Chapter 154: Mother-Daughter Bond

Chapter 154: Mother-Daughter Bond

Wei Xun was completely dumbfounded when he felt the baby move for the first time.

The usually composed Young Master Wei now looked as helpless as a child.

"Does it... does it dislike me?"

He wondered if that was why the baby had kicked him.

Seeing the hurt in Wei Xun's eyes, A Yuan's stiff expression involuntarily softened.

She wanted to agree with him, but it would be inappropriate to stir trouble between father and child before the baby was even born.

"No, it's normal for babies to move at this stage. You just happened to be there when it moved."

Hearing this, Wei Xun finally relaxed. As long as the child didn't hate him, it was fine.

He squatted by the bed again, gently placing his hand on A Yuan's belly, hoping the baby would move again.

But no matter how he touched her, the baby remained still this time.

With disappointment, Wei Xun looked up and met A Yuan's gentle gaze. He hesitated before asking, "Tomorrow... could I come again?"

"My lord need not ask. As if anyone in the general's household could stop you."

A Yuan pulled the blanket over herself. In her view, his question was unnecessary—had she even permitted his visit today?

Wei Xun gave an awkward chuckle. "Then tomorrow I'll come to accompany you for a walk in the garden."

Imperial Physician Zhang had advised that A Yuan should walk daily so that her delivery would go smoothly.

Wei Xun took the advice seriously and had already planned to accompany her every day.

A Yuan neither agreed nor refused. Leaning against the headboard, her eyes grew heavy with sleep.

After such a long day, she was exhausted.

Wei Xun stayed by her side for a while, but she didn't stir.

Gazing at her sleeping face, his fingers trembled slightly as he lightly traced her brows.

Pregnancy had softened A Yuan's features, adding a gentle roundness to her once alluring face, making her even more endearing.

If not for her protruding belly, one might mistake her for some nobleman's sleepy, pampered daughter.

When Nanny Zheng returned after seeing off Imperial Physician Zhang, she found her Young Master gazing at A Yuan with unusual tenderness.

Hearing footsteps, Wei Xun withdrew his hand and stood up. "A Yuan is having a difficult pregnancy. Please take good care of her, Nanny."

"My lord need not worry. This old maid will surely take care of Madam and the Young Master."

Though A Yuan and Wei Xun were not yet married, in Nanny Zheng's heart, A Yuan had long been the mistress of the household.

"Mm."

Wei Xun nodded, casting one last glance at A Yuan. Seeing her turn her head slightly inward as if to avoid noise, a faint smile flashed in his eyes. With a gesture, he motioned to Nanny Zheng that he was taking his leave.

"Let her rest. Tell the kitchen to prepare meals. She'll definitely be hungry when she wakes up."

"Yes."

......

Unlike the quiet at the general's residence, the Zhou residence was already a scene of weeping.

After two months of exhausting travel, Madam Xiao finally arrived in the capital.

Though naturally frail, she'd pushed through the entire journey, sustained by the thought of seeing her daughter soon.

Upon reaching the capital, she wouldn't even stop to rest and immediately had Xiao Ce bring her to the Zhou residence.

Zhou Yan was also at home today. Hearing that Marquis Xiao and Madam Xiao had come, his face grew serious.

Hui Gu, his mother, sat beside him and, seeing her son like this, could tell he was anxious.

"Where is Yue Niang? Her parents have come looking for her; she must meet them. Hiding her away like this isn't right."

Did he think that by preventing the meeting, Yue Niang would cease to be their daughter?

For once, Hui Gu thought her son was being foolish.

"I... I know. I'll send for her immediately."

If it were only Xiao Ce, Zhou Yan might have found excuses to delay, but with Madam Xiao in the capital, he didn't dare put it off any longer.

After all, no decent person would stop a sick woman from seeing her daughter.

"Where is Dan Yang?"

Madam Xiao, holding tightly to Xiao Ce's hand as they entered the Zhou household, searched everywhere for Yue Niang's figure.

"Husband, where is our Dan Yang? You're not fooling me again, are you?"

She'd had her hopes dashed too often and couldn't bear another disappointment.

Moreover, Madam Xiao had never traveled such a long distance. If she didn't see her daughter this time, she might not survive the disappointment.

Xiao Ce reassured her gently, "Easy now, Dan Yang is inside. We'll see her as soon as we enter."

"Alright, alright."

Supported by Xiao Ce, Madam Xiao made her way unsteadily inside. Meanwhile, Yue Niang was brought by Zhou Yan's people.

Having accepted Xiao Ce's golden locket, she was already convinced he was her father. Now that her mother had come, Yue Niang was nervous yet excited.

What kind of person would her mother be?

"Dan Yang!"

As Madam Xiao entered and saw the figure before her, she burst out.

A mother knows her child - even before seeing her face, she was certain the young lady before her was her Dan Yang.

Yue Niang's heart skipped a beat at the woman's call of "Dan Yang," as if long-buried memories came flooding back.

She looked up, her gaze meeting the woman's.

Madam Xiao, nearing forty and long afflicted by illness, was somewhat gaunt. Yet time had been kind to her features. When Yue Niang saw her, it was like looking into a mirror, instantly confirming Xiao Ce's words.

She was the spitting image of her mother.

"Dan Yang! My Dan Yang! I’ve finally found you!"

Madam Xiao rushed over and tightly embraced her, hot tears falling onto her neck.

"I’m so sorry I lost you all these years. My dear, you’ve been through so much."

Having found her daughter, Madam Xiao had so much to say, but her exhausted body couldn’t bear it. The shock of joy was too much—she collapsed right then.

"Jade!"

"Mother!"

Xiao Ce and Yue Niang called out simultaneously, both rushing to support Madam Xiao. Dazed, Madam Xiao opened her eyes, clutching Yue Niang’s hand tightly and staring intently at her.

"Dan Yang, what did you call me?"

Yue Niang’s eyes were red-rimmed, her lips quivering for a moment before she spoke again under Madam Xiao’s hopeful gaze, "Mother."

Madam Xiao looked so heartbroken, no one could blame her.

Yue Niang had imagined countless times how she’d react when she met her mother—resent her, hate her, or remain calm and distant like a stranger.

But upon seeing Madam Xiao, all of Yue Niang’s resentment vanished.

Losing her had been an accident. Her mother had never stopped searching for her, and out of guilt for losing her, had never had another child.

Twin tears traced down Yue Niang’s cheeks as she buried herself in Madam Xiao’s embrace, holding her hand tightly.

"Mother, Dan Yang finally has her mother back."

Xiao Ce watched as mother and daughter clung to each other, weeping. His own eyes reddened.

"Sweetheart," he said gently, "your father and I are taking you home."

Zhou Yan entered just in time to hear those words.

His stomach dropped as he anxiously searched Yue Niang’s face.

Yue Niang, her eyes swollen from crying, didn’t notice Zhou Yan’s arrival. Still reeling from reuniting with her parents, she instinctively nodded, "Okay."

"Yue Niang..."

Zhou Yan couldn’t help but call out. Xiao Ce stepped between them, shielding Yue Niang with a thunderous glare.

Marquis Xiao had always disliked Zhou Yan. Regardless of whether Zhou Yan had saved Dan Yang’s life, any man who’d stoop to making his daughter a concubine could go to hell.

"Convinced now, Lord Zhou?" Xiao Ce snapped. "My daughter is the treasured daughter of the Valiant Marquis’s house—not some lowly concubine in your harem. Stay the hell away from her from now on!"