Chapter 6 Remove Your Clothes

Chapter 6 Remove Your Clothes

Wei Xun, tall and long-legged, radiated a cold demeanor as he stepped out of the ancestral hall.

A Yuan's legs were in severe pain, but she knew Wei Xun must be angry and dared not delay, hurrying to catch up despite the agony.

Her delicate face was pale, each step felt like needles stabbing her calves.

In the chilly early spring weather, sweat beaded on her forehead.

With his martial arts training and sharp hearing, Wei Xun noticed the faint rustling footsteps of the concubine behind him. His cold aura intensified, and he stepped in front of her, his brows furrowed with displeasure.

"Do you want to lose your legs?"

A Yuan's eyes welled up with tears, her lips trembling. The pain left her speechless for a moment.

"It's nothing, just numb from kneeling..."

Wei Xun had initially intended to let her suffer, to make her realize her mistake, but he forgot that she was naturally reserved. Even if she knew she was wrong, she wouldn't blame others, only herself for not doing better.

Seeing her eyes rimmed with red and her obedient response, Wei Xun felt as if a large hand had gripped his heart, causing a sudden pang of pain. He could no longer care about propriety and picked her up.

A Yuan, lifted off the ground, instinctively clung to Wei Xun's neck due to the sense of weightlessness. But she quickly remembered they were still in the Ci'an Courtyard, with maids and old women watching. She released him, only daring to clutch his sleeve, and pushed him away, looking uneasy.

"My lord, I can walk on my own..."

"Be quiet!"

Wei Xun pursed his lips, suppressing his anger. He carried her back to the Yuqing Courtyard, his expression dark.

Chun Tao and Chang Yuan were already waiting at the courtyard gate. Seeing A Yuan being carried back, Chun Tao's face went pale.

"My lady..."

A Yuan, fearing her worry, quickly shook her head, "I'm fine, just my legs are numb."

"My lady has been kneeling for so long, her knees must be swollen. I'll go get some medicine to reduce swelling and improve circulation."

With that, Chun Tao turned and went into the courtyard. Chang Yuan, carrying a food box, knew the breakfast had gone cold, but he also knew his lady would have no appetite now.

Wei Xun passed by him, pausing briefly, and ordered, "Warm it up in the kitchen, bring it later, and have the kitchen prepare a bowl of ginger soup."

"Yes."

Chang Yuan left to carry out the order, while Wei Xun carried A Yuan into the bedroom.

The bedding on the bed had been replaced, erasing any signs of last night's intimacy.

Wei Xun placed her on the bed, stoked the brazier, and his dark eyes fell upon her.

"Remove your clothes."

"My lord... Heir Apparent?" A Yuan's beautiful eyes widened, and she instinctively retreated.

Her body was sore all over, and she had no strength to serve him. Her delicate face was filled with resistance.

Wei Xun knew the concubine had misunderstood his intentions. While angry, he couldn't help but reflect on whether he had been too harsh, making her so fearful.

But the twice-monthly intimacy was, for him, a temporary relief with lasting consequences.

"Let me see the injury on your leg."

"Oh, right."

A Yuan realized she had misread the situation, her face instantly flushing red. She lowered her head and fumbled to untie her sash.

But the more she rushed, the more tangled the sash got, eventually forming a tight knot in her hands.

A Yuan was nearly in tears.

Wei Xun watched his flustered concubine, his eyes softening involuntarily.

"Let me."

The man gently grasped her fingertips and quickly untied the sash, sliding off her shoes and underskirt, revealing her fair and smooth legs.

A Yuan was taller than most women of her time, her legs slender and straight.

But now, her knees were bruised and swollen, marring their beauty.

"Are you in pain?"

Wei Xun took hold of her foot and pulled her closer. A Yuan's legs hung limply in the air, her entire lower body suspended in his hands. She awkwardly curled her legs, biting her lip and turning her face away, as if to hide herself.

"It doesn't hurt."

Her voice was a mask of calmness, but Wei Xun's heart ached with a tingling pain.

He leaned in closer, his hot breath brushing against her neck, when the door burst open.

"Master, the ointment is here..."

Chun Tao, anxious about her master's injury, forgot to announce herself at the door.

As she entered, she was met with the Heir Apparent's stormy expression, while her master was hidden under the blanket, half of her face flushed red.

Chun Tao suddenly realized her mistake and tentatively stepped forward.

"...Master, would you like me to apply the ointment for you?"

"Leave us!" Before A Yuan could speak, Wei Xun barked.

Though Chun Tao was usually lively, she was also very afraid of Wei Xun. Now, clutching the ointment, she was caught in a dilemma.

A Yuan knew why Wei Xun was angry; Chun Tao was merely the scapegoat.

She reached out a hand from under the blanket and gently tugged at Wei Xun's little finger, coaxingly. Seeing he didn't refuse, she then said to Chun Tao, "Just leave the ointment and go out. I'll call you back in later."

"Yes."

Chun Tao hastily set down the ointment and backed away, only to be met with Chang Yuan's smug grin.

"What are you laughing at!"

She glared, casually throwing her handkerchief at him.

The handkerchief floated lightly, with no weight at all, and fell to the ground before it even reached Chang Yuan.

Chun Tao stomped her feet in frustration, her lips pouting as if they could hang an oil pot. Chang Yuan, not daring to tease her further, quickly bent down to pick up the handkerchief.

"I told you to go in later, but you didn’t listen. Now you’re getting scolded, aren’t you?"

"It’s not your mistress, so of course you don’t care. Give me back my handkerchief!"

She tried to snatch the handkerchief back, but Chang Yuan caught her hand.

"Alright, can we be as concerned as the Heir Apparent? Mistress Xie is hurt, and he’s more upset than anyone. Don’t be mad, look what I brought you from the kitchen."

With that, Chang Yuan magically pulled out a package of cloud slice cake from his pocket and placed it in Chun Tao’s hands. "Here, eat it."

The maids in the Marquis’s estate weren’t allowed snacks unless their masters gave them some. But while other courtyards were straightforward, the Jade Clear Courtyard was a bit of a gray area.

A Yuan, a chamber concubine, was considered a mistress but had no official title. She wasn’t quite a maid, nor was she a full mistress, so people in the estate treated her accordingly.

Usually, the kitchen staff would even skimp on A Yuan’s snacks, let alone Chun Tao wanting to have some treats.

The white and soft cloud slice cake was still warm, lying on the green handkerchief, looking very tempting. Chun Tao swallowed hard, trying to resist the temptation. "I don’t want your things!"

She pushed it away and turned to leave, not even taking the handkerchief.

Chang Yuan scratched his head, frustrated. "Hey! Why are you mad at me? This snack was specially made for the Second Lady, and I managed to get two pieces..."

By then, Chun Tao had already reached her room. Hearing Chang Yuan’s words, she paused her hand on the door, turned around, and spat at him.

"Who wants to eat that? Watch out, it might rot your heart!"

"You, you, you... ungrateful!"