Chaрtеr 7: Аррlying Mediсinе
Wei Xun tоok the оintmеnt аnd рullеd bаck thе quilt.
Тhе littlе conсubine’s jade-like lеgs lаy аgаinst thе bright rеd brоcаdе quilt, mаking the swelling аnd rеdness оn her knees аpрear evеn morе alаrming.
Нis lips werе pressed tightlу tоgеthеr, his exрrеssiоn сold enоugh to frеeze. А’Yuan tried tо closе her legs, but he hеld hеr dоwn with a stеrn fаce.
“What аre уоu hiding? Therе’s nowherе on уоu I hаven’t sеen.”
“Young Мaster!”
А’Yuаn wаs so embarrassed she wanted tо burу her face in thе quilt. Нer almond-shарed eyes shimmered with a watery light, and the unspoken tenderness in her expression was most pitiable.
Wei Xun’s throat tightened. His fingers, gripping her ankle, subtly tightened as he pulled her into his embrace. His scorching palm lightly patted her bottom. “Don’t move. I’m applying medicine for you.”
The man’s strength wasn’t great, but A’Yuan was so embarrassed she nearly cried.
He… how could he hit her there!
Wei Xun looked at his little concubine’s resentful and shy gaze, the corners of his lips secretly curling upward. Her appearance like this made him want to tease her even more.
But fearing he might truly frighten her, Wei Xun restrained his mischievous thoughts.
He lowered his head, opened the porcelain bottle, and scooped out a dollop of milky-white ointment.
This ointment was the same one he had sent over earlier.
A’Yuan’s body was delicate. On her first night in Jade Clarity Courtyard, she had been in pain for a long time. Although Wei Xun had no particular feelings for this little concubine who had been forced upon him, seeing her cry so pitifully, he had taken the imperial-grade white jade ointment and personally applied it for her.
A’Yuan didn’t know what Wei Xun was thinking. Both of her knees had been treated with medicine, but the bruising in between needed to be massaged away. The man pressed down on her leg and rubbed it with his warmed palm.
“…Mmm… it hurts…”
A’Yuan was most afraid of pain. Her small hands tugged at Wei Xun’s sleeve, pleading pitifully, but this time Wei Xun did not soften.
“Endure it.”
Wei Xun only massaged for half an hour, but to A’Yuan, it felt like a year had passed. Only when the man’s hand moved away did she feel as if she had come back to life.
Wei Xun stared at her sweat-dampened forehead, the coldness on his face not fading much.
“Stay quietly in the courtyard these days. There’s no need to go to Mother. If you disobey again, I’ll punish you myself.”
“…Yes.”
Although Wei Xun’s expression remained cold and stern, a secret sweetness welled up in A’Yuan’s heart. She obediently nodded, looking at Wei Xun with admiration for the first time.
Wei Xun was almost unable to restrain himself under her gaze. With a dark expression, he tucked her into the quilt. “Don’t tempt me.”
A’Yuan blinked in confusion, her fan-like eyelashes hiding the grievance in her eyes. As for the man’s accusation of temptation, she was truly wronged.
But Wei Xun wouldn’t listen to her explanation. After wiping the ointment from his hands with a handkerchief, he pushed the door open and left.
Chang Yuan had been waiting outside the door. Seeing his master come out, he quickly handed over the food box.
“Master, breakfast and ginger soup are inside.”
“Mm. Call that maid over to attend to her.”
“Yes.”
Wei Xun still had official duties today. Applying medicine for A’Yuan was already his limit. Chun Tao entered just as Wei Xun had finished feeding A’Yuan a bowl of ginger soup.
“Mistress… Young Master…”
She addressed them with fear and trepidation, the terror from her earlier scolding not yet faded.
Wei Xun set down the bowl, rose from the bedside, and made way for her, instructing solemnly, “Your mistress’s legs must not touch water. Attend to her carefully these days. Only let her go out once she’s fully recovered.”
“Yes, this servant remembers.”
Chun Tao noted it earnestly. Seeing their serious expressions, the sweetness in A’Yuan’s heart felt as if she had eaten honey.
“It’s not that serious.”
“Of course it’s serious! The Young Master cares for you, Mistress.”After Wei Xun finished giving his instructions and left, Chun Tao finally let out a sigh of relief, but she still didn’t forget to argue with A’Yuan.
A’Yuan curved her lips slightly, avoiding the topic. “Bring the breakfast over. Has the young master eaten yet?”
“Chang Yuan took two portions. The young master’s has already been sent to the study.”
“Mm.” Knowing that Wei Xun wouldn’t go hungry put A’Yuan’s mind at ease.
In truth, why would she need to worry about such matters? Everyone in the marquis’s estate was eager to curry favor with Wei Xun, and his daily needs were attended to by dedicated servants.
It was A’Yuan who, without Wei Xun’s protection, had to worry about not getting a hot meal.
Before the master and servant could finish their breakfast, Bi Wu from the second household’s courtyard arrived.
Like A’Yuan, she had also come from the Spring Mist Pavilion in Yangzhou.
However, A’Yuan had been assigned to Wei Xun by Old Madam Wei, while Bi Wu had become the concubine of the second master, Wei Cong.
In a way, she was better off than A’Yuan, but the women of the second household would likely prefer to follow Wei Xun without any status rather than become the concubine of a sickly man.
Thus, Bi Wu was jealous of A’Yuan.
“Oh, Sister A’Yuan is injured this badly? Can’t even get out of bed?”
When Wei Xun carried her back earlier, Bi Wu and the others had seen it with their own eyes.
A’Yuan had only been punished to kneel for half an hour—how could she be unable to walk? It must be this seductress pretending to be pitiful to complain.
Bi Wu secretly cursed, wishing she were the one lying in bed instead.
A’Yuan finished the last sip of her porridge, placed the bowl on the table, and glanced up at Bi Wu. “Concubine Bi, is there something you need in the Jade Clarity Courtyard?”
The title “Concubine Bi” was particularly grating to Bi Wu. Suppressing her jealousy and resentment, she forced a smile.
“What else could it be? The second madam sent me to check on your injury and make sure the embroidery work she requested isn’t delayed.”
It was actually the two Thin Horses who had spread the word about A’Yuan’s skill in Su embroidery. Zhao Wan was harsh and petty by nature. When they were taken into Wei Cong’s inner courtyard, Zhao Wan had found every possible way to make things difficult for them, with tailoring and embroidery tasks becoming routine.
Neither of the Thin Horses could endure hardship, and the little embroidery they had learned was long forgotten. After being punished by Zhao Wan a few times, they thought of A’Yuan.
A’Yuan’s embroidery was famously good at the Spring Mist Pavilion. The madam had once said that if she hadn’t been born with such an alluring face, she could have made a living as an embroiderer.
With the Thin Horses egging her on, Zhao Wan naturally wouldn’t let A’Yuan off the hook.
At first, she had worried that Wei Xun would protect A’Yuan, but with his busy official duties, he rarely visited the Jade Clarity Courtyard more than twice a month. A’Yuan, on the other hand, was as silent as a clam, enduring mistreatment without uttering a word.
In the end, all the embroidery work for the second household ended up in her hands.
Bi Wu glanced at A’Yuan with disdain, certain that she would obediently hand over the embroidery as she had done before.
But A’Yuan merely curved her lips slightly, rubbed her delicate, fair hands, and spoke in a gentle tone.
“What a shame. The young master specifically instructed me not to overexert myself while I recover. The second madam’s embroidery work will have to be assigned to someone else.”
She wasn’t a clay figure without a temper. In the past, she had only refrained from refusing out of fear of causing trouble for Wei Xun.
But judging by Wei Xun’s attitude today, it seemed she could afford to be a little willful.
Since the second madam had made her kneel in the ancestral hall, handing over the embroidery now would only be an insult to Wei Xun.
“You!”
Bi Wu hadn’t expected her to dare refuse and immediately stood up from her stool.
“Aren’t you afraid the second madam will punish you?”
“If she can persuade the young master, then I’ll accept it.”A’Yuan’s delicate, charming face turned cold, and she actually carried a bit of Wei Xun’s imposing manner. Bi Wu was momentarily stunned, standing there unsure how to retort.
How had this woman, soft as a steamed bun, suddenly changed her nature?