Сhарtеr 6: Takе Оff Yоur Сlоthes
Wei Xun wаs tаll and long-lеgged, and еvеr sinсе lеаving the аnсеstrаl hall, a сold aura had bееn emаnаting frоm him.
А’Yuаn’s legs асhеd terribly, but shе knеw Wei Хun must be angry аnd darеd not delaу, forсing hersеlf tо endure thе pain as shе hurriеd аftеr him.
Her smаll fасе was deаthly рale, аnd with eaсh step, hеr calves thrоbbеd аs if piеrсed by neеdles.
In thе сhilly eаrly spring wеathеr, finе bеads оf sweat аctuallу brоkе out on her forehead.
Wei Хun, trаined in martial arts, hаd shаrp hearing. Listеning tо the faint, rustling footsteps of the little concubine behind him, the cold aura around him grew even more biting. He turned and blocked her path, his brows and eyes clouded with displeasure.
“Do you not want your legs anymore?”
A’Yuan’s eyes brimmed with tears, her lips trembling. The pain left her unable to speak for a long moment.
“It’s nothing… just numb from kneeling…”
Wei Xun had originally intended only to let her stew a bit, to make her realize her mistake. But he had forgotten that she had always been a person of endurance. Even if she knew she was wrong, she would not dare to blame others, only herself for not doing well enough.
Now, with red-rimmed eyes, obediently answering him, Wei Xun felt as if a large hand had clenched around his heart, causing a sudden pang of pain. He could no longer care about propriety and stepped forward to pick her up.
A’Yuan’s body was suspended in the air, the sensation of weightlessness making her instinctively wrap her arms around Wei Xun’s neck. But she quickly remembered they were still in the Compassionate Peace Courtyard, with maids and matrons watching. She let go, her fingertips only daring to clutch the sleeve of Wei Xun’s robe, and pushed against him with an uneasy expression.
“Master, I can walk on my own…”
“Be quiet!”
Wei Xun pressed his lips together, anger simmering inside him yet unable to vent it on her. With a dark expression, he carried her all the way back to the Jade Clarity Courtyard.
Chun Tao and Chang Yuan were already waiting at the courtyard gate. Seeing A’Yuan being carried back, Chun Tao’s face instantly paled.
“Mistress…”
Afraid she would worry, A’Yuan quickly shook her head. “I’m fine, just my legs are numb.”
“You’ve been kneeling for so long, your knees must be swollen. I’ll go get some medicine to promote blood circulation and reduce swelling.”
With that, Chun Tao turned and hurried into the courtyard. Chang Yuan held a food box in his hand; the morning meal had already cooled somewhat, but he knew his mistress likely had no appetite to eat now.
As Wei Xun passed by him, his steps paused slightly as he instructed, “Take it to the kitchen to keep warm and bring it later. Also, have the kitchen prepare a bowl of ginger soup.”
“Yes.”
Chang Yuan accepted the order and left. Wei Xun carried A’Yuan into the bedchamber.
The bedding on the bed had already been replaced with fresh linens, leaving no trace of the intimacy from the previous night.
Wei Xun placed her on the bed, stoked the fire in the charcoal brazier, and his deep, dark eyes settled on her.
“Take off your clothes.”
“Young Master… Young Master?” A’Yuan’s beautiful eyes widened, and she instinctively shrank back.
Her entire body ached at the moment, and she had no strength to serve him. Her delicate, charming face was filled with resistance.
Wei Xun knew the little concubine had misunderstood his meaning. While annoyed, he couldn’t help but reflect on himself—had he usually been too demanding, making her so fearful?
But the twice-monthly intimacy was, for him, merely quenching thirst with poison.
“Expose the injuries on your legs.”
“Oh… oh.”
Only then did A’Yuan realize she had overthought it. Her face instantly flushed crimson, and she lowered her head, hurriedly trying to undo her sash.
But the more flustered she was, the more the sash refused to come loose, tangling into a tight knot in her hands.
A’Yuan was on the verge of tears.
Watching the little concubine’s flustered state, Wei Xun’s gaze softened involuntarily.
“Let me.”
The man took her fingertips and undid the sash with a few deft movements. Her shoes and underskirt were removed, revealing two fair, smooth, and lustrous legs.A’Yuan was taller than most women, with long, slender legs that were straight and graceful.
But now her knees were bruised and swollen, tinged with shades of purple and red, like a flawless piece of jade marred by blemishes—a sight that stirred pity in anyone who saw it.
“Does it hurt?”
Wei Xun took hold of her foot and pulled her toward him. A’Yuan’s legs dangled in the air, her entire lower body suspended in his grasp. She curled her legs in embarrassment, biting her lip and turning her face away, as if that could hide her from view.
“It doesn’t hurt.”
Her voice feigned indifference, but Wei Xun felt a sharp pang in his heart, a dull, aching tenderness.
He leaned in slightly, his warm breath brushing against her neck, when suddenly the door was pushed open.
“Master, the ointment is here…”
Chun Tao, worried about her mistress’s injury, had even forgotten the usual protocol of announcing herself outside the door.
When she entered, she saw the dark, stormy expression on the Young Master’s face, while her mistress was buried under the quilt, only half of her face visible and flushed bright red.
Chun Tao belatedly realized she had made a mistake and approached cautiously, her steps hesitant.
“…Master, shall I apply the ointment for you?”
“Get out!” Before A’Yuan could speak, Wei Xun had already snapped in a low, stern voice.
Though Chun Tao was lively by nature, she was also deeply afraid of Wei Xun. Now, clutching the ointment, she was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to advance or retreat.
A’Yuan knew why Wei Xun was angry—Chun Tao was merely bearing the brunt of his frustration.
She slipped a hand out from under the quilt and quietly hooked her little finger around Wei Xun’s, coaxing him gently. Seeing he didn’t refuse, she turned to Chun Tao and said, “Just leave the ointment and go out. I’ll call you back in later.”
“Yes.”
Chun Tao set down the ointment and hurriedly retreated. As she turned, she saw Chang Yuan’s smug, gloating expression.
“What are you laughing at?”
She glared at him and casually tossed her handkerchief in his direction.
The handkerchief was light and weightless, fluttering through the air before falling to the ground long before it reached Chang Yuan.
Chun Tao stamped her foot in frustration, her lips pouting so much they could have held an oil jug. Chang Yuan, not daring to tease her further, quickly bent down to pick up the handkerchief.
“I told you to wait before going in, but you wouldn’t listen. Now you’ve been scolded, haven’t you?”
“It’s not your master, so of course you don’t care. Give me back my handkerchief!”
She reached out to snatch it back but was caught off guard when Chang Yuan grabbed her hand.
“Alright, alright. Who could care more than the Young Master? When Mistress Xie is injured, he’s more distressed than anyone. Don’t be angry—look what I brought you from the kitchen.”
As he spoke, Chang Yuan magically produced a packet of cloud-slice cakes from his sleeve and placed it in Chun Tao’s hand. “Here, have some.”
Maids in the Marquis’s household weren’t allowed to eat pastries unless their masters granted permission. Other courtyards might be lenient, but Jade Clarity Courtyard was an awkward exception.
A’Yuan was a bedchamber maid—considered a mistress but without official status, yet not quite a servant either, as she belonged to the Young Master’s courtyard. Caught in this limbo, people in the household treated her according to their whims.
On ordinary days, the kitchen staff dared to withhold A’Yuan’s share of pastries, let alone allow Chun Tao to indulge in snacks.
The soft, white cloud-slice cakes still emitted a warm, enticing aroma, resting temptingly on the green handkerchief. Chun Tao swallowed hard, fighting back her craving. “I don’t want anything from you!”
She pushed him away and turned to leave, not even bothering to retrieve her handkerchief.
Chang Yuan scratched his head anxiously. “Hey! Why take it out on me? These pastries were specially made for the Second Madam. I went through a lot of trouble to get two pieces…”
By then, Chun Tao had already reached her room. Hearing Chang Yuan’s words, she paused with her hand on the door, turned back, and spat in his direction.
“Who wants to eat that stuff? May your heart rot for it!””You… you… you… you don’t know what’s good for you!”