Сhарter 13: Thе Iris Наirрin
Wеi Xun ultimatelу did nоt call fоr a phуsiсiаn.
Тhе firе in the сhаrсоal braziеr warmed the roоm thоroughlу. Тhе mаn’s lаrge раlm gеntly massаgеd her, аnd A’Yuan felt sо cоmfortable shе grew drоwsy. Тhе menstrual рain that had trоublеd hеr fоr yeаrs nо lоngеr seemеd so unbеarablе.
The littlе conсubine nestled аgаinst his сhest likе а docile kittеn. Whenеvеr he lowеred his heаd, he соuld sеe hеr delicаte, chаrming fасe.
Wei Xun’s heart softened intо а puddle, and he hеld hеr even tighter in his аrms.
“Мmm… so hard.”
A’Yuan’s lower back was suddenly pressed against something hard. She opened her drowsy eyes and reached behind to investigate.
Wei Xun lifted her slightly, only then remembering what he had bought.
With one arm still around A’Yuan, he retrieved an exquisitely carved wooden box from his robe. “Try it.”
“What… is this?”
A’Yuan took it in a daze, looking up at Wei Xun.
The man clenched his fist and brought it to his lips, clearing his throat softly. His expression carried a hint of awkward pride.
“I passed by a jewelry shop and casually bought a hairpin. If you don’t like it, you can give it to a maid.”
How could the esteemed Wei heir ever casually enter a jewelry shop? After a moment’s thought, A’Yuan realized this was a gift Wei Xun had specifically bought for her.
She sat up, kneeling in the man’s lap, and opened the box with a mix of surprise and gratitude.
An iris came into view. A’Yuan’s heart felt as if brushed by a feather—tingling and numb. Her hand instinctively tightened around the golden hairpin.
This hairpin, symbolizing her name, could not possibly have been a casual purchase by Wei Xun.
Her chest swelled with a bittersweet ache. Leaning on the man’s thigh, she leaned forward and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Master. A’Yuan likes it very much.”
The little concubine was soft and sweet, her tone still carrying a hint of flattery. Wei Xun’s lips, which he had been forcing into a straight line, involuntarily curved upward.
“Let me put it on for you.”
Naturally, Wei Xun did not know how to style hair. But he was quick to learn and had an excellent memory. After hearing A’Yuan explain it just once, he managed to fashion a “drooping looped braid” hairstyle.
The iris hairpin nestled among her dark hair, seeming to come alive with her movements.
Wei Xun nodded in satisfaction. So, styling hair wasn’t as difficult as he had thought.
If he could do this for the little concubine every day, he would be willing.
“Master, does it look good?”
Kneeling before the man, A’Yuan couldn’t see the finished style. She twisted her head, trying to catch a glimpse in the mirror.
Wei Xun wouldn’t let her get off the bed. Instead, he fetched a bronze mirror and handed it to her.
In the mirror, A’Yuan’s eyes sparkled. Though her face was bare, the golden hairpin lent her an air of elegance.
“It looks good.”
She murmured to herself, but her expression revealed genuine delight.
Wei Xun’s mood grew even more cheerful. Looking down at her, he pinched the soft flesh at the nape of her neck, as if teasing a kitten he kept.
“If you like it, wear it. If you want more jewelry, I’ll buy it for you in the future.”
“This hairpin is more than enough. Master needn’t spend more.”
A’Yuan was truly anxious. Wei Xun was treating her better and better, but she almost wished he would maintain his previous indifference.
Seeing his concubine’s obedient and cautious demeanor, Wei Xun chuckled softly. “What? Afraid I can’t afford to keep you?”
A’Yuan dared not respond to such a remark. She tugged at Wei Xun’s sleeve, shaking her head repeatedly. “That’s not what A’Yuan meant.”
“Alright, I was just teasing you.”
Wei Xun knew when to stop, fearing he might make the little concubine cry.
After all, if she really cried, he would be the one who had to comfort her.
He stood up, but his sleeve was still in A’Yuan’s grasp. As he rose, the pouch tucked in his sleeve tumbled out.
A’Yuan had still been feeling a mix of embarrassment and annoyance over Wei Xun’s teasing. But when the pouch landed before her eyes, her face instantly turned pale.No other reason, this pouch was precisely the one A’Yuan had entrusted to Chun Tao’s mother to sell.
Yet, she had no idea how it had ended up in Wei Xun’s hands.
A’Yuan’s heart suddenly tightened. She had kept her embroidery sales a secret from Wei Xun—it was her secret, the money she had been saving to search for her family. If Wei Xun were to ask, what should she say?
A’Yuan’s nervousness did not escape Wei Xun’s notice. He glanced at the pouch on the bed, narrowing his eyes slightly.
Naturally, he knew nothing about embroidery, but A’Yuan’s embroidered pieces all shared a common characteristic: she loved embroidering auspicious patterns.
He hadn’t paid attention before, but seeing A’Yuan’s expression now, Wei Xun remembered.
This pouch must have been embroidered by A’Yuan.
Thinking of the missing Lady Liu, Wei Xun’s expression turned serious.
Could A’Yuan be connected to her?
A’Yuan’s heart clenched. She wanted to ask but didn’t dare, and could only watch helplessly as Wei Xun pocketed the pouch.
“Master…”
She stammered, and Wei Xun lowered his gaze, waiting for her to continue. Yet, after a long pause, no further words came.
Realizing she was deliberately hiding something from him, Wei Xun’s face turned cold.
“Rest now.”
“Master…”
Even as Wei Xun reached the doorway, A’Yuan still couldn’t bring herself to ask.
Outside the room, the man paused briefly, his grip on the pouch leaving several creases.
Regardless of how the pouch had ended up in Lady Liu’s hands, A’Yuan was definitely keeping secrets from him.
Wei Xun returned to his outer study with a cold expression. Seeing his demeanor, Chang Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the gold hairpin the master had gifted was not to Lady Xie’s liking?
But Wei Xun ignored his unspoken question and tossed the pouch to him.
“Find out where Lady Liu got this pouch from, and also check if A’Yuan has had any contact with outsiders recently.”
“Master suspects Lady Xie…”
Chang Yuan was stunned, the pouch in his hand suddenly feeling scalding.
How could the case of the missing young women in the capital be connected to Lady Xie?
“Quickly!”
Wei Xun shot him a sharp glance, and Chang Yuan dared not delay any longer.
Though somewhat simple-minded, he was exceptionally capable. In less than half a day, he had uncovered the pouch’s origins.
“This pouch was purchased by Lady Liu from the Brocade Pavilion three months ago. Usually, the money she earned from selling tofu was taken by the Wang mother and son. Afraid that Wang Cheng would accuse her of wasting money, she claimed it was a gift from a customer. However, Wang Cheng didn’t believe her and even suspected her of having an affair.”
That was why Wang Cheng had taken the pouch to report to the authorities.
“The Brocade Pavilion?”
Wei Xun looked up. “How did A’Yuan’s embroidery end up at the Brocade Pavilion?”
He already had a suspicion but couldn’t bring himself to believe it.
Chang Yuan swallowed nervously, cautiously glancing at his master. “Lady Xie had Granny Zhu secretly sell it for her…”
“When did this start?”
WeiXun’s expression was unusually calm, but Chang Yuan, having served him for so long, could see the turmoil beneath that calm.
“Two years ago…”
So early.
Crack!
The teacup in Wei Xun’s hand shattered under his grip, bright red blood trickling from between his fingers. A self-mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips. “I see. You may leave.”
“Master, perhaps Lady Xie has some difficulties. Please don’t be angry…”
Chang Yuan’s heart was pounding. He never imagined A’Yuan would be so bold as to secretly sell her embroidery.
After all, she was the master’s woman. Could the master possibly lack money for her?
“Difficulties, ha!”
Wei Xun sneered, his chest feeling as if blocked by a heavy stone, suffocating and painful.
Thinking back to A’Yuan’s usual obedient demeanor, the self-mockery on Wei Xun’s lips deepened.
Perhaps it was all an act. Who knew how many more secrets she was keeping from him.”Go out.”