The opening and closing door brought in the cold wind of early spring, A’Yuan’s stumbling figure resembled a broken butterfly flying out of the door.
The man hidden in the darkness watched her leave, his pitch-black eyes unfathomably deep.
When A’Yuan returned, her clothes were disheveled, her face pale, and her almond-shaped eyes dull and lifeless.
“Master, how did you end up like this?”
Chun Tao was startled and quickly fetched a thick blanket to wrap her up.
A’Yuan sat on the couch by the window, burying her face in the blanket, but the pain in her body was overshadowed by the pain in her heart.
How could she tell Chun Tao that Wei Xun had pinned her on the desk and tormented her for a long time? Such a humiliating event she herself wished to forget.
A’Yuan gazed at the lantern outside the window for a long time until her vision blurred.
“Chun Tao, prepare water for me.”
……
Steam filled the air, A’Yuan removed her dress and stepped barefoot into the wooden tub.
The marks on her body became more pronounced when wet, A’Yuan didn’t let Chun Tao come in to assist, fearing these mottled marks would frighten her.
The rising heat steamed her eyes until tears welled up, she sank her body and buried her head in the water, crying freely and thoroughly.
She was only eighteen, girls of other families at this age still had parents and elders pampering them.
Their parents carefully selected husbands for them, and they would later marry good men, living harmoniously together until old age.
But she would never have such an opportunity.
Outside the room, Chun Tao heard the muffled crying inside, anxiously pacing around, even failing to notice the arrival of the matron from the outer study.
“Chun Tao, where is Xie Niangzi?”
Granny Zheng peeked inside, she was the steward matron in Wei Xun’s courtyard, usually highly respected in the Marquis Manor, with maids and matrons alike deferring to her, even the second wife dared not shout orders at her.
Her appearance at Yuqing Courtyard now clearly indicated she was delivering a message for Wei Xun.
Chun Tao hastily wiped her face and smiled at her, “The master is bathing, what brings Granny Zheng here?”
Granny Zheng withdrew her gaze, took out a pouch and handed it to her, “The Young Master’s reward for Xie Niangzi, you can hold it for her first.”
“…Yes.”
Chun Tao hesitated momentarily, previously the Young Master had given rewards to the master, but having Granny Zheng deliver it was the first time.
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 emerged from the bath, she had already left.
A’Yuan’s damp hair was loose, her eyes moist and swollen from crying.
Chun Tao quickly wrapped her hair with a towel, “The weather is still cold, master, be careful not to catch a chill.”
“Yes.”
A’Yuan lowered her head, letting her dry the wet hair.
Her delicate hands were pink and snow-white, 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, please see what it is?”
After drying her hair, Chun Tao applied a layer of osmanthus hair oil.
A’Yuan’s hair was naturally smooth, and with the hair oil, it resembled satin even more.
The pouch was heavy, even before opening, A’Yuan had guessed what was inside.
Her trembling hands poured out several pieces of gold, the bright yellow color seemed like the mockery in Wei Xun’s eyes, causing A’Yuan to suddenly tighten her grip.
“Wow, it’s gold!” Chun Tao exclaimed.
Having grown up, this was the first time she had seen so much money.
“The master just stopped the embroidery business, this is great, no need to do it anymore.”
The little maid, simple-minded by nature, thought the young master was distressed that her mistress had to do embroidery work to earn extra money. Little did she know that this was the reward for A’Yuan’s service.
A’Yuan’s eyes were rimmed 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 hurriedly 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 can she blame you for losing her job?”
Chun Tao truly didn’t resent A’Yuan. She and her mother had only done odd jobs at the Marquis Manor. Moreover, because of her own dullness, she wasn’t liked by the masters. If A’Yuan hadn’t looked down on her, she would have long ago angered a master and been driven out.
And now, although 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 be able to rest easy.”
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?
Moreover, this was a reward from the young master. Why didn’t her mistress seem happy about it?
Trembling, she carefully put away the pouch. 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, Xie Niangzi was bathing. The pouch was given to the little maid under her.”
“…Understood. You may leave.”
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 Zhu Pozi from the second courtyard.”
“Yes.”
Granny Zheng was full of questions but didn’t dare say more.
Zhu Pozi was just a lowly servant, not worth the master’s concern.
What the master cared about was none other than Xie Niangzi behind her.
Granny Zheng secretly kept this in mind. Others thought Xie Niangzi 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 Xie Niangzi.
……
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. Throughout the entire Marquis Manor, apart 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 always been prone to illness and feared the cold, yet the charcoal basin had been cut off, leaving the room bitterly chilly. Chun Tao fetched all the spare quilts from the cupboard to cover her, and throughout the night, she continuously wiped her body with hot water. After enduring for over half a month, this bout of cold finally subsided.
When A’Yuan was finally able to leave the courtyard, the weather had already warmed up. The Marquis Manor was adorned with lanterns and decorations, bustling with excitement. Chun Tao curiously pulled a young maid aside to ask.
The maid glanced at A’Yuan and whispered, “The old lady is hosting a banquet, inviting noble ladies from various families. Everyone is busy preparing…”