Сhарtеr 16: Rеwаrd
The ореning аnd сlosing door brоught in thе cold wind оf earlу sрring, аnd А’Yuаn’s stumbling figurе flutterеd оut likе а broken buttеrfly.
The man hiddеn in thе darknеss wаtсhеd hеr leаvе, his рitch-blaсk еyеs unfathomablу deеp.
When A’Yuаn returnеd, her сlоthes werе disheveled, hеr fасе deathlу раlе, and her аlmond-shаped еyes dull аnd lifeless.
“Мaster, what hаррenеd tо you?”
Chun Тaо wаs startled аnd quickly fеtchеd а thiсk blankеt to wraр around hеr.
А’Yuаn sat on the couch by the windоw, hеr face buried in thе blаnket, but the pаin in hеr body was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.
How could she tell Chun Tao that she had been pinned down on the desk by Wei Xun and tormented for a long time? Such a humiliating event was something she wished she could forget herself.
A’Yuan stared at the lantern outside the window for a long time until her vision blurred.
“Chun Tao, prepare some water for me.”
……
Steam filled the air as A’Yuan removed her dress and stepped barefoot into the wooden tub.
The marks on her body became even more pronounced when wet. A’Yuan didn’t let Chun Tao come in to attend to her, afraid that these mottled traces would frighten her.
The rising steam brought tears to A’Yuan’s eyes. She sank her body into the water, burying her head, and cried her heart out.
She was only eighteen. Girls from other families at this age were still cherished by their parents and elders.
They had parents who carefully selected husbands for them, and they would later marry good men, live in harmony, and grow old together.
But she would never have such an opportunity.
Outside the door, Chun Tao listened to the muffled sobs inside, anxiously pacing back and forth. She didn’t even notice when the granny from the outer study arrived.
“Chun Tao, where is Madam Xie?”
Granny Zheng peeked inside. She was the stewardess of Wei Xun’s courtyard and was highly respected in the marquis’s household. Both young and old maidservants revered her, and even the second madam dared not order her around.
Her appearance at Jade Clarity Courtyard was clearly to deliver a message on behalf of Wei Xun.
Chun Tao hurriedly wiped her face and smiled at her. “The master is bathing. What brings you here, Granny Zheng?”
Granny Zheng withdrew her gaze and took out a pouch, handing it to her. “The young master has sent a reward for Madam Xie. Please keep it for her for now.”
“…Yes.”
Chun Tao hesitated. In the past, the young master had given rewards to her master before, but this was the first time he had sent Granny Zheng to deliver it.
What exactly happened in the outer study?
She slipped a piece of silver to Granny Zheng and offered her a cup of hot tea. Granny Zheng didn’t stay long, and by the time A’Yuan came out of the bath, she had already left.
A’Yuan’s wet hair hung loose, and her eyes were moist and swollen from crying.
Chun Tao quickly wrapped her hair in a towel. “The weather is still cold, master. Be careful not to catch a chill.”
“Mm.”
A’Yuan lowered her head, letting Chun Tao dry her wet hair.
Her delicate hands were pink and snow-white, and the ink stains on her fingertips had been washed away, but the harm was forever etched in her heart.
She lowered her gaze, concealing the sorrow in her eyes.
“Master, the young master sent Granny Zheng from the courtyard with a reward. Quick, see what it is!”
After drying her hair, Chun Tao applied a layer of osmanthus hair oil.
A’Yuan’s hair was already smooth, and with the hair oil, it became as sleek as satin.
The pouch was heavy, and even before opening it, A’Yuan had already guessed what was inside.
With trembling hands, she poured out several pieces of gold. The bright yellow color seemed to reflect the mockery in Wei Xun’s eyes, making A’Yuan suddenly clench her fist.
“Wow, it’s actually gold!” Chun Tao exclaimed in amazement.
In all her life, this was the first time she had seen so much money.
“Master just stopped the embroidery business. This is perfect—you won’t have to do it anymore.”The little maid was naive, thinking the young master felt sorry for her mistress for doing embroidery work to earn extra money, never imagining it was a reward for A’Yuan’s service.
A’Yuan’s eyes were red, her heart filled with bitterness. She grabbed the pouch and stuffed it into Chun Tao’s hands.
“Take this to Granny Zhu.”
“Huh?”
Chun Tao opened her mouth wide, not understanding A’Yuan’s meaning.
“Granny Zhu lost her job because of me. This gold is my compensation…”
Before A’Yuan could finish, Chun Tao quickly shook her head.
“How can this be allowed? My mother has received many favors from you over the years. She even took twenty percent of the money you earned selling pouches. How could losing her job be blamed on you?”
Chun Tao truly didn’t resent A’Yuan. She and her mother were originally just doing odd jobs in the Peaceful Marquis Estate. Plus, she was clumsy and not liked by the masters. If A’Yuan hadn’t looked past her faults, she would have long ago angered a master and been driven out.
And now, even though her mother had lost her job, with their past savings, they wouldn’t be unable to survive.
“Take it. If you don’t accept it, I won’t feel right.”
A’Yuan insisted on giving it, and Chun Tao had no choice but to accept.
“But, mistress, aren’t you short on money?”
Yes, she was short on money. A’Yuan smiled bitterly.
But this gold was Wei Xun’s humiliation to her. If she kept it, she would remember what happened in the study every day.
Even if she lit eternal lamps for her parents, she wouldn’t be happy.
A’Yuan raised her eyes, her gaze empty. “What I want… is clean money.”
Chun Tao didn’t understand her meaning. Could gold be dirty?
And this was a reward from the young master. Why didn’t her mistress seem happy?
She nervously put the pouch away. This gold was enough for her, her mother, and her younger brother to live on for a lifetime. In the future, even if her younger brother wanted to study, there would be money to support him.
After her hair dried, A’Yuan lay down on the bed. She was exhausted, but as soon as she closed her eyes, the image of the man pressing her down and tormenting her appeared in her mind.
……
In the outer study, Granny Zheng returned to report after delivering the pouch.
Wei Xun stood by the window, his expression unreadable in the darkness.
Granny Zheng lowered her head and replied honestly, “When this old servant arrived, Madam Xie was bathing. The pouch was given to the little maid under her.”
“…Understood. You may go.”
Wei Xun didn’t hear what he wanted to hear, his tone sharp.
Granny Zheng thought she hadn’t done her job well and anxiously turned to leave. But just as she reached the door, Wei Xun suddenly called her back.
“Find another job for Granny Zhu from the second courtyard.”
“Yes.”
Granny Zheng was full of questions but didn’t dare say more.
Granny Zhu was just a lowly servant, not worth the master’s concern.
What the master cared about was actually Madam Xie behind her.
Granny Zheng secretly kept this in mind. Others thought Madam Xie was unloved, but only those close to them knew how much the young master cared for her.
Who knew what future this lady might have? As servants, they naturally should avoid offending her if possible.
Granny Zheng weighed the silver in her hand, planning to find an opportunity to return it.
She didn’t dare keep anything belonging to Madam Xie.
……
After that day, A’Yuan developed a fever. Chun Tao wanted to call a doctor, but A’Yuan stopped her.
Wei Xun and the people from his courtyard never came again. In the entire marquis estate, aside from Chun Tao, no one knew she was ill.
With Wei Xun’s favor withdrawn, Zhao Wan once again bullied and mistreated her.She had been ill and sensitive to the cold, yet the charcoal brazier had gone out, leaving the room bitterly chilly. Chun Tao had taken all the spare quilts from the cabinet and piled them over her, and throughout the night, she kept wiping her body with warm water. After more than half a month of care, the chill finally subsided.
By the time A’Yuan was well enough to leave the courtyard, the weather had already warmed. The marquis’s estate was decorated with lanterns and streamers, bustling with activity. Curious, Chun Tao stopped a young maid to ask.
The maid glanced at A’Yuan and whispered, “The old madam is hosting a banquet, inviting noble ladies from various families. Everyone is busy preparing for it…”