Chapter 3: The Morning-After Brew

Chapter 3: The Morning-After Brew

Although Wei Xun had said there was no need to pay respects to Madam Wei today, A Yuan still got up at the break of dawn.

The fire in the charcoal brazier had mostly died down, and A Yuan, hugging her quilt, shivered, her mind clearing up a bit.

Chun Tao, hearing the commotion, pushed the door open and entered, followed by a woman with a long face wearing a green satin jacket.

She held a tray in her hands and, upon seeing A Yuan, nodded slightly, handing over the porcelain bowl on the tray.

"Lady Xie, better drink it while it's still warm."

A Yuan sat up straight and reached out to take it. The white porcelain bowl held a dark, bitter brew. Even before sipping it, the bitterness was overwhelming. But A Yuan, used to it, didn't even flinch.

After finishing the medicine, she returned the porcelain bowl to the woman and pulled a pouch from under her pillow, handing it to her. "Thanks for coming all this way, Madam."

"Just doing my job, Lady Xie. No need to thank me," said the woman, who had risen early to prepare the medicine. She clutched the pouch, her smile growing warmer.

She worked in Madam Wei's courtyard and knew that Wei Xun had visited last night. Early this morning, she had gone to the kitchen to prepare this bowl of morning-after brew, timing it just right to bring it to A Yuan.

Wei Xun hadn't married yet, and neither he nor Madam Wei would allow A Yuan to bear a child before the Heir Apparent's wife entered the household.

A Yuan was well aware of this, so she always drank the brew without a second thought.

The woman, having completed her task, didn't linger long. She left the Jade Clear Courtyard, clutching the pouch.

Though A Yuan had no official title, she was still considered half a master. Apart from the few masters of the Marquis's household, she was the only one who sometimes got A Yuan's embroidery.

The woman, who worked for Madam Wei, had a sharp eye and naturally knew the quality of A Yuan's craftsmanship.

This pouch could sell for several taels of silver.

Thinking of this, the woman's early morning grudge disappeared completely.

She even hoped the Heir Apparent would come by more often each month, allowing her to receive more rewards.

......

"Master, here's some honey water to rinse your mouth."

After the woman left, Chun Tao quickly poured a cup of honey water for A Yuan to rinse her mouth.

After swallowing the bitterness, A Yuan finally relaxed her grip.

She really hated the taste of bitterness, but after her parents' death, no one had coaxed her to take medicine.

A child with no one to spoil her always grows up faster.

After going through tough times, A Yuan had learned her lesson. In this world, apart from her parents, no one would indulge her whims.

"Help me get dressed."

"Yes," Chun Tao nodded in agreement, placing the cup on the table and turning to open the wardrobe.

"The Heir Apparent has just returned; Madam Wei will surely be pleased. How about this pomegranate-red jacket with golden butterflies? It looks festive."

As she spoke, Chun Tao took out the garment.

A Yuan shook her head, "The green one will do."

Madam Wei didn't like her showing off, and as a concubine, wearing red was already overstepping the rules. This jacket and skirt had been made for A Yuan, but she had never worn it.

"Yes, ma'am."

Chun Tao put it down with frustration and brought over the dark green front-buttoned long coat for her to change into.

The coat was slightly loose and did not fit well, effectively hiding A Yuan's curvaceous figure. The lotus patterns she had embroidered on the cuffs and collar added elegance to the otherwise plain dress, giving it a bit of flair.

After dressing, Chun Tao pinned A Yuan's hair into a spiral bun, with her thick, dark hair piled at the back and secured with a single jade hairpin.

She lightly powdered her face, slightly covering the dark circles under her eyes. A Yuan did not allow heavy makeup, but even so, her natural beauty was stunning. One could only imagine how captivating she would be if she were to dress up meticulously.

Chun Tao pushed aside her thoughts and handed A Yuan a silver-woven hand warmer. The two of them then headed to the front courtyard.

Madam Wei woke up at exactly 5:45 every morning, and A Yuan and the others were expected to attend to her. Today, they were already running late.

When she arrived, Second Madam Zhao Wan and the concubines of Second Master were already there.

Madam Wei had three sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Wei Ming, had died young, leaving no heirs. The second son, Wei Cong, had been frail since birth due to a congenital illness and was bedridden most of the time.

Madam Wei, fearing her son would follow in the footsteps of her eldest, treated him with great care, giving him whatever he wanted. Particularly concerned about Wei Cong's early demise, she allowed him to take in several concubines in hopes of continuing the family line. However, up to now, only Zhao Wan had borne him a son.

The child was just three years old and was cherished by the entire household.

As for the third son, Wei Xun, he and his sister Wei Jin were twins. He had already turned twenty-five this year, but apart from A Yuan, there were no other women in his quarters.

Even A Yuan had been imposed on him by Madam Wei.

In his eyes, he cared only about his official duties. If it weren't for his monthly visits to the Jade Clear Courtyard, Madam Wei would have thought her third son was destined to become a monk.

"Oh, it seems someone had the backing of San Lang last night, keeping us all waiting."

As soon as A Yuan and her maid entered, Second Madam Zhao Wan couldn't help but lash out.

Last night, Granny Zhou had been driven out, and Zhao Wan was still fuming with anger.

That little minx, always tattling to the men. If she were in her quarters, she would have torn her mouth apart!

Zhao Wan's appearance was not particularly striking. Her round face and narrow eyes made her look somewhat harsh. At this moment, she stood with her hands on her hips, her eyes filled with jealousy and resentment toward A Yuan. Behind her, two concubines from the second household covered their mouths, their eyes gleaming with mockery.

Truth be told, they all envied A Yuan.

As fellow "thin horses," she was the most beautiful, and she had the fortune of entering the quarters of the Heir Apparent, Wei Xun. Even though Wei Xun was distant and did not favor her, it was still better than serving a lecherous invalid.

So when Zhao Wan suddenly lashed out, they were all too happy to see A Yuan humiliated.

A Yuan tightened her grip on the silver-woven hand warmer and was about to explain when Madam Wei, assisted by a maid, emerged from the inner chamber.

"What's all this noise?"

She was dressed in a floral-patterned robe with symbols of longevity and happiness, and wore a brown headband adorned with a pearl. Though aged, her beauty from her youth was still evident.

Zhao Wan shot a fierce glare at A Yuan and eagerly stepped forward to support Madam Wei.

"It's about A Yuan. Last night, as soon as San Lang returned, he dealt with a servant for her. That old servant, forgetful due to her age, had missed delivering charcoal to the Jade Clear Courtyard for two days. A Yuan kept it to herself, only to complain to San Lang when he returned. That Granny Zhou was given twenty lashes and sent to the estate overnight. Amitabha, in this freezing weather, if something were to happen to her, wouldn't it be San Lang's fault?"

Zhao Wan was quick with her words, and Madam Wei, a devout Buddhist who strongly believed in karma, already looked displeased at the mention of Wei Xun's involvement.

But Madam Wei had spent most of her life in the inner chambers and could easily see through the underlying schemes.

Granny Zhou, no matter how bold, would never dare to withhold supplies from the Heir Apparent's courtyard. In the end, it was Zhao Wan who had deliberately made things difficult.

She lifted the cup, skimmed off the foam, her expression unreadable. "Later, send over two bottles of the best wound medicine and let her recuperate for a few months."

"...Yes."

The smile on Zhao Wan's face froze. This was not the result she had wanted.

Zhou Pozi was her personal maid, yet Wei Xun had made an example of her and expelled her from the estate. This was a direct affront to her dignity.

If this matter was dismissed so lightly, what authority would she have left in this household?

"Mother, I didn’t mean to trouble A Yuan on purpose. Zhou Pozi deserved her punishment for her own mistakes, but San Lang had just returned and hadn’t even rested yet, yet A Yuan kept him up half the night. Today, she deliberately woke up late. Fortunately, San Lang hasn’t married yet. If his future wife were to enter the household and A Yuan continued like this, wouldn’t she cause a rift between San Lang and his wife?"

"Slap!"

Zhao Wan’s words had struck a nerve with Madam Wei. Concubines competing for favor was a major taboo in the Marquis’s household. She had chosen A Yuan precisely because, despite her striking beauty, her gaze was clear and bright. Now, it seemed she had grown arrogant with favor.

The cup slammed onto the table. Madam Wei, intent on disciplining her, raised her eyes and cast a cold, sharp glance.

"Since you overslept, go kneel in the ancestral hall."