Chapter 19 Bi Wu's Remains

Double-faced embroidery, also called reversible embroidery, is most astonishing because it can create different patterns on the same piece of fabric. Correspondingly, its stitching technique is extremely labor-intensive.

During her three years in the household, A Yuan had only embroidered two screens for the old lady.

Shen Qiuyu demanded urgently, wanting a screen embroidered within seven days. Even under normal circumstances, A Yuan would have to stay up several nights, especially now with her injured hand.

Chun Tao applied ointment to A Yuan's hand and wrapped it with white cloth. She protested indignantly, "The Heir Apparent is such a smart person, how could he not see through Shen Qiuyu's hypocrisy? Not only did she deliberately injure your hand, but she also made you embroider a double-faced embroidery for her. The nerve of her!"

She wished she could have torn Shen Qiuyu's face in public to vent her anger for her mistress.

A Yuan couldn't help but smile at her, and despite the pain, she moved her heavily bandaged fingers, her eyes clear and calm, "What good would exposing her do? The Heir Apparent will take a wife eventually."

Without Shen Qiuyu, there would be others, just like Su Yingxue before. No mistress would tolerate a concubine like her.

No matter how obedient she was, she would only incur the Heir Apparent's wife's resentment, especially now that she had lost Wei Xun's favor. A peaceful life might be out of reach.

A Yuan lowered her eyes and instructed Chun Tao, "Deliver the shoes and socks I made for the second madam."

"Mistress?"

Chun Tao was puzzled, "Didn't you say we weren't going to send them?"

The second madam had bullied her mistress so much, these six pairs of shoes and socks shouldn't be sent even if they were kept in the bottom of the chest.

A Yuan smiled faintly, "Go."

Things are different now. Before, she had fooled herself into believing that Wei Xun would protect her, so she dared to defy Zhao Wan.

Now, a string of humiliations had taught her that a man's favor is unreliable. She shouldn't let her own anger affect Chun Tao.

Something as precious as dignity, she hadn't had since she fell into the Chunyan Tower.

"Yes."

Chun Tao stamped her foot and went out angrily with the shoes and socks.

She left quickly and returned just as fast, but her face was pale, and her eyes were dull.

A Yuan's heart lurched, afraid she'd been mistreated in the second madam's quarters. She quickly stood up and asked, "What happened?"

Hearing A Yuan's voice, Chun Tao gradually came to her senses. She grabbed A Yuan's hand in a panic, her lips trembling incessantly, "Mis... mistress, Concubine Bi has died."

"Bi Wu... dead? How is that possible?"

A Yuan couldn't care less about the pain in her hand, feeling nothing but disbelief.

How could someone so full of life just moments ago be gone so suddenly?

"It's true. I saw Fu Cai from the second master's side carry her body out. The blood flowing from her body stained the second madam's courtyard red."

Chun Tao was only fifteen years old and had never seen such a bloody scene. She was nearly scared out of her wits.

"...Did they say how she died?" A Yuan pressed.

Chun Tao shook her head, "I don't know."

"I understand. You may leave now."

A Yuan waved her hand, her eyes clouded with sadness.

Although she had never gotten along with Bi Wu, the sudden death left her heart heavy.

Outside, the phoenix tree had sprouted new branches, and a pair of magpies landed on them, chattering away.

A Yuan sat by the window, gazing blankly outside until the sun set.

In the evening, Chun Tao came to light the lamps and brought along an unexpected visitor.

"A Yuan."

The visitor was dressed in plain clothes, with a gray cloak draped over her shoulders, holding a small bundle in her arms. She called out softly to the woman by the window.

A Yuan turned her head, surprised to see her, and curtsied, "Aunt Qiu."

Qiu Wen quickly helped her up, forcing a faint, bitter smile, "We're all sisters here, no need for such formalities."

Besides, she was just Wei Cong's concubine, not as respected as A Yuan.

"You must have already heard about Bi Wu. She was always so competitive, but who could have imagined she’d meet such a fate..."

Qiu Wen’s voice broke, lowering her head to wipe her tears with a handkerchief.

"The child was already formed, but it was violently torn out. She was always so afraid of pain, and it was the first time she begged me to protect her. But what status do I have? When the master gives an order, what could we servants do?"

Only in front of A Yuan did she dare to let her guard down.

A Yuan’s heart sank, finally understanding the truth.

It turned out Bi Wu had been pregnant for two months. She had hoped to win favor with the second master by bearing a child, but Zhao Wan kept track of the concubines’ cycles. When Bi Wu missed her period for two months, the maids reported it to Zhao Wan.

Wei Cong was frail, and fathering children was difficult. The concubines were tasked with bearing offspring.

But Zhao Wan was extremely jealous. She put up with Wei Cong’s usual behavior, but the children had to come from her.

Bi Wu's pregnancy was already a serious transgression.

Zhao Wan didn't dare to act openly, so she found evidence of Bi Wu flirting with Wei Cong's servant, accusing her of adultery.

In the grand mansions, there were countless ways to destroy someone without bloodshed.

Especially since Wei Cong's usual antics were already outrageous, and Bi Wu's relationship with the servant was already questionable.

Now that she was caught in the act, Wei Cong himself became suspicious and naturally sided with Zhao Wan.

Bi Wu was pinned to the ground by two sturdy maidservants, and a rolling pin was used to brutally crush her lower body. The fetus, mixed with blood, was forced out.

Qiu Wen trembled, clutching the bundle tightly to her chest.

"A Yuan, my aunt was right. The grand mansions may seem prosperous, but they’re rotten to the core. Bi Wu's fate today might be mine tomorrow. We are all rootless people, and when we die, we'll just be wrapped in a tattered mat and dumped in a mass grave. I'm not afraid of death, I just hope to be reborn into a good family in my next life. I don't ask for wealth or luxury, just the care of my parents, so I won't have to suffer this turmoil again."

She forced a bitter smile and handed the bundle to A Yuan.

"Inside are some of Bi Wu's clothes. I have people from the second mistress watching me, so I can't keep them. Please, for the sake of our past friendship, help her set up a cenotaph. If it's too much trouble, just... burn them for me."

Bi Wu loved bright colors, and most of her clothes were in shades of peach and green. Though she was harsh, her personality was like a flame. Yet, after her death, she was denied even a shred of dignity.

A Yuan looked at the bundle in her hands, feeling a mix of emotions, "I promise you."

Qiu Wen choked up, tears falling from her eyes again, "Thank you."

"In the past, Bi Wu and I bullied you. We deserve this fate today. We were mere servants, striving for lofty ambitions despite our fragile lives. A Yuan, protect your heart and live a good life."

She took a deep look at A Yuan's hands, bandaged like dumplings, then turned and left.

A gust of wind came in from outside, and the candlelight flickered, blurring A Yuan's vision with mist.

The vivid image of Bi Wu from the past flashed before her, and A Yuan murmured, "I will."

She would live well and guard her heart.

Bi Wu's death caused no ripple in the Marquis's household. The death of a lowly concubine went unnoticed.

The second branch brought in a new concubine, and Zhao Wan remained as radiant as ever.

The Jade Clear Courtyard became even quieter.

A Yuan finally finished embroidering the screen by the early hours of the seventh day, her hands covered in bloodstains, too painful to lift.