Chapter 126: Xie Zheng Leaves the Capital

Chapter 126 Xie Zheng Leaves the Capital

Xie Zheng came back in the dead of night.

Worried about how things turned out, A Yuan went to his courtyard early the next morning.

Xie Yi was directing servants to pack his belongings and, upon seeing A Yuan, warned the servants not to get in their master’s way.

"Where are you headed, Brother?"

A Yuan entered the room curiously and asked Xie Zheng.

Xie Zheng was dressed in gleaming silver armor, with bags under his eyes—he’d clearly pulled an all-nighter.

Seeing his sister, his cold and stern expression softened slightly. "The Emperor’s sending me to escort Prince Jing to the royal tombs. We leave today."

Originally, Prince Jing should have left two days prior, but assassins broke into his estate and got him in the chest. Emperor Chengyuan, worried for his safety, dispatched Xie Zheng to personally escort him.

"When will you return?"

A Yuan's heart tightened. The assassins’ timing was way too convenient—smelled like a setup.

Moreover, why would the Emperor single out Xie Zheng instead of someone else? Did he suspect Xie Zheng was involved with the assassins at Prince Jing's residence?

Xie Zheng shook his head. "It's unclear."

Prince Jing held a grudge. Having been sent to the mausoleum because of Xie Zheng, he’d probably make trouble on the road.

But with Xie Zheng in command of the troops, Prince Jing couldn’t do much to him.

"If anything happens while I'm away, you can seek out Marquis Wei. He will help you."

With no elders in the Xie household, she had nobody to ask for help. The only person she could rely on now was Marquis Wei.

A Yuan froze for a second, the whole thing feeling ridiculous.

After all this time, she still couldn’t escape the influence of the Marquis’s household.

But if her brother had entrusted Marquis Wei to look after her, did that mean she no longer needed to fulfill her deal with Wei Xun and could directly seek Marquis Wei’s help?

Her heart raced, and the more she thought about it, the better it sounded.

Unaware of his sister's thoughts, Xie Zheng paused at the door.

"There’s something I need your help with too."

"Last time he got like this, it was about Lin Qingshuang," A Yuan mused. Nobody else got under his skin like she did.

"Yes," Xie Zheng nodded.

"While I’m away from the capital, Get her to hang out with you more and put in a good word for me—especially make sure she knows I’m not... into guys."

"What?"

Xie Zheng fumbled over his words, and A Yuan’s jaw almost hit the floor.

Into guys... How had that ever been associated with her brother?

Moreover, from her brother's tone, Lin Qingshuang truly believed it.

*“Ahem!”*

Xie Zheng squirmed under her stare. “Just convince her, that’s all.”

Yesterday, he had met Lin Qingshuang, but the young lady had glared at him the whole time. No matter what he said, she refused to believe him.

Xie Zheng had originally planned to take things slow, but who knew Emperor Chengyuan would suddenly assign him to escort Prince Jing? Once he left the capital, he had no idea when he’d be back.

The Lin family was already looking for suitors for Lin Qingshuang, and he feared she wouldn’t wait for him.

“Alright, I’ll try.”

A Yuan couldn’t promise anything, but this was enough to reassure Xie Zheng.

“If there’s trouble, send word. I’ll return as soon as possible!”

The convoy was ready to go, so Xie Zheng couldn’t linger.

A Yuan didn’t want to see Prince Jing or Shen Qiuyu, so she stayed inside instead.

With Xie Zheng gone, the general’s residence fell eerily quiet.

The Crown Princess missed her son and summoned Zhou Chen and A Man to the Eastern Palace, leaving A Yuan alone in the estate.

When Wei Xun heard the news, his dark eyes gleamed.

Chang Yuan happened to notice and leaned forward slightly, cautiously asking, “Sir, did you have something to do with Young General Xie leaving…?”

Otherwise, the timing was just too coincidental.

Wei Xun’s gaze turned cold as he glanced at his subordinate and snorted lightly. “Do I look that underhanded to you?”

Uh, yeah?

Chang Yuan thought to himself but didn’t dare say it aloud. Instead, he composed himself and changed the subject.

“Mistress Xie wants to meet with Marquis Wei and sent Chun Tao to deliver a letter. I stopped it.”

“Bring it here.”

Wei Xun sat at his desk, demanded.

Chang Yuan suppressed a smirk and handed over the letter.

Two days had already passed since the five-day agreement, and A Yuan clearly had no intention of seeing him. The moment Xie Zheng left, she went running to Marquis Wei.

Wei Xun’s jaw tightened slightly. After reading the letter, he indifferently shredded it and let it turn to ash in the brazier.

“From now on, stop any letters to him. Also, keep the general’s people away from my father.”

“…Understood.”

Chang Yuan stared, impressed despite himself. His lord wasn’t just despicable and shameless—he was playing dirty.

Poor Mistress Xie, falling into his hands like this.

Wei Xun was well aware that his actions were excessive, but he had finally gotten A Yuan to relent. He couldn’t let anyone interfere—not even his own father.

Two days passed with no reply to the letter, and A Yuan knew Wei Xun must’ve intercepted it.

Chun Tao fumed. "Chang Yuan promised he would personally deliver it to Marquis Wei. Maybe I should go straight to the Marquis's estate and seek him out?"

She still belonged to the Marquis's household—the Crown Prince couldn't very well turn her away.

A Yuan smiled bitterly and shook her head. "Even if you could enter, you wouldn’t be able to see him."

"Never mind. If we can't go through Marquis Wei, I'll have to appeal to Wei Xun instead."

Tomorrow was their scheduled meeting day, and A Yuan didn’t have time to waste.

Marquis Wei would have to wait—the most important thing now was to keep Wei Xun placated.

She had heard that Wei Cong had visited Old Zhang's dumpling shop again these past two days.

......

Early the next morning, a carriage slipped out quietly from the back gate of the general’s residence.

A Yuan wore drab, ordinary clothes and a wide-brimmed hat. Given how awkward things were between them, being seen meeting him in secret was just asking for gossip.

She had chosen the Xie family’s villa as their meeting place, surrounded by Xie’s guards—there was no chance Wei Xun could try anything here.

When A Yuan arrived, Wei Xun was already waiting at the villa’s entrance.

Though the early spring air still held a chill, he wore only a pale blue silk robe.

Wei Xun rarely dressed in light colors—he had a cold demeanor, and his clothes were usually dark.

A Yuan was accustomed to his stern and aloof demeanor, but this was the first time she noticed a gentler side to him.

He stepped forward, lifting the carriage curtain for her and offering his hand to help her down.

"Careful."

Once she stepped down, A Yuan subtly avoided his touch, her face hidden under the hat's brim, expression cool. "Thank you, Wei Crown Prince."

Wei Xun showed no sign of disappointment at her rejection. After waiting five days to see her, he was simply glad she had come.

The two entered the villa, with Chun Tao lagging behind to glare fiercely at Chang Yuan. The young maid’s lively face was full of anger. "Traitor!"

Chang Yuan’s face scrunched up in distress as he hurried after his wife.

"If the master insists on blocking it, what can I do? Please don’t ignore me, my dear."

Now he was really in the doghouse.

Chun Tao paid no heed to his excuses, her face thunderous as she marched ahead.

A Yuan and Wei Xun arrived at the main courtyard’s flower hall. Their agreement had specified the meeting time but not its duration.

Unsure when he would leave and unwilling to speak to him, A Yuan sat in the hall and kept her hands busy with embroidery.

Wei Xun sat across from her. The young lady had not once looked up since sitting down—all his careful grooming today might as well have been for nothing.