Second Household.
Upon hearing Bi Wu’s report, Zhao Wan was so furious that she smashed a teacup.
“Did she really say that? You’re not lying to me?”
How dare that little wretch defy her!
Bi Wu hurriedly shook her head. “It’s absolutely true! She told Madam to go find the Young Master. Only if the Young Master gives his word will she take on the embroidery work for the Second Household.”
“Fine, fine, fine!”
Zhao Wan was so angry she laughed. “So now that she has someone backing her, she doesn’t even see me as worthy of a glance. Alright, I understand. You may go.”
No matter how lowly A’Yuan was, she was Wei Xun’s woman. By invoking Wei Xun’s name, Zhao Wan truly had no way to deal with her openly.
Bi Wu had originally been waiting for Zhao Wan to make things difficult for A’Yuan, but she never expected Zhao Wan to back down as soon as she heard Wei Xun’s name.
Stamping her foot in frustration, Bi Wu dared not say anything more, but her heart grew even more envious and resentful of A’Yuan.
As soon as Bi Wu left Zhao Wan’s room, a sly-looking servant boy waiting nearby called out to her.
“Auntie Bi, the Second Master is asking for you. Auntie Qiu is there too.”
He was one of Wei Cong’s attendants, having picked up many of Wei Cong’s bad habits. Bi Wu felt disgusted at the sight of him, but she couldn’t afford to offend him openly.
“I understand.”
Bi Wu let out a coquettish laugh and swayed her hips as she entered the inner chamber.
Despite the cold weather, she wore only a thin, pink padded jacket that clung tightly to her slender waist and full hips, making her sway like a water snake as she walked.
The servant boy stared, clicking his tongue softly. If only the master would reward him with a taste someday.
But his Second Master was all bark and no bite. Every time he needed two women to serve him, he lacked the strength to perform. These two delicate concubines had yet to experience the pleasures of a real man.
If they went unsatisfied long enough, perhaps they’d think of him.
The servant boy snickered, rubbing his hands together before slipping inside as well.
Soon, the sounds of ambiguous flirtation between men and women echoed from the inner chamber. The maids and older women outside pretended not to hear, quietly going about their tasks, though their eyes betrayed their disdain.
The Second Household was truly a den of filth, a nest of debauchery, tarnishing the noble reputation of the Marquis Manor.
……
“Nanny, send someone tomorrow to fetch Yingxue.”
After hearing Bi Wu’s report, Zhao Wan finally loosened her tightly clenched jaw.
Although she was unwilling to let her cousin Su Yingxue outshine her, she disliked even more the sight of A’Yuan flaunting her favor and acting arrogantly.
This was just a lowly bedchamber maid, yet she dared to rely on Wei Xun to defy her. If a noblewoman from a prominent family were to marry into the household, would Zhao Wan really have to relinquish her authority over household affairs?
Zhao Wan was unwilling.
“Yes.”
Nanny Chen had long hoped she would come to her senses. Now that Zhao Wan had relented, she quickly accepted the order and left.
……
A’Yuan knew nothing of the Second Household’s schemes. The injury to her knee wasn’t serious; after Wei Xun helped massage away the bruising, it had mostly healed.
But Chun Tao strictly followed Wei Xun’s instructions, not allowing her to leave the bed. Bored from lying down, A’Yuan asked Chun Tao to bring her sewing basket.
“Mistress, your injury isn’t fully healed yet. Why are you doing embroidery again? Didn’t you already decline the Second Madam’s request?”
Chun Tao didn’t want her to overexert herself. A’Yuan smiled faintly, pursing her lips. “The weather will warm up soon. The Young Master’s robes need to be changed. Since I’m lying here with nothing to do, I might as well make them for him.”
As she spoke, her eyes sparkled like a maiden in love. Chun Tao immediately swallowed her words of protest.
“Then I’ll go pick out fabric for you, Mistress. The Young Master prefers dark colors. Last year, the Old Madam gifted a bolt of cloud-patterned brocade, perfect for spring clothes.”
It was rare for Yuqing Courtyard to receive such a reward. The cloud-patterned brocade was black, clearly meant for A’Yuan to make clothes for Wei Xun.
Previously, A’Yuan had not known how to curry favor with Wei Xun, so she had kept the fabric tucked away in a cabinet, gathering dust. Now, she had finally come to realize its importance.
Chun Tao brought the fabric and thoughtfully prepared tea, assisting A’Yuan with the cutting.
A’Yuan had measured Wei Xun’s size night after night, so she could cut the fabric without needing a ruler.
Her embroidery skills were already efficient, and she hoped Wei Xun could wear it soon, so she finished a robe in just four or five days.
“Master, shall we deliver it to the young master now?”
Seeing A’Yuan about to store the finished robe, Chun Tao quickly advised.
Her master was gentle and considerate, but lacked much in competing for favor. If it were another family’s concubine, they would have already taken the embroidery to the master to seek rewards.
A’Yuan clenched her fingers, a flicker of struggle flashing in her eyes.
She had always been a person who did not compete or fight. Wei Xun came to her courtyard twice a month, sometimes only once when busy, but A’Yuan never complained or visited his courtyard.
She strictly adhered to her role as a chamber maid, fearing to overstep the rules.
But now, looking at the meticulously made robe, A’Yuan suddenly wanted to see him.
“Alright.”
Yuqing Courtyard was only separated from the outer study by a gate, and A’Yuan and her servant walked over in just half a quarter-hour.
Wei Xun was not accustomed to being served by maids or older women; the outer study only had Chang Yuan and two young attendants. But at this moment, a charmingly pretty girl emerged from the study.
She wore apricot-colored jacket and skirt, her face powdered, with willow-leaf eyebrows and cherry lips. Her hand rested on her maid’s wrist, stopping arrogantly before A’Yuan.
“You are that chamber maid of Brother Xun? Truly a seductive face.”
The Su family, like the Zhao family, were minor officials of the seventh rank, but Su Yingxue had also grown up pampered and spoiled, her temperament cultivated to be arrogant. Now, with Zhao Wan promising her marriage to Wei Xun, she regarded A’Yuan as a thorn in her side even before entering the household.
A’Yuan halted her steps, not understanding why this girl was challenging her.
Su Yingxue snorted coldly, “I will soon marry Brother Xun. If you dare to seduce him, watch how I sell you off!”
To meet Wei Xun, she wore a full head of hair ornaments. The afternoon sunlight fell, making A’Yuan’s eyes sting, nearly causing tears to fall.
Su Yingxue’s words seemed to strike a heavy blow on her heart, making her halted steps difficult to lift again.
Was Wei Xun actually… going to marry?
“Master Xie, Chun Tao, why have you come? Please come in quickly!”
Chang Yuan was just following Wei Xun’s orders to discard the tonic soup Su Yingxue had brought. Opening the door, he saw A’Yuan and her servant.
His expression of disdain turned to delight, and he hurriedly welcomed them inside.
The young master had been greatly annoyed by that cousin earlier; seeing Master Xie now would surely cheer him up.
Su Yingxue heard the door opening and fled with her maid. She had not yet entered the household; lecturing Wei Xun’s chamber maid was improper and unauthorized. Once she married Wei Xun, she would properly deal with this seductive woman.
A’Yuan’s face was pale as paper, her whole body seeming to lose strength.
Her vision seemed shrouded in mist, and she shook her head painfully, “Not entering…”
Yet before she finished, Chun Tao took over.
“Master spent three long nights making a robe for the young master and wants him to try it.”
“That’s wonderful. Master Xie’s embroidery is excellent; the master will surely like it.”
Chang Yuan eagerly opened the study door, making it impossible for A’Yuan not to enter.
She stepped in with difficulty, her mood now completely different from when she arrived.
Those secret joys had long since vanished without a trace.