Chapter 48: A Yuan’s Departure

Chapter 48: A Yuan's Departure

As soon as Wei Xun spoke, the room fell silent.

Madam Wei snorted, her face stern. "Since San Lang said so, go ahead and sit."

Though she disapproved of A Yuan, she wouldn't openly embarrass her son.

A Yuan bowed in thanks and sat beside Wei Xun, perched on the edge of the chair, clutching her chopsticks, too nervous to eat.

Wei Xun knew it was her first time eating at the table and that she was nervous, so he served her some food himself.

"You're too thin, eat more."

A Yuan's face flushed, and she murmured, "Thank you, sir."

Everyone overheard their exchange. Zhao Wan put down her chopsticks, picked up a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, and smiled teasingly, her round face lighting up.

"San Lang is so good to A Yuan. Mother might soon have a grandchild."

"Don't talk nonsense!" Madam Wei's face darkened.

Everyone in the mansion knew her rule: before the main wife is married, concubines are not allowed to bear children.

If A Yuan were to become pregnant, for the sake of the Marquis's reputation, she would be sent away.

Zhao Wan didn't take offense at the scolding. She poured a cup of hot tea and placed it in front of Madam Wei, gently patting her back.

"I misspoke, Mother. Please don't be angry. I just saw how close San Lang and A Yuan are, and how they spend every day together. Isn't it just a matter of time before she gets pregnant?"

She seemed gentle, but she was actually provoking.

Madam Wei was already dissatisfied with A Yuan. If she had a child out of wedlock and tarnished Wei Xun's reputation, Madam Wei would be furious.

"Hmph! San Lang knows my rules. You can do as you like in private, but if you dare to cause trouble before marrying the main wife, I won't tolerate it."

Madam Wei's sudden anger made Wei Xun glance at Zhao Wan, who lowered her head guiltily. He then turned to Madam Wei with a serious expression and assured her.

"Don't worry, Mother, I won't."

"I know you follow the rules, but some people need to be reminded more often, so they don't get ideas about rising through their children."

It was clear who Madam Wei was referring to. A Yuan silently clenched her fists, her face pale.

Even after the meal, she still felt cold inside.

Returning to the outer courtyard, for the first time, A Yuan turned down Wei Xun's advances.

The man had been drinking, his eyes hazy with drink.

He wrapped his arms around the concubine's waist, resting his head on her neck. "What's wrong?"

A Yuan turned her back to him, her eyes slightly red. "Master, A Yuan is tired. Can we not do it today?"

She wasn't heartless. Madam Wei's warning was just to keep her from having illusions.

But she never had any to begin with. All she wanted was a small corner to live peacefully.

Wei Xun's favor only made her more afraid. She didn't have the ability to hold onto it, and she feared the day when the man would take his favor away. The fall from grace would be unbearable.

Rather than waiting to fall into the abyss, it would be better not to have started at all.

The concubine's voice was soft and pitiful. Wei Xun's drunkenness dissipated slightly. He buried his face in A Yuan's neck and bit her fiercely, then let go of her. "Take a day off," he said.

"I’ll handle you tomorrow."

Wei Xun didn’t say the latter part out loud, afraid of scaring his concubine.

A sudden lightness washed over A Yuan, and she sighed in relief.

She hurriedly washed up and burrowed into the blanket, wrapping herself tightly. Seeing this, Wei Xun pinched the soft flesh of her cheek and sneered coldly. "Trying to keep me out? You think a few extra layers will do the trick?"

His gaze was scorching, and when he stared at her, it felt like it could burn her.

A Yuan’s hands inside the blanket tightly gripped the bedsheet as she urgently explained, "A Yuan didn’t mean to keep you out..."

"Hmph! I’ll let it slide this time. Sleep."

Wei Xun didn’t want to bully her too much. She was so timid; making her cry would only hurt him in the end.

Hearing this, A Yuan quickly closed her eyes, but with her mind preoccupied, she couldn’t sleep at all. She tossed and turned all night, only feeling drowsy as dawn broke.

After the Mid-Autumn banquet, the second household branch was the first to stir. With Madam Wei’s words, Zhao Wan, under the pretense of doing good for Wei Xun, dismissed all the concubines in her quarters.

......

Qiu Wen, one of the first to join the household, had long lost Wei Xun’s favor, and she was the first to be sent away.

The day Qiu Wen left, she sought out A Yuan first.

Compared to the last time they met, her spirits were noticeably better this time, and her usually troubled face was now lit up with smiles.

"I thought once I entered this grand mansion, I'd be stuck here for life, never imagining I'd get to leave someday."

Qiu Wen clutched a small bundle, dabbing at her tears while she spoke.

A Yuan was also happy for her and asked Chun Tao to bring her money box, adding fifty taels of silver (about 2 kilograms) for her journey.

"Life outside isn't like the Marquis's mansion; you'll need money for everything. Save as much as you can; it'll make life easier."

Most of the servants let go from the second household ended up back in the hands of brokers. Qiu Wen, having served for a long time, had some standing with her masters and pleaded with Zhao Wan for her freedom papers, allowing her to establish her own household after leaving.

Though Zhao Wan was petty, Qiu Wen had always been honest and never sought favor, so Zhao Wan didn’t give her trouble as she left. However, the monthly savings Qiu Wen had accumulated were taken away, so this time when she left the mansion, she took nothing but her freedom papers and a few clothes.

When A Yuan handed her the heavy money pouch, Qiu Wen’s eyes welled up.

"Think of this as a loan. If you ever need me, just come find me. I’ll send you a message once I’m settled."

She didn’t refuse out of pride—when it comes to survival, dignity doesn’t matter.

Qiu Wen had once been proud, but after what happened with Bi Wu, that pride was completely broken.

Qiu Wen would carry A Yuan’s kindness in her heart, vowing to repay it a hundred times over someday.

As she said, Qiu Wen sent a message to A Yuan once she was settled. She bought a small courtyard in the southern city, using up most of her silver, but the upside was that she finally set up her own independent household.

Qiu Wen said there was a Chinese parasol tree in the center of the courtyard, and in spring, the tree would be full of blossoms. The scent wafted far, leaving her hair and dress fragrant.

But now, as deep autumn had set in, all the leaves of the Chinese parasol tree had fallen. She told A Yuan to come visit next spring when the flowers were in bloom.

A Yuan read Qiu Wen's letter, a smile lingering on her lips.

Qiu Wen, having no other skills, found a job selling buns on the street.

The pay was modest, but it covered her needs. Her life was simple but happy, and she felt content.

A Yuan read the letter three times, savoring every word. Qiu Wen’s life was one she quietly longed for.

But she wasn’t as lucky as Qiu Wen. Autumn in the capital always passed quickly. A Yuan’s Suzhou embroidery workshop was gaining more and more fame, and Chun Tao was gradually becoming proficient.

The young maid, keeping her temper in check, crafted embroidery as fine as any skilled embroiderer’s. A Yuan sent her work to the shop, and it all sold out.

With money coming in, Chun Tao grew more driven, and her squabbles with the other servants dwindled.

Just as life was calming down, trouble struck the Shen family.