Сhаpter 9: Не Wаnts а Dаughter
Wei Xun sаt bеhind his desk, a thiсk stack оf оffiсiаl dосuments рilеd оn thе table.
Rеcently, a strаngе incidеnt hаd оссurred in thе саpital: уоung marriеd women werе frequеntly disapрeаring, yеt thеre werе no leads оn thе сulрrit. As the Dерutу Мagistratе of thе Caрital Prеfecturе, Wei Xun had bееn busу with this cаsе for severаl daуs.
Тime was оf the essеncе. Еаch dаy of dеlay mеаnt аnother person in danger.
Hе hаd already bееn somewhat imраtient when Su Yingxue came earlier. Now that someone else was entering, Wei Xun didn’t even look up, coldly snapping, “Get out!”
“Master…” Chang Yuan paused, wanting to explain, but Wei Xun was already immersed in the documents.
A’Yuan shook her head at him, signaling not to disturb Wei Xun further.
The two withdrew, Chang Yuan looking somewhat embarrassed.
“Thank you, Mistress. The Young Master is extremely busy with official duties today; he didn’t mean to drive you away.”
Fearing A’Yuan might misunderstand, he quickly explained.
A’Yuan smiled, her expression gentle and understanding. “I know. Please hand this robe to him for me.”
With that, she signaled Chun Tao to pass the robe in her hands to him. Chang Yuan nodded and took it. “Ah, why doesn’t Mistress wait in the flower hall for a while? The Young Master might be finishing up soon.”
“No need.”
A’Yuan shook her head. “When the Young Master is busy, he often neglects his health. Please remind him to take care.”
“Yes.”
Chang Yuan noted this seriously. When Wei Xun was busy, he even forgot to eat. As a servant, his reminders were useless; only Mistress’s words would he listen to now.
Chang Yuan wished A’Yuan would give a few more reminders, but at that moment, A’Yuan could barely maintain her smile. Leaning on Chun Tao, she stumbled out of the outer study.
Chun Tao had heard everything Su Yingxue said earlier. Seeing her mistress’s face as pale as paper, her heart ached with pity.
“Mistress, please don’t overthink it. That young lady is arrogant and domineering. The Young Master would never fancy her, and he certainly won’t marry her.”
He might not marry her, but he would marry someone else. The position of the Young Mistress would eventually be filled by someone.
A’Yuan stood dazed, gazing at the vast, azure sky above Jade Clarity Courtyard. It felt as if something inside her was about to shatter.
Whoever Wei Xun married in the future was not something she could interfere with. She was merely a lowly concubine, living at the mercy of her master.
If the master favored her, she could live comfortably. If not, as Su Yingxue had said, she could be sold off without a second thought.
She was, after all, nothing more than an unworthy plaything.
A’Yuan blinked, the sting in her nose nearly bringing tears to her eyes.
“Don’t say such things again in the future. If word gets out and others hear, I won’t be able to protect you.”
“…Yes.”
Chun Tao pouted, feeling somewhat indignant. What she said was true—her mistress was the one most suited to the Young Master. That Su Yingxue merely had a good family background.
…
Wei Xun remained busy until evening. As lanterns were lit in the courtyard, he looked up, rubbing his sore shoulders, and called for Chang Yuan. “What time is it?”
“Just past the Hour of Xu. Would you like to have dinner, Master?” Chang Yuan lit the lamps in the study and poured Wei Xun a cup of hot tea.
“Bring it in.” Wei Xun nodded. After working for half a day, he was indeed a bit hungry.
Chang Yuan went out and soon returned with a food box. Besides the box, he also carried the robe A’Yuan had made.
“Who sent this?”
Wei Xun recalled Su Yingxue coming to deliver soup during the day and frowned with displeasure.
Had someone else come to deliver something?
The news of his intention to marry had just been announced, and already someone couldn’t sit still and had come knocking.Wei Xun did not mind strengthening family ties through marriage, but Su Yingxue was not suitable.
He would never marry a willful and unreasonable woman.
“Thank you for the things you sent earlier. You were busy at the time, so she left them and went away.”
Chang Yuan, who had been holding back his words for half a day, finally managed to speak up.
Although he spoke vaguely, Wei Xun, as the Deputy Prefect of the Capital Prefecture, had an excellent memory and immediately recalled reprimanding someone earlier that day.
So, that person was A’Yuan?
Wei Xun’s expression suddenly darkened. “Why didn’t you say so earlier!”
Chang Yuan shrank his neck, looking aggrieved. “It was you, sir, who said no one was to disturb you…”
He hadn’t been given the chance to speak.
“Go and receive your punishment yourself!”
Wei Xun, however, refused to listen to his explanation. His little concubine was so timid—he wondered if she had secretly cried after being reprimanded.
He had no appetite for dinner now and only wanted to see her.
In the past, Wei Xun would visit the Jade Clarity Courtyard no more than twice a month, but this month, he was already stepping inside for the third time.
A’Yuan had no official status, so only she and her maid Chun Tao resided in the Jade Clarity Courtyard.
At this moment, the room was lit, and A’Yuan was bent over, embroidering a pouch.
Chun Tao’s parents were in charge of procurement for the front courtyard, and A’Yuan sometimes entrusted her to sell some of her embroidery work.
Her skills were excellent—a single pouch could fetch several taels of silver. Combined with her own monthly allowance, she had managed to save a considerable sum over the past three years.
However, it was still far from what she had hoped for.
She wanted to set up a cenotaph for her parents and light a perpetual lamp. If possible, she also wished to return to her hometown.
When the Xie family was massacred, her brother happened to be away. What if he was still alive…
A’Yuan lowered her head and wiped the corner of her eye, a glimmer of hope igniting in her heart.
If her brother was still alive, she would no longer be alone in this world.
As Wei Xun entered, he caught sight of his little concubine wiping away tears. His heart ached slightly, and he quickly walked over.
Hearing footsteps, A’Yuan instinctively looked up.
Tears glistened in her eyes, lending her a fragile, delicate charm—pitiful yet endearing. Wei Xun felt as though his heart was melting.
“It was my fault. Don’t cry anymore.”
Wei Xun had a cold and aloof temperament, and even when comforting someone, he sounded stern.
A’Yuan hadn’t intended to cry. She had already come to terms with her status, reminding herself not to yearn for what was not hers.
But Wei Xun, lowering himself to comfort her, made the grievances in her heart surge forth like a floodgate opening.
“I didn’t mean to cry.”
Even as she said this, tears streamed down her face.
Wei Xun’s usually indifferent expression was tinged with rare panic. He gently wiped the tears from the corner of her eye with his thumb, patiently soothing her.
“Next time you come, you don’t need to have someone announce you. Just come in directly.”
How could A’Yuan dare? The outer study was where he conducted official business. If anything went missing, she would be held responsible.
She could not overstep her bounds.
Especially now that Wei Xun was about to marry.
But she could not voice these thoughts openly. A’Yuan obediently nodded. “I understand.”
“Then don’t cry anymore in the future. Be careful not to strain your eyes from crying.”
Wei Xun pinched the tip of her nose, his tone carrying a hint of affection.
A’Yuan had always been well-behaved, and he couldn’t help but indulge her a little more. Even after his official wife entered the household, he would never let her feel neglected.
Thinking of his impending marriage, Wei Xun’s expression turned serious.
“The mistress of the household may enter before the start of summer. She is tolerant and magnanimous by nature and will not mistreat you.”
It was already the beginning of spring, and summer was only two or three months away.
A’Yuan clenched her hands, replying obediently, “I know you care for me, A’Yuan, and I understand that in my heart. In the future, I will serve you and the mistress well.””You have always been well-behaved, so I naturally trust you. Once the mistress enters the household, you can stop taking the contraceptive medicine.”
Wei Xun’s heart stirred. He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her to the bed.
“When the time comes, A’Yuan, give me a daughter…”