Wei Xun sat behind his desk, with a thick stack of official documents piled on the table.
Recently, a strange incident had occurred in the capital: young married women were frequently disappearing, yet there were no clues about the perpetrator. As the Deputy Chief of the Metropolitan Prefecture, Wei Xun had been busy with this case for several days.
Time was of the essence; each day of delay meant another person in danger.
He had already been somewhat impatient when Su Yingxue came earlier, and now with someone else entering, Wei Xun coldly snapped without even looking up, “Get out!”
“Master…” Chang Yuan paused mid-step, 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 of them stepped out, and Chang Yuan looked somewhat embarrassed.
“Thank you, Mistress. The Young Master is very busy with official duties today; he didn’t mean to drive you away.”
Afraid that A’Yuan might misunderstand, he quickly explained.
A’Yuan smiled, her face gentle and understanding. “I know. Please take this robe and give it to him for me.”
With that, she motioned for Chun Tao to hand over the robe in her hands. Chang Yuan nodded and took it. “Ah, why don’t you wait in the flower hall, Mistress? The Young Master might be almost done.”
“No need.”
A’Yuan shook her head. “When the Young Master is busy, he often neglects his health. Please remind him to take care of himself.”
“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 Xie’s words would he listen to.
Chang Yuan wished A’Yuan would give a few more reminders, but at that moment, A’Yuan could barely maintain the smile on her lips. 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, she felt nothing but heartache.
“Mistress, don’t overthink it. That girl is arrogant and domineering. The Young Master definitely won’t take a liking to her, and he absolutely won’t marry her.”
He might not marry her, but he would marry someone else. The position of the Young Master’s wife would eventually be filled by someone.
A’Yuan stood there in a daze, looking up at the vast, clear blue sky above the Jade Clarity Courtyard. It felt as though something inside her was about to shatter.
No matter who Wei Xun married in the future, it was not something she could interfere with. She was merely a lowly concubine, living at the mercy of her master.
If her master liked her, she could live comfortably; if he didn’t, as Su Yingxue had said, he could even sell her off.
She was nothing more than an unworthy plaything.
A’Yuan blinked, the sourness in her nose nearly bringing tears to her eyes.
“Don’t say such things 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. Su Yingxue was nothing but a girl with a good family background.
…
Wei Xun remained busy until evening. As lanterns were lit in the courtyard, he looked up and rubbed his sore shoulders, calling out to Chang Yuan, “What time is it?”
“Just past the Hour of the Dog. Would you like to have dinner, Master?” Chang Yuan lit the lanterns 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 thought of Su Yingxue coming to deliver soup during the day and frowned with displeasure.
Could it be that someone else had 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 food you sent earlier. You were busy at the time, so she left it and went away.”
Chang Yuan finally managed to say what he had been holding back for half the day.
Although he spoke vaguely, Wei Xun, as the Deputy Prefect of the Metropolitan 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 refused to listen to his explanation. His little concubine was so timid—he wondered if she had secretly cried after being scolded by him.
He had no appetite for dinner now and only wanted to see her.
In the past, Wei Xun would visit Yuqing 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 Yuqing Courtyard housed only her and her maid, Chun Tao.
At this moment, the room was lit, and A’Yuan was bent over, embroidering a pouch.
Chun Tao’s parents managed the 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 erect cenotaphs for her parents and light eternal lamps for them. If possible, she also wished to return to her hometown.
When the Xie family was massacred, her brother had fortunately not been among them. What if he was still alive…
A’Yuan lowered her head and wiped the corner of her eye, a flicker 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 welled in her eyes, lending her a fragile, delicate charm—both pitiful and 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 and reminded herself not to yearn for what was not hers.
But Wei Xun, lowering himself to comfort her, made the grievances in her heart pour out as if they had found an outlet.
“I didn’t mean to cry.”
Even as she said this, tears fell.
Wei Xun’s usually indifferent expression was tinged with rare panic. He carefully wiped the tears from the corner of her eye with his thumb, patiently soothing her.
“Next time you come, there’s no need to have someone announce you. Just come in directly.”
A’Yuan dared not do such a thing. 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 since Wei Xun was about to take a wife.
However, she could not voice these thoughts openly. A’Yuan obediently nodded. “I understand.”
“Then don’t cry anymore from now on. Be careful not to hurt your eyes from crying.”
Wei Xun gently pinched the tip of her nose, his tone carrying a hint of affection.
A’Yuan had always been obedient, and he couldn’t help but dote on 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 slightly and replied 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 are always well-behaved, so I naturally trust you. Once the mistress enters the household, you can stop taking the contraceptive medicine.”
Wei Xun felt a stir in his heart, wrapping his arm around her waist and bringing her to the bed.
“At that time, A’Yuan will give me a daughter…”