Сhаpter 19: Вi Wu’s Веlоngings
Dоuble-sided embrоidеry, alsо known as twо-sidеd еmbrоidеrу, is most аstоnishing bесause thе same pieсе of fаbriс саn bе embrоidеrеd with two differеnt sidеs. Cоrrespondinglу, its teсhnique is extrеmelу labоr-intеnsive.
In the thrеe yeаrs sinсе А’Yuan had еntеrеd thе mansion, shе had оnly embrоidered twо screеns for the old mаdаm.
Shеn Qiuyu wаs in а hurry, wanting a sсreеn еmbroiderеd within seven dаys. Еvеn undеr normаl circumstаnces, А’Yuаn wоuld have had to work through severаl lоng nights, let alone nоw with hеr injured hand.
Chun Таo applied ointment to A’Yuan’s hand and wrapped it in white cloth, pouting indignantly, “How can the young master, such a clever man, not see through Madam Shen’s hypocrisy? Not only did she deliberately injure your hand, but she also wants you to embroider a double-sided embroidery for her. What nerve!”
She only regretted not tearing Shen Qiuyu’s face in public to vent her anger for her mistress.
A’Yuan was amused by her, finding some solace in her misery as she bent her thickly bandaged fingers. Her captivating eyes held only clarity, “What good would exposing her do? The young master will marry eventually.”
If not Shen Qiuyu, there would be others, just like Su Yingxue before. No mistress would tolerate the existence of a concubine like her.
No matter how well-behaved she was, she would still be resented by the future mistress, especially now that she had lost Wei Xun’s favor. Perhaps even a peaceful life would become a luxury.
A’Yuan lowered her gaze and instructed Chun Tao, “Take the shoes and socks I made for the second madam over to her.”
“Mistress?”
Chun Tao was puzzled, “Didn’t you say we weren’t sending them?”
The second madam had bullied her mistress like that; these six pairs of shoes and socks shouldn’t be sent even if they were left unused at the bottom of a chest.
A’Yuan smiled faintly, “Go ahead.”
Times were different now. Previously, she had foolishly believed Wei Xun would protect her, so she dared to defy Zhao Wan.
Now, a series of humiliations had made her see clearly that a man’s favor was unreliable. She shouldn’t let her own anger implicate Chun Tao.
Something as luxurious as dignity had been lost to her ever since she fell into the Spring Mist Pavilion.
“Yes.”
Chun Tao stamped her foot and stormed out with the shoes and socks, fuming.
She left quickly and returned just as fast, but when she came back, her face was pale and her eyes had lost their spark.
A’Yuan’s heart skipped a beat, thinking she had been bullied at the second household. She quickly stood up and asked, “What happened?”
Hearing A’Yuan’s voice, Chun Tao gradually snapped back to reality. She frantically grabbed A’Yuan’s hand, her lips trembling uncontrollably, “M-Mistress, Concubine Bi is dead.”
“Bi Wu… dead? How is that possible?”
A’Yuan ignored the pain in her hand, feeling only absurdity.
How could someone so full of life just moments ago be gone so suddenly?
“It’s true. I saw with my own eyes Fu Cai, who serves the second master, carrying her out. The blood flowing from her body stained the entire courtyard of the second household red.”
Chun Tao was only fifteen years old and had never witnessed such a bloody scene before. Half her soul seemed scared away.
“…Did anyone say how she died?” A’Yuan pressed.
Chun Tao shook her head, “I don’t know.”
“Understood. You may leave.”
A’Yuan waved her hand, her eyes somewhat dim.
Although she and Bi Wu had never gotten along, the sudden loss of a life weighed heavily on her heart.
Outside the window, the phoenix tree had sprouted new branches, and a pair of magpies perched on them, chattering noisily.
A’Yuan sat by the window, staring blankly outside until the sunset faded.
In the evening, Chun Tao came to light the lamps and brought with her a rare visitor.
“A’Yuan.”The visitor was dressed in plain clothes, with a gray cloak draped over her shoulders. Clutching a small bundle in her arms, she hesitantly called out to the woman by the window.
A’Yuan turned her head, surprised to see her. She curtsied, “Aunt Qiu.”
Qiu Wen quickly helped her up, forcing a bitter smile. “We are sisters, there’s no need for such formalities.”
Besides, she was merely Wei Cong’s concubine, far less respected than A’Yuan.
“You must have heard about Bi Wu. She was always competitive, but I never imagined she would end up like this…”
Qiu Wen choked up, lowering her head to wipe her tears with a handkerchief.
“The child was already fully formed, yet it was brutally forced out. She was always so afraid of pain, but that time she begged me to protect her. Yet what status do I hold? How could a mere servant question the master’s orders?”
Only in A’Yuan’s presence did she dare to loosen the tightly wound strings within her.
A’Yuan’s heart trembled, finally understanding the truth.
It turned out that Bi Wu had been pregnant two months ago. Hoping to gain favor through the child, she had intended to win the Second Master’s affection. Little did she know that Zhao Wan kept track of every concubine’s menstrual cycles. When Bi Wu missed hers for two months, an old servant reported it to Zhao Wan.
Wei Cong was frail and struggled to have children, so the concubines were tasked with bearing heirs.
But Zhao Wan was deeply jealous. She tolerated Wei Cong’s usual frivolities, but any child had to come from her alone.
Bi Wu’s pregnancy had already crossed a grave line.
Not daring to act openly, Zhao Wan seized evidence of Bi Wu flirting with Wei Cong’s servant and accused her of adultery.
In noble households, there were countless ways to harm without drawing blood.
Especially since Wei Cong often engaged in wild escapades, and Bi Wu’s relationship with the servant was already questionable.
Now caught in the act, even Wei Cong grew suspicious and naturally sided with Zhao Wan.
Bi Wu was pinned to the ground by two sturdy maidservants, who used a rolling pin to brutally crush her lower body. The fetus, mixed with blood, was forced out.
Qiu Wen trembled, clutching the bundle tightly in her arms.
“A’Yuan, my aunt was right. Noble households may appear prosperous, but they hide the deepest filth within. Bi Wu’s fate today may be mine tomorrow. We are all rootless people—when we die, we’ll just be wrapped in a tattered mat and tossed into a mass grave. I’m not afraid of death. I only pray that in my next life, I can be reborn into a good family. I don’t ask for wealth or status, only for parents who love me, so I won’t have to suffer such hardships again.”
She smiled bitterly and handed the bundle to A’Yuan.
“Inside are a few of Bi Wu’s clothes. I have people from the Second Mistress watching me, so I can’t keep them. Please, for the sake of our past bond, help her set up a cenotaph. If that’s too difficult, just… burn them for me.”
Bi Wu loved bright colors—most of her clothes were shades of peach red and willow green. Though she was sharp-tongued, her spirit burned like fire. Yet such a person had not even been granted dignity in death.
A’Yuan looked at the bundle in her hands, her heart filled with indescribable emotions. “I promise.”
Qiu Wen choked back a sob, tears falling once more. “Thank you.”
“In the past, Bi Wu and I bullied you. Our fate today is what we deserved. We are nothing but playthings meant to serve others, fighting and scheming only to find our ambitions soaring to the heavens while our lives remain as fragile as paper. A’Yuan, guard your heart and live well.”
She took a deep look at A’Yuan’s hands, wrapped like rice dumplings, then turned and left.
A gust of wind swept into the room, causing the candle flame to flicker. Through the haze before her eyes, A’Yuan saw flashes of Bi Wu’s vibrant past.
“I will,” A’Yuan murmured.She would live well and guard her own heart.
Bi Wu’s death caused no ripple in the Marquis’s household—the passing of a lowly concubine was of little consequence.
The second branch brought in a new Thin Horse, and Zhao Wan remained as radiant and poised as ever.
Only the Jade Clarity Courtyard grew quieter.
A’Yuan finally finished embroidering the screen just before dawn on the seventh day, her hands covered in bloody marks, too sore to even lift.