Chapter 20 Heartache and Pain

Chapter 20 Heartache and Pain

Chun Tao brought the screen to the outer study, where Chang Yuan took it from her.

She had been staying up late with A Yuan for the past week, and her eyes were bloodshot.

Chang Yuan poked her forehead playfully, teasing, "What? Were you chasing mice all night? Your eyes are so red!"

Chun Tao was already upset because her mistress's hands were nearly ruined from working on the screen, and here was Chang Yuan, still joking around.

She snorted coldly, "I wish I had the time for that. Do you really think double-sided embroidery is easy, something you can just whip up? Hurry up and take the screen to suck up to your new master. Why care about whether I live or die?"

She fired off a barrage of words, leaving Chang Yuan speechless, "You... what do you mean by that!"

It was just a joke, why are you so mad?

Chun Tao didn’t waste time arguing; her mistress’s hands needed her to apply medicine.

After handing over the screen, Chun Tao stormed off, leaving Chang Yuan fuming.

"Is it done?"

In the study, Wei Xun was far from calm.

He had expected A Yuan to deliver the embroidery herself, given her cunning as a concubine, she wouldn’t miss a chance to curry favor.

But A Yuan hadn’t.

Wei Xun’s expression faltered. Had he misjudged her?

Chang Yuan set the screen on the table without a word, "It’s done."

The screen was only palm-sized, but the embroidery was incredibly detailed.

On one side was a scene of a fairy delivering peaches, while the other side transformed into an evergreen pine tree, showing the embroiderer had put in much effort.

Wei Xun’s expression softened. A Yuan had clearly taken his words to heart.

When the future mistress arrives, seeing her so obedient, she’ll naturally be more lenient.

Wei Xun toyed with the screen, a satisfied smile playing on his lips, "Did the maid say anything more?"

Chang Yuan knew he was asking about A Yuan and instinctively shook his head, "Chun Tao didn’t mention Mistress Xie, but her eyes were bloodshot, like she hadn’t slept a wink..."

If the maid hadn’t slept, the mistress wasn’t doing much better.

"Crash!"

The screen in Wei Xun's hand fell onto the table with a sharp sound. He stood up, his face cold, "Head to Yuqing Courtyard."

......

In Yuqing Courtyard, Chun Tao, her eyes red, tended to A Yuan’s wounds.

The burns from that day hadn’t healed, and after days of needlework, the blisters had turned into sores.

Chun Tao cleaned out the rotten flesh and applied a thick layer of ointment. A Yuan's palms trembled with pain, and large drops of cold sweat fell from her forehead.

"Mistress, if it hurts, bite down on me. I can take it."

Chun Tao pouted, tears welling up in her eyes.

How could someone as precious as the mistress endure such mistreatment?

It's all the Heir Apparent's fault for not seeing clearly, causing the mistress to suffer so much.

Her resentment was clear, and it showed on her face.

A Yuan gently wiped her head with the back of her clean hand, "I'm fine, don't worry."

"How can you be fine? Your hand was nearly destroyed!"

"Whose hand is ruined?"

Wei Xun entered and heard Chun Tao's words. His gaze sharpened, focusing on A Yuan's hand.

The mistress and servant were talking, oblivious to the noise outside, and Wei Xun caught them red-handed.

The scarred hand, though treated, still bore the marks of its severity.

A Yuan's fingers twitched, eager to hide her hand in her sleeve, but the man grabbed her wrist.

Wei Xun leaned in slightly, his stern gaze fixed on her, "How were you injured?"

A Yuan stayed silent, the room deathly quiet.

Wei Xun felt a heavy stone pressing on his chest, suffocating him. He turned to question Chun Tao, "Speak up!"

Chun Tao had been holding back for too long. The mistress had endured so much, and the Heir Apparent only now took notice. Even if she couldn't avenge the mistress, she wouldn't let the culprit escape unscathed.

"It was Shen Qiuyu..."

"Chun Tao, silence!"

A Yuan closed her eyes, her trembling voice stopping her.

"No one, it was an accident."

Shen Qiuyu was the Heir Apparent and Madam Wei's chosen bride. The embroidery work was also assigned by Wei Xun. Complaining would only get Chun Tao in trouble with the masters.

She pulled her hand from Wei Xun's grip, hiding it in her sleeve, and forced a submissive smile, "I disturbed the Heir Apparent; it's my fault."

"A Yuan!"

Wei Xun's eyes turned red, his face icy cold. He once adored A Yuan's submissiveness, but now it only pained him.

He'd rather she cried or raged; he could handle that.

But not like this, as if she were a mere shell of herself.

Hearing his anger, A Yuan knelt on the ground, her forehead touching the brick, her quiet and obedient voice reaching the man's ears.

"I have angered the Heir Apparent, I am willing to accept punishment."

"Punish you?" Wei Xun's heart tightened, his eyes growing more bloodshot.

"If I punish, it will be her! For failing to take care of her mistress, drag her out and beat her to death!"

He pointed at Chun Tao, a murderous glint in his eyes.

A Yuan's vision blurred, her knees gave way as she crawled forward, her injured hand clutching his robe, no longer the obedient figure she once was.

"Heir Apparent, Chun Tao was just following my orders. Please punish me instead!"

Wei Xun stared at the bloodstains on his robe, his heart ached with both pain and anger, though his face stayed cold and unreadable.

Chun Tao, who had already been scared out of her mind, knelt down alongside Chang Yuan, begging for mercy.

"Heir Apparent, although Chun Tao is straightforward in nature, she's loyal to Mistress Xie. Please spare her life for her years of service to Mistress Xie. I am also willing to take her punishment."

"Years of service, yet she's caused so many injuries. If I let her stay, aren't you afraid the injuries will become even worse?"

Wei Xun's gaze fixed on A Yuan's hands, the anger in his eyes was almost palpable.

Chun Tao's sobs were muffled, wanting to beg for mercy but not daring to.

The sounds in the room seemed to fade into nothingness. A Yuan's body stiffened, her mind blank.

She looked up in a daze, her eyes unfocused, her voice as if it took all her strength.

"If I tell you, will you believe me, Heir Apparent?"

Wei Xun's chest felt even more suffocating. He clenched his fist and slowly nodded, "I believe you."

"It was Lady Shen... it was Lady Shen who burned me."

A Yuan repeated it twice, the pain in her hands left her feeling weak, but she remained kneeling upright, waiting for the man's response.

After a long pause, Wei Xun finally spoke, "Do you have any evidence?"

A Yuan smiled, as if the expected answer had finally arrived, and her heart sank.

"No."

"There is no evidence."

Someone like Shen Qiuyu would never leave any incriminating evidence. Even if she were to cause trouble, she would do so without a trace.

A Yuan didn’t expect Wei Xun to take her side. All she wanted was for Chun Tao to make it through.

Even if it meant sacrificing her hands, she was willing.

Wei Xun was unsettled by the emptiness in her eyes and quickly averted his gaze.

Without evidence, he couldn’t defend A Yuan.

Besides, this was only A Yuan’s account, and it didn’t prove Shen Qiuyu had actually wronged her.

"Do you realize that slander is a grave offense, especially against a noblewoman? Even I can’t shield you."

A Yuan pressed her forehead to the floor, her voice steady, "I know."

Wei Xun fell silent once more, and after a long pause, he finally spoke.

"This matter is closed. It’s not to be brought up again."

Shen Qiuyu was the daughter of a high-ranking official. Without proof, punishing her would only backfire on A Yuan.

A Yuan had expected this all along. She bowed even lower, slipping back into her submissive role, "Yes."

Wei Xun felt a pang of guilt, his hand clenching and unclenching, "Is there something you want?"

A Yuan’s tears splashed onto the green tiles as she stifled her sobs, "I’d like to visit the Great Buddha Temple to... light incense for Bi Wu."