Chapter 2 A Yuan is Worn Out

Chapter 2 A Yuan is Worn Out

Just as A Yuan was about to sleep, Chang Yuan brought the charcoal brazier. Chun Tao carried it in, her face lit up with satisfaction.

"The spiteful women in the front courtyard deliberately skimped on the master's charcoal, but thankfully, the Heir Apparent is back. Worried the master might catch a chill, he immediately sent Chang Yuan to deliver the brazier."

Chun Tao was hot-headed and, as a servant born into the Marquis's household, had never suffered such humiliation before.

She had expected to serve a glamorous mistress who would hold sway in the household, but instead, her mistress was gentle and never stood up to anyone. Now, even the lowliest dared to push her around.

A Yuan managed a faint smile. She wished she could stand her ground, but she was of low status and had no one to back her up. If she got cocky because of Wei Xun's favor, she'd only end up worse off.

Moreover, Wei Xun had no affection for her.

She was just a bed warmer, used twice a month.

A Yuan looked down, massaging her aching wrist, softly instructing Chun Tao, "Fetch my sewing basket."

"Ma'am, it's late..."

Chun Tao hesitated, standing still.

Sewing wasn't the master's job. There were embroiderers in the house, so why was Second Madame dumping all the needlework on her master?

"It's alright, I can't sleep. I'll just sew a bit."

A Yuan's tone remained gentle, but her attitude was firm. Chun Tao knew better than to argue, so she stomped off to get the basket.

It wasn't that she couldn't sleep; Second Madame was rushing her, and the master had already pulled three all-nighters. Today, she had also attended to the Heir Apparent, and now she was completely drained.

Chun Tao sniffled, growing more upset for her master.

Why did the concubine in Second Master's room live the high life, while her master was always put upon? If she told the Heir Apparent, Second Madame would back off.

But every time she wanted to complain, her master would stop her, with a sternness she had never seen before.

Her master had warned her that if she complained, she'd be kicked out of Yuqing Courtyard.

She had pledged her loyalty to her master three years ago and naturally didn't dare to act, so she could only watch helplessly as her master suffered.

Chun Tao brought the sewing basket and turned up the wick of the lamp, then fetched a small stool to sit by the bed and sew with her.

The little maid pouted, her expression resentful. A Yuan's words urging her to rest were stuck in her throat, so she got up and draped a fur-collared cloak over her, "Then help me sort the threads."

Though Chun Tao was still angry, her hands obeyed, and she angrily straightened the embroidery threads.

A Yuan glanced at her twice, afraid she would be embarrassed, and quickly turned away, though the corners of her lips curled slightly.

At least in this vast household, she still had Chun Tao by her side.

The window was slightly ajar, and the candlelight flickered in the breeze, casting the shadows of the mistress and maid on the window.

A Yuan had learned Su embroidery, with lively needlework and meticulous craftsmanship, excelling in embroidering flowers and birds.

Since she entered the Chunyan Tower in Yangzhou at the age of five, she had been learning embroidery for ten years.

The Chunyan Tower trained "skinny horses" not only in appearance but also in skills, though most skinny horses chose singing and dancing, skills that relied on beauty to serve others, unable to endure the hardship of embroidery. In the end, only A Yuan persisted.

She lowered her head and picked up the half-embroidered sock. Second Madame Zhao Wan loved peonies and had specifically instructed that all her clothes and socks be embroidered with them.

The peony petals were intricate and colorful, each one taking half a day of her energy to complete.

A Yuan had thought to delay, but news of Wei Xun delivering the charcoal brazier today would soon reach the second branch.

With the second wife managing the household, it was surely her idea to withhold the charcoal. As Wei Xun’s sister-in-law, she wouldn’t dare confront him directly, but she’d surely find ways to make life hard for A Yuan.

A Yuan, fearing trouble, preferred to work harder herself to avoid giving anyone leverage, rather than causing a scene that might reach Wei Xun.

Three years ago, when she first entered Jade Clear Courtyard, Wei Xun had already given her a stern warning. Even now, she remembered his icy tone.

"Now that you’re part of the household, behave yourself. Serve my mother well and be kind to my siblings. I’m busy with official duties and have no time for your troubles."

Back then, A Yuan was nearly fifteen, still filled with the romantic dreams of a young girl. Wei Xun was a rare handsome man in the capital, and A Yuan had been thrilled to become his concubine.

But Wei Xun’s words felt like a bucket of ice water dumped over her, shattering her romantic dreams.

For three years, she’d been cautious, treading carefully in the marquis’s household, enduring countless grievances without ever considering causing trouble for Wei Xun.

She had nothing, but she could still protect her heart.

The mistress and her maid worked late into the night, finally finishing the six sets of clothes and socks.

As soon as the needlework was put away, A Yuan felt dizzy and nearly fell off the bed, but Chun Tao caught her.

"Why do this, mistress? It’s just a word to the Heir Apparent..."

The maid was exasperated, but A Yuan forced a smile and said, "It’s late. Go to sleep. I’ll be fine after resting."

Her past had been far harder. Now, after just two sleepless nights, her body felt fragile.

A Yuan felt a pang of self-mockery. Compared to Chun Tao’s frustration, she didn’t feel wronged in the slightest.

Now, just being able to live in peace was enough for her.

Chun Tao massaged her temples for a bit, and seeing her complexion improve, she left.

The candle was blown out, the door shut, and the room fell silent.

Exhausted from forcing herself to finish the clothes and socks, A Yuan fell into a deep sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

But her sleep was restless. In her dream, the sky was ablaze, and her ears were filled with screams.

Her father and mother, arrows through their chests, fell to the ground. A Yuan, just five years old, threw herself on them, crying until her voice gave out.

With her dying breath, her mother pushed her away, "A Yuan, run! Promise me... survive."

Before she could finish, another arrow struck from afar, piercing her mother’s heart. Blood sprayed onto A Yuan’s face, blinding and burning.

She froze, watching the horses charge closer, her feet rooted to the ground, unable to move.

Her mother’s words echoed in her ears. A Yuan had no time for grief or fear, forcing herself to run. But how could a five-year-old outrun a galloping horse? Soon, the bandits caught her and threw her onto a horse.

The bandit roughly wiped the blood from her face, and seeing A Yuan’s beauty, his eyes gleamed. "What a pretty girl! She’ll fetch a fine price!"

In troubled times, women were commodities, and brothels were the highest bidders.

A Yuan was sold into the Misty Rain Pavilion (a brothel), becoming a commodity waiting to be sold, only to be groomed and sold to new patrons.

During her ten years of a life of hardship, A Yuan always remembered her mother's words: no matter how hard or difficult it was, she had to survive.

But even the strongest endurance has its limits.

The fire of the Xie family and the whips and cold water of the Misty Rain Pavilion haunted her dreams, alternating between the fire and the whips. A Yuan curled up in the quilt, her tears soaking the pillow.

"Mother, A Yuan is so weary of this life."

"A Yuan wants to go home..."