The hibiscus curtain was warm, and the room was filled with springtime radiance.
The mahogany frame bed swayed and creaked, and through the green gauze curtain came a few soft moans.
A’Yuan turned her head and pressed down on the man’s hand that was mischievously roaming around her waist, calling out pitifully, “Master.”
Her waterfall-like black hair cascaded aside, revealing half of her delicate, pale shoulder.
The man’s cold eyes darkened. “Just once.”
“Then hurry, Master.”
The little concubine was soft and pitiful, and the man pondered for a moment before agreeing.
At that time, naive A’Yuan still didn’t know that a man’s words on the bed were the least trustworthy, even though the man behind her was the esteemed heir of the Marquis of Anning, Wei Xun, the youngest Deputy Magistrate of the Metropolitan Prefecture.
Moreover, the word “hurry” was taboo for men.
The red candle had burned halfway, and the night watchman’s clappers outside had already passed midnight before the man finally released her.
“Drink some water.”
Satisfied Wei Xun’s brows and eyes softened a bit. He dressed and got off the bed, standing by the table to pour a cup of tea. He touched the back of his hand to check the temperature—it was just right—then turned back and handed it to the woman on the bed.
A’Yuan’s hands and feet were weak at this moment, and her whole body was aching terribly. But since the heir personally poured tea for her, as a concubine, she dared not act arrogantly. She quickly rose to accept it.
“Thank you, Master.”
She held the cup with both hands and drank it all in one go. The dryness in her throat eased slightly from this cup of tea.
But her jade-like arms were sore and weak, nearly unable to hold the cup, and a few drops of tea spilled out.
A’Yuan hurriedly tried to wipe it, but someone was faster than her.
The man’s fingertip smeared the drops of water, a bit cold and a bit painful.
A’Yuan clenched her fingers on the quilt, not daring to breathe heavily, afraid that the man might get aroused and torment her again.
The little concubine’s expression was straightforward and easy to understand. Seeing her pitiful appearance wrapped in the quilt, Wei Xun almost laughed in anger.
In her heart, was he such an insatiable libertine?
The temperature beside the bed suddenly dropped. A’Yuan sensed the man’s anger and knew she had provoked him again. Her round almond eyes misted over, but she still forced herself to kneel at the edge of the bed, her small hand grasping his hem and shaking it, flattering, “Heir, A’Yuan is wrong.”
As the thin horse with the most renowned beauty in Yangzhou City, A’Yuan’s skin and flesh were nurtured extremely well—ice as muscles, jade as bones, a waist slender enough to be held, yet where flesh should grow, it was generous without restraint. Her delicate body was enchanting and voluptuous, perfectly proportioned.
She leaned against the edge of the bed, her small hand clutching the man’s black hem, her raised face revealing panic, looking utterly pitiful.
She was still just a young girl after all.
Wei Xun sighed lightly in his heart. Why should he be angry with her? Besides, he had indeed been somewhat absurd today.
The coldness in Wei Xun’s brows faded. He pulled the quilt to wrap her inside, though his tone carried admonishment. “If you catch a chill tomorrow, see if you’ll be afraid?”
A’Yuan was naturally afraid. It was just early spring in the capital, and charcoal basins were still burning in every courtyard of the Marquis Manor. However, A’Yuan’s courtyard had run out of charcoal, and no one replenished it.
The night was cold. Wei Xun, with his vigorous constitution, didn’t feel it, but A’Yuan, chilled for this moment, was already trembling slightly.
But her nature was always soft, and she feared causing trouble. She especially feared that if she told Wei Xun about the charcoal basin, it would spread and earn her a reputation for being spoiled and arrogant.
Her situation in the manor was already difficult. Although Wei Xun hadn’t given her status, he hadn’t let her fall into filthy places like brothels, becoming a prostitute slept by thousands and tasted by tens of thousands. This was already a great fortune; she dared not ask for more.
After coming to this realization, A’Yuan’s expression grew even more docile. She nuzzled her little face against Wei Xun’s palm, her voice sweet and soft. “A’Yuan won’t dare do it again, Master. Please don’t be angry.”
Seeing her so obedient, Wei Xun’s anger dissipated completely.
Her hair brushed against the back of his hand, sending a tingling sensation that seemed to sweep across his heart, leaving him both restless and captivated.
Wei Xun stroked her cheek, as if teasing a gentle and obedient kitten, his voice carrying a hint of indulgence he himself hadn’t yet noticed. “Then A’Yuan must always be good from now on.”
“Yes.”
Seeing the man pacified, the weight in A’Yuan’s heart finally lifted.
In this Marquis Manor of Anning, Wei Xun was her entire world. To live a better life, she had no choice but to please him and rely on him.
She performed her duties diligently, terrified of making a single misstep. Even if she truly caught a chill, it would only mean drinking a few bowls of bitter medicine.
But if she incurred the man’s displeasure, it would truly mean her downfall.
Though A’Yuan’s mind was filled with thoughts, none showed on her face.
Wei Xun looked at his gentle and obedient little concubine, tucking the blanket more snugly around her, his heart softening a little.
“You may sleep in a bit longer tomorrow. There’s no need to go to the front courtyard to pay respects. I will speak to Mother myself.”
A’Yuan nodded meekly, gratitude flickering in her eyes as she obediently agreed.
Seeing her so understanding, Wei Xun found himself reluctant to leave. However, a pile of official duties awaited him in the study, and he had already indulged himself for half the day.
“Sleep now. I’m leaving.”
Wei Xun stood up, and when A’Yuan moved to see him off, he gently pressed her back onto the bed. “It’s cold outside. No need to trouble yourself.”
The door opened and closed, letting in a draft that made the candle flame flicker. In that moment, Wei Xun caught sight of A’Yuan’s earnest gaze. Suppressing the urge to turn back, he closed the door and left.
The early spring night breeze swept away the restlessness in his heart, leaving him even more clear-headed.
In truth, taking A’Yuan as a concubine had not been his intention. As the heir to the Marquis of Anning, Wei Xun valued propriety above all else, especially reluctant to take on a seductive concubine before his official wife entered the household.
However, one could not refuse a gift from an elder. Wei Xun’s mother, pitying her son for lacking a woman to care for him, had assigned A’Yuan to serve him and attend to his daily needs. Wei Xun had no choice but to accept.
Initially, Wei Xun treated A’Yuan with extreme indifference. Favoring a concubine over the wife was the root of family discord. Working at the Metropolitan Prefecture, he had seen too many men who, due to doting on beautiful concubines, ended up with broken families.
Thus, even after accepting A’Yuan, Wei Xun rarely set foot in her courtyard.
But A’Yuan was obedient, never causing trouble, always waiting meekly for his arrival.
As time passed, Wei Xun came to realize that his little concubine was truly well-behaved and sensible. A’Yuan had been with him for three years; even raising a cat would have fostered affection by then.
Moreover, A’Yuan had a gentle nature, enduring bullying without daring to complain, which naturally evoked a sense of pity in Wei Xun’s heart.
Thinking of how his little concubine had pleaded so sweetly, Wei Xun’s expression softened. But as soon as he stepped into his study, his brows furrowed sharply.
Chang Yuan, who hadn’t followed him to the rear courtyard, didn’t know why his master was angry. Just as he was about to step forward and ask, Wei Xun kicked the charcoal brazier burning brightly in the room, his entire demeanor radiating coldness.
“Take this brazier to the Jade Clarity Courtyard. And have the servant in charge of the charcoal beaten and sold off!”
Chang Yuan hastily agreed, immediately understanding. The servants in the manor, seeing that the Third Master was away from the capital, had deliberately mistreated Lady Xie.
He couldn’t fathom what they were thinking, truly believing the Third Master was indifferent and didn’t care about Lady Xie.
But if he didn’t care, why would he have gone to the Jade Clarity Courtyard as soon as he returned?
Chang Yuan shook his head. Someone in this manor was about to face misfortune.