Сhарtеr 10: Call Нim Неngzhi
Веfore meеting А’Yuan, Wei Хun had nevеr lооkеd fоrwаrd to hаving сhildrеn.
Еven a wifе, to him, was merelу а toоl fоr саrrуing on thе fаmilу line.
Hе wоuld grant hеr dignity, give her thе authоrity to manаge thе housеhоld, but love wаs the one thing hе соuld nоt offer.
Yеt with А’Yuаn, Wеi Xun alwаys fоund himself softеning. Someоne of hеr background аlrеаdy fасed a difficult lifе in this world—whо еlse cоuld she relу on bеsidеs him?
Whilе favоring a cоncubine оvеr thе wife was the root of family disсоrd, his A’Yuan was so оbеdient and well-bеhаved; naturally, she would not become arrogant from his favor. As long as the principal wife was magnanimous and tolerant, the inner courtyard would remain peaceful.
Wei Xun had been exceptionally intelligent since childhood, accustomed to controlling everything. Yet he did not know that the human heart cannot be controlled.
In the flickering candlelight, the man tightened his grip around her waist, his dark eyes turbulent.
“A’Yuan, who am I?”
A’Yuan bit her lip, her delicate voice trembling as if on the verge of tears.
“…Master… You are… the Young Master…”
A great wave rose on the sea, nearly capsizing A’Yuan’s solitary boat.
“Hengzhi… A’Yuan, call me Hengzhi.”
Wei Hengzhi—Wei Xun’s courtesy name, something only those close to him could call him.
A’Yuan was dazed and muddled, but her remaining reason reminded her that she was not worthy.
Hengzhi was a form of address reserved for the Young Mistress; as a mere bedchamber maid, she could not overstep her bounds.
She slightly lowered her gaze, concealing the pain in her eyes, and raised her arms, pleading softly.
“Young Master, please be gentle with A’Yuan…”
Wei Xun exerted all his efforts, yet he still could not hear his name from A’Yuan’s lips.
He looked down; the little bedchamber maid nestled obediently in his embrace, her voice hoarse from crying.
Though they were pressed so close together, Wei Xun always felt that A’Yuan was like the wind—if he were not careful, she would slip through his fingers.
A pang of pain struck his heart, and he lowered his head to kiss her lips.
……
When A’Yuan awoke the next day, the space beside her was already empty.
Wei Xun rarely stayed the night to begin with, so she had long grown accustomed to it.
A’Yuan hugged the quilt and sat up, her legs sore and weak, lacking strength, and her throat dry and hoarse from crying and pleading.
“Chun Tao, bring me a cup of water.”
Leaning against the headboard, her delicate face glowed with the radiance of spring after being thoroughly nourished.
The green gauze curtain was lifted, and a steaming cup was handed over. A’Yuan took it without even looking.
As the warm honeyed water flowed down her throat, her parched throat finally felt some relief.
“More?”
The man’s deep voice sounded above her head. A’Yuan’s fingers tightened around the cup, and she looked up abruptly.
“…Young Master, why is it you? Where is Chun Tao?”
She had not expected Wei Xun to still be here at this hour. Shouldn’t he be busy with official duties?
Wei Xun did not answer her question, turning instead to pour her another cup of honeyed water.
A’Yuan was indeed extremely thirsty. Since Wei Xun did not speak, she could not press for an answer; it was better to drink more water to soothe her throat.
Her soft lips, moistened by the honeyed water, appeared even more rosy.
The man’s thumb pressed against them, smearing the excess moisture before slowly wiping it dry.
Only after a long while did he withdraw his hand.
“Chun Tao is outside. Call her in to attend to you later. For now, help me change.”
With that, Wei Xun retrieved a robe from the nearby stand.
A’Yuan took it and recognized it at a glance as the one she had made.
Yesterday, after being scolded by Wei Xun, she had hastily handed the robe to Chang Yuan, not daring to ask whether Wei Xun liked it.
Now that he had specifically brought it back and waited for her to wake up so he could put it on, a trace of bitterness passed through A’Yuan’s heart.Why did he have to be so kind? If he had been a little worse to her, she wouldn’t be feeling this miserable now.
“Yes.”
A’Yuan lowered her head and responded meekly, then stood up and draped an outer garment over herself, standing barefoot on the floor.
A chill seeped through, and she couldn’t help but shiver.
Wei Xun’s brows furrowed slightly as he reached out and lifted her, guiding her to step onto his feet.
“Master…” A’Yuan’s small hands clutched tightly at his lapel.
Wei Xun’s cool voice came from above her head, “Just wear it like this.”
A’Yuan never dared to disobey her master’s orders.
Suppressing her shame, she struggled to remove the outer robe Wei Xun was wearing and replaced it with the new one she had made.
“Enough!”
Before the robe was fully on, Wei Xun pushed her away.
His method of tormenting A’Yuan had only ended up tormenting himself.
“I’ll do it myself.”
Wei Xun moved her hands aside and quickly finished dressing.
He lowered his head, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, a sense of helplessness flickering in his heart.
When it came to A’Yuan, even his most prized self-control had completely failed him.
Seeing the little concubine’s legs trembling, barely able to stand steady, Wei Xun’s expression softened.
“Go back to bed and rest a while longer. Weren’t you crying last night, saying you were tired?”
“Young Master!”
A’Yuan stood on her tiptoes and reached up to cover the man’s lips. A mix of embarrassment and annoyance flashed in her charming almond-shaped eyes, making her appear more spirited than the fragile state she had been in moments before.
“I didn’t…”
Wei Xun chuckled softly, scooped her up horizontally, and placed her on the bed.
His tall nose brushed against her palm before he finally pressed a kiss there.
“Alright, you didn’t. It was all my fault for wronging A’Yuan.”
How could A’Yuan resist such tenderness? A mist gathered in her eyes, and her heart filled with grievance.
“Master, don’t tease me.”
She might lose control and fall completely.
But as soon as she thought that such tenderness would one day belong to someone else, her heart hardened again.
Wei Xun didn’t understand the little concubine’s sorrow, thinking only that she was shy. He pinched the soft flesh of her cheek before standing up.
“Alright, sleep now. I’m leaving.”
A pile of official documents had accumulated at the government office, and he had indeed lingered too long today.
Wei Xun was exceedingly gentle when comforting her, yet he withdrew just as decisively as anyone could.
The opening and closing of the door brought in a gust of cold air, clearing A’Yuan’s mind even further. After all, she was merely Wei Xun’s plaything. Perhaps one day, when he grew tired of her, he would discard her just as unfeelingly.
A’Yuan lowered her head, a trace of bitterness flashing in her eyes, yet somewhere deep within her heart, a resolve grew even stronger.