The Concubine of the Main Wife - Chapter 13

“Who is it?”

 

A voice, cold and almost cruel, suddenly rang out, startling A’Lian into hesitation, making her wonder if she had knocked on the wrong door.

 

“My apologies, sir. This humble woman must have made a mistake.”

 

“A’Lian!”

 

The next moment, the breathtakingly beautiful Madam Zhen Yao appeared before her eyes.

 

“Madam…”

 

A’Lian threw herself pitifully into Zhen Yao’s embrace, then coquettishly pouted, “You left the manor without a word. You nearly worried me to death! Thank goodness you’re alright, or what would I have done?”

 

Zhen Yao had always prided herself on being calm and rational, never one for excessive displays of affection. Yet now, having tasted its sweetness, she found herself increasingly indulgent.

 

“A’Lian, I want—”

 

Before she could finish the word “you,” A’Lian hastily interrupted, “Oh dear, the noodles are going to get soggy. Let’s eat quickly.”

 

“You came looking for me without even eating first?” Zhen Yao frowned, her heart aching with concern.

 

A’Lian playfully tapped Zhen Yao’s upturned nose, smiling brilliantly. “How could I have any appetite when Madam was nowhere to be found?”

 

Hearing this, Zhen Yao bent down and pulled her close, pressing a gentle kiss to her raven-black hair.

 

“A’Lian, don’t provoke me like this!”

 

The husky, desire-laden tone sent shivers down A’Lian’s legs, involuntarily summoning memories of their past passionate encounters.

 

“Cough, cough! Madam, you’re so wicked! I won’t tease you anymore. I’m going to eat now.”

 

With that, A’Lian picked up the food box from the floor and placed it on the table, meticulously arranging everything. Once everything was ready, she cheerfully urged, “Here, Madam, let’s eat.”

 

Zhen Yao took the wooden chopsticks and bowed slightly in thanks. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

 

“Is that all?”

 

A flicker of disappointment flashed in A’Lian’s eyes. Wasn’t there any gold, silver, or jewels involved?

 

“There’s more.”

 

Seeing Zhen Yao’s enigmatic expression, A’Lian shrugged helplessly. “Stop!”

 

“That’s not what I meant!” Zhen Yao hurriedly explained.

 

A’Lian secretly smirked behind her hand but feigned innocence. “Oh? Then what did Madam mean?”

 

The moment their eyes met, Zhen Yao’s lips parted slightly. Suddenly, she closed the distance between them without a sound.

 

“Are you full?”

 

A’Lian wiped her mouth and had just uttered a “Yes” when she belatedly dodged away. “No!”

 

“But I’m hungry. Feed me, A’Lian.”

 

“Madam, you’re acting like a child! But the noodles really aren’t edible anymore. Maybe—”

 

“Never mind. The night is long, let’s do something more beneficial for body and soul instead!”

 

Before the words had fully left Zhen Yao’s lips, she spun A’Lian around and swiftly tumbled with her onto the soft bed.

 

“Ah—!”

 

A’Lian’s head landed securely in Zhen Yao’s palm as garments loosened and whispers filled the quiet room.

 

In this place untouched by prying eyes, they explored the divine craftsmanship of creation. Tracing the origins of pleasure, shadows and moonlight intertwined like winter frost coaxing plum blossoms to bloom.

 

“Madam, no more…!”

 

Delicate as a flower, A’Lian could no longer withstand the relentless waves. Her tearful pleas fell like scattered pearls, her fragrant spirit fraying at the edges.

 

In an instant, they soared to the heavens even the beauty of paradise paled in comparison.

 

As dawn approached, A’Lian never forgot her resolve to leave.

 

Yet in this world of infatuated women, the trials of love were truly hard to overcome.

 

“A’Lian, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

 

Though Zhen Yao’s eyes were half-closed, her arms remained tightly wrapped around A’Lian’s slender waist.

 

“Soon…”

 

A’Lian couldn’t sleep at all, but she dared not move recklessly. Instead, her gaze wandered aimlessly around the room.

 

Bored, she glanced around until her eyes landed on something and suddenly widened in shock.

 

The sharp, gleaming longsword still hung beside the wooden rack, its tip faintly stained with blood.

 

A’lian instantly froze, not daring to look back at the person behind her.

 

This place was where the mistress lived alone. There was no question as to whom the sword belonged. But the mistress never stepped beyond the inner courtyards, so why would she possess such a murderous object?

 

No, that wasn’t right!

 

The mistress did go out. She had traveled to Jiangnan, knew how to drive a carriage, and could even handle herself with composure in the wilderness.

 

Though the embrace had been warm and they had been intimate many times, A’lian now trembled uncontrollably, her teeth nearly chattering.

 

“Are you cold?” A moist, warm voice of concern suddenly whispered by her ear.

 

“No, I just need to relieve myself.”

 

“The chamber pot is behind the door. Go ahead.”

 

Zhen Yao was too drowsy to open her eyes, her words punctuated by yawns.

 

A’lian replied with gentle obedience, “Understood. Go back to sleep, mistress.”

 

Then she slipped quietly out of bed, pretending to fumble with her clothes while secretly grabbing her bundle. Step by cautious step, she inched forward, but just as her fingertips brushed the door latch, the woman on the bed spoke again.

 

“Would you like me to accompany you? Or light a lamp?” Zhen Yao squinted sleepily into the distance.

 

A’lian’s face turned deathly pale. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. “No need for such trouble. I don’t like being watched when I relieve myself. Mistress, cover your ears and turn to face the wall, or I’ll ignore you.”

 

As she spoke, she swiftly worked the latch.

 

Sure enough, Zhen Yao obediently turned away, sinking back into drowsy slumber. Seizing the moment, A’lian wasted no time. She slowly pushed the door open and slipped away like a shadow.

 

Meanwhile, the female carriage driver was shivering as she kept watch by the carriage, nodding off like a pecking chicken when a sudden weight landed on her shoulder.

 

“Who—?”

 

A’lian flicked her forehead and hissed, “Listen to me. We need to find a house to hide in now.”

 

The driver’s mind went blank. “But didn’t you say we’d leave at dawn tomorrow? Why the sudden rush?”

 

“Did you feed the horses?” A’lian cut her off impatiently.

 

“Of course. I did everything you asked.”

 

The driver fidgeted nervously, but A’lian had no time for idle chatter. She got straight to the point. “From now on, your name is Xi’er, and I am your young mistress. We’re the family of a Jiangnan tea merchant, merely passing through on our way to the capital to visit relatives.”

 

“Xi’er?”

 

“Stop gawking! If we don’t leave now, we’ll lose our lives!”

 

With quick efficiency, A’lian untied the harness, yanked the other woman onto the horse, and fled into the distance as the first light of dawn broke.

 

Back in the room, Zhen Yao was trapped in a nightmare, tossing and turning in a shifting dreamscape where A’lian was nowhere to be found. She screamed herself hoarse, but the woman she longed for remained beyond reach, separated by an impassable chasm.

 

“A’lian… A’lian… A’lian!“

 

Zhen Yao jolted upright, gasping for breath as she clutched her chest.

 

It was just a dream. A’lian was right beside her!

 

But when she looked down, the one she yearned for had inexplicably vanished.

 

Impossible. A’lian must have gone to relieve herself.

 

The thought had barely formed when Zhen Yao’s eyes darkened with cold fury.

 

Why? Why did everyone she loved always leave without warning?

 

More than heartbreak, Zhen Yao was consumed by bitter resentment.

 

If A’lian didn’t want to stay in the Su residence, if she didn’t wish to be with her forever, she could have just said so outright not fled without a word.

 

This was nothing short of a slap to the face!

 

The sky brightened as the red sun rose.

 

After hurrying along the way, A’Lian and Xi’er finally found a place to settle down. A secluded residence tucked away in an alley just two streets away from the Su mansion.

 

“Song—”

 

Xi’er glanced at A’Lian and quickly corrected herself in panic, “Miss, is this place safe?”

 

It was too close! If they were discovered, wouldn’t they be doomed?

 

“What’s there to fear? As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest. Besides, this was purchased by Chief Chen, so no one will suspect anything. Right now, our top priority is gathering information about the bandits in the Western Mountains and figuring out how to rescue Chief Chen.”

 

Whether Chen Rong lived or died wasn’t important. What mattered was the antidote.

 

Xi’er naturally empathized and sighed, nodding. “But with just the two of us, how can we possibly take on the Western Mountain bandits?”

 

A’Lian couldn’t help but roll her eyes and purse her lips. “Use your brain. We’ll have to outsmart them, of course.”

 

“As the saying goes, it’s easier to enjoy shade under a big tree. If only you hadn’t left the Su mansion in the first place, leaving Madam Su without even saying goodbye. She was so kind to you and never suspected you.”

 

“So, are you done talking?” A’Lian’s expression turned icy.

 

Xi’er had no choice but to yield. “I wasn’t blaming you.”

 

“Hmph. In this world, one should never sit idly by waiting for pity otherwise, you won’t even know how you died.”

 

“I understand. Don’t be angry.”

 

A’Lian turned away, clenching her fists, and murmured softly, “I’m not blaming you. I’m just angry at myself.”

 

Zhen Yao had so many secrets, yet she hadn’t dared to confront her outright. When love took hold of her, it manifested as fear and unease.

 

Who could blame her? She could barely protect herself. How could she drag someone else into her misery?

 

“I only hope Madam understands my heart. From now on, we are parted forever.”

 

A’Lian wasn’t angry or resentful about Zhen Yao’s deliberate deception.

 

She simply couldn’t reconcile the stark contrast between the person she thought she knew and the reality.

 

She had grown accustomed to the dignified, gentle Zhen Yao so the sight of Zhen Yao wielding a sword and killing had filled her with terror.

 

After all this time together, she still didn’t know whether the woman she loved was human or ghost.

 

The ancients said beauty could cloud judgment. How true that was?

 

Even now, whenever A’Lian was alone, she couldn’t suppress her longing for her.

 

Her heart ached as if pierced by a knife, her soul yearning in equal measure.

 

• –

 

In the Fragrant Pavilion of the Su mansion, Zhen Yao sat alone before the canopy bed.

 

A’Lian had left just like that. How heartless she had been. All their past affection had vanished like smoke.

 

When Qing’er entered with tea, her brow furrowed in concern. “Madam, it’s been three whole days, and you’ve been so downcast.”

 

Honestly, since the concubine was beyond redemption, wasn’t it better that she left? And this time, even the old madam hadn’t dared to make a fuss.

 

“She’s been gone for three days already. Time flies so quickly!”

 

Tears welled in Zhen Yao’s eyes, spilling over before she could speak.

 

Seeing this, Qing’er quickly offered comfort, her voice tinged with indignation. “Exactly! In this entire household, no one treated her better than you, yet she chose betrayal. If you hadn’t acted swiftly this time, the rumors spreading through the city would have ruined you.”

 

“Enough! Never speak of this again!”

 

Their affairs were no one else’s business. Zhen Yao would not allow anyone to criticize or judge A’Lian.

 

“The matter of the concubine is my private concern. No one is to speak of it not even A’yun.”

 

Qing’er silently clicked her tongue. “But what if others ask, like the old madam?”

 

“Tell them she has gone to stay at Miaochán Temple for a while. As for anything else, direct them to me.”

 

“This servant obeys!”

 

“Leave me.”

 

Zhen Yao’s delicate features were cold and aloof, as untouchable as a snow lotus on a frozen peak.

 

But just as Qing’er took two steps, she cautiously patted her head and said, “Madam, chatting with you about the concubine nearly made me forget something important. Dr. Ji will be coming this evening. She said she misses you dearly and also has urgent news to share!”