Chapter 1: The Lean Horse Concubine

Chapter 1: The Lean Horse Concubine

The warm hibiscus canopy filled the room with the warmth of spring.

The mahogany canopy bed creaked and swayed, and soft whimpers could be heard through the green gauze curtains.

A Yuan turned her head to press down on the man's mischievous hand at her waist, calling out pitifully, 'My Lord.'

Her long, flowing hair fell to one side, revealing half of her delicate and pale shoulder.

The man's cold eyes narrowed. "Just once," he said.

"Then please hurry, My Lord."

The young concubine was tender and pitiful, and the man hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

At this time, the innocent A Yuan did not yet know that a man's words in bed were the least trustworthy, even if the man behind her was the Heir Apparent of the Marquis of Anning, the youngest Assistant Minister of Jingzhao Prefecture, Wei Xun.

Not to mention that the word 'quick' was a sore spot for men.

The red candle had burned more than half, and the night watchman's drum had already passed midnight before the man finally released her.

"Drink some water."

The satisfied Wei Xun's expression softened. He dressed and rose from the bed, standing by the table to pour a cup of tea. He tested the temperature with the back of his hand, finding it just right, before turning back to hand it to the woman on the bed.

A Yuan's limbs were weak, and her whole body ached terribly, but since the Heir Apparent personally poured her tea, as a concubine, she naturally dared not act haughty. She quickly got up to take it.

"Thank you, My Lord."

She grasped the cup with both hands and drank it all in one go, the dryness in her throat eased slightly by the tea.

But her delicate arms were so sore that she almost couldn't hold the cup, and a few drops of tea spilled out.

A Yuan hurriedly went to wipe it, but someone was faster than her.

The man's fingertip wiped away the spilled drops, feeling a bit cold and a bit painful.

A Yuan's fingertips clenched the quilt, hardly daring to breathe, afraid that the man would get aroused and torment her again.

The young concubine's expression was straightforward and easy to understand. Seeing her pitiful appearance wrapped in the quilt, Wei Xun was almost amused.

In her heart, was he such an insatiable rake?

The temperature by the bed suddenly dropped. A Yuan sensed the man's anger and knew she had angered him again. Her almond-shaped eyes misted over, but she still forced herself to kneel by the bed, her small hand clutching his hem and shaking it, pleading, "Heir Apparent, A Yuan was wrong."

As the most famous lean horse in Yangzhou City, A Yuan's skin and flesh were exquisitely maintained, with ice-like muscles and jade-like bones, a waist so slender it could be held in one hand, yet where there should be flesh, there was no lack, her delicate body both charming and voluptuous.

She pressed against the edge of the bed, her small hand clutching the man's black hem, her raised face filled with panic, looking utterly pitiful.

After all, she was still a young girl.

Wei Xun sighed softly in his heart, why should he be angry with her? Besides, today he had indeed been a bit reckless.

The coldness in Wei Xun's brows faded, and he pulled the quilt to wrap her inside, though his tone carried a reprimand, "If you catch a cold tomorrow, see if you're afraid?"

A Yuan was naturally afraid. It was just the beginning of spring in the capital, and the various courtyards of the Marquis of Anning's residence were still burning charcoal stoves, but the charcoal in A Yuan's courtyard had run out and no one had replenished it.

The night was cold, and Wei Xun, with his robust constitution, didn't feel it, but A Yuan, having been cold for this short while, was already shivering.

But she was naturally timid, fearful of stirring up trouble, and even more afraid that if she mentioned the matter of the charcoal brazier to Wei Xun, it would spread and she’d be accused of acting spoiled.

Life in the mansion was already hard enough for her. Although Wei Xun hadn't given her a formal status, he hadn’t let her end up in a brothel, becoming a prostitute used by countless men. It was already a stroke of luck, and she dared not ask for more.

Once she figured this out, A Yuan looked even more submissive. She pressed her little face against Wei Xun's palm and rubbed it gently, her voice soft and sweet, "A Yuan won't dare to do it again, Master, don’t be mad."

Seeing her so obedient, Wei Xun’s anger melted away.

Her hair brushed his hand, sending a tingle straight to his heart, leaving a sensation that was hard to bear.

Wei Xun stroked her cheek, as if teasing a soft and obedient kitten, his voice carrying a hint of indulgence that even he hadn't noticed, "Then A Yuan, be good from now on."

"Yes."

Seeing that the man had been appeased, A Yuan finally felt relieved.

In the mansion of the Marquis of Anning, Wei Xun was her lifeline. If she wanted a better life, she had no choice but to please and depend on him.

She was cautious and meticulous, afraid of making even a single misstep. Even if she caught a cold, it’d just mean drinking some bitter medicine.

But if she earned his disdain, it’d mean utter ruin.

A Yuan kept her thoughts hidden, her face betraying nothing.

Wei Xun looked at his obedient and gentle concubine, tucked her blanket in again, and his heart softened a little.

"You can sleep in tomorrow, no need to go to the front courtyard for morning greetings. I'll speak to Mother myself."

A Yuan nodded meekly, gratitude shining in her eyes, and she obediently agreed.

Wei Xun found it hard to leave her, seeing how understanding she was, but there was still a pile of official duties waiting in his study. He’d already spent half the day indulging.

"Sleep, I'm leaving."

Wei Xun got up, and A Yuan wanted to see him off, but he pressed her back onto the bed, "It’s too cold, don’t bother."

The door opened and closed, and the draft from the hallway swept in, making the candle flame flicker. In that moment, Wei Xun caught the longing in A Yuan’s eyes, but he fought the urge to turn back, closing the door and leaving.

The early spring breeze swept away his restlessness, leaving him more clear-headed.

In truth, taking A Yuan as his concubine had not been his intention. As the heir of the Marquis of Anning, Wei Xun valued rules and propriety, especially not wanting to take in a seductive concubine before his official wife entered the household.

But it was a gift from an elder, and he dared not refuse. Wei Xun's mother, pitying her son for not having a woman by his side who could care for him, had assigned A Yuan to him to attend to his daily needs, and Wei Xun had no choice but to accept.

At first, Wei Xun had been extremely cold toward A Yuan. Favoring a concubine over a wife led to family ruin, and in his work at Jingzhao Prefecture, he had seen too many men who had caused their families to fall apart because they were infatuated with beautiful concubines.

So even after taking A Yuan, Wei Xun rarely stepped into her courtyard.

But A Yuan was obedient, never causing trouble, always waiting for his arrival with meekness.

As time passed, Wei Xun came to realize that his little concubine was truly well-behaved and understanding. A Yuan had been with him for three years, and even if he had raised a cat, he would have developed some affection by now.

Moreover, A Yuan's soft nature meant that even when she was bullied, she dared not complain, and Wei Xun naturally felt a sense of pity for her.

Thinking of the way his little concubine had pleaded softly, 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 to ask, Wei Xun kicked the charcoal brazier that was burning brightly in the room, his entire body exuding coldness.

"Take this brazier to the Jade Clear Courtyard, and while you're at it, beat the old woman in charge of the charcoal and sell her off!"

Chang Yuan quickly agreed, now fully understanding. The servants in the mansion had deliberately mistreated Mistress Xie, thinking that since the Third Master was away from the capital, he wouldn't care.

He couldn’t fathom their logic, truly thinking the Third Master didn’t care about Mistress Xie.

But if he didn't care, why would he have gone to the Jade Clear Courtyard as soon as he returned?

Chang Yuan shook his head. Someone in the mansion was about to face misfortune.