Wei Xun was tall and long-legged, emanating a chilling aura as he emerged from the ancestral hall.
A’Yuan’s legs were excruciatingly painful, but she knew Wei Xun must be angry and dared not dawdle, forcing herself to endure the pain and chase after him.
Her small face was pale, each step causing her calves to ache as if pierced by needles.
In the chilly early spring weather, fine beads of sweat actually appeared on her forehead.
Wei Xun, trained in martial arts and keen of hearing, listened to the faint rustling footsteps of the little concubine behind him, his chilling aura growing increasingly severe. He turned and blocked her path, displeasure etched between his brows.
“Do you want to lose your legs?”
A’Yuan’s eyes brimmed with tears, her lips trembling. The pain left her unable to speak for a long time.
“It’s fine, just numb from kneeling…”
Wei Xun originally intended only to let her stew, to make her realize her mistake, but forgot that she was always of a forbearing nature. Even if she knew she was wrong, she dared not blame others, only faulting herself for not doing well enough.
Now, with reddened eyes and obediently answering, Wei Xun felt as if his heart was gripped by a large hand, suddenly aching. He no longer cared for propriety, stepping forward to pick her up.
A’Yuan’s body was suspended, the sense of weightlessness making her instinctively wrap her arms around Wei Xun’s neck. But she quickly realized this was still Cian Courtyard, with maids and elderly servants watching in the courtyard. She released her hands, fingertips daring only to clutch Wei Xun’s sleeve, pushing him with an uneasy expression.
“Master, I can walk myself…”
“Shut up!”
Wei Xun pursed his lips, holding back anger yet unwilling to vent it on her. With a dark, stern face, he carried her back to Yuqing Courtyard all the way.
Chun Tao and Chang Yuan were already waiting at the courtyard entrance. Seeing A’Yuan being carried back, Chun Tao’s face instantly paled.
“Master…”
A’Yuan, fearing her worry, quickly shook her head. “I’m fine, just my legs are numb.”
“Master knelt for so long, her knees must be swollen. I’ll fetch some medicine to promote blood circulation and reduce swelling.”
As she spoke, Chun Tao turned and entered the courtyard. Chang Yuan held a food box; the morning meal had cooled somewhat, but he knew the master would surely have no appetite to eat now.
Wei Xun passed by him, footsteps slightly halting, instructing, “Take it to the kitchen to heat first, deliver it later. Also, have the kitchen prepare a bowl of ginger soup.”
“Yes.”
Chang Yuan accepted the order and departed. Wei Xun carried A’Yuan into the bedroom.
The bedding on the bed had been replaced with new, leaving no trace of last night’s intimacy.
Wei Xun placed her on the bed, stirred the fire in the charcoal basin, his dark, profound gaze falling upon her.
“Take off your clothes.”
“Lord… Lord?” A’Yuan’s beautiful eyes widened, her body involuntarily retreating.
She was sore all over now, utterly lacking strength to attend to him. Her delicate, charming face was filled with resistance.
Wei Xun knew the little concubine misunderstood his meaning. While angry, he also couldn’t help but reflect on himself—whether he usually demanded too fiercely, causing her such fear.
But twice monthly intimacy, for him, was merely quenching thirst with poison.
“Expose the injury on your legs.”
“Oh, oh.”
A’Yuan then realized she had overthought, her face instantly flushing crimson. Lowering her head, she hurriedly untied her sash.
Yet the more frantic she was, the more the sash refused to loosen, directly knotting into a dead knot in her hands.
A’Yuan was about to cry.
Wei Xun watched the little concubine’s flustered appearance, his gaze involuntarily softening.
“I’ll do it.”
The man grasped her fingertips, untied the sash in a few moves. Shoes and underskirt were removed, revealing two fair, lustrous legs.
A’Yuan was taller than most women, with slender and straight legs.
But now, her knees were bruised and swollen, like flawless jade marred by imperfections, evoking pity.
“Is it painful?”
Wei Xun grabbed her foot and pulled her closer. A’Yuan’s legs were dangling, her entire lower body suspended in his hands. She awkwardly bent her knees, biting her lip and turning her face away, as if that could hide herself.
“It’s not painful.”
Her voice feigned indifference, yet Wei Xun felt a pang in his heart, a tingling ache.
He leaned forward slightly, his warm breath brushing her neck, when the door suddenly swung open.
“Master, the ointment is here…”
Chun Tao, worried about her master’s injury, forgot the rule of announcing herself outside.
Upon entering, she saw the stern face of the Young Master, while her master was buried in the quilt, half her face flushed red.
Chun Tao belatedly realized she had done wrong, cautiously stepping forward.
“…Master, shall I apply the ointment for you?”
“Out!” Wei Xun barked sharply before A’Yuan could speak.
Though lively in nature, Chun Tao was also deeply afraid of Wei Xun, now clutching the ointment, unsure whether to advance or retreat.
A’Yuan knew why Wei Xun was angry; Chun Tao was merely being scolded out of frustration.
She extended a hand from the quilt, quietly tugging Wei Xun’s little finger, coaxingly hooking it. Seeing he didn’t refuse, she then said to Chun Tao, “Put the ointment down and leave. I’ll call you back later.”
“Yes.”
Chun Tao set down the ointment and hurried out, immediately encountering Chang Yuan’s gleeful expression.
“What are you laughing at!”
She glared, casually tossing her handkerchief toward him.
The handkerchief was light and weightless, falling to the ground before even reaching Chang Yuan.
Chun Tao stomped angrily, her little maid’s mouth puckered enough to hang a oil jug. Chang Yuan dared not tease her further, quickly bending to pick up the handkerchief.
“I told you to go in later, but you didn’t listen. Now you got scolded.”
“It’s not your master, so of course you don’t care. Give me back my handkerchief!”
She tried to snatch it back, but Chang Yuan caught her hand.
“Alright, how could we care more than the Young Master? He’s more distressed than anyone about Xie Master’s injury. Don’t be angry; look what I brought you from the kitchen.”
Chang Yuan then magically produced a packet of Yun Pian cakes from his pocket, placing them in Chun Tao’s hand. “Here, eat.”
The maids of Marquis Manor were not entitled to snacks unless bestowed by their masters. Other courtyards might be fine, but Yu Qing Courtyard was an awkward existence.
A’Yuan, a concubine without formal status, was neither a master nor a maid—she belonged to the Young Master’s courtyard, stuck in between, and people in the manor acted according to their whims.
Usually, even A’Yuan’s snacks were withheld by kitchen staff, let Chun Tao wanting some treats.
The white, soft Yun Pian cakes still emitted warmth, lying temptingly on the green handkerchief. Chun Tao swallowed, resisting her craving. “I don’t want your things!”
She pushed him away and turned to leave, even abandoning her handkerchief.
Chang Yuan scratched his head anxiously. “Hey! Why are you angry with me? These snacks were specially made for the Second Madam; I barely managed to get two pieces…”
By then, Chun Tao had reached her room. Hearing Chang Yuan’s words, she paused while closing the door, turning to spit at him.
“Who wants to eat this stuff? Watch out for rotten hearts!”
“You, you, you… ungrateful!”