Chapter 156: Xie Zheng’s Disappearance

Chapter 156: The Disappearance of Xie Zheng

He certainly hadn't forgotten why.

Zhou Yan's furious expression shifted to stunned silence.

Back then, Prince Jing and Su Wenxuan had designs on A Yuan. Witnessing Prince Jing’s brutal killing of women, Zhou Yan feared for A Yuan’s safety and decided to put aside their differences to discuss a solution with Wei Xun.

And the first time they shared a drink was right here.

Zhou Yan pressed his lips together. "What is it the Marquis wishes to say?"

Wei Xun set down his cup, his tone no longer as sharp as before.

"There's no reason for the Marquis and Lord Zhou to be at odds. You care for Lady Xiao just as I care for A Yuan. If you're willing to let go of your resentment, we can work together."

He would help Zhou Yan deal with Xiao Ce, and in return, Zhou Yan would help him win over A Yuan.

Zhou Yan tightened his jaw, remaining silent for a long moment before finally nodding. "Fine."

"How do we proceed?"

......

Wei Xun and Xiao Ce were close friends despite the age gap. If Wei Xun spoke on Zhou Yan’s behalf, Xiao Ce would owe him that much.

When Wei Xun brought up Zhou Yan’s proposal to Yue Niang, Xiao Ce seemed torn.

"Zhou Yan is indeed a rare talent in court, but the thought of Dan Yang having to be his concubine infuriates me!"

At the end of the day, he cared most about his daughter.

"I understand your anger, but he doesn’t think poorly of Lady Xiao. He had planned to marry her once the Guo family matter was settled, but your sudden arrival disrupted his plans."

To get A Yuan back, Wei Xun had even bitten his tongue and spoken well of Zhou Yan.

Xiao Ce scoffed. "So now it’s my fault!"

"The Marquis knows Hengzhi didn’t mean it that way..." Wei Xun said helplessly.

Xiao Ce wasn’t really angry with him, so his expression softened.

"I’ll think it over. Dan Yang has only just been found, and her mother and I aren’t ready to let her go so soon."

Wei Xun could understand, and the fact that Marquis Xiao hadn’t outright refused was already a good sign.

He nodded. "I understand."

Zhou Yan had been anxiously waiting for news. When he heard Wei Xun’s report, some of the tension left his chest.

"Don’t worry, I’ll also speak on your behalf regarding A Yuan."

......

Aunt Hui reacted with equal parts shock and joy when she learned A Yuan was carrying twins.

She made chicken soup, skimming off the fat, and made sure A Yuan drank it all.

"It's my fault. I wasn’t there to care for you properly when I left so suddenly. I didn’t even realize you were expecting twins."

Aunt Hui was genuinely remorseful. She had thought she'd been taking perfect care of A Yuan, yet the girl’s legs had swollen daily. Being too embarrassed to say anything, A Yuan had been quietly enduring it.

Had Nanny Zheng not arrived, A Yuan might still be suffering.

A Yuan took her hand and comforted, "Auntie, you've done so much for me already. Don't feel guilty—how could you know just by looking?"

"Even Nanny Zheng couldn’t tell."

Hui Gu clenched her jaw, still unable to forgive herself.

A Yuan chuckled, wrapping her arm around Hui Gu’s and resting her head against her shoulder.

"Dear Auntie, if you keep frowning like this, these two little rascals in my belly will say you’re being fierce."

Hui Gu had always been stern since her youth, and the girls she taught embroidery all feared her a little. Now, hearing A Yuan's teasing, she couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile, giving her a mock glare. "You cheeky thing, daring to use the children to poke fun at me."

Seeing the two of them chatting, Nanny Zheng quietly excused herself.

Hui Gu remembered her son’s instructions and fetched a pillow, placing it behind A Yuan to make her more comfortable.

"You look much better now than you did two months ago. It seems Nanny Zheng has taken good care of you."

"Yes, she's very kind," A Yuan nodded, though she still played coy. "But Auntie is even better."

"Oh, you flatterer!"

Hui Gu laughed, no longer able to maintain her serious expression.

"She’s the steward of the Marquis’s household, yet Wei Xun was willing to send her to care for you. Clearly, he values you deeply. Childbirth is like walking through death’s door, and with twins, it’s even more dangerous."

"A Yuan, you need to think ahead for yourself."

Hui Gu’s words were not only on behalf of Zhou Yan’s request—they also reflected her own thoughts.

Wei Xun was far from perfect before, but if he treated A Yuan and the children well from now on, he’s worth giving another chance.

After all, he is the children’s father. Raising three kids alone would be far too hard for A Yuan.

"I’ve got it under control, Auntie. Don’t worry about me."

A Yuan avoided her gaze and smiled.

Hui Gu understood her nature—her apprentice was as stubborn as they come. No matter how much others advised, she wouldn’t change unless she figured it out herself.

Just as Hui Gu was about to speak again, Chun Tao burst in breathlessly from outside.

"Miss! The general—he’s—"

"What happened to my brother? Speak quickly!"

A Yuan’s stomach dropped. She’d never seen Chun Tao this panicked before. Was her brother—?

Chun Tao’s eyes were red, her voice thick with tears. "The general… he’s missing."

Xie Zheng had been assigned to escort Prince Jing to the imperial mausoleum and was supposed to return a month ago, yet there had been no word from him.

A Yuan had assumed he was delayed on the road, but today, Xie Yi returned alone—holding Xie Zheng’s bloodied clothes.

"Where is Xie Yi? Bring him to me!"

A Yuan heaved herself up, her swollen belly throwing her off balance. In her panic, she nearly stumbled several times, and Hui Gu and Chun Tao rushed to catch her.

"Easy now, General Xie is tough as nails—he'll pull through!"

"Hmm!"

A Yuan was a complete mess inside, but with no one left at the general's estate to take charge, she had to stay strong if she wanted to save her brother.

Wei Xun and Zhou Yan had also learned of Xie Zheng's disappearance.

The two were seated in the Eastern Palace study when they both blurted out simultaneously to the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, let us go find Xie Zheng!"

The Crown Prince frowned. "I get you're antsy, but we can't just charge in blind to rescue him."

"This has my brother's fingerprints all over it!"

Prince Jing had claimed it was for a smooth journey that he asked Xie Zheng to escort him to the imperial mausoleum, but in truth, he'd been plotting this all along.

For Xie Zheng, the renowned General of the Valiant Cavalry, to vanish at the imperial mausoleum meant they were walking into a trap already set.

Thinking back to the evidence of illegally forged weapons seized from the Prime Minister’s residence, the Crown Prince’s face went stone cold.

His worst fear had come true—Prince Jing had been secretly training troops for years.

Wei Xun and Zhou Yan realized this too.

"The Su family’s execution gutted his operation, but Prince Jing still has men under him. Without weapons or supplies though, he’s running on fumes. Hengzhi has gotten his old man to send troops—let me head to the mausoleum with them, and I’ll bring Xie Zheng back!"

Marquis Wei’s soldiers had bled with Xie Zheng before—they followed him through life and death. Not one balked at the idea of going after him.

"You're on!"

"No coming back without General Xie!"

Pregnant and for the first time venturing out, A Yuan saw Wei Xun in full armor astride his horse. She clutched her belly and caught his sleeve with desperate fingers.

"Marquis, you will bring my brother back, won’t you?"

She knew she was in no shape to follow Wei Xun to the mausoleum, no matter how much she worried.

If Wei Xun brought Xie Zheng back, she’d stop giving him the cold shoulder.

Even if Wei Xun wanted to marry her… she’d agree.