly.

"Mm." A Yuan nodded, then stepped back uneasily at the sight of his eager expression. "Will the Crown Prince leave now?"

"Alright... I’ll go."

Wei Xun stood up reluctantly. He longed to stay longer but feared angering her.

Patience. They’d have plenty of time later—no need to hurry.

The carriage curtain lifted and fell as the man disappeared. Listening to his fading footsteps outside, A Yuan collapsed against the carriage wall, drained.

Facing Wei Xun, she still couldn’t remain entirely unaffected.

"My lady..."

The curtain was drawn aside again as Chun Tao entered, her face guilty.

Earlier, Chang Yuan had said something urgent came up, only for her to realize it was a ruse by the Crown Prince to get her away from her mistress.

"Did His Highness do anything to you?"

A Yuan shook her head. "No."

Chun Tao examined A Yuan's expression, seeing no signs of mistreatment, and finally relaxed a little.

"It's all Chang Yuan's fault for tricking me! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have left you alone with Young Master Wei Xun! If he does this again, I’ll divorce him!"

The little maid fumed, her words making A Yuan chuckle.

"He was just following orders. Why blame him?"

Both Chun Tao and Chang Yuan were loyal, though they served different masters. It would be wrong if they divorced because of me.

"I’m just angry..."

Chun Tao pouted. No husband could be more important than her mistress. If he dared do this again, she’d really cast him aside.

"Alright, alright. How about I give you a day off tomorrow so you can go home and set him straight?"

A Yuan teased her, though she meant it sincerely.

Chun Tao followed her every day, leaving little time for her husband. No wonder they missed each other.

"No need. Let him sweat it out."

Chun Tao snorted. She’d let him sweat it out to learn his lesson.

A Yuan didn’t press further. After all, they’d see each other again in five days.

In a way, her deal with Wei Xun wasn’t entirely without benefits.

Looking for the silver lining, A Yuan curled her lips into a wry smile.

......

When A Yuan returned to the general’s residence, Xie Zheng wasn’t home yet.

She retreated to her courtyard, where A Man was making sure Zhou Chen ate.

The table was piled high with dishes, all A Man’s favorites.

The little girl picked up a piece of braised pork rib and placed it in Zhou Chen’s bowl. "Brother, try this! Granny Wen’s ribs are the best!"

She stuck with calling him "brother" instead of "senior brother."

Zhou Chen had corrected her several times, but each attempt ended when her eyes welled up. Eventually, he gave up.

He didn’t like meat, yet the little girl adored all kinds of meat dishes.

Staring at the rib in his bowl, Zhou Chen pressed his lips tightly, his whole posture screaming refusal.

"Brother?"

A Man cupped her chin in her hands, gazing up at him.

Meat is so yummy—why did her brother always act like it was castor oil?

Zhou Chen managed half a bowl of rice and, under the girl’s hopeful look, choked down the rib before putting down his chopsticks.

"That’s all I can eat."

"Brother, you’ll stay short forever like this!"

A Man slid down from her chair, putting her hands on her hips as she stood beside Zhou Chen.

"Look, A Man is three years younger than you, and she's almost as tall as you. Do you want to grow up to be a shrimp?"

Her aunt had tasked her to make sure her brother ate, and she was determined to complete the task.

The little girl wore a serious expression, her stern look bearing a faint resemblance to Wei Xun.

But she was still too young—no matter how hard she tried, she still looked cute as a button.

Zhou Chen wanted to laugh, but her mention of "shrimp" hit a sore spot.

Compared to his peers, he was indeed a bit shorter.

He had never cared much about his height before, but the thought of one day being shorter than the little girl made his face fall.

He needed to eat well and grow tall and strong so he could protect his little shimei in the future.

"Alright, I'll eat."

Zhou Chen picked up his bowl again, this time going straight for the meat without waiting for A Man to serve him.

The little girl beamed with approval, patting his shoulder like an adult. "Good job, brother! Later, I’ll reward you by playing cat’s cradle with me."

"Pfft!"

A Yuan couldn’t hold back her laughter. It wasn’t that Zhou Chen wanted to play—clearly, it was the little girl’s own preference.

She had always known her daughter was clever and mischievous, but now she was getting way too cheeky.

"Mom!" A Man cried, seeing her mother return, and tackle-hugged her.

She nuzzled her messy hair against her mother’s chest, and A Yuan gave her hair a tousle. "Don’t bully Young Prince."

After all, Zhou Chen was an imperial grandson, and she worried her daughter might unknowingly offend someone of high status.

A Man pouted. "I didn’t! Brother wanted to play too, right, brother?"

She turned to Zhou Chen for confirmation.

Naturally, Zhou Chen indulged her, nodding in agreement. "Yes."

Then he added, "Auntie Yuan, don’t blame A Man. It was Chen’er who wanted to play."

"See, Mom? I wasn’t lying!"

With someone backing her up, the little girl was practically preening.

A Yuan bopped her on the forehead lightly. "You..."

She knew her daughter’s temperament well—smart, bold, and never one to back down. Now that Zhou Chen doted on her, she was getting bolder by the day.

Watching the overwhelming fondness in Zhou Chen’s eyes, A Yuan’s heart gave a little twist.

If one ignored Zhou Chen’s status, the two of them, growing up together as childhood friends, could have made a perfect pair in the future.

But his status was too high—countless women would flock to him in the future. Would he still keep A Man as his only then?

Having been through heartache before, A Yuan didn’t want her daughter to go through the same pain.

Besides, they were still too young to think about such things.

Pushing the thought aside, A Yuan patted her daughter’s head and stood up. "I brought you baozi. I’ll have the kitchen warm them up. Make sure your brother finishes his meal."