Chapter 16: The Reward
The door swung open and shut, letting in the chill of early spring. A Yuan staggered out like a broken butterfly.
The man, hidden in the dimness, watched her leave, his dark eyes unfathomable.
When A Yuan returned, her clothes were disheveled, her face pale, and her almond-shaped eyes dull and lifeless.
"Lady Xie, what happened to you?"
Chun Tao was startled and quickly fetched a thick blanket to wrap around her.
A Yuan sat on the couch by the window, her face buried in the blanket, the pain in her body paled in comparison to the pain in her heart.
How could she tell Chun Tao about being pinned to the desk and tormented by Wei Xun? The humiliation was something she wished she could erase.
A Yuan gazed at the lantern outside the window for a long time until her vision blurred.
"Chun Tao, prepare some water for me."
......
Steam filled the room as A Yuan shed her clothes and stepped barefoot into the wooden tub.
The bruises on her body stood out more starkly when wet. A Yuan didn't let Chun Tao come in to attend to her, fearing that the mottled traces would frighten her.
The heat brought tears to A Yuan's eyes. She sank into the water, burying her head, and wept bitterly.
She was only eighteen. Girls her age in other families were still doted on by their parents and elders.
Their parents carefully chose husbands for them, ensuring they would marry good men and live happily ever after.
But she would never have that chance.
Outside the room, Chun Tao listened to the stifled sobs, pacing nervously, not even noticing when the matron from the outer study came over.
"Chun Tao, where is Lady Xie?"
Auntie Zheng glanced inside. She was the stewardess in Wei Xun's courtyard, highly respected in the marquis's household. Even the second wife dared not boss her around.
She was clearly here to deliver a message from Wei Xun.
Chun Tao hurriedly wiped her face and smiled at her, "Lady Xie is bathing. What brings you here, Auntie Zheng?"
Auntie Zheng withdrew her gaze and took out a pouch, handing it to Chun Tao, "The Heir Apparent has sent a gift for Lady Xie. Hold onto it for her."
"...Yes."
Chun Tao paused. Although the Heir Apparent had given rewards to Lady Xie before, this was the first time Auntie Zheng had delivered it.
What had happened in the outer study?
She discreetly handed Auntie Zheng a piece of silver and offered her a cup of hot tea. Auntie Zheng left quickly, and A Yuan emerged from the bath to find her gone.
A Yuan's hair hung wet and loose, and her eyes were puffy and red from crying.
Chun Tao swiftly wrapped her hair in a towel, "It's chilly, master. Don’t catch a cold."
"Hmm."
A Yuan bowed her head as Chun toweled her hair dry.
Her delicate hands, pink and snow-white, the ink stains on her fingertips had been washed away, but the pain was forever etched in her heart.
She lowered her eyes, hiding the sorrow within.
"Master, the Heir Apparent sent Nanny Zheng with a reward. Please see what it is."
Chun Tao dried her hair and applied osmanthus hair oil.
A Yuan's hair, naturally smooth, gleamed like satin with the hair oil.
The pouch was heavy, and A Yuan guessed its contents before opening it.
With trembling hands, she poured out several gold pieces. The gold seemed to mock her, a reminder of Wei Xun's sarcastic gaze, making A Yuan clench her fists.
"Wow, gold!" Chun Tao exclaimed.
In all her life, she had never seen so much money.
"Master just stopped the embroidery business, so you won’t have to do it anymore."
The naive young maid thought the Heir Apparent was concerned about her master’s embroidery earnings, not realizing it was a reward for A Yuan’s service.
A Yuan’s eyes reddened, her heart bitter. She grabbed the pouch and thrust it into Chun Tao’s hands.
"Give it to Nanny Zhu."
"Huh?" Chun Tao gaped, not understanding.
"Nanny Zhu lost her job because of me; this gold is my compensation..."
Before A Yuan finished, Chun Tao shook her head.
"How can this be? My mother has received many favors from the master, she even took a fifth of the pouch sales. Losing the job isn’t the master’s fault."
Chun Tao didn’t resent A Yuan. She and her mother did odd jobs in the Anning Marquis’s residence, and being dull, they weren’t favored. Without A Yuan’s acceptance, she would’ve been driven out long ago.
Now, although her mother had lost her job, with their previous savings, they wouldn't be unable to survive.
"Take it, if you don’t accept it, I won’t feel right."
A Yuan insisted, and Chun Tao had no choice but to accept.
"But, master, aren’t you short of money?"
Yes, she was short of money, A Yuan smiled bitterly.
But this gold was Wei Xun's humiliation towards her. If she kept it, she would be reminded every day of what happened in the study.
Even if she lit a long-life lamp for her parents, she wouldn’t be happy.
A Yuan raised her eyes, her gaze empty, "What I want... is clean money."
Chun Tao didn’t understand her meaning, was gold dirty?
Moreover, this was a reward from the Heir Apparent, why didn’t the master seem happy?
She carefully stored the pouch, this gold was enough for her and her family to live for a lifetime, and in the future, even if her younger brother wanted to study, there would be money to support him.
After drying her hair, A Yuan collapsed onto the bed. She was utterly exhausted, but as soon as she closed her eyes, the memory of the man overpowering her haunted her thoughts.
......
In the outer study, Madam Zheng returned to report back after delivering the purse.
Wei Xun stood by the window, his face unreadable in the shadows.
Madam Zheng lowered her head and replied honestly, "Mistress Xie was bathing when I arrived, so I gave the purse to her maid."
"...Understood, you may leave."
Wei Xun’s tone turned sharp, unsatisfied with the response.
Madam Zheng feared she had failed in her task and left anxiously, but just as she reached the door, Wei Xun suddenly called her back.
"Assign Madam Zhu from the second courtyard to another task."
"Yes."
Madam Zheng was puzzled but kept her questions to herself.
Madam Zhu was merely a low-ranking servant, not worthy of the master's concern.
The master’s concern was solely for Lady Xie, who stood behind her.
Madam Zheng kept this in mind. Others believed Lady Xie had fallen out of favor, but only those close to them knew how much the Heir Apparent cared for her.
Her future was uncertain. As servants, they knew better than to cross her.
Madam Zheng hesitated, the silver heavy in her palm, planning to find an opportunity to return it.
She wouldn’t dare keep anything that belonged to Lady Xie.
......
After that day, A Yuan came down with a fever, and Chun Tao wanted to call a doctor, but A Yuan stopped her.
Wei Xun and his entourage never returned, and no one in the entire mansion knew she was sick except for Chun Tao.
With Wei Xun's favor withdrawn, Zhao Wan resumed her bullying and mistreatment.
A Yuan was already sick and afraid of the cold, but the charcoal brazier was removed, making the room freezing. Chun Tao covered her with all the spare quilts from the cabinet and kept wiping her body with hot water at night. After over two weeks, the fever finally broke.
By the time A Yuan could leave the courtyard, the weather had warmed up. The mansion was adorned with lanterns and streamers, alive with bustling activity. Chun Tao, curious, pulled aside a maid and asked.
The maid glanced at A Yuan and whispered, "The old madam is hosting a banquet, inviting noble ladies from various families. Everyone is preparing for it..."