Chapter 132: Easing Tensions

**Chapter 132: Thawing Tensions**

A Yuan slipped from his hold and left.

Chang Yuan entered looking nervous as a mouse, especially when he saw his master’s stormy expression—his scalp tingled with dread.

“Young Master, you’re awake,” he said with a sheepish smile and a nervous chuckle, though inwardly he was on the verge of tears.

The Young Master had finally managed to share a room with Mistress Xie, and now here he was, intruding at such an inopportune moment.

Wei Xun’s jaw tightened. He shot him a glance. “Why wasn’t a heating brazier placed in the room?”

If not for worrying that A Yuan might get cold, he wouldn’t have woken up so soon.

Only then did Chang Yuan notice A Yuan’s face had turned pale from the chill. His stomach dropped. “My oversight, my lord.”

There were no women’s clothes at the estate, so he’d forgotten to provide any for A Yuan.

Besides, it was early spring—the days were warm enough that he hadn’t thought much of it.

“Go and receive your punishment.”

Wei Xun’s tone left no room for protest.

“At once, my lord.” Chang Yuan bowed and hurried out.

“Young Master...” A Yuan was stunned.

She had called Chang Yuan in mainly to have him arrange care for Wei Xun—how had it led to him being punished?

“Young Master, I’m not cold. Chang Yuan has been running himself ragged for you. Please don’t punish him.”

Wei Xun pulled her to sit beside him on the bed, wrapping his own quilt around her.

“He failed to serve you properly—he deserves punishment. Don’t plead for him. A few lashes will be nothing for him to endure.”

Wei Xun wouldn’t actually hurt him; it was just a ceremonial punishment to make a point.

But A Yuan remained uneasy, her brows knitted tightly.

Seeing her like this, Wei Xun felt a stab of possessiveness.

A Yuan’s attention should be solely on him—how could it be drawn away by some lowly guard?

Leaning against the headboard, he cast his eyes downward, giving her that wounded puppy look.

“The pain...”

The wounds on his back had reopened, blood soaking through the bandages and staining his inner garments. He deliberately turned his back toward her, and sure enough, A Yuan’s focus was immediately drawn to him.

“I’ll call the physician!”

A Yuan had never known she would feel queasy at the sight of blood. The crimson stain made her legs go weak.

Wei Xun stopped her. “I don’t want a physician. Will you patch me up instead?”

The usually cold and stern man put on a pitiful act better than the courtesans at the Southwind Pavilion.

Wei Xun was devastatingly handsome, and when he fixed someone with that pleading gaze, resistance was futile.

A Yuan pressed her lips together, and in the end, she agreed. "Alright."

The physician had left the ointment on the table. Wei Xun quietly took off his robe and lay face down on the bed.

The bandage on his back was soaked with blood, revealing a gruesome wound beneath.

A Yuan stood by the bed, her hands trembling as she unwrapped the bandage.

Her fingers were warm and gentle, and Wei Xun could feel their touch against his back.

Just having A Yuan tend to his wounds made even the worst pain worth it.

Not knowing what he was thinking, A Yuan’s eyes welled up at the sight of his injuries.

"Why are you crying?"

When he didn’t hear anything behind him for a while, Wei Xun turned his head. A Yuan’s already swollen eyes were filled with tears.

She bit her lip to keep from sobbing, but tears rolled silently down her cheeks.

Wei Xun’s chest tightened, and he sat up fast, cupping her face in his hands.

"Don’t cry—I’m not in pain."

He couldn’t stand seeing A Yuan cry, and these tears were ones he had deceitfully provoked.

He hurriedly wiped her tears, but once she started crying, she couldn’t stop.

A Yuan cried harder, until finally she couldn’t hold back her sobs anymore.

"Wei Xun—don’t ever scare me like this again, okay?"

His hand froze mid-wipe, and for a moment, he thought she had discovered something.

"I—"

Before he could speak, her tears dripped onto his hand.

"A Man is still so young—do you want her to grow up without a father?"

Wei Xun stiffened, disbelief in his voice. "A Yuan… does this mean you’ll let A Man call me Father?"

Although A Man had long called him "Father," they’d both hidden it from A Yuan.

Wei Xun had been afraid to tell her, fearing her anger. But now, it seemed… she was giving in.

A Yuan avoided his gaze, her voice hoarse from crying. "If you keep this up, you won’t live long enough to be her father."

She didn’t refuse—that meant she agreed.

Wei Xun’s heart swelled with joy; his usual stoic face lit up with excitement.

"I promise I’ll be careful, A Yuan. I’ll stay safe—I’ll protect you, protect A Man!"

Wei Xun had never been one to cherish his life. As Vice Governor of the Capital Prefecture, he often faced the most ruthless criminals.

Before meeting A Yuan, he had no one he wished to protect. And after she left, he’d been like a walking dead man, longing for death.

But now, with his wife and daughter by his side, he would live—and guard them fiercely.

The man was acting like a lovesick teenager at this moment. A Yuan felt flustered and quickly pulled her hand away, standing up to create some distance between them.

"Empty words mean nothing. Let's see how well your wounds heal."

"Good! As long as you and A Man don't leave me, I'll do whatever you say!"

Wei Xun felt like he had everything now that his wife was back. After trying so many tricks, he had finally gotten A Yuan to open up—how could he not be thrilled?

A Yuan nervously twisted the fabric of her dress, her heart pounding wildly, as if her long-dormant feelings were reawakening.

Trying to calm her pounding heart, she turned away and threw over her shoulder, "Suit yourself," before hurrying out the door.

This time, Wei Xun didn’t stop her. He could sense that A Yuan was truly willing to accept him now.

His smile widened, and he didn’t even mind the pain from his wounds being tugged.

Once outside, the night air cooled the flush on A Yuan’s cheeks.

She pressed a hand to her rapidly beating chest; doubt clouded her eyes—was the decision she made today right or wrong?

She and Wei Xun had been entangled for nearly a decade. She said she’d moved on, but part of her never did.

Did she still love Wei Xun? A Yuan asked herself.

Maybe she did. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so terrified when she saw him lying covered in blood.

But more than loving Wei Xun, she wanted to love herself.

She wouldn’t go through that pain again.

From now on, she’d trust her instincts.

A Yuan lifted her gaze to the full moon in the sky, and the confusion in her eyes gradually faded.

Maybe protecting her heart would make her happier.

She’d put herself first this time.

……

It took Wei Xun over half a month to recover.

A Yuan tended to his wounds every day and brewed nourishing soups to replenish his blood.

Wei Xun knew better than to push it, but he seized every opportunity to charm the woman he loved.

When A Yuan first arrived at the villa, she had only the dress she was wearing. After half a month, her room was packed with gifts of clothes and jewelry.

"A Man hasn’t seen me in so long—she must miss me. Since your wounds have mostly healed, I should head back to the capital now."

A Yuan accepted his kindness, though her attitude toward him remained distant.

Wei Xun didn’t dare insist on keeping her. These weeks together felt like borrowed time—to ask for more would be pushing it. Besides, he missed his daughter too.

"I’ll go with you."

They packed quickly. Chang Yuan hired three carriages to carry A Yuan’s belongings back to the general’s residence.

As for A Yuan, she shared a carriage with Wei Xun.